by Hoff, Stacy
Better for them both to lie low until after the show was done. Then he’d broadcast their relationship everywhere. Hell, he might even buy airtime on Teleworld’s very own channel to do it.
He didn’t know where her office was. In fact, he didn’t even know if she liked chocolates. He could have gone with a sure bet, a pint of Haagen Dazs butter pecan ice cream, but it would have melted. He grinned to himself. If she didn’t like chocolates, at least he did. No sense letting good truffles go to waste. He could always make it up to her, buy her jewelry instead. In fact, he would buy her jewelry, just as soon as he won Teleworld’s prize money. A gold pin shaped like an alligator, to show her he’d always be there to protect her.
Funny thing was, as much as he was taken by her, he still had a lot to learn about her. Her likes. Her dislikes. Fill in all the details. Know more about what made her tick. He’d never looked forward to learning anything as much as this. Colin Brandt, head over heels. Who woulda thunk? He wasn’t such a badass after all.
“Can I help you,” the stately looking woman at the reception desk inquired.
She was perfectly poised and dressed way over the top. Very New York. Just like his Stephanie. Yep, he’d left Special Ops just in time. He was now a soft and mushy kind of guy. He wished he could have added the flowers to prove it.
“I’m here to see The Evergladiator producer. Is she around?” he asked.
“You mean Ms. Lang?”
“Yes, that’s her name,” he answered. Did she frown when he said that? Oh well, maybe she had a case of heartburn or something. “Are you okay, ma’am?” he asked politely.
“I am now,” she replied with a broad smile to prove it. “Hi, I’m Jennifer,” she purred.
Uh, oh. Here we go. Shouldn’t this one be looking for someone her own age? She’s sixty, if she’s a day.
“I’ve seen you before,” Jennifer continued in a throaty voice. Actually, it came off sounding kind of strangled. “Aren’t you the man they’re looking to cast?”
“Yes, ma’am. I was told to drop this off with the producer.” He smiled stiffly and held up the bag so she could see it.
“Oh, I see. Just a minute, let me call her assistant.” The receptionist dialed and then spoke into the phone with her normal voice, “Ana, it’s Jennifer. The Evergladiator man is here to see Ms. Lang. Yes. He is. Okay. I’ll let him know. Thanks.” She put the phone back and looked up at him pleasantly. “Ms. Lang just went into a meeting. Would you like to drop the package off with me? I’ll make sure her assistant gets it.” The purring was back. Did she think he was attracted to cats?
“Sure thing. Just let me add a note, so she knows its me who dropped it off.” He walked away to write on the back of one of dozens of business cards Mark had left him. The note was going to be short in length, simple in message, and very well hidden in the bag. He wrote: My beautiful babe, you are like the finest chocolate. Delectable. Sweet. Silky. And you leave people wanting more. See you tonight. Best to leave it as anonymous as possible, in case it got into the wrong hands.
“Here it is,” Colin said, handing her the bag. He ignored the way her fingers tried to touch his own.
“It could take a while for Ms. Lang to get this. Sometimes when she leaves for meetings, she slips out and doesn’t come back. Doesn’t even leave word where she goes. Home would be my guess.”
Colin arched an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Why would she have told him that? Trying to imply Stephanie didn’t have any work ethic? That she absconded from the job whenever she had a chance? Jennifer may purr like a cat, but deep down she was a real bitch.
Chapter 19
Stephanie quickly realized why Mark made a formal appointment to see her. The minute she walked into his cavern of an office, overlooking Rockefeller Center’s ice-skating rink far below, she noted two board of director members sitting on the leather couch. Unconsciously she smoothed down the skirt of her beige DKNY suit and stood up a bit straighter. Was her chignon still in place? Hand sliding up to her head, she slicked any strays back. Was any lipstick smudged on her teeth? Didn’t matter, her teeth didn’t show when she frowned, and she knew she was doing that now. A head’s-up as to the board of director’s presence would have been nice. Ana obviously hadn’t been informed, or she would have told her. She’d have to take this up with Mark later.
“Bernie, Neil,” Stephanie said pleasantly. She nodded to both board members with a tight smile and butterflies in her belly. “How nice to see you both. It’s been a few months, I think,” she added.
Neil, the taller, older one, put his scotch glass down on the coffee table and got up to give her a hug. When he let her go, he teased her with mock sternness. “My hug was not sexual harassment. Regard it as the type of affection George W. Bush showed Condoleezza Rice.”
Bernie cocked his head to the side, “W. had a thing for Condie?”
Neil frowned and gave Bernie a dismissive wave. “Don’t you remember the news stories? W. gave her a kiss when he reappointed her. Shit, Bernie, we had our station run that story four times that day.”
Mark cleared his throat loudly, effectively interrupting their argument.
“Right,” Bernie said, also clearing his throat. “Stephanie, we wanted to say your production notes for The Evergladiator are terrific. We’re pleased you’re so committed to doing this show, especially since we know you had your reservations.”
Stephanie shot Mark a dirty look. Mark feigned angelic innocence.
“You’re going to have a fine show,” Neil said definitively. “It’s doubtful we’ll even need all the extras we’re putting in.”
“What extras?” she asked, “V” eyebrow formation back in full force.
“The placement of the animals, of course. Didn’t Mark tell you?” Neil and Bernie turned to Mark.
Mark gave all of them a sweet smile. “I hated to dump anything else on Stephanie since she just got back. I was going to tell her tomorrow, but when you both called to set up this meeting, I thought we’d all tell her now.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, palms feeling slick. “What animals? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“We’re going to add some alligators and panthers to the shoot,” Neil explained, his face lighting up all the way to his gray hair with excitement. “That’s why we had the location team go down, to see where we should place them. The animals can’t be too far away from him, or they might not spring out and attack the way we’re hoping. But they can’t be too close to where he is either, or their cages would be easily spotted.”
Stephanie willed her jaw to close but failed. Her gaping seemed to go unnoticed, though, judging by the fact Neil barely paused between words. “The location team will work it out with the wild animal expert we’ve hired, Bob Delacorte. You’ll meet him tomorrow. He’s great at this kind of thing. Done lots of caged animal placements for rich hunters who want a sure shot at a notable target. This time won’t be as easy for Bob, though. The animals we’re getting are going to be extra ornery.”
“I don’t understand,” she said, wresting to keep her voice calm. “There are plenty of animals in the Everglades already. Why add more?”
Mark chimed in to answer her. “Because animals can be shy, or skittish, and we need to have a winning show.”
“Right,” Bernie pitched in. “People will be tuning in to see the Evergladiator take on dangerous animals.”
“We can’t afford to disappoint,” Neil explained to her slowly as if speaking to a child.
“But Colin—” she started.
“Don’t worry about him,” Mark said, voice clipped. “Didn’t I mention he had a big game background?”
“He didn’t mention that to me—” she protested.
“He didn’t need to tell you,” Mark said dismissively. “I’m telling you he ca
n handle this. Isn’t that enough?”
No. She needed a different tactic. Mark was her direct boss. She’d appeal to him and let him handle Bernie and Neil. Surely he would help her out. “Mark, you should at least warn Colin. Let him decide if he needs to pack more knives or something.”
“If we give him extra weapons, we can’t say his only tools are his bare hands and a knife.” Mark’s voice was raised high in incredulity. Bernie obviously wasn’t the only one who thought her questions were childlike.
Well, if they did, so be it. It was Colin she was worried about now, not her career. And not what these assholes thought of her naivety. She took a deep breath and tried again. “It’s not a fair contest if you set him up. And he could really be hurt. I even managed to piss off an alligator down there. Safety is not the kind of thing you take lightly in the Everglades. We don’t have to deliberately make it more dangerous for him.”
“Sure, sure, safety. But we need the surprise factor, too. Those ‘oh, shit!’ moments when a panther pops out will be priceless. Colin will hardly get any rest—”
“Mark!” she shot out. “That’s terrible! You can’t do that!”
Mark’s voice grew cold. “The only thing I can’t do is lose rating points.”
Stephanie closed her eyes. Mark wasn’t there to help her out. Now, or ever. He was there to help himself. And maybe Teleworld, so long as they shared a common goal. Her heart sank. She had thought deep down Mark was a nice enough guy. But someone with an ounce of compassion wouldn’t—couldn’t—act like this.
“Are you okay?” Bernie asked.
“Suffering from a migraine?” Neil guessed.
“No, just contemplating what my life will be like after I walk out that door. I’m sorry, gentlemen, but what you’re doing is wrong. I quit.”
“Stephanie, if you—” Mark said, his words an ice floe.
Already at the door, she turned around to face them. “No, Mark. I’m done listening to you. Now you listen to me. I am not going to have this on my conscience. As for you, don’t worry—you can’t taint a conscience you don’t have.” Turning the shiny brass handle she stepped out toward freedom. With one last look behind her at the glitz, money, and power of television, she simply said, “Good day, gentlemen,” and walked out the door.
Chapter 20
Colin sat at the bar and looked at his iPhone. He’d already thoroughly checked this place out. The restaurant was bustling. Trendy. Upscale. Everything about it screamed New York. People sat around in expensive suits or casual cashmeres. The paneled mahogany would be perfect for attracting Wall Street types, though the location was nowhere nearby. Maybe New Yorkers expected a piece of Wall Street on each and every street. Even north of Midtown.
He put his iPhone down on the matching mahogany bar counter, on top of a cocktail napkin. He was an entire hour early. Shit. He fiddled more with the Internet. Being early sucked. His fingers tapped the bar, impatiently fidgeting.
“Can I help you kill the time?” purred a young woman in a very revealing dress that sparkled.
Her personality, however, did not. He wondered why some women insisted on coming on to men this strong nowadays. He’d been a lone soldier, oversees for so long, he didn’t know. Maybe his Texas farm family had too many old-fashioned values. Or, at thirty-eight, he really was older than dirt. After twenty years of service, he had qualified for retirement. But that didn’t mean he was actually old, damn it. Did it?
Apparently he didn’t look or act as old as he felt, if this young woman was any kind of indicator. She eyed him like candy. She had also sashayed up to him at the bar without his even noticing. Obviously his Special Ops observation powers had completely deteriorated. If a terrorist had ever snuck up on him like that, he’d have been toast. Well, this situation was going to burn up him, too.
“No thanks,” he belatedly answered her. “I’m waiting for a party to start.”
“I’m a party,” she cooed.
Colin sighed, muttered an “excuse me, please,” and headed over to a small round table in the back. In a moment, he knew he’d be out of sight and out of her mind. Until he turned around.
“To hell with them and that job,” Stephanie told herself outside Rita’s Bistro in Midtown. Taking a deep breath, she looked around before entering. Behind her, Broadway bustled. People whistled loudly for cabs, holding arms laden with packages up in the air. Taxis whizzed by them, most already filled. A dog-walker walking a dozen dogs squeezed by her, the little dogs barking and yipping around her feet. The evening was surprisingly warm for early spring. It was good to be back in the City, but she’d trade all of it for another hot, sticky, dangerous night in the Everglades if it meant being with Colin.
Having him in New York was like living the perfect dream. Or would be, anyway. She hadn’t seen him since the Everglades. The thought of seeing him made her forget her professional woes and her skin flush with heat. All they’d had to tie them over were their hot texts, and one Facetime call. The message he sent last night almost melted her iPhone. And her. In fact, the mere memory was still causing her to overheat.
She pulled off her cardigan to cool down before entering the restaurant. Fanning herself with her hand, she waved it hard to combat the beads of sweat. When she saw him, she wanted to look calm and cool. At this rate, that could take a minute or two.
Then she’d be with him. Finally. They’d meet here at her party and have one heck of an amazing time.
Wanting to look her best for him, she had kept her salon appointment, getting her hair and nails done. Tomorrow though, she’d have to go on a financial diet. Finding a new job, especially one enabling her to pay rent, would take time. But returning the party dress was not an option. In fact, as soon as she had gotten home from work she clipped off the boutique’s price tag in defiance.
The dress fit more than her body, it fit her mood. Bold. Sensual. Bright blue and knee length, it hugged her waist tightly and then narrowed down to the knees. Its halter-top was form fitting, though its high neck prevented it from being overly revealing. She didn’t need to show skin—the fabric graced her curves.
Showing up twenty minutes late to her own party had been staged. Intended to build up excited tension while everyone waited for her. She sighed realizing that a little bit of the television producer was still in her. Good, her mojo wasn’t completely gone. With luck, another network would agree. Tonight, she’d celebrate more than her birthday—she would celebrate her newfound freedom from Teleworld.
Already taking a chance with her professional life, she was going to be brave, taking a chance with her love life, too. Follow all of her dreams. Maybe someday soon she’d start writing her novel. Why not? Colin was the man who let her believe in love again. She hadn’t yet told him. As guest of honor at her party, she’d tell him tonight. In fact, now that she quit her job, everyone could know. No more professional conflict holding her back. No more insecurity holding her back. No more anything holding her back.
Pushing open the heavy doors, she worked her way through the restaurant’s throngs to go downstairs. The mass of people were hard to wade through, dozens waited to give their name to the maître d. The owner, recognizing her, gave her a friendly wave as she walked by.
The food for her party was going to be fantastic. With any luck, there would be leftovers to put in her freezer. Tasty tidbits to tie her over until she could afford to eat here again.
Maybe the Ninety-Second Street “Y” offered inexpensive cooking classes. Not that making Ramen noodles was complicated. Nor were lentil beans. Or rice. Her mind ticked off the inexpensive ingredients she’d soon be relying on as she headed for Rita’s backroom. There, a dozen people would be waiting for her.
Across the crowded floor she finally saw them. Her mother caught her eye and yelled “Steffie’s here!” Everyone chimed in with a loud cry of “Happy
Birthday.” A blush crept up along with her smile. Making her way over to them, she looked for the one person she wanted to see most. Not just at this party, but in the whole world. Her world. Her tall, blond, and handsome world. Where was he?
Her petite mother cut her off from the upcoming crowd with a full body embrace. “There’s my baby girl,” she cried.
Stephanie grinned at the obvious amount of pride and affection her mother had for her.
“My baby’s now thirty-one,” her mother exclaimed, releasing her.
Stephanie flushed. “Mom. Shhh. I’m not a baby anymore.” She hugged her mother and kissed her cheek.
“I know you’re all grown up. That means I must be really old,” her mother quipped.
Laughing, Stephanie let go of her mom. About to look for Colin, she was grabbed by Ana. “Ana? What a nice surprise. I’m so happy you’re here.”
Ana, who must have gone home to change, wore yet another bohemian dress. This one, however, managed to capture a party mood. Black, purple, and sparkly, it shined as bright as Ana’s smile. Her former assistant hugged her tight. “I just got here. I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” she chided. “I know you don’t like to socialize with co-workers, but we can be friends now. I want to stay in touch with you. You are such a great person.”
“Thanks, Ana. What a lovely thing to say.”
“So we’re friends, right?”
“Friends,” Stephanie confirmed. Teleworld was left behind, but at least her relationship with Ana didn’t have to end along with it.
“Good. Now tell me what the heck happened at work today,” Ana demanded. “Mark was a total jerk, right? What’d he do to make you quit?”
