question saved the interview from tanking. The actress had launched into his arms and planted a sloppy wet kiss on his lips, making the studio audience go wild.
Until that point, standing behind the scenes, Serena had given him a pleased nod and quietly applauded. After the kiss, she’d disappeared within seconds.
He’d been left to wipe the lipstick from his mouth and plaster on a smile for the cameras while his stomach churned in distaste.
Patting him on the back after the show, Lawrence had proclaimed his question and the kiss a brilliant, if sensationalized, tactic.
Not that it was planned, but Colin accepted the senior producer’s kudos without protest although he half expected Serena not to show up for lunch. Much to his relief, she had, and in the two days since.
Colin broke out of his musing. “Serena? What’s your favorite—?”
“I’m partial to smoked turkey with mustard on wheat.” Serena didn’t look at him as she studied the schedule on the small table they shared. At least she’d listened enough to answer his question. After marking a note, she tapped her pencil on the table with one hand and held her sandwich in the other.
“Interesting choice from the woman who most often eats peanut butter and jam.” Reaching for her pencil, he stilled her drumming. “Would you please look at me?”
Serena stopped mid-chew, and Colin waited until she finally lifted her gaze to his.
“I choose to be here for lunch, you know,” he said. “With you.”
“Yes, I’m aware you turned down the offer of lunch with Gabrielle and some of the crew today. If Lawrence asks you again, you really should go.”
Clearing her throat, Serena wiped her mouth with her napkin, leaving him to wonder if she’d purposely ignored or misinterpreted his implication.
“Lawrence isn’t used to being turned down, and I can guarantee he doesn’t like it.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Colin took another bite of his sandwich.
“I know.” Serena avoided looking at him.
“You spend so much time taking care of everyone else. Who takes care of you?”
She didn’t answer and shifted on her chair.
“I didn’t plan for that actress to kiss me,” he said. “It was purely a misguided impulse on her part.”
Coughing, Serena brought her fist up to her mouth. “Whether or not you planned it, it’s none of my business.”
“I didn’t enjoy it.”
She took another bite, chewing slowly. “I could tell. Again, it’s not my business.”
“I’m aware she arrived at the station sopping drunk and you forced three cups of black coffee down her throat so she’d be somewhat coherent for the interview.”
Serena’s eyes widened. “I wanted to cancel the interview, but I was overruled. You did what you could and the show ended up with very impressive ratings. Kudos.”
Colin’s lips thinned with displeasure. “It’s not all about ratings from my perspective. The producers should have listened to you, Serena. Your instincts are very good. I daresay Wake Up, Philadelphia! wouldn’t be the show it is without your capable machinations, for lack of a better word, behind the scenes.”
He’d gotten off-track, but he needed her to understand he believed in her and had the utmost faith in her abilities. She was one of the most competent women he’d ever known.
“Thank you,” she said. “That means a lot.”
“It’s only the truth, love. Now back to kissing.”
Serena sputtered and a small laugh escaped. “Must we talk about that?”
“Yes, I believe we do. You see, if I’m going to kiss someone, I’d rather it be a woman who’s much more down to earth. Someone who’s very efficient at her job yet possesses a fun, underlying sense of humor. A lovely woman with a great sense of style who prefers vintage clothing and wears it well. A woman who is perhaps misunderstood.”
Leaning his elbow on the table, Colin rested his chin on one hand and grinned. “Someone who likes turkey with mustard but most
Until that point, standing behind the scenes, Serena had given him a pleased nod and quietly applauded. After the kiss, she’d disappeared within seconds.
He’d been left to wipe the lipstick from his mouth and plaster on a smile for the cameras while his stomach churned in distaste.
Patting him on the back after the show, Lawrence had proclaimed his question and the kiss a brilliant, if sensationalized, tactic.
Not that it was planned, but Colin accepted the senior producer’s kudos without protest although he half expected Serena not to show up for lunch. Much to his relief, she had, and in the two days since.
Colin broke out of his musing. “Serena? What’s your favorite—?”
“I’m partial to smoked turkey with mustard on wheat.” Serena didn’t look at him as she studied the schedule on the small table they shared. At least she’d listened enough to answer his question. After marking a note, she tapped her pencil on the table with one hand and held her sandwich in the other.
“Interesting choice from the woman who most often eats peanut butter and jam.” Reaching for her pencil, he stilled her drumming. “Would you please look at me?”
Serena stopped mid-chew, and Colin waited until she finally lifted her gaze to his.
“I choose to be here for lunch, you know,” he said. “With you.”
“Yes, I’m aware you turned down the offer of lunch with Gabrielle and some of the crew today. If Lawrence asks you again, you really should go.”
Clearing her throat, Serena wiped her mouth with her napkin, leaving him to wonder if she’d purposely ignored or misinterpreted his implication.
“Lawrence isn’t used to being turned down, and I can guarantee he doesn’t like it.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Colin took another bite of his sandwich.
“I know.” Serena avoided looking at him.
“You spend so much time taking care of everyone else. Who takes care of you?”
She didn’t answer and shifted on her chair.
“I didn’t plan for that actress to kiss me,” he said. “It was purely a misguided impulse on her part.”
Coughing, Serena brought her fist up to her mouth. “Whether or not you planned it, it’s none of my business.”
“I didn’t enjoy it.”
She took another bite, chewing slowly. “I could tell. Again, it’s not my business.”
“I’m aware she arrived at the station sopping drunk and you forced three cups of black coffee down her throat so she’d be somewhat coherent for the interview.”
Serena’s eyes widened. “I wanted to cancel the interview, but I was overruled. You did what you could and the show ended up with very impressive ratings. Kudos.”
Colin’s lips thinned with displeasure. “It’s not all about ratings from my perspective. The producers should have listened to you, Serena. Your instincts are very good. I daresay Wake Up, Philadelphia! wouldn’t be the show it is without your capable machinations, for lack of a better word, behind the scenes.”
He’d gotten off-track, but he needed her to understand he believed in her and had the utmost faith in her abilities. She was one of the most competent women he’d ever known.
“Thank you,” she said. “That means a lot.”
“It’s only the truth, love. Now back to kissing.”
Serena sputtered and a small laugh escaped. “Must we talk about that?”
“Yes, I believe we do. You see, if I’m going to kiss someone, I’d rather it be a woman who’s much more down to earth. Someone who’s very efficient at her job yet possesses a fun, underlying sense of humor. A lovely woman with a great sense of style who prefers vintage clothing and wears it well. A woman who is perhaps misunderstood.”
Leaning his elbow on the table, Colin rested his chin on one hand and grinned. “Someone who likes turkey with mustard but most
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