“I hope she’s all right,” Erica replied. Erica’s mind raced with too many thoughts to put into order. Who was their daughter, and why did Dominic need to help her? What kind of help did she mean? What did Dominic have to offer?
Gwen nodded, but by the way her brows furrowed, she knew there was still so much more to this story. “Yes, she’s fine now. Madison takes after her father and… Well, she’s just not too happy about it. Dominic’s helping her to cope, but I’m just not so sure the worst is over.”
Now Erica was entirely confused. Was Madison sick with some inherited disease from Jaime? Did that make Dominic something of a doctor? The man she met at Lunar Lantern didn’t look sick at all.
Before she had any chance to pry deeper into this mystery, Gwen took a breath and started toward the door. “Well, better not keep Jaime waiting. I hope to see you later,” she called out.
Slightly dazed, Erica stood by the counter and watched the woman hurry down the sidewalk.
When she turned back around, Dominic stood before her, pensive and staring.
Erica’s hand flattened against her chest in surprise. “I didn’t hear you come up.”
She totally forgot her earlier commitment not to look him in the face. A slow smile crept over his lips, and he took a few steps closer, dangerously close. Erica kept her feet planted and resisted the urge to shift her weight or back away.
I’m not afraid of him. I’m not afraid of him.
“Sorry I scared you.” The words came out so gently that she could have melted.
“You didn’t scare me,” she quickly insisted.
He slipped his hands into his jeans pockets. The short sleeves of his plain black shirt accentuated his muscled biceps, and Erica forced her eyes not to wander lower. God, he looked good enough to eat.
“I’ve been told I walk softly.”
“Well, you certainly do,” she replied with a nervous laugh. It was then that she had to remind herself of the original plan. Half of it was accomplished. Time for the second half. Her fumbling hands fished out a stack of business cards from her purse, and she went through her usual spiel about building up her clientele in Tolstone. When she handed Dominic the business cards, she hoped he wouldn’t see the way her hands shook.
It was so ridiculous that she could talk to just about anyone in town and not feel so vulnerable. She openly admitted that she was new and needed help making a living, but not once did she feel so exposed and helpless as she did standing in front of Dominic. She despised this feeling.
He studied her business cards for a moment. “So, that’s why you knew so much about the Rolleiflex.”
Erica folded her arms as if that would help her feel more in control of the moment. “I’m sure there are plenty of photographers who don’t do that kind of research, but I do. It’s been a passion of mine since I was a kid.”
Dominic walked around to the other side of the counter and reached down to pull out a plastic business card holder. He setit by the register and carefully placed hers in the wide groove, so they were properly displayed. “I don’t know how much business you’ll get in Tolstone, but I know we haven’t had a professional photographer around here for quite some time.”
Now that there was something to physically separate them, Erica’s heart felt a little safer somehow. “That’s what everyone’s been saying. Sounds like a good thing to me.”
Dominic rested his hands on the edge of the counter and Erica couldn’t help but notice the way it showcased his perfect form. “I’ll do my best to recommend you.”
Erica risked getting lost in his eyes and noted the faint, dark circles beneath the ocean blue. “You look tired.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she wanted to kick herself. Get in and get out. Her careful plan circled the drain.
Dominic’s smile failed, and he let out a long breath. “I am tired.”
“Didn’t sleep well?”
It was like Erica couldn’t stop the word vomit. His eyes invited her in, begged her for this conversation. It had to be him because she wasn’t normally this weak. She could have asked him about anything else from his business to the little incident with Madison Gabors, but no. She had to ask something so personal. What a damned idiot.
“Not at all, actually.”
Erica took this chance to end the conversation before it went too far. “I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe you’ll sleep better tonight.” She turned and made her way toward the door. “I’ve got to get going, but thank you for setting up my cards. I really appreciate it.”
Her mind screamed at her to leave; leave now while she could and hurry home so she could tend to her throbbing feet. There was something more than Dominic’s good looks going on here. It was a pull, some sort of weird cosmic force that drew her in andmade her want to stay and talk. Erica would fight tooth and nail to resist it for the sake of her own sanity. He was just a cute guy. That’s all. At least, that’s what she wanted to convince herself. She couldn’t get serious with someone right now, even if she wanted to. She had too much going on, too much to worry about.
Erica had her hand on the doorknob when her eyes drifted to the other side of the store, the side she hadn’t paid attention to before. She wasn’t sure what possessed her to look, but it proved to be her undoing.
Sitting between two crates loaded down with a set of lamps, figurines, and other vintage clutter, was a beautiful sofa. Its mahogany baroque pattern across the scalloped back trim and thinly padded arms was a little faded, the varnish rubbed away on the raised embellishments. The upholstery was also faded on the tufted back and seat, but the maroon and gold pattern of acanthus leaves was clearly distinguishable.
