Page 46 of Full Strength

He laughed. “I doubt they’ll wait that long. That was for a really big magazine that booked out a year in advance.”

I cringed. “I’m not patient enough for that.”

He smiled. “I get that from your position, but after the shoot is done, I stop caring about it. It’s not until my assistant sends me a copy that I ever think about it again.

I rolled my eyes. “Men.”

He shrugged. “When you do as many as I do, they all start to blend together.”

I almost choked on my mouthful of food. When I finally managed to swallow and wipe my eyes I started laughing. “Did you hear how awful that sounded?”

He managed to keep a straight face. “I did actually hear it once I said it.”

“The lives of the rich and famous, man, I don’t know if I could handle it.” I winked as he started to blush.

“That wasn’t what I meant. It’s just that photoshoots are a part of the job. They lose their excitement and novelty quicker than you’d think.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Someone else doing my hair and makeup for me, then telling me how pretty I am? Sounds like a real drag.”

“Hey, if that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”

I fought to keep my blush from creeping up to my cheeks but was sure I’d failed. “No thanks. Let’s just finish.”

“So, you can have your cinnamon roll?”

I giggled. “Maybe.”

He laughed at me, but we continued eating with much less teasing. “I’ll clean up.” Grant said as he stood and took my empty plate in one hand, still cradling Eli.

I jumped up and hurried over. “No way. You brought dinner so that means I clean.”

His eyes settled on me, with his hands full, and he smiled. “How about we clean up after dessert.”

He read my mind. I nodded and he jumped up and placed the cinnamon rolls in the microwave.

“You know the way to my heart.”

He laughed. “You have to eat them warm. It’s just wrong any other way.”

Yup, he got me. I took a bite as soon as he placed it in front of me. “Mmmm.” I moaned and savored the gooey, sweet delight.

“Do they satisfy your craving?”

I nodded with a full mouth.

We were finishing our cinnamon rolls when my phone rang. I got up and went to the counter. It was an unknown number, but it could be a client or something to do the salon so I answered.

“Hello?”

“Addison?” I knew instantly it was my ex, Ryan. I glanced over to Grant, but he was oblivious to the situation.

I walked to the hall and slipped into my room. “Why are you calling me?”

“I saw you today.”

“What? How?” Was he back? Last I’d heard he moved to Colorado or Nebraska. I hadn’t cared at the time, I was just relieved he was out of state.

“I follow Threads Magazine.”