Goodbye Magnolia - Cornerstone Book 1

Her biggest rival set up his photography studio blocks from hers. Will she make it through wedding season without losing her shop ... or her heart?

Wedding photography is Maggie's passion. The art of capturing a moment forever in time is magical to her, and she's worked hard to become the best of the best. Week after week, she works with couples as they plan their happily ever afters, but she hasn't been so lucky in love.

Behind the camera, it's easy to hide from the pain and rejection of her past. The life she has made for herself is safe and predictable until the owner of a rival photography studio sets up shop in her small town and comes to her with an unexpected proposal. Suddenly, everything she has worked so hard to build is threatened and her simple, controlled life is thrown into chaos.

As she travels the state of Michigan photographing weddings, she struggles to keep her business afloat and the wall around her heart intact. But along the way, she could learn more about loyalty and love than she ever imagined.

"Can I take your picture?”

They were the first words he ever spoke to her.

Maggie stared up into hazel eyes, clearly startled. “Excuse me?”

“For the assignment,” he replied with a flirty grin.

The assignment given by Professor Wilkins, the instructor of their
photography class, was to pair up and photograph each other using
only natural light at a location around campus.

But he was the last person she wanted to partner with.

She glanced around the room and realized the other students had
already chosen their partners.

“I guess,” she reluctantly agreed.

Simon Walker was handsome and charming, immediately catching the eye of her roommate, Emma—the cute, petite one. His easygoing personality made him the friend of many, including her other roommate Michelle—the tall, athletic one. But there was something about him, an arrogance that was off-putting to Maggie. She often wondered if she was the only person on campus who
disliked him, because it seemed every girl she knew was infatuated,
and every guy wanted to be his best friend.

Maggie and Simon walked together from the Fine Arts building toward their assigned location—Miller Library. The air was brisk as they walked along the sidewalk lined with trees, half of which had already dropped their vibrant yellow and red leaves.

“You’re Michelle’s roommate,” he stated. “Maggie, right?”

“Yeah. Maggie James.” She had no idea he even knew who she was. They had been in class for two months, but he had never once
acknowledged her existence.

“I’m Simon.” He held his hand out to shake hers.

She hesitantly shook it. “I know who you are.”

“What’s with the Canon?” Simon asked.

“What do you mean?”

He pointed at the camera hanging around her neck. “Your
camera.”

She looked down at her Canon brand camera. It was new, purchased specifically for the class. Turning it over in her hands, she examined the lens and the camera body. Nothing appeared to be wrong with it.

“Huh?” She was confused.

“Why’d you go with a Canon?” he asked.

She noticed the shiny new Nikon camera with the expensive zoom lens in his hands. “What difference does it make? They both do the same thing, right?”

Simon shook his head, and his nut brown hair fell over his right eye. “Nikon is by far superior to Canon.” He ran his fingers through his hair, smoothing it back into place.

Maggie was annoyed. “In what way?”

“Better lenses, faster focus—”

“Says who?” Know-it-all.

“My uncle’s a photographer,” he informed her. “He’s done his research.”

She rolled her eyes at his condescending tone. “Can we just get this over with?”

“OK.” He seemed taken aback, as if no girl had ever been this cold to him before.

They walked into the library and found a bright spot near a wall of windows with light streaming in.

Simon slid a chair into position. “Sit here,” he commanded.

She groaned inwardly as she put her camera on a nearby table and sat down in the chair. If she had known she would be the subject of a photograph, she might have worn something nicer than a hooded grey Cornerstone College sweatshirt.

He approached and smoothed a few of her sandy blonde hairs.

It was an awkward moment, and she wished she had chosen to wear her hair back in a clip rather than down.

He touched her chin and turned her head toward the window. She pulled away from his touch. “What are you doing?”

“Don’t move. The light is perfect on your face right now.”

Maggie was completely uncomfortable. She hated being in front of the camera, but having Simon photograph her only made it worse. Every muscle in her body felt stiff and unnatural.

Simon crouched down and peeked through his camera. He shook his head, clearly exasperated, and looked up at her. “You need to relax.”

“I hate having my picture taken.”

“Why?” He looked puzzled.

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not very photogenic.”

Simon let out a little laugh. “I don’t believe that at all.” He moved closer, still crouched, and examined her face.

Maggie could tell he wasn’t really seeing her as a person, but as the subject of his photograph.

“You’re not very good at this,” she blurted.

He suddenly looked at Maggie the person. “Not good at what?”

“Making your subject feel comfortable in front of the camera.”

His mouth fell open, and he stared at her in disbelief. “Maybe it’s just you.”

Maggie’s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. “Maybe I need a different partner.”

He stood and lifted his arms in surrender. “Be my guest.”

She shook her head. “It’s too late now, and I’m not getting an incomplete on this.”

“Fine,” he grumbled. “Then relax.”

She looked at him stone-faced, her arms still crossed, as he snapped a couple shots.

“Man, you’re intense. Don’t you ever smile?”

She refused to smile for him and kept her bright green eyes focused on his camera lens.

“I feel like you’re about to melt me with laser beams from your eyes or something.”

Maggie’s face broke into a smile at his ridiculous comment.

Simon pressed the shutter release on the camera. “There it is.” He looked over the camera and gave her a cocky grin.

She abruptly stood up. “OK, your turn.”

They walked across the library to another wall of windows, and Maggie pointed to one of the large reading chairs.

Simon plopped down, leaned forward, and rested his elbows on his knees with hands clasped together. He was clearly as comfortable in front of the camera as he was behind it, which annoyed her immensely. It also bothered her how great he looked in a simple green henley and jeans. She shoved the thought from her mind. He looked at her with intense hazel eyes, brought out by the color of his shirt. She wished she could force away the warmth in her cheeks. She didn’t want him to know he had any effect on her at all.

Maggie breathed in and out slowly as she looked through her camera’s viewfinder. She begrudgingly took a few shots, but made a face, not satisfied with what she was seeing.

“What? Is this not intense enough for you?” he teased.