“I’m getting married at the end of the year and was hoping to talk to you about photography packages.”
“I see.I’m sorry, Alison.That card should have come down.I’m not doing any photography at the moment.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Yeah.Congratulations, though.”
She said goodbye to the woman and hung up.
Deflated, Claire slammed her laptop shut and fled the office.
She’d never wanted to deep clean those kennels so badly.
* * * *
As it happened, Nick did get to see Claire at the craft services table at lunchtime, albeit from a distance.Rochelle and Naomi from makeup had cornered her and the conversation seemed to be about giving Claire some ideas on how to style her hair and makeup.Something about a French twist and a lipstick that would make her lips pop.
Nick took a bite of his ham sandwich.He wasn’t sure why lips should be popping, but Claire was all ears.
It wasn’t as if she even needed a makeover, though.She was already drop-dead gorgeous.However, she didn’t seem offended at Rochelle and Naomi’s suggestions.Maybe she liked the idea of popping lips.What did he know?
If the last few months had been any indication, he knew nothing about women.He thought he’d picked up a few tidbits over the years, but clearly he’d been wrong.
He took another bite and chewed.Just then, Claire glanced at him, a shy smile on her face.
A chunk of ham stuck in his throat and he had to swig some water to wash it down.
Damn, that smile.It was really pretty.And he hadn’t even seen the real thing yet.He was beginning to think he’d give his favorite drumsticks to see her wearing a good, wide-open, toothy grin.
What would he have to do to put one of those on her face?
He probably shouldn’t be wondering those sorts of things.
Even though his appetite was dwindling, he finished his sandwich.As Claire approached, he swallowed it all down.
“Hi, Nick.You’re all on your lonesome.”
“Just having a bite.”
She nodded and took up the spot next to him.Their backs to the craft services table, they both silently surveyed the others.Everyone else seemed comfortable eating and mingling.Michael was talking to David from the volunteer squad.Eli was chatting up a couple of the others.Lacey was probably petting a cat somewhere.Meanwhile, Nick and Claire stood like statues, each on their own plinth.Together, but not really.
You’ve become a real charmer, Nicky Boy.Maybe try saying something?
He kept getting tongue-tied around Claire.This morning, as they’d chatted through her office window, he’d been able to channel a little bit of flirty Old Nick, but that guy had deserted him.That happened a lot.He couldn’t stop second guessing himself and it was starting to piss him off.
“Lunch was good,” said Claire.“I had no idea it would be so much fun to eat from a craft services table.”
“The crafties take good care of us.Did you get enough?”
“Oh, yeah, too much.I had the egg salad sandwich.It was the size of my head.”
Why were they talking about lunch?Couldn’t he think of anything better?Real suave.
“I was curious about something.”
“Yeah?”Thank God.He was about two seconds away from waxing poetic about the seeded mustard on his sandwich.
“Um, how did your cat situation come about?”
