Cover Girl

“Yeah. It sounds…” her eyes widened to match Gretch’s. “…like me.”

“Tall, skinny, girl-next-door, smartass, freckle-faced redhead chocoholic. If that’s not you, I don’t know who it is.”

“So if the writer based her male character on Alexander—”

“Maybe she knows him so well she based the heroine on his type.”

Keira shook her head. “Nah, that’s too much of a stretch.”

“Did he say anything that indicated he was interested?”

“He mentioned that my hair was such a pretty color.”

“There ya go. You’re livin’ it, honey.”

“Living what?”

“The book. Ring Girl. You’re Lexi to his Jamison.”

“We’ll see. So, you wanna go out to dinner and celebrate tonight?”

“We’re not going back to the Greek diner, are we?”

“Nah, I think the company can spring for something a little more upscale.”

“While your loyal assistant is flattered you want to celebrate with her, don’t you want to spend the evening with a man? C’mon, we’ll go down to the bar and I’ll be your wing girl. Find someone hot you can ravish.”

Keira shook her head. “Not interested.”

“This guy really shot an arrow into your heart, huh?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. In any event, I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

Chapter 5 (#ulink_27ffa16a-8c83-5ed5-a242-bf87bc586609)

Keira nearly choked on her champagne. “Oh my God!”

Gretch’s eyes grew wide. “What?”

Keira leaned forward and lowered her voice. “He’s… here.”

“Who?”

“Jamison.I mean Alexander. Him. Mister Right from Ring Girl at three o’clock.”

Gretch looked to her right. “Where? All I see is a fat bald guy.”

“Sorry, my three o’clock. Your nine. At the table in front of the big fountain where the waiter is standing.” Gretch whipped her head one hundred eighty degrees. “Gretch, don’t be obvious!”

She spotted him and nodded. “Whoa. Damn, you weren’t kidding. He really is the guy in the book and definitely your type.” She craned her neck to get a better look. “Who’s he with?”

“Can’t see. Waiter’s in the way.” The waiter finished taking the order and moved on, leaving both with a clear view of Alexander’s dining partner. Keira’s face dropped. “Sonofabitch. Check out the smoking-hot blonde.”

“Her? Eh, she’s okay.”

“Stop trying to soften the blow. She’s stunning.”

“Fine, she’s hot. But you said he worked in TV news and that business is loaded with peroxide babes. Maybe she’s a co-worker.”

The blonde reached across the table and patted Alexander’s hand. “Shit, they’re together.”

“Will you stop it? For all we know she’s a relative.”

“Yeah, right. A four-hundred-pound cousin and a supermodel sister? Damn, she’s gorgeous.”

Alexander turned his head and spotted Keira, smiled and waved. “Shit, he saw me!” she said, talking through a clenched smile as she waved back. She felt her pulse spike as he got up, grabbed the blonde by the hand and headed in their direction. “And he’s coming this way. Sonofabitch.”

Gretch sipped her wine and leaned back in her chair. “Relax, maybe we’ll find out the deal with the blonde.” She pointed at the beads of sweat forming on Keira’s forehead. “You’re glowing, sweetie.”

“Dammit!” Keira quickly ran her hand across her face as Alexander and his companion arrived. She stood to greet them as she wiped her damp palm on her dress.

“We’ve gotta stop meeting like this,” he said.

“New York is a small town.” Keira smiled at him before giving a quick glance at his petite date, who was even more spectacular up close. The woman was flawless. “Hello, I’m Keira.”

“Juliette.”

Keira gestured at Gretch. “And this is my right-hand girl, Gretch.”

“Short for Gretchen. Everyone calls me Gretch.”

Keira turned back to Alexander. “So, out celebrating?”

“Yeah. My, uh, cousin told us we had carte blanche tonight considering the big check you dropped today.”

“Couldn’t get her out even on a day like this?”

Alexander shook his head. “Nope. But I had a lobstergram sent to her.”

“That’s nice.”

“Well, just wanted to say hello and thank you again. Tomorrow morning at ten-thirty, right?”

“We’ll see you then.”

The blonde flashed a warm smile and actually seemed sincere. “Nice meeting you both.”

They turned and headed back to their table. On the way he put his arm around her shoulder.