Lizzy pulled her into a hug. “You better. And don’t ignore my texts. I’m one of your people so you’re not allowed.”
After waving to Ross, Lizzy was gone. Mia returned to her chair.
“Are you ready for your camera shop?” Ross asked.
She took a deep breath. “Ross, my cousin has a tendency to run away with an idea once it gets in her brain. You shouldn’t feel pressured to change anything if what you’re doing is working for you.”
He gave her an amused look. “I would say that’s ironic coming from you.”
“The fact that you’re not wrong doesn’t make me feel particularly good about myself. It is your business, and you need to be happy with it. I know I should keep my nose out of it. I’m sorry if you ever felt I was acting like a pushy, boss lady. I’ll try to be less so.”
He drew her to his chest, and this time she let him. It was like slipping on her favorite sweater. “You may be a bit of a know-it-all boss lady, but it doesn’t mean your ideas aren’t good and that I don’t need a little push in the right direction every once in a while. And maybe your cousin has the right idea, too. I kind of like the idea of having Lanza in the name. It’s something I can talk to Lulu about.”
She closed her eyes as she accepted the transfer of comfort from his body into hers. “Okay, whatever you guys decide. I’ll do what I can to help out. Not because you need it, but because I like being a part of your jewelry world.”
Ross didn’t say anything for a few moments, his arm tightened around her, and he rested his cheek on her head. “Alright, should we go?”
“You seem to be just as excited as I am about this camera store.”
“Maybe I’m excited to see an eight-year-old Mia go on a toy store shopping spree.”
She laughed as they stood before giving his face careful examination, her mind returning to the conversation she had with Lizzy. She tried to picture what a different future could be. As hard as she attempted to imagine, the vision was too limited, like wearing a pair of sunglasses at night. But Mia couldn’t deny the balloon of happiness inflating within her chest, testing the capacity of her ribcage.
As they departed the coffee shop, she slipped her hand into his.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ross was inthe workshop but could hear Aanya speaking to someone inside the store. He found it easy to block distracting noises and returned to his work until he heard a laugh.Herlaugh. Ross would recognize Mia’s laughter anywhere, and it stopped his activity in an instant.
He lifted his magnifier glasses to the top of his head and glanced at the vintage analog clock with the yellowing face. It was almost closing time. They didn’t have any formal plans to get together, although they rarely made them. Everything between them happened in a casual, spontaneous way. Ross and Mia were drawn to each other. Time between meetings was never very long, and either she sought him out or the other way around.
He was tinkering with an old camera he wanted to give to Mia for her birthday but hid it away, deciding to investigate the activity in the shop. As soon as Ross pushed through the workshop door, their gazes collided. Mia gave him a smile, complete with a dimple, as bright as the sun as she crouched down to place a simple wildflower wreath on Hermes’s head. He was still surprised to learn there was an actual beating organ inside his body. He could hear the blood pulsating inside his head.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my favorite bench jeweler.”
“Hey, Mia. I should be finished up soon.”
“Someone’s getting a bit egotistical. How do you know I’m here to chat with you?”
“I knew from the first day you walked into my store.”
“Considering that you were the only one working that day, you were pretty much my only option.”
Oh, he was for sure going to make her pay for that one. But he realized their eyes had locked onto each other as if they were the only two people in the store. He blushed when Aanya, who stood between them, cleared her throat.
“Well, I’m off. I’ll leave you two kids to enjoy your evening,” Aanya said, moving toward the office to gather her personal items.
“Aw, Aanya, I was hoping you could help me convince Ross to put some images on the shop wall.” Mia kept her eyes, lighted with humor, still focused on him.
He shook his head in response. Mia would never give up until she’d whittled his resolve from redwood log to toothpick.
Aanya strolled out with her purse under her arm and tugged her jacket into place over her stout shoulders. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to get in the middle. I’m sure you two can handle it quite well. Do you want me to open up the store tomorrow, Ross?”
“Why would you need to open it up? I can do it.”
“Just offering. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
After Aanya walked out, he locked the door and flipped the open sign around.
