“I wasn’t doing it on purpose. You started it with your fake Todd story.” But Sabine did as he ordered, vastly relieved when the photographer finally said he got one he was happy with for the paper.
“We want copies of all the pictures you took,” Koka said firmly, staring at the photographer. “It was part of my participation agreement. I believe there were four prior to your good shot. I will be looking for that many at least.”
“Certainly, Mr. Lake,” the photographer answered. “There’s only one acceptable shot, but I’ll send the others along to your producer as well.”
Koka nodded. “Please do that. Thank you.”
He looked down at Sabine Blakeman.
“Can I have your phone number? I will need to call you with details for our date.”
“My phone number? Oh . . . sure,” Sabine said, as she nodded and dug into her purse for a business card and a pen.
Seeing no surface to write on, she picked up one of his large hands and put her card in it. She raised and lowered his arm until her vision focused. No way was she digging for her reading glasses. Flipping the card over to the back, she wrote her cell number on it. All the while, he laughed at her.
“Am I really that funny to you?” Sabine asked.
“The word I would use is charming,” Koka said.
Sabine snorted as she capped her pen. Her heart fluttered as she watched him tuck the card into some hidden pocket in his jacket. When his eyes crinkled at the corners, she just had to know the cause. “Do you mind telling me how old you are?”
“Thirty-seven last year,” Koka said. “And you?”
Sabine shrugged. “Forty-three last year.”
“Why does age matter to you?” Koka asked.
“I’ve been teasing Joe about dating a younger man. Now that’s going to be something else I can check off my to-do list,” she said.
Koka snorted. She was an easy woman to read. “How old was the woman your ex married?”
“Okay. You got me. My husband married a woman half my age, but I’m not trying to get even. Men half my age remind me of my children. I joke about it, but I couldn’t go there.”
Koka smiled again, but he wanted to laugh. She was very at ease making fun of herself. “I have a daughter who is nineteen. She started college this year—University of California at Berkley. She is majoring in music.”
“I have a college sophomore and a freshman. Both are at University of Washington. One has been talking about Berkley, but that’s a bit out of my college budget. Neither have chosen majors yet. I’m just happy they’re both in school and getting decent grades. Hopefully they’ll find their calling as they find themselves.”
They stood looking at each other in shared understanding until a flash went off nearby. It was not the professional photographer.
“Sorry, Sabine. It happens to me all the time,” Koka said. “We’ll be on social media later.”
“It’s okay. I’m a PR person. Most of the time those random pictures are a good thing for your popularity, but I can see how it could get old after a while. Is that why you rebelled today and didn’t bother to shave?”
Koka rubbed his jaw as he grinned. “You consider this a sign of rebelling?”
“Yes. Assuming you’re not one of those men who are just lazy about hygiene. I somehow don’t see that being the case with a TV personality,” Sabine said, smiling to soften her statement. “Not that an unshaven man in a well-fitted suit doesn’t have his own rugged appeal. You raised every bidding fan when you walked out on the stage. I’m sure you didn’t miss that.”
Koka laughed and shrugged. “Will you expect me to shave for our date tomorrow?”
Sabine giggled. The man had such a funny way about him. “Expectations haven’t worked out well for me lately. I think I’ll just take whatever presentation you’re offering and be grateful.”
“Are you flirting with me?” Koka asked, grinning at her head ducking.
Sabine sighed. “Why? Am I doing a terrible job of it? I’m really rusty.”
Koka shook his head as he turned. “No, I can’t remember the last time I looked forward to a woman’s company. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Sure. Oh that answers your other question. Your phone call is one thing I will be expecting,” she teased.
Koka walked away laughing, heading in the direction of the back door.
Sabine smiled and sighed softly as she turned back toward the front of building. Joe and a man she figured was his actual diamond in the rough were standing nearby and grinning at her.
Sighing again, but this time in resignation, she lifted her chin and braced herself.
“I’m so proud of you, Sabine. It’s all I can do not to start dancing in joy,” Joe said. “You were flirting with The Sexy Chef and he was flirting back. I can’t wait until I see Martin again, just so I can tell him you’ve officially moved on.”
“Stop teasing me,” Sabine said firmly, her palm smacking Joe’s chest. She turned her attention politely to his companion. “Hello. You must be the right Todd.”
“Not sure how to answer that. I guess I must be if Todd Lake is the wrong one,” Todd said. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Kendall. I’m Todd Masterson.”
“It’s Blakeman—Sabine Blakeman. Kendall was my married name. It’s my pleasure to meet you, Todd Masterson. Joe says we’re in the same line of business.”
“Actually, Joe says you would very much like to do business with my company,” Todd said, laughing when Sabine Blakeman blushed. “How charming. A PR person who isn’t jaded.”
“Joe talks way too much. And it’s been a day for blushing at everything that’s said. I paid six thousand dollars for the wrong man. I think I’ll probably be doing more blushing tomorrow when he fixes me my six thousand dollar pineapple dinner,” Sabine said.
“And I imagine speculation will be rampant about my orientation preference when I go out with Joe,” Todd said. “I may be blushing the whole evening as well.”
Sabine chuckled. “Well, at least you have the satisfaction of knowing I would have paid more money for you than Joe ever would have. He told me I had to stop at six hundred.”
To her delight, Todd laughed while Joe flushed and swore she was lying. At least the right Todd had a keen sense of humor. Maybe the man was worth all the trouble he had indirectly caused her.
“Joe, I need a drink and you’re buying because, thanks to you, I’m broke,” Sabine said. “Todd, are you interested in joining us? When I’m out with Joe people tend to think we’re a married couple. The question of your orientation should be moot if you want to chance it.”
“Only if you make mine a double. Joe bought me for three hundred dollars. Knowing you paid thousands for the wrong Todd, my ego is now totally deflated,” Todd said.
“Three hundred?” Sabine repeated, glaring at the snickering man next to her. “Joe—I’m going to hurt you.”
“No you won’t. I was eavesdropping and heard what Todd Lake said to you. I will bet you half the money you spent on him that The Sexy Chef asks you out for a real date tomorrow,” Joe said.
Sabine laughed. “Deal—and I’m not even worried that I don’t have any money left to pay you in case you win. The man was being polite and friendly, Joe. He was fun and a lot more real than what everyone thinks.”
She saw Joe and Todd exchanging a look over her statement.
“What was that look for? I’m telling you Mr. Lake was just playing nice for the cameras. I bet he can’t go anywhere without being tagged. My ignorance was just a refreshing change for him.”
“And she already cares about how he’s perceived,” Joe said, shaking his head and sighing dramatically as Todd laughed. “My brother never deserved this woman. She’s great at her job too. Unlike some public relations agents, her clients get to maintain their dignity.”
Sabine’s face flamed again at Joe’s praise in front of a potential client who now knew too many intimate details about her life. But there was no retractin
g what had been said.
“Well, at least I’m spending Valentine’s Day Eve with two handsome men instead of being alone,” she said sweetly.
When the right Todd smiled at her, Sabine saw exactly what Joe had seen. Todd Masterson was interesting and very nice, which was sometimes better than being extremely good-looking. A mind that sharp would probably be fun to challenge too.
“Tell you what, Sabine—Rundgren supports many charities. If you get The Sexy Chef to cater a meal for one of them, I’ll make sure you get a contract for some of our work,” Todd said.
Sabine belly laughed. “Oh sure. I’ll just ask him tomorrow, right after the grilled pineapple entrée Joe made sure I would get.”
She listened to Todd laughing while she glared at Joe’s shrug of indifference. But she also felt envious of her friend’s extraordinary luck with recognizing good men.
Available in eBook, Audiobook, and Print
www.donnamcdonaldauthor.com
Other Books By This Author
The Perfect Date Series
Never Is A Very Long Time
Never Say Never
Never A Dull Moment
Never Ever Satisfied
Never Too Late Series
Dating A Cougar
Dating Dr. Notorious
Dating A Saint
Dating A Metro Man
Dating A Silver Fox
Dating A Cougar II
Dating A Pro
Art Of Love Series
Carved In Stone
Created In Fire
Captured In Ink
Commissioned In White
Covered In Paint
Non-Series Books
The Wrong Todd
SEALed For Life
A Secret Dare
Saving Santa
Mistletoe Madness
No ELFing Way
Visit Donna’s website to see more books.
About the Author
Donna McDonald
After 35 years of doing everything for a living except writing books, Donna McDonald published her first romance novel in March of 2011. Forty plus novels later, she admits to living her own happily ever after as a full time author.
Her work spans several genres, such as contemporary romance, paranormal, and science fiction. Humor is the most common element across all her writing. Addicted to making readers laugh, she includes a good dose of romantic comedy in every book.
How To Connect With Donna…
www.donnamcdonaldauthor.com
[email protected]
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