“What do you think that last one was?”
She poked me. “Get ready!”
I couldn’t get over how hypnotizing Lori’s smell was. She had mentioned to me the last time I inhaled her scent and got in trouble that it wasn’t her hair, but the perfume on her neck.
It was a glorious mix of citrus and maybe jasmine, but there was something else that I couldn’t put my finger on.
What was it?
Five, four, three, two, one . . .
“Bamboo!” I said, pretty sure I figured out the other component of her perfume.
Another big flash that I wasn’t ready for.
Hopefully, I didn’t look like an idiot.
Lori tapped me on the arm this time. “Most people say cheese. Okay, last photo, get ready. Pay attention, Mr. Tough Stuff.”
I laughed. “Have I told you how pushy you are?”
“Yes. Shhh! Smile!”
“That’s what I’m—”
Flash!
I was so distracted that time I didn’t even notice the timer counting down.
Lori twisted so we were face to face. “Were you talking in the middle of that photo?”
Oh, dear.
We were inches apart.
The heat of her breath on my cheek.
I swallowed hard and glanced up at her lips.
Lori glanced down at mine. “Your mouth is much bigger up close.”
“Everything is bigger up close, genius.”
“Right . . .” Lori almost looked as distracted as I was, but then shook it off. “Were you talking during that last photo?”
“Huh? Uh, well, I don’t think so, but if I was it was all your fault.”
She laughed. “I’m sure we got at least one good photo out of those.”
I wasn’t so sure.
“Or we can do it again,” Lori said enthusiastically.
There were people talking outside the photo booth, most likely wanting to take pictures, so it was time for us to get out.
“You’re a masochist.” I didn’t mind her being on my lap, but people were waiting, plus I felt a pain coming on. “I’m getting a cramp in my leg.”
“Sit still while I maneuver my body in a way to—” Lori placed one hand on my leg and the other on my shoulder, trying to scoot back out.
Too bad she failed miserably, bumping into the inside wall of the photo booth and elbowing me in the chest while stepping on my foot.
“Ouch. Be careful.” I twisted and poked Lori in the nose with the “Too Sweet” sign.
“Hey! What are you doing with that thing?” She stepped on my foot again, this time hard enough I felt the heel dig in.
“Ahhh! Watch it!” I grabbed her by the waist with both hands. “There’s no need to be so rough. Watch your hand there.”
“And you keep that thing out of my face.”
“Keep your face off my thing. Can’t you be more bendy? Just use both hands and push, would you?”
“Can you quit bossing me around? It’s not like I do this every day. There’s a learning curve.”
She placed her other hand on my shoulder and swung around, her hair falling across my face and the top of her lavender dress opening up just enough to give me a little show.
Why was she breathing so hard?
And why was I?
This madness had to end, because the urge to kiss her was strong and I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea.
“Your hair is in my mouth,” I finally said.
Lori finally got off me and stepped out of the photo booth, straightening out her dress and messing with her hair since it was all over the place.
I slid out of the booth behind her and froze.
Kyle was standing there with his arms crossed.
So was Susan, the host of the investment program.
And Debbie, the receptionist.
Dan, too.
Why were they all staring at us like we had done something wrong?
Chapter Fifteen
LORI
“What was going on in there?” the photo booth operator said, laughing. “Wait—I don’t think I want to know.”
“I want to know!” Debbie had a huge smile on her face.
Kyle was glaring. “I don’t.”
Ben shrugged. “Nothing was going on. We were just taking pictures. What else would we be doing in that Cracker Jack box?”
“That is the question, my friend,” Dan said. “What. Else?”
“Nothing!”
I didn’t know what they were talking about until I thought about the conversation Ben and I had from the inside of the booth before we came out.
Watch your hand there.
And you keep that thing out of my face.
Keep your face off my thing.
It’s not my fault you’re so big.
Can’t you be more bendy?
Your hair is in my mouth.
I laughed and elbowed Ben. “Give it up. They caught us red-handed.” I grabbed my beer from the table and gestured to the photo booth. “Next!”
Debbie raised her hand. “That would be me!”
Ben grabbed the strip of three photos that dropped into the tray on the side of the machine and laughed hysterically. “I can’t believe you. That look on your face with the stethoscope is to suggest that I don’t have a heart?”
“What do you think, Tin Man?” I laughed again. “Okay, maybe you have a heart. I was just being silly, remember?” I leaned closer, trying to get a better look. “Let me see them.”
Ben shook his head. “Probably not a good idea.”
“Hand them over.”
Ben was still laughing as he handed me the strip of photos. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He grabbed his beer and took a swig.
I glanced at the three pictures. “No! You are the worst picture taker ever! What is this?” I laughed and shook my head, pointing to the second picture. “Were you sniffing my hair?”
Ben held his palms up. “I told you—you smell nice! It’s your fault.”
“Sure, blame it on me. And what about this picture? What’s the deal with your mouth shaped like an O? Oh, I remember, that’s when you said bamboo instead of cheese. You’re a little bit of a weirdo, aren’t you?”
I clinked her beer bottle. “Finally, someone gives me credit for that. Okay, no more photos. Do you want to go find more appetizers?”
“I would love to.”
Kyle approached us. “We have a professional photographer roaming around on the ship to document our anniversary. Make sure you both see her before you go. We can use the opportunity to have some promo shots taken of the two of you for the website.” He cleared his throat. “Appropriate ones.”
Ben groaned. “Oh, joy. More photos.”
“And make sure you find Fred Anhorn. He wanted to talk to you privately about something.”
“You got it.”
After Kyle walked away, I turned to Ben. “Who’s Fred Anhorn?”
“He’s the king of mattresses. One of our biggest advertisers.”
I nodded.
“We should talk about tomorrow. I thought it would be the perfect day to introduce your grandma to my grandpa.”
“You still want to do that?”