Mile High Madness: Six Colorado Contemporary Romances

by Annabelle Anders

  And then I might take a look at my unfinished thesis. For the first time in ages, I felt like moving forward.

  Hunter sat beside me, one hand on my leg. I leaned into him.

  “What are you doing Tuesday?” My heart flipped. It was too soon to talk about whatever this was. We’d just met. Only, I felt like I’d fallen half in love with him already.

  Knowing he wanted to see me again so soon came as something of a relief. I wouldn’t have to play the waiting game. Wondering whether or not he’d call.

  “Hm… I have to find a new job, but other than that not much. What do you have in mind?”

  His hand rubbed my thigh now. “Hiking? And then dinner?”

  I’d told him I’d hiked a lot during my time at CU. “You’ll kick my butt.” I laughed. But I’m game if you are.” Now his other hand crept up my stomach and his finger traced the elastic waistband of my panties.”

  “I thought I got rid of these.” His hand dipped inside and I had no complaints. I was definitely good with one for the road.

  “This is it? I love these old neighborhoods.” Hunter pulled into the empty space in front of the house I’d grown up in and cut the engine. I sat for a minute, not sure of what to say. Already missing him.

  He grabbed my hand before I could jump out. “I had a really good time.”

  This giant lump formed in my throat. I knew we had plans for Tuesday but a part of me worried it would somehow fall through. Sincerity laced his voice though. And his eyes drank me in. I leaned across the center console. “So did I.” I sighed against his lips.

  When we finally pulled apart, my eyes stung. Stupid. I tried blinking the threatening tears away but he wasn’t fooled. “What’s wrong babe?”

  I shook my head and laughed. “Nothing.” I wiped at one eye. “I don’t even know. I guess it’s just been a crazy weekend. It’s all kind of catching up with me.” I was so happy with him. I faced all kinds of change. Change I embraced. Still, it was a lot.

  “Don’t let that bitch get you down.” He had a hold of my chin. “It was a dead end job anyway. You’re better than that.” I nodded. I could believe him… almost. “Text me how it goes. Good or bad. Promise?” I nodded again.

  “Say ‘Hi’ to Gert for me?”

  I got one more look at him. Just in case. “I could tell she liked you. She’ll be thrilled.” He raised my hand to his lips and pressed his mouth against it. One more kiss and I needed to tear myself away.

  I opened the door, ran up the sidewalk and then slipped in my parent’s front door.

  He didn’t drive off until I closed it behind me. My gut clenched. I couldn’t help thinking this was all too good to be true.

  My parents, thankfully weren’t home. They were probably over at Simon’s house. He and his girlfriend liked to host a Sunday brunch about once a month. I was grateful to miss this week.

  So I showered, changed, did some laundry and in-between a few naps, wrote in my journal. Not surprisingly, almost everything I journaled was about Hunter. What we’d done, how he made me feel, and stuff about his marriage. Writing it down helped me process it all.

  At about four o’clock, a text came in.

  Hunter: There’s strawberry ice cream all over my room

  I’ll bet. I licked my lips and remembered the white stuff on my dress.

  Me: Are you sure it’s all ice cream? I watched a minute as the three dots bounced around in the bubble.

  Hunter: You’ve got a point.

  I followed up by texting him a link on how to remove sperm stains from linen.

  Me: But you probably already know this.

  Hunter: LOL

  Hunter: Gran says ‘Hi’ back. She thinks you’re adorable. I told her I did too.

  Me: the feeling’s mutual. I think your gran’s adorable too.

  Hunter: You’re funny. You know that?

  Me: (Heart emoji)

  As soon as I hit send, I hoped it wasn’t too much. Would it freak him out?

  Hunter: Good luck tomorrow. Don’t forget to tell me how it goes.

  Me: I won’t

  Hunter: (Heart emoji)

  I melted.

  I just had to get through tomorrow and then I’d get to see him again. Surprisingly enough, I had no problems falling asleep that night.

  I still had Star’s credit card so before heading to her apartment I went ahead and stopped at FedEx to return the lingerie. She’d treated me horribly, but I still felt bad about making such a huge mistake. I’d never been fired from any job before. It was a bit of a wakeup call. The least I could do was return these for her.

  I’d also folded up the dress and placed the shoes in a box to leave with her. I loved that dress. It was hard to say goodbye.

  The light rail was packed and I couldn’t help but compare this morning’s ride to how I’d felt riding it last Friday. Determined but tired. That’s how I felt. This morning I felt determined in a different way. Not determined to just make it through another day of insults and menial tasks, but determined to walk away from Star Martin with some dignity and composure. I’d also already heard back from one of the restaurants I’d applied at yesterday. They said to stop by before the lunch rush.

  I smoothed the pencil skirt I’d donned earlier. The perfect fit and sleek material looked good on me. I felt sexy today. I needed all the extra confidence I could grab. I was also wearing heels. Even though I knew I wouldn’t see Hunter today, I felt like he was with me.

  Cheering for me.

  He’d texted from the training facility earlier this morning. He’d already run six miles and worked out with his trainer. He said he had a few meetings today or he’d meet me for coffee.

  I walked the few blocks to Star’s building (Hunter’s building) and then marched through the lobby. When I stepped into the elevator, I tried to relax my shoulders. I wished I could just get off on the 33rd floor. The elevator swooped past and up to 45.

  The doors slid open way too quickly. I hated confrontations. Seeing Star would be so much worse than usual. Somehow it hadn’t mattered so much when I hadn’t done anything wrong. It bothered me that I actually deserved to be fired.

  Just when I stepped off a text came through.

  Hunter had sent me the one thing that would take my mind off this meeting. It was a selfie of him and only him. I covered my mouth with one hand and giggled. Oh, my gosh. Wearing absolutely nothing, he grinned back at me from my phone. Hair slicked back, skin shining, he looked as though he just stepped out of the shower. I texted back a kiss emoji and stuffed the phone into my bag. I’d appreciate this pic later.

  Then, taking a deep breath I knocked on the door. I paused a few seconds, giving her a chance to answer before inserting my keycard and entering.

  “Miss Martin?” I called out tentatively. Had I missed her? Was I that lucky? “Miss Martin?”

  Just then Star casually strolled out of her bedroom, her phone to her ear. That saying, if looks could kill? Yeah. I’d be dead. Not only dead but ripped into shreds and thrown off the top of the building.

  “The little imbecile is here now.” She still hadn’t said a word to me. “Karen fucking Klapper got him. Can you believe it? Not only did she not win him, she let that bitch win.” She finally decided to acknowledge me. “Just a minute,” she told the other person on the phone. “Clean out your desk, leave the dress, and get out of my sight. Don’t expect a pay check. I imagine the station will send you a bill.”

  I gulped. I just wanted to get this over with and get out. I sat my stuff down on the countertop and practically ran back to the little room I’d worked out of for the last six months. Using an old shopping bag from the closet, I quickly gathered a sweater of mine, an extra pair of pumps and the one picture I’d left out on my desk. Studying the frame, I couldn’t help but smile. Bernadette and I at home on that last New Year’s Eve. We’d decided to forgo the subzero temperatures and stayed in drinking champagne… in formal gowns. I felt that squeeze but it wasn’t as cold as usual. This
was good.

  I stuffed it in the bag and looked around. Barbara stood on her perch watching me.

  I might miss Barbara a little. She understood what I’d gone through. I hoped Star didn’t’ forget to feed her. Taking a minute, I wrote instructions for her care on a post it note and stuck it on the computer.

  That was it.

  I took a breath and made my way quietly back towards the living room.

  Star looked surprised and a little… guilty? Nope. What was I thinking. Her mouth contorted into an ugly grimace. “Should I check your bag?” She snarled. “Make sure you haven’t stolen anything else from me?”

  I’d ran through this speech at least a dozen times in my mind. Except the first part. “You’re more than welcome to.” I held it out but she waved a dismissing hand at it. “I just want you to know I’m really sorry. It was a dumb thing to do and I don’t blame you for firing me.” I grabbed my large hand bag off the table and slid the dress bag and box toward her. “Thanks for giving me the opportunity to work with you. I wish you all the best.”

  “Well.” Star shrugged. “Maybe my next assistant won’t be so stupid.”

  Well then.

  Okay.

  I glanced around one last time and moved toward the door. I’d taken the high road. No more regrets. “Oh, yeah.” I slipped her key card out of my pocket and set it on a small table by the door. “Uh… bye.”

  And that was it.

  I rode the elevator down and left feeling one hundred pounds later. If I ever rode that elevator again, it would be to visit Hunter.

  I practically danced through the lobby and out the door.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Hunter

  I checked my phone about a dozen times and Holly still hadn’t let me know how her meeting with Star Martin went. Had her boss changed her mind and not fired her after all? I kind of hoped not. The job seemed toxic. I didn’t want Holly to have to put up with that bitch.

  Why hadn’t she texted me?

  We’d been texting on and off since I dropped her off so the sudden silence felt off. By seven in the evening I broke down and tried to call.

  Straight to voicemail.

  “Hey, Hol… it’s me. Hunter.” What if she was blowing me off? “Ah, just wondering how things went today. Making sure you’re still up for tomorrow.” I waited a second. “Call me when you get this.” And almost without thinking. “Miss ya babe.”

  I checked the volume on my phone and then set it on the counter. My meeting with P.R. had been eye opening.

  Star Martin had made a name for herself by exploiting anyone she could get her hands on. I couldn’t imagine anybody willingly going on her show. Mia showed me tapes of a former Bronco quarterback being eaten alive. As a result, he’d ended up being suspended and then traded at the end of the season.

  They broadcasted pictures of him with prostitutes who’d gone on the record to saying he’d done drugs with them. The pictures were old and he’d eventually tested negative for drugs, but the damage had been done.

  Career totally fucked.

  She had others to show me too. She wanted me to know exactly what I would be walking into. I seriously considered just duct taping my mouth for the entire date. Mia said it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring along a chaperone.

  Sounded good to me.

  Maybe gran would come. I grinned.

  At the thought of gran, Holly jumped right back into my mind.

  I picked up my phone. Still nothing. What the fuck?”

  Three hours later and I was starting to get pissed. Worried. Pissed. Back and forth. When I went to bed, I set my phone by the bed. This felt wrong. This wasn’t her. Was she ghosting me? Nobody ghosted me.

  Holly wasn’t the type.

  I flipped my pillow over and punched it down.

  I’d told her we’d go hiking tomorrow after my workout. Said I’d pick her up. She hadn’t cancelled. I’d go by her house tomorrow. Maybe she had a perfectly reasonable explanation for not texting. Maybe she’d dropped her phone in the tub or something.

  I tried to convince myself of this. Such a catastrophe made the most sense. That had to be it. How many times had she dropped stuff, knocked something over, or tripped this weekend? My little Andretti was no ballerina. I laughed when I remembered how she’d rolled both of us off the side of the bed.

  Yep that was it.

  I relaxed feeling better but worry still niggled at the back of my mind.

  I’d go by her house tomorrow after my work out. I was probably worrying over nothing.

  Famous last words.

  Woke up. Checked my fucking phone.

  Nothing.

  Even my run didn’t clear my mind this morning. Phone went in the tub. Or the toilet. I just kept telling myself this. Otherwise she’d answer. I tried to zone out on my music as I ran through the still sleeping streets. This was pissing me off though. Maybe it wasn’t her fault, but f-u-u-ck. She was under my skin and I didn’t like that anybody could distract me so much.

  I drove to the training center determined to focus on my workout. I wasn’t just pushing weights. I had to isolate specific muscles. Balance.

  By the time I’d completed everything on my schedule I’d almost pushed her completely out of my mind. One of my best workouts in a long time.

  I threw the towel over my shoulder and poured some water into my mouth. It was the exact moment that something on the Television hanging across the hall caught my eye.

  Not quite believing my eyes, I stepped through the glass doors.

  A picture of me.

  That I’d sent her. Yesterday. My junk had been blurred out but everything else lit up the screen in high definition.

  My throat went dry as I watched her betrayal play out. With the TV muted, captions flashed across the bottom of the screen.

  Not quite believing my eyes, I read about my marriage. Twisted shit I’d told her the other night. Speculation as to whether or not I’d stay in Denver. How many times I’d fucked her Saturday night?

  This wasn’t happening.

  I just stood there long after the segment was over. She played me?

  She used my gran? A choking laugh tore past my throat. My eyes burned and I thought for a minute I might throw up.

  Suddenly I had the answer for all my unanswered texts.

  Like a movie, our time together rolled through my head.

  Holly on the floor, crawling around in a pile of erotic lingerie. Holly sitting with my gran, raising her hand to bid and smiling at me. Sprawled on the grass in the courtyard at the Worthington… and then Saturday at Alesandro’s. Telling me about her friend, Bernadette. Feeding me bites of her dinner. Teasing me for losing my car. And god, that night. In my room. Inside of her. Tasting her. Holding her. Telling her all my fucking secrets.

  I wiped a hand across my face and tried to breathe.

  Never again. Anger, like a poison, iced my veins.

  No way she’d expect me to pick her up now. If she was stupid enough to wait for me she could fucking wait forever.

  I shook my head and returned to the weight room. So much for hiking.

  And then another annoying thought pierced my heart.

  So much for love.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Holly

  I wanted to text Hunter as soon as I stepped out of the building but needed to get over to the Lodo Saloon. The lunch rush would start around eleven and it was already almost ten. I’d never been there before and even though I’d lived here most of my life, I easily got turned around downtown.

  Pumping my legs to cover ground quickly, I wished I’d forgone the heels today. Or brought some flats along.

  The shuttle was approaching so I broke into a run.

  THWACK.

  This was me. As much as my knees and palms stung, I hated the fact that people had actually seen me face plant on the sidewalk. Damn sidewalk grates.

  My purse and bag had gone flying as well. At least I’d returned the lingerie alread
y. Feeling a little tender, I pushed myself up to get my bearings.

  “You all right, sweetheart?” An older woman knelt beside me while the gentleman she’d been with casually collected the items which had gone flying from my purse and bag. Another woman helped him stuff all of it in the bag.

  I stared ahead, stunned. My breath caught in my throat somehow. “You hit your head. I finally registered her hand on my shoulder and nodded.

  “I’m okay,” I expelled somehow. I brushed at my knees. Lovely.

  The woman pressed a tissue into my hand. “Thank you.” When I went to stand, she took my hand and pulled. “Thank you,” I managed again.

  The other two bystanders handing over my belongings and, seeing that I wasn’t injured, went about their business.

  With a squeeze of my hand, the woman at my side left as well.

  I filled my lungs with a deep breath and ran my fingers through my hair. No biggy. I’m fine.

  The shuttle had passed so, at a much slower pace, I gingerly made my way towards the mall and sat on a bench.

  Graceful as ever.

  I leaned forward to dab at my skinned knees again and frowned when a crimson stain appeared on my skirt. And then another.

  Not my favorite skirt! I dabbed the tissue at my forehead and then looked at it. Lovely.

  I didn’t have time for this. Another shuttle was just a block away and I was going to catch this one. So what, I have blood pouring from my head. I needed a new job and I wasn’t going to let one little fall stop me. This was the new me. The positive one. The optimistic one.

  Only a few people stared at me funny after I climbed on. Hunter might get a kick out of this story. Especially after the way we met. When he teased me about being a little klutzy, I purposely had rolled him off the bed. I couldn’t help smiling like an idiot remembering what happened afterwards.

  I needed to text him.

  Except my stop was coming up. Maybe I’d wait until after my meeting at the Lodo Grill. Hopefully I’d be able to tell him I was already employed again.

  Thirty minutes later, my day had definitely taken a turn for the better. The manager hired me to start the following Thursday night. She’d confided at the end of our meeting that before I arrived, she’d already decided on another applicant. But when I walked in with a cut on my face and blood on my clothes, she just couldn’t turn me away. So, in an odd way, my graceful splat worked in my favor.