Tyler laughed out loud, barely swallowing his tea in time to avoid a spit-take. “A cold brew? Have you looked outside?”
“The fact that you knew what it was tells me all I need to know.” She shot him a look through her lashes, and suddenly his hands were tingling. Something in his expression made her laugh out loud before she took another sip. He wondered what she’d found so hilarious.
“What do you do at the photography studio? You’re the photographer?”
She shook her head and leaned back in her chair, tearing off another piece of her cruller. “No, I’m a food stylist.”
“That means nothing to me.”
Emma barked a laugh.Three.He’d counted three different laughs since they’d met. “You know when you see commercials of burgers or ice cream sundaes? All slow motion and perfect?”
“You do that?”
She held out her hands and tipped her head as if waiting for a round of applause.Adorable.“I’ve shot for Timmies before.”
Tyler pointed at the picture of steaming coffee above the menu lines. “Did you style that picture?”
“No, they contracted me years ago. I doubt my work is still in the rotation.”
He took another bite of his donut, purposefully trying to eat it slower than usual. “So you’re like me.”
Emma’s eyes dropped to his chest and lingered before she looked back at her tea.Was she checking him out?“How so?”
“You’re a contractor. Moving from job to job.”
She nodded. “I used to bounce around a lot, but now I’m only contracted through that studio. They have enough clients that I haven’t had to find my own gigs for a couple of years now.”
“You work with the same photographers there?”
Emma nodded. “Two of my best friends.”
He grinned. “Not the worst.”
“Do you enjoy that luxury?” She held her cup with both hands and folded her leg under her before taking a longer drink.
“I have the luxury of working alone at home with my computer.”
She pursed her lips. “Seems . . . healthy.”
He laughed, watching the way her fingers moved over the insulated cup. “That’s why I have hockey.”
Her eyes narrowed as she leaned in. “You play?”
“Are you trying to figure out if my teeth are real?”
Emma’s mouth dropped, and her skin flushed pink. He liked that too. “No.Maybe.” Her face split into a wide smile. “Not that I’d judge you for it. All my brothers play, and Carter, my oldest brother, is missing at least one of his incisors.”
“Allyour brothers?”
“I have three and two sisters.”
“Big family.” He took another drink.
“Do you have siblings?” she asked.
Tyler exhaled. “Nope. Only child.”
“Wow. I have no idea what that must’ve been like.”
