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“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.
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