Page 44 of No More Heartbreakers

I shrugged. “Well, I just tried to shoot it the way you would have.”

“I’m not talking about your photography skills, though theyarespectacular of course. I meant with Mrs. Dixson. You’re a great interviewer. I was very impressed.”

“Oh. I don’t think I really did that much. It was all her.”

“No—don’t try to downplay it. You have a very special way about you. You make people feel comfortable. I saw it yesterday, too, with the hunter. People trust you. That’s a gift. You’ve gotit, you know, that thing it takes to go big time in TV news.”

“Really?”

I couldn’t keep the shock out of my voice. Mara and Kenley were always my faithful cheerleaders, but no one else had ever expressed such belief in my abilities.

While my parents and Halesaidthey were proud of me, they didn’t know anything about the business. And they always seemed to be trying to get me to question the validity of my career choice, as if it were something I’d grow out of.

“Thank you. Really, thank you. I think that’s… it’s probably the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“You’re welcome.” Aric gave a nod and went to hold open the door to the station.

* * *

Later, as I made myself camera-ready in front of the copier room mirror, Aric once again leaned against his desk and watched me apply my makeup.

“Need to get in here? I’ll try to hurry,” I said.

“Nah.” He waved away the suggestion. “All I have to do is slap on some foundation.”

“Lucky,” I growled.

He continued to sit there, observing me closely.

What was this about? I tried to ignore him, but seeing him in my peripheral vision, my body temperature rose until I feared the equipment in the room might malfunction from the radiant heat.

The hand holding my lipstick shook. No telling what I was going to end up looking like on the news tonight.

Finally I turned to him. “What are you doing?”

“Watching. It’s interesting, a lot more complicated than what I do.”

“Well, you’re already beautiful just like you are.”

Did I say that out loud?

I watched my eyes widen in the mirror and my skin take on a plum-ish hue under my thick base makeup.

He laughed. “Thanks. So are you. You don’t need any of that stuff off-camera. But I do like seeing you put it on. It’s very… girly.”

I slanted a look at him. “Don’t you have some last minute writing or editing to do?”

My tone was irritated. How was I ever going to put on mascara? I’d end up looking like a raccoon.

“Nope.” Aric crossed his arms and settled back against the desk. “All done.”

“Well, I hate to evict you from your front row seat to the cosmetics show, but I can’t do this with you watching me,” I finally admitted. “You’re making me nervous.”

Aric stood. “Oh. Sorry. Speaking of nerves, we didn’t get to it yesterday, but whenever you’re ready, I could show you a relaxation exercise.”

“Do you really think it’ll help?” I asked.

“I do. I told you, I’ve used it myself.”

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