“Is that something you can do?” he asked.
“Not very easily. If your cousin’s around, we could use her as a model.”
“Maybe if she comes for a visit, but it probably won’t be until the holidays.”
“She’s not nearby?”
“No, she’s going to school in Chico,” Ross responded.
“Oh, well, the holidays aren’t too far away. I also think it would be nice if we had some couples photos.”
“Couples photos?”
“You know, images of madly in-love couples, where someone has just received beautiful jewelry from their true love.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re not just selling jewelry. You’re selling romance, love, happiness, all the Valentine’s Day clichés. In this business, I would think you’d have to embrace the clichés. And people like pretty pictures, it allows them to imagine it could be them.”
As far as Ross was concerned, he was selling jewelry, not romantic promises. The last thing in the world he worried about was giving people the feeling of romance, not when the emotion was so far removed from his day-to-day existence. While he’d had various relationships over the years, he had never been in love and never expected anyone to fall in love with him.
“Did you want to see?” Mia’s voice broke into his thoughts.
“See what?” He was confused. Was she still talking about romance?
She gave him an odd look. “The images I took. What else could there be?”
“Oh. Yeah, okay.” He moved closer, viewing the camera’s display screen over her shoulder as she flicked through the images. Considering Mia arrived with a box filled with garbage, Ross was impressed. Though it was hard to concentrate when he kept noticing the gold and red hue variations playing across the strands in her hair.
“I still need to do some work to adjust lighting and coloring, but I think the box did a pretty good job.” Her vibrant eyes lifted to his. “What do you think?”
“Yeah, they’re fine,” he managed to grumble. Her eyes stayed with him as if expecting something more. She would be disappointed. He didn’t have anything else as all additional thoughts scattered from his brain.
“And what do you think about my couples photo idea?”
He shifted, moving to a safer distance. It was easier dealing with Mia when she was further away. An acceptable range would be one where it was necessary to shout at each other through cupped hands. Perhaps then, he’d be less tempted to release the hair being held captive by her ear. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I really don’t think all that’s necessary. I’m sure what you’ve done is good enough.”
“Can I just try a test photo? Maybe it might convince you.”
“What?”
“It’ll be real quick, Ross. Come on. You and me.” She drew nearer in eagerness.
He backed into one of the display cases, the corner jabbing him in the ass. “Ow. I-I don’t think that’s a good idea. Besides, we’ve already agreed I’m not a model.”
“Well, neither am I, and we both know you’re better looking than I am.”
Ross’s eyes snapped to hers at the compliment. The control he wanted to maintain in this situation was squeezing between his fingers. He became desperate to yank it out of arm’s reach. “That’s obviously not true.”
She flashed a grin. “Aw, you think I’m better looking? That’s so sweet.”
Shit.
“No, that’s not what I was say—”
“So, I’m not good looking? Whatareyou trying to say?” Her grin was replaced with a frown.
“Dammit, Mia. Fine, we’ll take the damn photo.” A judgmental finger pointed at her. “Stop trying to manipulate me. I know you’re doing this on purpose.”
