Книга - Love is in the Air

Love is in the Air
Devon Vaughn Archer


Final destination: Desire Weekend reporter Holly Kendall isn’t looking for a mile-high romance when she boards a first-class flight home to Houston.Busy with work commitments, the one thing she can’t do is let anything sidetrack her. But Anderson Gunn, the sensual legal consultant sitting next to her on the plane, is one irresistible distraction. And once they land on solid ground, their attraction soars. Holly’s passionate heart overrules her practical mind—until she discovers that Anderson’s exactly the kind of player she vowed to stay away from.An ex-fiancée is just one of the skeletons in Anderson’s closet, but he’s given up his heartbreaking ways. Yet convincing Holly that he’s a changed man is next to impossible. Will his past mistakes cost him a future with the woman of his dreams?







Final destination: Desire

Weekend reporter Holly Kendall isn’t looking for a mile-high romance when she boards a first-class flight home to Houston. Busy with work commitments, the one thing she can’t do is let anything sidetrack her. But Anderson Gunn, the sensual legal consultant sitting next to her on the plane, is one irresistible distraction. And once they land on solid ground, their attraction soars.

Holly’s passionate heart overrules her practical mind—until she discovers that Anderson’s exactly the kind of player she vowed to stay away from. An ex-fiancée is just one of the skeletons in Anderson’s closet, but he’s given up his heartbreaking ways. Yet convincing Holly that he’s a changed man is next to impossible. Will his past mistakes cost him a future with the woman of his dreams?


He put a hand to his chin.

“So you think you have me

all figured out, huh?”

“I don’t know about that, but at least the music.”

“A good start,” he said. “I’ll be happy to fill in the blanks whenever you like.”

“Good. I plan to hold you to that,” she promised.

At the moment, he would have just settled for holding her. The thought of their bodies touching had a rippling effect through Anderson, causing his temperature to rise. Was she feeling the vibe, too?

After the meal, Anderson walked Holly to her car. He wanted more than anything to kiss her. Something told him she felt the same.

He leaned in slowly and grazed her lips.

Holly felt his lips on hers and was quick to reciprocate. She had been hoping Anderson would kiss her, as it seemed the perfect way to end what had been a pleasant date. The kiss, which lasted for several scintillating seconds, wasn’t a disappointment in the slightest. She liked that he wasn’t pushing for too much, too soon, and was respectful in giving them both something to look forward to the next time.

In her mind, it was a given that there would be a next time. But were they on the same wavelength?


DEVON VAUGHN ARCHER

is a bestselling author of many Harlequin Kimani Romance novels. These include Love is in the Air and three stories that take place on different Hawaiian islands, including Pleasure in Hawaii, Private Luau and Aloha Fantasy. He is also the author of the Kimani holiday classics Christmas Diamonds and Christmas Wishes. Archer was the first male author to write for Harlequin’s Kimani Arabesque line with the moving love story Love Once Again. The author has also written a number of bestselling urban and mainstream fiction, including Danger at Every Turn and The Hitman’s Woman, as well as hot-selling young adult fiction, Her Teen Dream and His Teen Dream. To keep up with his latest news and upcoming books, follow, friend or connect with Devon Vaughn Archer on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, MySpace, Goodreads, LibraryThing and www.devonvaughnarcher.com (http://www.devonvaughnarcher.com).


Love is in the Air

Devon Vaughn Archer










www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


Dear Reader,

I am happy to present to you my latest Harlequin Kimani Romance, Love is in the Air. It is sure to keep you engaged throughout.

When a weekend anchor and a legal consultant wind up sitting together on a flight to Houston, it is but the beginning of their romantic journey that will perhaps never bring the pair back down to earth.

The idea for this story was conceived from a visit to the airport and imagining two strangers finding romance by chance and a mutual desire to fall in love. Is your mind open enough to find romance in the air, if you clicked with your seatmate?

This wonderful romance will make you believe anything is possible with love.

I invite you as well to read my three recent Hawaii-themed romances, Aloha Fantasy, Private Luau and Pleasure in Hawaii.

Kind regards,

Devon Vaughn Archer


I would like to thank my wife, H. Loraine,

for her tireless devotion to me and my writing.

I would never have found my current success without her presence in my world.

I also express appreciation to the Harlequin Kimani editors and staff I have worked with for their professionalism and support through the years.


To “Sleeping Beautiful,”

my other half and gorgeous wife who taught me

the meaning of true love and a lifetime commitment.

And to my mother, Marjah A. Flowers,

and sister, Jacquelyn V. White, the other ladies in my life who have provided the inspiration and support

to make me the person I am today.


Contents

Chapter 1 (#u54222420-2acd-5dca-ae58-ff9783c2c6a6)

Chapter 2 (#u6ee8a500-287b-59a0-a9f8-5e8775841062)

Chapter 3 (#u77a4f781-9796-5d4b-8ced-166a755fe7b7)

Chapter 4 (#uce805df7-e88b-5de4-8a50-89c072b42dd9)

Chapter 5 (#u79a28ed9-5ccf-5d95-8fac-00c83965797e)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)


Chapter 1

Saying goodbye was always the worst part of a trip for Holly Kendall. She was tongue-tied as she stood there at the Portland International Airport with her brother, Stuart, who was two years older at thirty-three, and his cute-as-a-button seven-year-old twin daughters, Dottie and Carrie. What was supposed to be a mid-August weekend trip from Houston had stretched into three days, but still seemed like far too little time. It would just give her an excuse to come back for a visit sooner rather than later.

“Well, guess you’d better get out of here, or you’ll have us all in tears,” Stuart said, scratching his pate under his short, dark hair.

“I suppose.” Holly had sworn she would keep it together at this point. But could she help it if they were the only family she had, aside from her father? Their mother had died suddenly five years ago. A year later, Stuart’s wife had left him to raise their daughters all by himself. Who said life was ever fair?

Holly bent down and gave the girls a hug and big kiss. “You take care of your daddy, you hear?”

“We will,” Carrie said tearfully.

“Promise,” Dottie followed.

“Good girls.” Holly stood up and reached to hug Stuart, who towered over her five-foot-nine-inch frame. “Maybe next time Dad will come with me.”

“Yeah, right,” Stuart scoffed. “I can count on one hand the times he’s visited since we’ve lived here.”

“He doesn’t like to be too far away from home,” Holly said. “At least not since Mom passed away. But hey, never say never.”

“I won’t. And that includes never saying you won’t meet Mr. Right and start your own family someday,” Stuart said.

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” It wasn’t that she had no faith such a person existed. It was more a matter of him never quite materializing in her busy world. She hadn’t exactly given up trying. But between her work as a weekend anchor, volunteer work and hanging out with her friends, she honestly wasn’t sure there was any time left in her life right now for a man.

Holly waved goodbye before going through security and heading for her gate. She had a half hour or so before boarding, so she stopped in a store and purchased an Oregonian newspaper, bottled water and some mints.

When she neared the gate, Holly could see that it would be a full flight. So what else was new these days as airliners consolidated and looked for every cost-cutting measure?

She saw an empty seat in the waiting area right next to a good-looking man. He was bald, well dressed and seemed quite content to stare off into space with his deep gray-brown eyes. Of course that changed when he saw her approaching and he gave her his undivided attention. A moment of self-consciousness swept over Holly as he assessed her from head to toe. She was dressed casually with little makeup, and her shoulder-length wavy black hair was in a convenient ponytail.

What difference does it make if I’m not at my best? she thought. It’s not like I’m trying to impress him or anything.

“Is this seat taken?” she asked calmly.

“It is now,” he said, an amused grin playing on his lips. He moved a briefcase over that had been sitting on the floor in front of the chair, clearing the way.

“Thank you.” The instant she sat down, Holly got a whiff of the man’s strong cologne. It was Obsession, which happened to be Stuart’s favorite. She preferred something a bit more mellow and on the spicy side. But then she realized it wasn’t her that he was trying to impress. He probably had a lady waiting when he reached his final destination.

Holly put the folded newspaper on her lap as she tried to get comfortable in the chair. The man beside her reached to grab the paper.

“You mind if I take a look at the sports section?” he asked.

She shot him a cold stare. Snatching it away, she responded, “Actually, I do mind. Maybe you should ask before you assume.”

He cocked a thick brow. “Maybe I should have, but for some reason I didn’t think you were into sports.”

“That’s beside the point,” she said stiffly. “I prefer to be asked for something that belongs to me.” In fact, she loved sports and had grown up with a father and brother who couldn’t get enough football and basketball. They had passed their love for the games on to her, and she had always hated when other men assumed that she knew nothing about sports.

He chuckled. “My apologies. Would it be all right if I took a look at the business section? Or is that off-limits, too?”

Holly had the feeling he was being condescending. Did she not look like someone interested in business? Or did he simply think he was entitled to someone’s property when he was perfectly capable of buying his own newspaper?

She met his eyes. “Look, I bought the paper to read myself, without having to share or wait till someone finishes a section when I’m ready to read it. I suggest you go over there and buy your own newspaper. They had plenty left.”

“Are you always so possessive of what’s yours?” he asked coldly.

“Only when someone’s persistent and won’t leave it alone.”

He took a breath. “I can’t believe we’re squabbling over a damned newspaper.”

“So let’s not,” she countered, “and we’ll get along fine.”

He laughed. “Yeah, whatever.”

Holly sensed that he was irked and wondered if she should find another place to sit. Trouble was, there were no other empty chairs near the gate. So she was stuck there. Next to someone who probably thought she was acting like a bitch.

Perhaps she had overreacted. After all, it wasn’t as if she couldn’t share the paper while holding on to the front and entertainment sections, which she most wanted to read.

She pulled out the sports section and put it on his lap. “Keep it,” she said. “I can get any sports news I need from my iPad.”

He grinned, picking up the paper. “Thanks.”

“Forget it.” She opened up her water and took a drink before lifting up the entertainment section, trying her best to ignore him, but finding it impossible for some reason. Perhaps it was because she could tell from her periphery that he was staring at her. Against her better judgment, she stared back. “Is there something else you want?”

“Actually, there is...” His eyes narrowed. “You look strangely familiar.”

I was wondering how long it would take for that to come up, she thought. She was used to people recognizing her from television and pretty much took it in stride. This time would be no different.

“I get that a lot,” she told him.

“Really?”

“Yes, it seems to be a great pickup line.”

He chuckled. “I suppose. Not this time, though. Seriously, could we have met somewhere before, or—”

Holly had a mind to satisfy his curiosity and get back to reading the paper, but she knew that would likely open the door to more questions that invaded her personal space. “I doubt that,” she assured him. “I never forget a face.” She certainly would not have forgotten his, for better or worse.

“Neither do I,” he insisted, staring at her. “Especially one so striking.”

“Oh please...” Holly was somewhat flattered, but she had a feeling that he was a player who used lines that probably worked on most women. Not her, though. Many men had found her attractive, even beautiful. But in most instances, they were more interested in what was below the waist than above. Was that his intention, as well?

“Maybe we could start this conversation over,” he said coolly. “My name’s Anderson.”

Holly looked at him as she considered the name. It somehow suited him, and maybe even piqued her interest a tad. Did he live in Portland? Houston? Or neither?

“Holly,” she said simply.

“Nice to meet you, Holly.”

“You too.” She responded as she would to anyone she was talking to at the airport. Even if Anderson was drop-dead handsome and seemingly interested in her. Or was he simply just passing the time waiting for their flight to board?

* * *

Anderson Gunn tried to read the sports section. But the truth was, he was captivated by the beautiful lady seated next to him. Even without being overly dressed up or wearing much makeup, it was obvious that she had the complete physical package: tall and slender, with just the right amount of curves and bends. He liked her butterscotch complexion and heart-shaped faced. Her lips were full and seemingly created to be kissed. He imagined if her hair were down, it would be silky smooth were he to run his fingers through it.

Though his attraction to her was undeniable, there was more about her that piqued Anderson’s curiosity. There was no question that he had seen her before. But where? Maybe at a bar? On the street? At a social event? Then it hit him like a bolt of lightning.

“Wait—” He leaned forward, peering into eyes that were like black pearls and just as enchanting. “You’re Holly Kendall! You do the evening news on KJTW.”

Holly frowned. “You’ve got me. Except that I’m the weekend anchor in the morning on KOEN.”

Damn. Blew that one, he thought. “My apologies. To tell you the truth, I get most of my news from CNN and Fox, along with my iPhone. But I do catch some local news and recognized your face—albeit the wrong time and wrong channel.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you,” she said, even if it bruised her ego just a bit. “It happens.”

He feigned a sigh of relief. “Glad to hear that.”

“So I take it you live in Houston?”

“Yep, born and raised there. Spent some time living in Dallas, Sacramento and Memphis along the way.”

“I see.” She wondered if he was a military brat. Or did his family just move around a lot?

“I’m guessing you grew up in Houston, too, by the accent.” He’d detected it right away. It was subtle but unmistakable nonetheless, just as he supposed his accent was.

Holly raised a thin brow. By most accounts she didn’t have an accent, per se. Especially not on the air. Admittedly, she did let her guard down somewhat when being herself and conceded that maybe she did have a slight Southern drawl.

“Yes, I’m from Houston,” she said, sipping her water. “And I’ve never lived anywhere else, though I’ve traveled to quite a few different places.”

“It’s a great city to hang one’s hat,” Anderson said.

“I agree.”

“You didn’t happen to attend the University of Houston, did you?” Anderson asked.

“Yes, in fact, I did. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication there,” Holly said proudly. She looked at him, guessing he was about two or three years older. “Did you?”

“Yeah, I did my time there as an undergrad before moving on to the University of Houston Law Center.”

Her eyes grew wide, impressed. “So you’re a lawyer?”

“Not a practicing one,” he told her, not wanting to bore her with the details of his change from a high-powered corporate attorney to a less stressful and time-consuming occupation. “Actually I’m a legal consultant.”

Either way, Holly imagined that he was making good money. She wondered who he was spending it on. As if that was any of her business.

“Is that why you’re in Portland?” she asked.

He nodded. “I have a client here. How about you?” He hoped to hell she didn’t say she was carrying on a long-distance love affair, though he couldn’t imagine any guy wanting to be that far apart from such a smoking-hot woman.

“I have a brother and two nieces living here. I was just up for a short visit.”

“Cool.” Anderson found that he’d lost all interest in reading the paper. Especially when he’d rather read into Holly Kendall and learn as much as possible about who she was. Would she be okay with that? Or would he be pressing his luck by continuing the conversation?

Before he could say anything else, Anderson’s phone rang. He took it out and saw that it was his Portland client, Dodson Paul, who ran a very successful law firm.

Anderson frowned at Holly. “I have to take this.”

She batted her lashes. “Don’t let me stop you.”

Holly watched him shoot to his feet before answering the call. It gave her a moment to further assess him. He was tall at around six-four, and appeared very fit, as though he worked out regularly. She thought his pecan complexion suited him, and his square-jawed face with a prominent nose and wide mouth only added to his physical appeal.

He stepped farther away, turning his back, as though to block anyone from hearing the conversation. Not that she wanted to hear him saying sweet things to his wife or girlfriend. A tiny piece of Holly felt envious, since she had no one at home waiting for her. But she had put loneliness on the back burner in favor of the rich life she had otherwise.

When it was announced that first-class passengers could board, Holly stood. It had been nice to have the brief chat with Anderson, but she doubted either of them had any room in their lives for one another in Houston.

She stood up and looked his way. He was so absorbed in his conversation that he didn’t even notice. She grabbed her bag, leaving the paper behind, and took her place in line.

* * *

When Anderson got off the phone, he noticed that the plane was boarding. He also saw that Holly was gone. Damn—he hadn’t gotten a chance to say goodbye.

Anderson grabbed his briefcase and headed for the plane. He definitely envisioned Holly as girlfriend material. She was gorgeous, sexy in an understated way, educated and obviously successful as a television personality.

But he seriously doubted that with her qualities she was just sitting around waiting for a man to pop into her life. He couldn’t get that lucky. Could he?

In any event, he realized it probably didn’t make much difference now since that window of opportunity had passed. For all he knew, she was sitting beside some dude on the plane who was busy trying to win her over.

Anderson boarded the plane. The moment he entered the cabin, he spotted Holly sitting all by her lonesome in a window seat in first class. It wasn’t till he checked his boarding pass that he realized, against all odds, that she was his seatmate.

And she was occupying his seat.

He grinned when she looked up at him. “Well, hello again,” he said.

“Hi.” Holly colored a little from the intensity of his stare. She peeked past him as if trying to point out that other people were in line behind him, waiting for him to proceed down the aisle.

“Looks like we’ll have time after all to finish the conversation we started,” he said with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“Excuse me?” Her lashes fluttered at the notion.

“We’re sitting side by side,” Anderson said. “Actually, if you check your boarding pass, you’ll find that I have the window seat.”

“Really?” Holly pulled the slip of paper out of her purse, clearly surprised that she was in the wrong seat. “My mistake. I’ll be happy to move.”

Anderson dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m cool with the aisle seat.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. It’s easier for my long legs to get up and flex.” He also liked the idea of her being effectively stuck on the inside so there was no escaping him. After tossing his bag in the overhead bin, he slid into the seat next to her. Suddenly the normally dull flight to Houston had gotten a lot more intriguing.


Chapter 2

The flight was a bit bumpy, which made Holly a little nervous. Not to say that she was a fearful flier, but they were 30,000 feet in the air and she didn’t take anything for granted.

Somehow she felt comforted by Anderson’s masculine presence, as though it was his job to make sure nothing bad happened to her. It was a silly thought, especially considering that his close proximity also made her a little nervous. She usually felt that way whenever she was attracted to a man. Since it had been a while since she could say that, she hadn’t decided yet if that was a good or bad thing.

“Weekend morning anchor, huh?” Anderson commented, nursing a scotch on the rocks as he watched Holly sip some red wine.

“That’s me.” She wondered if he viewed that as a lesser position than anchoring the weekday noon news, which her good friend, Blythe Cramer, co-anchored with veteran newscaster Allan Kennedy.

“I have to be honest in saying that you’re even more beautiful in person—and that’s not a line.”

“Thank you,” Holly said, though still not sure if he was getting carried away with her looks. “But I’m not on television as an actress. I’m a serious journalist.”

“And you do your job very well,” he said, although he didn’t get to see her often enough on his big-screen television. That would have to change. “There is one thing I’ve always been curious about when watching newscasters—”

“Hmm...do I really want to know?” she asked, half joking.

“When you’re reporting all that bad news with murders, car accidents, robberies and the like, do you take that home with you or leave it at the job?”

Holly stared at him for a beat before offering a response. “Both,” she said diplomatically. “Of course, you wouldn’t be human if you could talk about such things and simply shut it off once you leave the desk. But, on the other hand, if you let it all get to you too much it would probably drive you crazy. Meaning you shouldn’t be in broadcast journalism.”

“Well-thought-out answer,” Anderson said, impressed.

“Just telling you how I feel.” She looked at him. “Do you take your work home, figuratively speaking?”

“I used to much more than I do now,” he responded thoughtfully. “These days I try to keep my business and personal life as separate as possible, which isn’t always easy.”

“So what happened to make you change?” Holly realized the question was delving further into his life than he may have cared to go. In which case, he would simply tell her it was off-limits. And that would be that. But since he had opened the line of questioning, she had every right to counter.

“It’s a long story,” Anderson said.

Holly refused to let him off the hook that easily. “Well, I’m not going anywhere, and since we still have more than two hours of flight time left...”

Anderson chuckled. He understood that if he was curious about her that it only stood to reason that she felt the same about him. After tasting his drink, he turned to her and said, “Fair enough. Back in the day, which was not so long ago, I was a hard-driving, overly ambitious attorney thinking only about my bank account and myself. It played havoc on my personal life and damn near everything else. I finally got smart and decided to try to turn things around. So I changed careers, mellowed out and am the better for it today.”

“Good for you,” Holly said.

“You’ll get no argument from me there.”

Holly smiled, but she was still curious about the man. She suspected that his past life also involved a woman, probably a wife.

Sensing that she wanted more, Anderson decided to give it to her. “It cost me a good relationship.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“Yeah, so am I. But it happens and we move on.”

“Is it really that simple?”

“Sometimes it has to be,” he said. “We can’t go back. We can only deal with the aftermath and try to avoid past mistakes.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Holly thought about her own past mistakes where it concerned men. It mainly came down to expecting too much and often receiving too little, which made for a bad mix. She wondered if it might be different were she involved with someone like Anderson. Or was he still damaged goods that she would do well to avoid at all costs?

“So, is there a man waiting for you back in Houston?” Anderson asked, throwing caution to the wind. “Husband, boyfriend, or whatever?” He found it hard to imagine someone like her could be available, but it was worth a try.

“No husband or boyfriend,” Holly told him succinctly.

He lifted a brow in surprise. “Is there a story there or...”

“I’m not gay, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I wasn’t,” he assured her.

“I’ve dated, of course,” she said. “And I know this sounds like a cliché, but I just haven’t found the right man.” She couldn’t believe she was opening up to this stranger about her love life. Or lack of. But, then again, why not? They would probably never see each other again after the flight. On the plane, though, the close proximity sort of bonded them temporarily.

“That’s too bad.” Not really, he thought. He didn’t doubt that such a man existed. She just needed to find him.

“Believe me, I’m not complaining,” Holly felt compelled to say. “I’m happy with my life. Besides, these days I’m too busy with work and doing things with my family and friends to be bothered.”

Anderson chuckled. “Bothered? Is it really such an imposition on your life to be involved with someone who cares for you?”

Her brows lowered. “I never said it was an imposition.”

“You might as well have.”

She sighed. “Look, there’s more to life than being defined by a relationship. That’s all I’m saying. If it happens, it happens. But I won’t spend my life looking for something that may never be there. Not when I have so much else to focus on.”

“I understand,” Anderson said.

“Do you?” Holly asked pointedly.

“Yeah, I do.”

She took his word for it, having been judged—or misjudged—all her life in one respect or another. In high school she had been considered too curvy to make the cheerleading squad, but she had made it her goal to prove them wrong. And in college she was thought to be a long shot to be class president. But she had showed them. Even as a journalist she was once thought to be too attractive to be taken seriously. So she had taken on a tough job as a foreign correspondent in Asia and earned her stripes, just to prove them all wrong.

If she ever did hook up with someone, he would have to be able to deal with her independence and career. Not all men could handle that. She wondered which cloth Anderson was cut from in that respect.

“Is there someone waiting for you in Houston?” she asked him. Might as well find out now, for better or worse. “Or are you still hung up on that relationship that fell flat?”

Anderson anticipated the last question. It was one that had dogged him for the past two years since his last serious relationship came to an end. Getting over her took time, but he managed to look ahead not behind.

“No, I’m not hung up on her,” he said, noticing that their shoulders were touching. “That’s water under the bridge, as far as clichés go. And in answer to your other question, no, there’s no one waiting for me in Houston.”

Holly tried to gauge if there was anything between the lines regarding his availability. Or was he, like her, just living his life while keeping his options open? “Is that by design? Or have you just not found anyone you want to be with?”

“Probably a little of both,” he answered honestly.

“Well, good luck either way,” she said, lifting her glass to his.

“Back at you.” He touched his glass to hers and tasted his drink.

No sooner had Anderson set down his glass than they hit a patch of turbulence that caused the airplane to drop sharply. Holly fell over onto his chest and grabbed hold of him for dear life. Instinctively, he held her in his arms, enjoying the feel of her soft, supple body. The sweet scent of her hair was pleasing to his nostrils. He imagined them together making love in all the wrong places. And even the right ones.

“It’s okay,” he told her tenderly. “We’re not going down.”

At that moment, the plane corrected itself and all seemed calm again. Holly, who had seen her life flash before her eyes, realized she was still clinging to Anderson and he seemed in no hurry to release his strong arms from around her.

She sucked in a deep breath, feeling embarrassed that she had let her guard down in a moment of panic. Apparently it was just a false alarm and she would live to see another day. Hopefully many more days.

“I think you can let go of me now,” she said.

“No problem.” Anderson reluctantly removed his arms. “Just didn’t want to do so till I was absolutely sure we were past the danger zone.”

Holly leaned back in her seat, wondering what had come over her. Had he been merely a convenient shoulder to lean on? Or was it more about the man himself that made her feel safe in his arms?

She refused to read more into it than it was. Especially since she suspected he was the type that was used to coming to the rescue of damsels in distress, even if he wasn’t currently involved with anyone.

“Didn’t mean to fall onto you like that,” she said self-consciously.

“It wasn’t your fault. When you get turbulence like that, none of us can control what happens. I promise not to hold it against you.”

“Thank you.” He was definitely a perfect gentleman in trying to comfort her, something she didn’t take lightly these days. “Guess we should be landing soon.”

“Looks like it.” In truth, Anderson hated to see the journey come to an end, rough patches and all. He hoped it didn’t mean their new acquaintanceship had to end, too.

* * *

The plane made a picture-perfect landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Holly breathed a sigh of relief. Once she stepped into the terminal, she was prepared to put the bumpy ride behind her. She suspected it wouldn’t be as easy to forget Anderson.

“I guess this is where we say our goodbyes,” he told her as she was about to retrieve her checked luggage.

“I guess it is,” she said, forcing herself to smile.

“Actually, it doesn’t have to be.” Anderson looked down at her. “Maybe we can get together sometime for dinner or whatever.”

Holly met his eyes. “You mean like a date?”

“Yeah, a date would be nice.” He grinned, hoping it would be enough to win her over for now.

She really had no good reason to say no, other than her normal caution whenever she met anyone new.

“I’m really pretty busy right now...” she began. “But maybe we can get together sometime. Do you have a business card?”

“Of course.” Anderson removed a card from his wallet and handed it to her, deciding against pressing his luck at this point. “It has my office and cell phone numbers, along with my email address.”

Holly glanced at it, spotting the name Anderson Gunn above his title. She loved the name—it was suave and fit the man. “Thank you.” She slipped her hand into her purse and pulled out one of her own business cards. Handing it to him, she said, “If I don’t pick up, feel free to leave a message.”

“I’ll do that,” he promised.

She smiled. “Well, I’d better let you get on your way. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

Anderson beamed. “Goodbye, then, Holly.”

“Goodbye, Anderson.” She watched him walk away and, strangely enough, was already beginning to miss his companionship.

* * *

On a sunny afternoon, Holly drove her Subaru Impreza down Interstate 45 toward her father’s house, wanting to stop in and say hello before heading to her place. She tried to check in on him as much as possible since her mother died. A proud man, he did his best to try to appear strong and unaffected by much, but she knew he was still hurting after losing his one and only true love.

Will I ever find that type of connection with anyone? she wondered. Or was that something too hard to come by today?

Her mind turned to Anderson. They had gotten off to a rocky start, but seemed to make a connection along the way. But could it go anywhere? Would he actually call her? Should she call him?

Holly turned onto South Wayside Drive and a little later made a right on Wildwood Way. A few houses down, she pulled into the driveway of the redbrick bungalow where she’d grown up. Her father was sitting in his favorite Adirondack chair on the porch, a beer can in his hand.

Robert Kendall was a semiretired dentist. He took part in the free outdoor dental-care clinics offered to low-income residents of the city several times a year. The rest of the time, he enjoyed sports, working on projects around the house and taking long walks.

Holly got out of the car and smiled. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hey.” His sable eyes crinkled as he smiled.

She stepped onto the porch and gave him a hug.

“How was your trip?”

“Good.” She was sure Stuart had already phoned and given him the scoop. “Not counting the turbulence, which was pretty bad a couple of times.”

“That’s just nature’s way of letting you know who’s boss.”

Holly chuckled. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“And how are my little granddaughters doing?” Robert asked.

“Full of energy,” Holly said. “Why don’t you come with me next time and you can see for yourself just how much they’ve grown.”

He took a swig of the beer and shook his head. “They’re welcome here anytime. Maybe you should remind your brother of that.”

She frowned. “He has a life there, Dad. He can’t just leave it behind anytime.”

“You seem to do that just fine.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t if I had to chase two seven-year-olds around all the time.”

“He never should’ve married that gal,” Robert said glumly. “She was never good enough for him. Abandoning her daughters like that is unforgivable.”

Holly agreed, but there was no point rehashing old news. “The important thing is that Stuart stepped up as a father. Now maybe you should, too, and go visit him and your granddaughters more often.”

“Point taken.” He drank more beer. “Can I get you something?”

“I’m fine.” She sat in the chair that her mother used to occupy and felt a little sad.

“Yeah, I miss her, too,” Robert said intuitively.

“I know you do,” she said sorrowfully. “It’s still hard to believe Momma’s gone.”

“Yep. Time can only do so much to heal the wounds.”

Holly had considered her mother to be her best friend and someone to whom she could talk about anything. Now she would never get to see what life had in store for her daughter.

“She’d want you to get more out of life,” Holly said.

“I’m getting plenty out of life,” he insisted.

“What about companionship?” She had not really gone down this path with him before. But, since he’d been a widower for five years, maybe it was time he looked for someone else to spend his time with.

“What about it?” he asked.

“Momma wouldn’t want you to be all alone.”

“Actually, your momma wouldn’t want you to be alone,” Robert said bluntly. “I’m sixty-three years old and past the stage where I need someone in that way. But you’re still young and still single. Maybe it’s time you let someone in.”

Holly thought that was pretty slick of him to turn the tables so it was all about her. She decided to take the bait. “I’m not afraid to do that.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Yes, I’m picky, but if he comes along I’ll know it—and so will you.”

He chuckled coarsely. “Okay, just don’t keep me waiting too long. I won’t be around forever.”

“Don’t be too sure about that,” she countered. “I have a feeling you’ve got plenty of gas in the tank and will be there for as many grandchildren as you can handle.”

His eyes widened. “You mean there could be more?”

Holly immediately regretted saying that. Yes, she wanted kids, but had no way of knowing if that would ever happen for her. First she had to find a man she liked well enough to become a potential father to her children. Then he had to want kids, too.

Anderson Gunn popped into her head.


Chapter 3

Holly lived in a cul-de-sac in the River Oaks section of Houston, between the downtown and uptown districts. Her modern ranch-style home had hardwood floors, granite countertops, plenty of windows—everything she had wanted. She also had a home office and workout room, though she preferred to exercise outside, jogging and riding her bicycle.

After putting her things away and catching up on mail and email, she showered and dressed before heading out to meet her friend Madison Wagner for cocktails. The two had met a few weeks ago at a book fair and hit it off.

When Holly walked into the Blue Café, she immediately spotted Madison. She was hard to miss with her long, curly brown hair with blond highlights, gold-flecked brown eyes, beautiful caramel skin tone and an enviously slender frame that Holly would kill to have. As usual, Madison was smartly dressed in designer clothes.

“Hey,” Holly said as she approached her.

“Hey, girl.” Madison flashed a smile. “Thanks for coming.”

“Had to get your take on the hottest books,” Holly said. Madison was a successful book reviewer and was known for being brutally honest in her reviews.

“I’ll be happy to share. Let’s find a place to sit.”

Though the place was crowded, they found a table near the back and ordered drinks.

“So how’s that good-looking brother of yours doing?” Madison asked.

Though they had never met face-to-face, Madison and Stuart had video chatted one day.

“Busy as ever with work and playing daddy,” Holly told her.

“Good for him. Honestly, I’ve never been the mommy type, but I applaud any single parent who can balance everything in life as he seems to be doing.”

Holly had assumed that Madison was cool with children, but apparently not. So much for any possibility of Madison and Stuart getting together someday. Not that she could pass judgment, considering children were not exactly a priority in her own busy life these days. Though not having a man made the idea of being a mother that much harder to grasp.

“It can be very challenging at times,” Holly said. “But somehow he manages to get by.”

“Don’t we all, no matter our challenges.”

“True.”

A young couple who couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other got up from the table beside theirs. Holly couldn’t help but notice the enormous wedding ring on the woman’s finger.

“Did you get a load of her ring?” she asked.

Madison smirked. “How could I not?”

Holly sensed that she had hit a sore spot. “What?”

“Two years ago I was engaged. Then my asshole fiancé called the wedding off a week before we were supposed to walk down the aisle.”

“You’re joking?” Holly asked, though it was evident by the anger in Madison’s face that she was anything but playing around.

“I wish I were. It was a terrible time in my life and it still hurts.”

“That’s awful. I’m sorry. You should’ve told me before now.”

“It’s not exactly the way I wanted to begin a new friendship, by sulking over my ex,” Madison said. “Especially when I’m trying to move on and forget him, hard as it has been to do.”

“I understand.” In truth, Holly couldn’t imagine falling for someone only to have the rug ripped out from beneath her because he got cold feet or whatever.

“Sorry about that,” Madison said. “I didn’t mean for tonight to be a downer.”

“If I’d known, I never would’ve gawked over that ring,” Holly told her, feeling a little guilty.

“Really, it’s fine,” Madison assured her. “Just because I was hurt by a jerk doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to picturing a man slipping a ring on your finger someday.”

Holly envisioned that for just a moment, but it still seemed so far away.

Besides, right now this was about Madison, not her.

“I hope you don’t let that jerk keep you from giving your heart to another man,” Holly said sympathetically.

“I don’t want to,” Madison said, lifting her drink. “But it is what it is. After putting everything I had into that relationship only to get burned, I’m not ready to get back into the dating game. Maybe someday.”

Holly figured this probably wasn’t the best time to talk about her own romantic prospects. Especially since she didn’t have too many prospects lately.

“Let’s talk about books,” she said, changing to a more agreeable subject. “I just finished a thriller by Zolton Elliot. It was pretty intense and I would definitely recommend the book, even though the protagonist was a little too perfect. What should I try next?”

Madison tossed back her hair, smiling. “I’m so glad you asked. I can recommend several books and you can pick which one sounds most enticing.”

Holly typed in the recommendations on her iPhone, hoping to read them all eventually. They ordered a second cocktail.

* * *

On Saturday morning, Anderson watched the large television screen above the elliptical machine as he worked out at the fitness center. Holly’s lovely face was on display as she delivered the news with the professionalism and anchor voice that showed she was in her true element. Since they had said their goodbyes five days ago, he hadn’t been able to get the lady out of his mind. Indeed, the only reason he hadn’t already called her was that he wanted to allow a few days to pass before asking her out. And maybe a small part of him wanted to give both of them some time to allow their initial meeting to settle in. After his workout, he showered and dressed. He headed outside, squinted in the sunlight and got out his cell phone, dialing Holly’s number. She picked up midway through the second ring.

“Hey there, this is Anderson,” he said.

“Hi,” she said softly.

“Saw you on the news this morning.”

“Did you?” She paused. “How did I do?”

“Need you ask?” he responded. “You were great.”

“So great that you thought I was on another station.”

Anderson chuckled. “And you won’t let me forget, will you?”

“Not a chance,” she said with a laugh.

“Maybe I can make it up to you,” he said. “What are you doing for lunch?”

“Hmm...actually, I already had other plans for lunch. Sorry.”

So was he. Might those plans include another man? Not that he would be scared off by a little competition, but if that were the case, he wanted to know up front.

“It’s cool,” he said.

“In case you’re wondering, I’m meeting with a female colleague to talk shop.”

Anderson grinned and felt foolish for being jealous without cause.

“Are you available for dinner?” he asked hopefully.

“Yes, I am,” she replied.

He preferred to pick her up, but suspected that might not be to her liking for a first date. “Do you know where the Rooster Place is?”

“Yes, I’ve been there before.”

“How about we meet there at seven?” he asked.

“Seven it is,” Holly told him.

“Great. See you then.”

After disconnecting, Anderson headed for his silver Mercedes in the parking lot. He was excited at the prospect of going out with Holly, and that was a feeling he hadn’t had for a woman in a long time. She had a lot of qualities he admired. He hoped to uncover the rest of her along the way.

* * *

Holly was glad to hear from Anderson. In fact, had he not called today, she would have taken the initiative and asked him out. Though she was used to being pursued, this was the twenty-first century and there was absolutely nothing wrong with a woman asking a man out—especially if that man was interesting and easy on the eyes.

Besides, it was nice to forget she was an anchorwoman and let her hair down. Anderson Gunn seemed like a man she could do that with. She looked forward to having dinner with him tonight and learning more about what made him tick, besides work and the sports section.

She drove to the Wine Factory, a trendy café on Uptown Park Boulevard, where she was meeting her friend and fellow anchor at a rival network, Blythe Cramer, for lunch.

They arrived at the same time and gave each other a hug.

“Great tan,” Holly said, knowing Blythe had just returned from Hawaii.

“Thanks.” She ran a hand through her short blond hair. “I probably spent way too much time in the sun and water in Maui, but what’s a girl to do while vacationing in paradise?”

“As long as you had a good time, what more could you ask for?”

“My sentiments exactly,” Blythe said. “Let’s go taste some wine.” A few minutes later they were sitting down, sipping chardonnay and listening to live music by a flamenco guitarist.

“This music is beautiful,” Holly said. She immediately found herself wondering what type of music Anderson enjoyed. She pictured him as a classic R&B or urban music lover.

“Yes, it is,” seconded Blythe. “But I still have Hawaiian music in my head. It will probably take a while to get past it.”

Holly had never been to Maui and was envious of anyone who had. But unlike Blythe, who was recently divorced and happy to venture there on her own, she preferred to take that type of romantic trip with a man. Maybe one day she would.

“I heard that Bill Togin is retiring when his contract runs out next month,” Blythe told her. “That means there will be an opening on the coveted evening news.”

“Are you going for it?” Holly asked.

“What do you think?”

“That would be a yes,” Holly said, smiling.

“You bet it is. I’ve waited long enough,” Blythe said.

“Good luck. I’m not against switching around if the opportunity presents itself, but for now I love working weekends and having the week to do other things I enjoy.”

“I’d love to do weekends only, if I could afford it,” Blythe said. “But with my mortgage and credit cards maxed, I need all the airtime I can muster.”

If Holly hadn’t known better, she would think that Blythe was holding it against her that she had been left a small inheritance by her grandparents a few years back, much of which she had invested. It allowed her the luxury of working part-time without falling into debt.

“Who is that hunk?” Blythe suddenly asked, getting Holly’s attention.

Holly turned and her eyes widened when she saw Anderson enter the room with a tall, gorgeous woman.

* * *

Anderson practically froze when he laid eyes on Holly. She was sitting with an attractive blonde and seemed less than pleased to see him there. Or was it more about who he was with? He looked at his client, Suzy Dillman, whom he had no romantic interest in whatsoever. He suspected Holly might have thought otherwise.

“Will you excuse me for a moment?” he asked Suzy.

“Sure,” she responded. “I’ll find a table.”

“Thanks.” Anderson made his way over to Holly, smiling as he walked toward her. “Hello.”

“Hey.” Holly tried to keep her voice even, though she was beginning to wonder if he was a player or what.

“Do you two know each other?” Blythe asked.

“Yes,” Holly said. “This is Anderson Gunn. We met on a plane the other day.”

Blythe grinned mischievously. “Well, hello. I’m Blythe Cramer.”

“Hi.” Anderson eyed Holly again. “Are we still on for dinner tonight?”

“You tell me.” She batted her lashes. “Who’s your friend?”

He glanced in Suzy’s direction and saw that she was waiting patiently. “She’s a client and senior partner at Dillman, Benson and Krieg,” he explained. “Nothing more.”

Holly took him at his word, not wanting to make a big deal out of the fact that his client was an attractive woman. He was entitled to have any clients he wanted without her getting jealous—especially since they hadn’t even had their first date yet.

Her lips curved into a smile. “I guess I’ll see you then at the Rooster Place.”

He smiled back. “I guess you will. Catch you later, and nice meeting you, Blythe.”

“You too,” she said. She waited till he walked away before turning toward Holly. “Are those sexual vibes I’m picking up between you and Mr. Good-Looking?”

Holly colored. “Right now it’s more like getting-to-know-you vibes.”

“So the interest is there?”

“Yes,” Holly admitted. “We’ll see where it goes.”

“I hope it goes all the way,” Blythe said. “Good men are so hard to find these days.”

“Tell me about it.” Holly hadn’t exactly been looking for men, good or bad, but knew there were some real jerks out there. So far that didn’t seem to be the case with Anderson, even if she had jumped the gun in assuming that he had simply found someone else to take on a lunch date that day. Obviously, the man had scruples and was truly interested in seeing if they could start something.


Chapter 4

Holly normally had no trouble deciding what to wear from her vast wardrobe, as she loved to buy new clothes. It was one of her weaknesses and passions. But, in this case, she didn’t want to overdress or underdress for her date with Anderson. She had never seen him in anything but an expensive suit and she knew that the attire at the Rooster Place was a few notches above casual, so she chose a three-quarter sleeve paisley print dress and sandals. She brushed her hair into place, dabbed on a little perfume and was on her way.

I’ll just play it cool and see how things go, she thought during the drive. If this was meant to go somewhere, it would. If not, then she’d simply get back to her busy life and not worry about it.

She parked in the lot and went inside the restaurant. Anderson walked up to her, spotting her before she had seen him.

“Hi,” he said, offering her a handsome smile.

“Hello.” She gave him the once-over and liked what she saw. He wore a brown blazer over an orange twill shirt, dark slacks and loafers. He had an obviously fit and trim body, and she would bet that he’d look just as amazing in a T-shirt and athletic shorts.

“Right on time,” he said.

“Of course.”

“Shall we go in?”

Anderson allowed Holly to lead the way. As with the previous times he had seen her, she was flat-out gorgeous. He liked the dress, too, but imagined he would like it even better if she were wearing nothing at all.

They were seated and handed menus, then they both settled for the prime-rib special and red wine.

Now that he had her all to himself, Anderson wasn’t sure where to begin. Though he had gone on a few dates recently, he was admittedly out of practice when it came to being with someone who truly captured his attention. He wanted to do this right.

“Tell me about your family,” he said. It seemed a reasonable place to start to get beyond their airplane conversation. He assumed there was more to the family than a brother and nieces.

“Well, you know I have a brother. My dad lives in Houston. He’s retired, though sometimes it seems like he works even harder now. I lost my mother to a heart attack a few years ago. No other siblings.”

“Sorry to hear about your mother,” Anderson said.

“She was such a great lady,” Holly said. “I think about her every day.”

“I’m sure you do.”

She tasted her wine. “Are your parents here?”

His eyes lowered. “I was raised mostly by my mother before she died. Then I was shuffled back and forth between relatives. Never knew my father.”

“When did your mother die?” Holly wondered, wishing they didn’t have that in common.

“A long time ago,” Anderson muttered. “I was nine.”

Holly couldn’t imagine having lost her mother at such a young age. She was sure it was difficult for him, especially since his father wasn’t in the picture.

“Have you ever had any interest in seeing if you could track down your father?” she asked.

“Not really,” he said thoughtfully. “What would be the point? I’m not even sure he knows I’m alive. If he does, there’s been no attempt to contact me.”

“I can’t blame you for being put out at the thought. But with your mother no longer here, maybe your dad could somehow compensate for her loss.”

Anderson’s nostrils flared. Why was she pushing this? “As I said, not interested. Just because you have a father in your life doesn’t mean that I need one—especially at this stage.”

“I’m sorry.” She resented that it seemed to irk him that she had a relationship with her father and he did not, none of which was her doing. Maybe she should have just kept her mouth shut. But then again, why should she? Weren’t they here to get to know each other? “Yes, I have a dad who’s always there for me. And maybe as a result, I believe that having a connection with a living parent is important—even if it means reaching out to someone who wasn’t there for you, perhaps for reasons you were never told. I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds.”

Anderson sucked in a deep breath, knowing he had overreacted. It certainly wasn’t the way he had envisioned them bonding. He knew only what his mother had told him about his father, which was virtually next to nothing. She’d only mentioned a one-night stand that left her pregnant and that his father had been out of the picture.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said to Holly. “I didn’t mean to get upset. Who knows, someday I may track down my father, if he’s still around, and get his take on things.”

She smiled softly. “There’s always hope that something good could come out of having an open mind,” she said.

“Something already has.” Anderson met her eyes. “I’m on a date with a beautiful woman.”

She blushed. “Other than that, silly.”

“Well, let’s just say you’ve opened my eyes to endless possibilities.”

Holly felt the power of his gaze, making it impossible to deny their sexual attraction. “I’m all about opening one’s eyes,” she said.

Anderson lifted his glass to that.

After the food had been served, Anderson found himself enjoying watching Holly eat. He wondered what it would be like to feed each other. And much more than just food—kisses and other affectionate gestures, too.

“So, do you always wine and dine gorgeous clients?” Holly asked, seeking a reaction as she nibbled on some lettuce.

“Not always,” Anderson promised. “And none of them could hold a candle to you.”

“Oh really? I’m supposed to believe that?”

He smiled. “Maybe you don’t realize just how hot you are.”

She colored, finding it hard not to simply accept his compliments. “Maybe I don’t.”

“I’ll try my best to help you recognize that,” he said. “And, just for the record, my client that you saw this afternoon is happily married.”

“That’s nice to know,” Holly admitted. Though she knew some men had no qualms about having an affair with a married woman, she didn’t believe Anderson was one of them.

Anderson took that as his cue to move on. “So what are your interests in life?”

“I have lots of them,” she said, dabbing a cloth napkin to the corners of her lips. “I love to travel when I have the time, bicycle, attend sports events, dance, go to the theater, listen to classical, jazz and soul music and read fiction. I also enjoy my volunteer work, where I read to children to help increase literacy.”

“That all sounds great,” he said, impressed. “Certainly seems like your plate is full right now.” He wondered if that meant that she wouldn’t have time for a serious relationship with anyone.

“Whose isn’t full these days?” Holly bit into a slice of bread. “I’m sure you have a fair amount on your plate, too.”

“I suppose I do,” Anderson conceded. “I also enjoy traveling, fishing, working out at the gym, multiple sports, movies from the forties and fifties and just hanging out with friends.”

“That sounds nice, and well-rounded,” she told him.

“I’m a well-rounded guy,” he said with a chuckle.

She smiled. “What type of music do you like?”

“Classic R&B, urban and a little jazz vocal.”

“I knew it,” she said. “At least, the first two.”

He put a hand to his chin. “So you think you have me all figured out, huh?”

“I don’t know about that, but at least the music.”

“A good start,” he said. “I’ll be happy to fill in the blanks whenever you like.”

“Good. I plan to hold you to that,” she promised.

At the moment, he would have just settled for holding her. The thought of their bodies touching had a rippling effect through Anderson, causing his temperature to rise. Was she feeling the vibe, too?

After the meal, Anderson walked Holly to her car. He wanted more than anything to kiss her. Something told him she felt the same.

He leaned in slowly and grazed her lips.

Holly felt his lips on hers and was quick to reciprocate. She had been hoping Anderson would kiss her, as it seemed the perfect way to end what had been a pleasant date. The kiss, which lasted for several scintillating seconds, wasn’t a disappointment in the slightest. She liked that he wasn’t pushing for too much, too soon, and was respectful in giving them both something to look forward to the next time.

In her mind, it was a given that there would be a next time. But were they on the same wavelength?

* * *

The following Wednesday, Holly rode her bicycle to the nearby park, taking advantage of its bicycle-friendly paths. She meant to ask Anderson if he bicycled. Somehow she couldn’t imagine that he didn’t or wouldn’t want to if she invited him to ride with her sometime.

In the afternoon, she went to the McCawlin Elementary School, where she spent over an hour reading to children at different grade levels. The kids always loved her visits. Her volunteer work was special to her because as a child she had benefited from volunteer readers to improve her own reading skills.

By the time Holly got home, she was ready for a nice hot bath. While running the water, she allowed herself to fantasize about what it would be like to make love to Anderson. She pictured him as a gentle but thorough lover and one who probably couldn’t get enough of whatever woman he set his sights on.

Calm down, girl, she told herself, feeling the heat on her skin as she allowed her mind to wander to uncharted but desirable territory. It had clearly been too long since she had been wined, dined and kissed by a man, and she enjoyed it.

But that didn’t mean she had to get too carried away with the early stages of a romance. They had a long way to go before it was the real deal for both of them.

On the other hand, it did no harm to let her imagination have a little fun, even if it had yet to mesh with reality.

Something told her, though, that if things continued between them it was only a matter of time before things progressed to the next level.

She climbed into the bathtub and let the bubbly warm water do its work.

* * *

On Friday, Anderson dropped by the lakefront home of his close friend and fellow lawyer, Lester Powell. The two had attended law school together. Anderson had been Lester’s best man at his first wedding, but was out of town when he’d walked down the aisle the second time.

They sat on the patio, talking and drinking beer.

“You’ve got that look,” Lester said. He had long black Rastafarian locks that bordered a thin face with a goatee.

“What look might that be?” Anderson asked, dumbfounded.

“The look that tells me you’re getting some, or you’re about to.”

Anderson laughed and gulped down beer from the bottle. “Since when did you become so insightful?”

“Since our college days, when I watched your ass coming and going with one chick after another.”

That got another laugh out of Anderson. “I think you’re talking about yourself.” He had always been a one-woman man for all of college. The fact that he hadn’t been able to keep the relationships going was another matter, and he blamed it on a combination of immaturity and a sometimes misguided sense of direction.

But times had changed. Or at least he had.

“So tell me who’s got you all hot and bothered these days?” Lester pressed.

Anderson sat back and took another drink. “Her name is Holly. She’s an anchor at KOEN.”

“Anchorwoman, huh? Where did you meet her?”

“At the airport in Portland, believe it or not.”

Lester grinned. “I can believe it, though every lady I’ve ever met at the airport was either old enough to be my mother or had a man who kept her on a short leash.”

“I think you’ve done all right for yourself in the romance department,” Anderson said. Lester’s latest marriage to a sweet professor seemed to be working.

“Yeah, I guess I have.” Lester lifted his bottle. “Just how serious are things with this Holly?”

“Not too serious at the moment,” Anderson said honestly. “We’re just beginning to feel our way. I think I might have found someone I can really relate to.”

“More power to you. Can’t wait to meet her.”

“You can check her out weekend mornings on KOEN and let me know what you think,” Anderson said.

“You bet.” Lester studied him. “So have you totally gotten you-know-who out of your system?”

Anderson looked away thoughtfully. “Yeah, she was out of my system a long time ago.”

“You sure about that?”

“I’m very sure. We both moved on and there’s no looking back. I’m happy about where I am today.”

“Glad to hear that,” Lester said. “You know I’ve got your back and want you to be as happy with someone as I am.”

“I know.” Anderson smiled while tasting the beer. “I’m working on that.”

He thought about Holly and couldn’t help but feel that she was his future if he had any say in the matter. And he did. He just had to see how things would play out and then Holly would be his.


Chapter 5

On Sunday morning, Holly did the newscast, reporting the local and national news of interest. When she was done, she left the set and was met by the station manager, Felix Yasmin, who was fiftysomething and thickset.

“Good going,” he said.

She was used to receiving a positive review of her anchoring, but always tried to read between the lines to see if there was anything she could do better.

“Thanks,” she said. “That story on the missing newlywed was scary. I hope he shows up alive and well.”

“Yeah, we all do.” Felix paused. “Do you have a moment?”

“Sure.”

She followed him into his office, feeling tense. What was this about?

“Have a seat,” he said.

She sat down in a chair in front of his desk and he sat beside her.

Felix ran a hand through his thinning gray hair. “Look, I know you’ve settled into the morning slot and we’re happy with you there. But I was wondering how you’d feel about moving to the evening spot on weekends?”





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