Hayley arrives at the top of the stairs with a cup of coffee. “Oh, hey,” she greets Myles as she wanders to the counter. Her gaze swivels to me and I see her attempt to suppress a smile.
I turn toward the basement. “We’re going downstairs to shoot some pictures for the site.”
Myles hauls the huge bag up onto his shoulder and follows me down the steps. Stevie trots along with us, curious. She sniffs around then snuggles onto her cushion, watching as Myles pulls some lights from the bag and sets them up.
I stand there watching him too, arms hanging limply at my sides. I’m afraid if I step any closer, I might slide my hand over the smooth muscle of his bicep and press a kiss to it.
Fuck.
“The website is pretty much ready to go,” he says, snapping a light stand together. “It should be up in a couple of days. I just wanted these pictures to convey more of the feel of the brand, of you.”
“Awesome,” I say, grinning. I watch him adjust a light. “Do you want some help?”
“No, I’ve got this stuff. Why don’t you pick out some dresses and get changed?”
“Right.” I glance at the rack of dresses beside us. I brought the navy dress back in for this because he said he wanted to shoot me in it. But now the thought of putting it on feels strange.
He finishes fiddling with the light and turns back to me. “Everything okay?”
“Um…”Pull it together. God.“Yep. All good.” Yanking the dress off the rack, I duck into the fitting room. I tidy my hair, check my makeup, and when I can’t delay it anymore I finally put the dress on again, slipping my feet into the shoes. I look exactly the same as I did last night, when he…
Anyway. I can be professional.
Myles is concentrating on his camera when I step out of the fitting room. “Go stand by that wall,” he says brusquely, and I try not to be offended. The last time I put this dress on down here he couldn’t even form a coherent sentence—and now, apparently, he couldn’t care less.
Still. That’s not what this is about, is it?
I stand in front of the wall, trying to make myself relax. He adjusts one of the lights then turns back to me.
“Okay, smile.”
I lift my mouth, waiting for him to take the picture, but he doesn’t.
His brows slant together. “Is that the best you can do?”
“Hey, this was your idea. I told you I’d look stupid.”
“You’re not even trying.”
“What?!” I huff. “I’m not a model. I don’t know what to do.”
“I know,” he mumbles. He sets his camera down, coming over.
My body goes rigid. Is he going to kiss me? Because I wish—
He doesn’t, of course. He just takes my hand and places it on my hip, posing me like a Barbie doll. Then he steps back, assessing me for another second, frowning. He turns to look around us for inspiration and his gaze lands on Stevie. “Here,” he says, picking her up.
I take Stevie’s tiny body, still feeling uncomfortable as I watch Myles pick up his camera again.
“Just play with her and forget I’m here.”
Easier said than done, but okay.
I gaze down at Stevie. Her tiny brown eyes stare up at me and I tuck her against me with one arm, stroking a hand over her fur. I feel like I haven’t seen her much recently and I miss her.
Myles clicks a bunch of pictures and I glance up, surprised.
“Don’t look at me,” he snaps.
