Chapter 181: Paparazzi
** Harper **
One definite benefit of having paparazzi, as Harper soon learned, is that you’ll never have to worry about missing a photo of your favorite moment in life. They’ve got your back a hundred percent on that.
"Harper! Come over here!" Naomi beckoned her over excitedly at the dinner reception a few hours later. It was a rare time of the day when Eli wasn’t around — Harper had finally succeeded in persuading him to tend to some of his real business, apart from "taking care of the VIP guest" — and Naomi was quick to make good use of it.
"I still can’t believe how impossibly photogenic you guys are together," the marketing lead marveled with exaggerated pride as she passed her phone to Harper. "Look at that! I’m so tempted to go auction this picture for a romance book cover!"
Harper almost choked on air before she could even look at the picture. Since when had she gotten herself a fan that saw her as a cover model?
Naomi was right in her market assessment though — the photo was perfect, practically oozing romance from every pixel. A brilliant sky, a verdant valley, a sea of lavender embracing a moonstruck couple at its very center. The girl’s white dress was rippling softly in the wind, and the guy was holding her face so adoringly as he kissed her, the sweet and unmistakable cherishment almost tangible in the air.
"It’s lovely," Harper agreed. "But I’m sure it’s also thanks to the skillful photographer. The lighting and the framing were expertly done!"
"Hey, thanks but don’t try to change the subject." Naomi was too shrewd to be distracted by the flattery, and the gossipy curiosity in her eyes only gleamed brighter. "Do tell, you never mentioned things were moving this fast between you guys the last time we talked about it! Are you—" She paused for a second to lower her voice. "So, are you like, official now? Was that a first kiss? It was so romantic either way, not gonna lie!"
Harper couldn’t help a smitten smile curving her lips. It was so romantic, indeed, and she could still feel the soft warmth of Eli’s lips against hers, etched into her memory alongside that breathtaking landscape ... All the more romantic considering that this was the first public declaration of their relationship. Something that she didn’t need to hide anymore from the present company.
"Yeah, it’s official," she announced. "We—"
"Wait, what’s official?" A somewhat unfamiliar voice joined them. "Oh my goodness, are we talking about the big Romance Show of the Year that happened at the lavender farm earlier?"
A brightly colored margarita plopped down at the table, and Harper looked up to find ... the two next-door neighbors of Eli’s cruise cabin smiling back at her?