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Marti puffed a lock of hair out of her face. She knew Caroline was right. Logan was perfect and obviously available, but she’d made it very clear to him how she felt about relationships and dating. There was no way he’d ever think she was actually interested in him, but that didn’t seem to stop him from asking her out.
Could she do it? Pretending to want any guy would be a challenge, but with him...
She imagined flirting with Logan, holding his hand, kissing him, and staring into those dark green orbs. It was enough to make her dry heave. Someone might as well set her on fire. Torture was kinder. The attention would go straight to his head. He’d poke fun at her relentlessly.
“I’ll think about it,” Marti said, mostly to get rid of Caroline because she had zero intentions of actually considering Logan.
“My job is done here,” Caroline said with a triumphant smile.
Mel’s laughter trickled from the cubicle next to hers. With a groan, Marti rested her forehead on the cool surface of her desk, contemplating her life and how it had gone downhill so fast.
Karen popped her head above Marti’s cubicle. “Hey—oh!”
Marti peeked up at her, and Karen’s big brown eyes rounded with worry. “Everything okay, honey?”
“Just peachy.” Marti formed a circle with her thumb and pointer finger, flashing her an okay sign.
At fifty-five, Karen was married with kids and even grandkids of her own. She was the mother hen of the editorial team at PopNewz. Everyone adored her, and Marti was no exception. If Marti lost her job because her column suddenly plunged into the depths of despair, she’d desperately miss Karen’s banana nut muffins, her kind smile, and soothing tone.
Hey, maybe Karen would date her. Then Blue would get off her back, and she’d never have to go hungry again. Problem solved.
“I have something for you. Someone dropped it off,” Karen said. “Maybe it will cheer you up?”
Marti’s ears perked up at her optimism and she straightened, accepting the envelope from her outstretched hand. But when she noted the sloppy scrawl on the front, it was a pinprick to her bubble. It was a man’s handwriting, and suddenly, she was certain she knew who it was from.
She held it out from her like it was filled with anthrax. “Why didn’t he just email me?”
“He said he was in the area.” Karen winked. “I think it’s kind of sweet. Takes more effort to write and hand deliver a letter.”
Marti grunted as she tapped it against her desk. “Karen, how would you feel about marrying me? Would your husband mind sharing?” Now that would make for some interesting headlines. PopNewz’s Queen of Single elopes with older, female coworker.
“Are you kidding? He’d probably be excited at the chance of a two-for-one. But what would people think if Miss Single In the City got hitched? Your column would be dead, and they’d hate me for it.”
“I don’t know about that,” Marti muttered. Little did she know it might already be on death’s door.
“Oh, don’t go acting all modest. You know every guy in the city would be clamoring for your hand if they thought they had a chance.”
Marti leaned back in her chair and picked up the cup of coffee from her desk. They would, wouldn’t they?
Who needed Logan when she could have any man she wanted? Except she wanted no one.
Then a though hit her.
Maybe Logan’s your-not-my-type routine was all a front to save face because he knew he didn’t have a chance with her.
Interesting.
Marti took a sip of her coffee, mulling over the things he said about her last Friday at the pub. He hadn’t exactly held back, had he? So, if she was wrong and he really did abhor women like her, then he had another agenda.
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Marti said, shutting the thought down. “But if I don’t get this article in, I’m going to be Miss Unemployed in the City.”
Karen chuckled. “Stop by my desk in a bit, and I’ll have a muffin for you.”
“Will do.”
Karen turned and trotted off, and Marti hollered after her. “Think about that proposal and let me know.”
“I asked her first,” Mel called back.
