Chapter Four #2
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 set it 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 and made 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.
Erica let go of the door handle and slowly walked toward the piece of furniture that she could never afford.
It was too lovely, too elegant, and it would have blended perfectly in her new living room.
The futon sofa near the fireplace couldn’t stay there.
She knew that much. She should have told Burt to take it up to one of the spare bedrooms the day before.
It didn’t belong in her Victorian house, and if she intended to use the living room as a photo gallery, she would need a dramatic conversational piece like this.
Dominic’s heavy footsteps followed her, and she wondered if he was making more noise just for her benefit.
Her fingers lovingly grazed across the woven fabric, and she could picture this in her living room. When her gaze landed on the price tag, she immediately recoiled and stepped away.
“Like it?” Dominic asked.
“I love it,” she whispered, almost afraid to hear herself say the dreaded words. She didn’t want to be so in love with something she couldn’t have. “The furniture I have right now really doesn’t match my new house. I know I’m going to have to get new stuff eventually.”
“You’ll also need something nice for your studio, right? Don’t photographers have a special studio for photo shoots?”
She winced at the truth in what he said. “Yeah. All I’ve got right now are canvas backdrops. I thought I’d collect things over time, like rocking chairs and desks and stuff like that.”
A long moment passed, and neither said a word, both staring at the beautiful sofa that was truly more for aesthetics than to provide guests with comfortable seating.
The cushions were too flat, and modern sofas had to be plush, built for hours of sitting and watching television.
This was made for another era, another world.
She smoothed back her hair, in disbelief that she was still in Dominic’s shop when she should have been long gone. Erica wondered why she was standing there, as if she were waiting for him to take the initiative and usher her out the door before she could do something stupid … again.
“I’ll tell you what,” he began. “You can have the sofa.”
At this, she finally turned to him and shook her head, face pinched in embarrassment.
She couldn’t take any more handouts. She wasn’t a charity case, and she didn’t want his gifts.
A camera was one thing, but this sofa was worth over a thousand dollars.
It was far too generous, and she didn’t want to be on the receiving end, lest there was some ulterior motive.
Before any words of protest could fly out, Dominic held up a hand to stop her.
“Only on one condition.” His expression turned serious and business-like, as it should have been from the very beginning. “It’s more of a loan. You can keep the sofa and use it for your studio, but if one of your clients is interested in buying it, we split the profits.”
It was such a strange arrangement that it took her mind a moment to catch up. “So, it’s more like I’m borrowing it on the stipulation that I try to sell it for you?”
“In a way, yeah. I’ll split the commission down the middle as long as you take good care of it too.”
Erica gritted her teeth and cast her gaze back to the sofa as she weighed the options.
It could be a win-win for them both. She got the sofa she wanted, and Dominic could give it a little more exposure with the hope of selling it.
Though she wasn’t so sure how many would be able to see it in her living room until she fixed up the rest of the house to make it suitable for guests and clients.
Back and forth she debated with herself whether to reject the offer out of principle or accept his gift and be thankful. Her mind told her one thing, but her careless and whimsical heart told her another.
Casting aside her pride, she nodded. “Deal. I’ll be sure to let everyone know it’s for sale.”
Dominic reached out and pulled off the price tag from the arm of the sofa. “I’ll get it ready for delivery.”
It was then that she realized she’d have to finally break the news that they were neighbors. “I … I live at 53 Crescent Lane.”
“I know,” Dominic replied calmly as he wadded up the tag.
Shocked again, Erica shot him a look. “You know?”
He flashed her another dashing smile, all professionalism gone. “I saw the U-Haul, and since I haven’t heard about anyone else new in town, I assumed it was you. That place has been empty for a while, and I’m glad it has a new owner.”
There was something in his excuse that didn’t quite settle well, but Erica chose to overlook it. “Well, I hope I don’t turn out to be one of those annoying neighbors. I like to play music at night sometimes, so if I’m ever too loud, just let me know.”
His eyes smoldered as he replied, “Oh, I’ll definitely let you know if you become a little too rowdy.”
Erica colored at the insinuation, but he turned and walked away toward the counter to write up the modified bill of sale before she could come back with anything clever in return.
The walls around her heart threatened to crack beneath the pressure of all that had taken place between them over the last two days.
If she wasn’t careful, this man was going to really mess her up.