Forbidden Fantasies Bundle(41)
“I thought it came out good.”
“You really caught me.” She realized abruptly that his shot was better than the one she’d taken of herself. She grasped her locket, toyed with the clasp and looked at Rick. The photo was her personal treasure, but Rick deserved to know how good he was.
Holding his gaze, she pried open the locket and cupped it in her palm like a butterfly for him to admire.
He looked, then lifted his eyes to hers. “This is the one you took?”
She nodded.
He studied it. “It’s very good.”
“Not as good as yours.” She pulled the chain over her neck and held the locket next to the proof, angled so they could compare the two images. “In my shot I look nervous. In yours I look happy and hopeful.” Eager, really. With a sigh, she closed the cover and put the chain over her head, adjusting the locket between her breasts.
“You wear that every day.” He tapped it and she felt the vibration in her bones.
“To remind me to go for what I want, to never settle.”
Rick cupped her cheek with one hand. “You deserve to get what you want, Samantha.” His words made her feel like releasing a breath she’d been holding for years.
But I want you.
There was a velvet sash on the shelf a few inches away. She could hand it to him and her willing ravishment fantasy could happen right here. Tie me up, Rick. Make me beg.
Except that ship had sailed. They’d both agreed. There were other guys out there, just as hot, just as worthy, just as in tune with her body.
She sighed.
The door buzzer sounded, breaking the tension.
“That’s probably our one o’clock. Mary Jane Sizemore,” she said.
“Which studio do you want to use?”
“One. She wants a romantic shot.” She glanced at the stack of proofs. “I should really organize these orders. Why don’t you go ahead and handle her? I’ll assist, but you run the sitting.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
“Sure you are. We just saw the proof.” She tapped the envelope that held the shot he’d taken of her.
“That was different.” His voice was low, serious and his green eyes crackled. Lord, she wanted him.
“I certainly hope so,” she said, struggling to keep it light. “You can’t be seducing all my clients or they’ll never want to leave.”
“It’s only you I can’t resist,” Rick said with a rueful smile. At least it had meant something to him, too.
“You’ll do fine. Make suggestions on positioning and talk her into the right mood.”
“Easy for you to say. Just don’t leave me hanging long. Who knows what awkward position I can get the woman in.” He pushed to his feet, straightened his shoulders as if he faced an unsavory duty and marched off.
She started for her office, but she heard Bianca’s smoke-rough cackle instead of Mary Jane’s voice, so she changed direction and headed to the reception area. “Bianca,” she said in welcome. “You look gorgeous.”
“You like? It’s my own design.” Bianca did a quick twirl in her gold-threaded knit suit with a leopard-spotted collar, cuffs, belt and pillbox hat. “I call it ‘Sheena, Businesswoman of the Jungle.’”
“It’s perfect for you.”
“Bianca has good news and great news,” Rick said, winking at Samantha, clearly fighting a grin. The woman had charmed him, too, when she’d popped in for a few sittings, and Samantha could tell Bianca adored Rick.
“More business for you!” Bianca said. “One of Joey’s buddies is getting married and they want you to do bedroom shots. I’m talking the entire wedding party—bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers. Twenty-five people!”
“Wow,” Samantha said. “That is great news, Bianca.” She winked at Rick.
“No, no, no. That’s only the good news,” Bianca said. “The great news is that I’m taking a photography class.”
“You are?”
“At Phoenix College. Darien’s idea. I was telling him about helping out at Bedroom Eyes and he said, ‘Why don’t you take the blankety-blank pictures, baby, instead of talking about them all the blankety-blank time?’ He has a potty mouth, my Darien, but, anyway, he got a catalog from the college and there was a class so I said, why not?”
“You’ll do great, Bianca. You have a great eye.” If she had the patience for the technical aspects of the craft, Bianca would make a respectable hobbyist.
“And you’ll give me tips and show me tricks?”
“I’ll help you however I can.”
“I knew you’d say that. I wouldn’t have the nerve to do any of this stuff—the knit shop or the class—if it weren’t for you.” Bianca lunged at Samantha for a bruising hug.