Mistletoe Magic (4 page)

A few children tugged mothers around the incredible displays, but Melissa knew they were models for the advertisement; it would be hours before the store opened. Lights and reflectors were already in place for the photo layout that would take most of the day. Kids who wanted to see Santa Claus would have to wait until late that evening.

As she passed the enchanted castle set on a mountain, Melissa stopped as she always did to admire the massive display. There were delightful animated people and creatures in windows, on balconies, and along the mountain road. Three miniature brass trains chugged through the tunnels on various levels. Each time she viewed the display Melissa picked out new and charming details.

Inspecting one of the castle’s turrets closely, she noticed a tiny blond princess dressed in pink and white who stood near a dark prince. When the princess glanced up, the prince’s eyebrows lifted and then her eyes batted furiously. She looked down and he took a half step toward her, but quickly stepped back when she glanced up again. The flirtatious, animated scenario was so delightful, Melissa laughed.

“Hey, Melissa, come on,” Terry whispered. “The photographer’s anxious to get started.”

Melissa regretfully pulled herself away from the enchanted castle and joined Terry and the others, who were gathered in a group. There was an expectant hush as they waited for their instructions, and Melissa asked Clarence to let her get in front of him so she could see. When she did her jaw went slack. Why hadn’t she guessed the identity of the photographer who would do the layout?

There, a few feet away, stood Rafe Damon, staring at her. Then he quickly looked away. Why? Because he was ashamed of the way he’d treated her the night before? If not, he
should
be, Melissa thought belligerently, remembering how forward he’d been. She was sure Rafe knew how uncomfortable he’d made her feel, but that hadn’t stopped him from trying to take advantage of her.

Then he turned to say something to his assistant, a pretty young woman in jeans and a voluminous sweater. Was she his girlfriend? Her eyes strayed to the other woman’s left hand, which was pointing to a light. Melissa smiled when a diamond sparkled from her ring finger, then she clenched her jaw in disgust. What did she care if the woman was married or not?

“We’re set up and ready to begin,” Rafe said succinctly. “Although the children are models, they’re still kids at heart. I’d like them to act as naturally as possible. I don’t want to pose shots unless it’s absolutely necessary, so act like you would normally with the kids, only do it better. I’m going to move around while I shoot. Please try to pretend I don’t exist,” he ordered. “I’ll tell you if I want something special. Okay, let’s get to work.”

Melissa tried to resent his imperious tone, but she couldn’t, no more than she could stop herself from admiring the way Rafe filled out his black jeans and turtleneck, clothes that enhanced his dark good looks. Her eyes strayed to him again and again as she worked, until Melissa grew increasingly irritated with herself, especially when he caught her at it. She blinked and looked down at her basket of lollipops.

Why couldn’t she forget those bedroom eyes?

“Boy, I wish I could afford equipment like his,” the teddy bear grumbled softly. Melissa offered a piece of candy to the child leaving Santa, then turned to the Santa’s Workshop photographer.

“Don’t worry, someday you’ll be able to afford the kind of equipment you really want. Remember, you’re just starting in your career,” Melissa said, hoping to cheer him. “He’s been in the business for years. You’re neither as experienced nor as old as Rafe Damon.”

What was that supposed to mean? Rafe wondered, overhearing her comment while taking a shot of her and the teddy bear in the foreground with Santa and one of the kids in the background. He was annoyed that Melissa so blatantly reminded him of the difference in their ages. He wasn’t that old. Had she guessed he was interested in her? Was she telling the others? Melissa laughed and the tinkling sound played havoc with Rafe’s pulse. Was she laughing at him too?

“Excuse me for interrupting your personal conversation, Melissa, but I need your complete cooperation during this photo session,” Rafe told her with mock innocence. “Do you think you could get creative for me? I know, you could flutter your wings!”

Melissa seemed startled and her cornflower-blue eyes widened, making Rafe ashamed of himself for teasing her. Her cupid’s bow mouth opened as if to contradict him, but she shut it with a snap, tossed her golden tresses, and turned to one of the children, nearly shoving her wings in his face. Rafe stifled the urge to laugh. It served him right. What an adorable fairy she was!

All through the shoot Rafe kept reminding himself that she was too young to pursue seriously, but he lost the mental game he played. When noon approached he wondered how he’d managed to work at all. Every time he looked up, the magical vision in pink seemed to block his view. Or was it that his eyes were drawn to her wherever she might be? Damn! He just hoped he’d gotten some decent photos.

Shaking his head in disgust, Rafe looked around for his assistant, Pam, but once more his eyes strayed elsewhere. There, on the other side of Santa’s Workshop, Melissa was laughing with the green elf. Was that bozo her boyfriend?

“Lunchtime, everyone!” he shouted. “Employees, be back in forty-five minutes. Kids are through for the day.”

Then Rafe stalked the pink fairy and green elf, thinking this was as good a time as any to tell Melissa about the test shots Hux wanted.

“The guy’s pretty creative,” Terry was saying to Melissa. “I heard him tell his assistant he was going to set us up on the individual displays after lunch. You know, get some fun shots of Santa’s helpers playing with the toys. I can see why he’s successful. Rafe Damon’s a real dynamo.”

“He can be overbearing, all right.”

“Well, maybe he has a touch of a Napoleon complex. Small men sometimes do.”

Melissa laughed up at her freckle-faced friend. “You should talk. You’ve got to be two inches shorter than he is.”

“The packaging may be similar, but the difference is in the personality.”

“I’m sure he’s got a softer side to him,” Melissa insisted, not knowing why she should say anything nice about the pushy photographer.

“Hmm, defending him, are you? You wouldn’t have a thing for a certain man with dark hair, dark eyes, and a Napoleon complex, would you?”

“No!”

“Excuse me, but I’ve got to talk to Melissa for a minute.” Rafe’s voice came from behind her, interrupting the rest of her protest. “Alone.”

Melissa whirled around angrily. “I just heard you tell everyone it was time for lunch, so don’t you dare intimate I was goofing off again.”

“I wasn’t about to.”

“Excuse me,” Terry said, backing off in spite of the plea Melissa knew he recognized in her eyes. He winked at her mischievously. “I told Clarence I’d have lunch with him and he’s an impatient man when it comes to food.”

“What do you want, Rafe?” Melissa demanded impatiently, crossing her arms.

“How about coming to my studio tomorrow, so I can take some test shots of you?”

“I have no interest in posing for your photographs.”

“What do you call what you’ve been doing this morning?”

“My job. For Haldan-Northrop.”

“The test shots are
for
Haldan-Northrop. More specifically for Huxley Benton. He asked me to take them as a personal favor.”

Sure he did, Melissa thought, suspicious of Rafe’s motives. She knew the two men were good friends and that Hux had a reputation as a playboy. Undoubtedly, both men were cut from the same cloth. So Rafe wanted to get her alone, did he? To repeat—or complete—the performance begun in Gretta’s bed? Having lived in New York for nearly two years, she wasn’t so naive that she couldn’t figure it out.

“Well?” Rafe asked, leaning over Melissa and resting his hand on the display behind her. “How about it?”

Inching away from his encroaching body, she said, “Next you’ll tell me Louise and the kids will be there to watch.”

“I don’t know about Louise. She’s in and out, depending on what errands she has to run. The kids will be in school.”

“How convenient.” Melissa was not about to set herself up to be alone with him; what if he wanted pictures of her in the nude or something? “But I won’t be there, either.”

“What’s the matter, Melissa?” Rafe raised a dark brow and his lips twitched. “Don’t you trust yourself to be alone with me after the way you kissed me?”

“After the way
I
—why you—”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” He inclined his head and lowered his voice. “I’ve been told I’m a pretty good kisser.” Melissa began sputtering again, until he added, “But then, so are you. Do you sprinkle fairy dust over every man you meet?”

Wide-eyed, Melissa stared at the attractive photographer as if he were the one spreading around fairy dust. When Rafe ran his fingers over one of her wings, she shivered as if he were touching her body. When he leaned closer she thought he would kiss her again, and she couldn’t move away to save herself.

Suddenly, Huxley Benton’s voice broke the spell and Melissa took a relieved breath when Rafe straightened and moved away.

“There you are, Rafe. Are you two discussing the test shots?”

“There’s nothing to discuss. Melissa’s not interested.”

Hux’s handsome face frowned down at her. “Melissa, why not? I might be able to use you for other promotions in the future.”

“I…well…”

“Really. Kids take to you. I’ve got an idea I’ve been working on, and you might be the perfect person for the job.”

Her financial uncertainty rising in her mind, Melissa let him sway her, albeit reluctantly. More than ever, she was wary of the playboy photographer. “All right. I’ll do it.”

“Be at my place at one.”

“Fine.” She avoided Rafe’s eyes. “Now can I go to lunch?”

Hurrying to the employee cafeteria, Melissa thought about Rafe. At least the test shots were legitimate, though she couldn’t say the same for his behavior. Remembering how he’d so blatantly come on to her, she repressed the slight thrill that ran through her and concentrated on the fact that she’d always disliked pushy men.

Chapter Three

Melissa wished she could stop being so nervous. She hoped she had no real reason to be. On the short subway ride to the Village, she’d kept telling herself to relax, the photography session would be strictly professional. Surely Rafe Damon wouldn’t take advantage of a work situation, would he? Besides, despite his pointed remarks and sly glances, she’d decided to give the photographer the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps she’d made a rash judgment based on past negative experiences.

Melissa knew she tended to be defensive about men. She’d never liked it when an escort tried to be overprotective, equating her petite size with helplessness. Nor did she like it when big-city types approached her with confident conceit, trying to bowl her over with charm, undoubtedly believing they could seduce her into a fast-paced affair or a one-night stand. Why couldn’t men appreciate old-fashioned courtship? What was wrong with allowing casual dating to mature to a more serious relationship, which, in turn, might develop into permanent commitment?

She sighed. Surely there were men around somewhere who would appreciate her values and she’d find one to her liking eventually. Too bad Rafe Damon was so darn attractive. Melissa was sure he didn’t fall into the acceptable category.

Switching her dress bag to her other hand, she approached the entrance to Rafe’s studio. A thrill of trepidation ran through her as she gazed up at the photographs in the window. What if he gave her a difficult time today? Could she manage to keep him at arm’s length and still get through the session? Hux had hinted she might be able to earn extra money if he liked the test shots. She’d have to use that incentive to give herself courage. Straightening her tense shoulders, Melissa mounted the steps and rang the bell.

Rafe opened the door himself, his dark brown eyes sweeping over her appreciatively, his full lips spreading into a charming grin. “Hello, Melissa,” he said, holding the door open to let her in. “You’re right on time. I’ve got the studio all set up.”

Gliding by carefully in order to avoid touching him, Melissa caught a whiff of spicy masculine cologne as she went to the hall closet to hang up her coat and the garment bag with her costume in it. Her heart was pounding a little faster than normal and she jumped when she turned and nearly bumped into him.

“Oh! You startled me.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t try to back you into the closet. I thought we’d try something different today.”

“I certainly hope so!”

Rafe cleared his throat. He looked like he was trying to keep from laughing. She hoped she hadn’t given him more ideas; he seemed to have enough of his own.

“The studio’s that way. Want to trip lightly on in and take the seat in front of the camera?”

“That’s what I’m here for, isn’t it?” she asked irritably, walking away with dignified steps.

He’d placed a high stool amid all the lighting equipment. Because her legs were too short to hook her heels over the bottom rung, Melissa made herself comfortable by crossing her ankles and leaning against the chair’s high back. Looking around the space, she didn’t see Rafe’s assistant anywhere, but perhaps the young woman didn’t work with him every day. Obviously, they were going to be alone.