The Exposure by Tara Sue Me

Parrish.”
    He looked at her with surprise. “You know of him?”
    She nodded. “Art minor. I’d tell you these two pieces belong in a museum or an art gallery, but I have the feeling you know this.”
    â€œI do. In fact, these spent the last few weeks in my gallery downtown. I brought them home so I could enjoy them before trying to find a buyer.”
    She turned, clearly surprised. “You’re going to sell them?”
    â€œYes, there’s so much artwork I like, if I kept everything, you wouldn’t be able to walk in the front door.”
    Her resulting laughter took him by surprise. Had she everlaughed at something he said before? He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t ever want her to stop.
    But she did when she noticed him staring at her. “What?”
    â€œYour laugh.”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œI’d like to hear it more often.”
    â€œI guess I’m not the kind of person who laughs a lot.” A strange look crossed her face. “I don’t know why.”
    Damn it. How could telling her that he liked her laughter cause all the joy to leave her face? That hadn’t been his intent. “Hey, did I say something? I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    â€œIt’s nothing.” She exhaled and gave him a sad smile. “I wish I were the type person who laughed a lot, that’s all.”
    â€œMaybe you are and you’ve just been hanging out with the wrong people.”
    â€œThat’s a definite possibility.”
    â€œLet me show you the rest of the house.” He motioned for her to follow him out. No sooner had they stepped into the hallway than the kitchen timer he’d set for the bread went off. “Tour and then eat or eat, then tour?”
    â€œEat and then tour.”
    â€œA woman after my heart. Let’s go.”
    They walked back to the kitchen where she insisted on helping him set the table. He wasn’t in a mood to argue with her and he rather liked having her be all domestic in his house. She looked as if she belonged and the thought made him smile.
    She put two bowls on the table. “You’re looking at me funny.”
    â€œAm I?”
    â€œMm-hmm.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œLike you’re a dog and I’m a bone you’ve just been given.”
    â€œI’d never look at you like you’re a
bone
.” He leaned back on the countertop and crossed his arms. “Maybe a juicy steak.”
    She smiled and he
thought
he heard a giggle. That was progress. Maybe it wouldn’t be too much longer before he was getting full-fledged laughs routinely. He should make that a goal, to have her laugh,
really laugh,
once a week.
    â€œI guess a juicy steak is better than a bone,” she said. “Though I can’t imagine by much.”
    â€œIt is, trust me.” He pushed back from the countertop. “Let’s eat and you can tell me all about how you went from cover model to TV executive.”
    â€œReally?” She sat down as he brought the salads over. “Why would you want to talk about something so boring?”
    â€œThe camera loves you and you were once quite passionate about modeling. I’m trying to figure how it is you’re satisfied sitting behind a desk.”
    She took a bite of salad and, once she’d swallowed, replied, “What makes you think I’m satisfied?”
    Her words struck his heart, just like she probably knew they would. “Aren’t you?”
    â€œMost days, yes.” She shoveled her lettuce around the bowl. “But then others . . . Like, take this invitation I recently received. One of the NNN anchors has been nominated for an Emmy and he invited me to his celebratory dinner. I helped him get his foot in the door eons ago when I was fresh out of college. Days like the one I got the invitation? I’m not so satisfied then. I feel unsettled.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause I wonder