Devon Archer - Love is in the Air

“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.