“I’m only half an hour away,” she informed me. “And we haven’t even set up yet. Let me see if we can re-schedule the shoot, and I’ll be home within an hour.”

“What for?” I returned. “I told you, I’m fine.”

“But, Rowan…”

“Really, Felicity, I’m fine,” I cut her off. “I’m a big boy, and I can take care of myself. I was just making some willow bark tea when you called.”

“You’re sure, then?”

“Absolutely. We can talk about it later,” I assured her. “Besides, they need you there to make pretty pictures for them.”

“I don’t know about pretty,” she replied. “I’m shooting automotive parts today.”

“What, no swimsuit models?” I asked her with a hint of good-natured sarcasm.

“No, but I’m doing a lingerie shoot for the Kathy’s Closet chain next week,” she answered and then added her own query. “You want to help set up and tear down the backdrops and lights?”

“Yeah, right,” I returned with a chuckle to what I thought was a facetious question.

“Actually, I’m serious,” she returned. “It’s going to be an all day shoot, so I could use the help.”

“Yeah, okay, if I don’t have a rush job or something for a client, sure,” I told her. Then I joked, “But are you sure you really want to get me around all those young models?”

“Doesn’t matter,” she replied. “I trust you. Besides, you’ll be working for me and you’ll have to do everything I say.”

“Everything?” I asked.

“Uh-huh,” she purred and then repeated the word with somewhat exaggerated pronunciation. “Ev-er-y-thing.”

“Sounds interesting.”

“And, of course, if you don’t, then I just might have to take some disciplinary action.”

“Again, sounds interesting.”

“You never know,” she answered with an amused giggle. “By the way, they also offered me a nice discount at their stores.”