Rory Callahan doodled on the dinner program while the guest speaker’s words at the advertising banquet became audio wallpaper.

I’m a seventh wheel...

Her crude drawing drew the attention of her artist, Skylar Jensen, who grabbed the pen from her hand, then wrote “pay attention!!!” on the program and drew an arrow toward her name.

Best copywriting nominees:

Callahan Agency

Rory looked up at her artist and mouthed “sorry” then turned toward the front of the room just as the speaker was wrapping up. The crowd applauded as she leaned back in her chair.

“Really, Rory, you’re up for an important award and you’re somewhere else,” said Skylar, who then pointed at her drawing. “By the way, you don’t even know how many wheels go on a car, and it isn’t seven. Which is why I’m the artist and you’re the writer.”

“I’ll explain later.”

“You don’t even look excited about the award. Don’t you want to win?”

Rory shrugged as she shoved her shoulder length mahogany hair behind her ears. “Whatever.”

“But it will help our business.”

“I’ve a got a bunch of award plaques in the attic. An award won’t keep me warm at night.”

“Ah, but you already have a cat who sleeps with you to keep you warm. So you’re not totally alone in bed.”

The thought of her beloved tabby tunneling under the covers every night brought a smile and brightened her hazel eyes. “Yeah, he is the best male in my life right now. Actually, he’s the only one.”

Skylar patted her hand. “Now, at least try to look excited. They’re about to announce the winner. And if you win, please act like you’re thrilled.”

Rory nodded, forced a smile and sat up straight. She looked at the list of five nominees. Three were big agencies but she’d seen their entries, and they weren’t all that great. One was from an agency whose name she didn’t recognize. She figured she had a good chance.

The president of the ad club, a silver-haired veteran of the Mad Men era, moved to the podium at the front of the hotel ballroom and looked out at the crowd. “And now it’s time for us to honor some exceptional work from the past year. We have five nominees, and we all saw their work earlier this evening. All are worthy of this award, but alas, there can only be one winner. He opened an envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper.

Skylar squeezed Rory’s hand. “Sure hope you win.”

“Couldn’t do it without you. Your artwork was stellar.”

The ad club president handed out two honorable mentions and the third place award, leaving Rory and the agency she didn’t know. She had to admit, the work submitted was very good.

Actually, she had to admit it was better than her own.

“Fifty-fifty shot,” said Skylar.

The moderator smiled. “The voting was very close. In second place... The Callahan Agency... and the winner is...”

Rory kept smiling as she stood up with everyone else to applaud the winner.

Skylar’s jaw slightly dropped as she saw the winner, then shook her head. “Oh, you gotta be friggin’ kidding me.”

“I lost, Skylar. It’s not the end of the world.”

“Not that.” She cocked her head at the winning copywriter as he headed to the podium to receive his award. “Him. Napoleon.”

“You know the guy?”

The dark blonde artist narrowed her pale blue eyes as her jaw clenched. “He was in a couple of my classes in college and in the same dorm. Biggest jerk you can imagine. Massive ego. A twenty-four carat ass. He raised being obnoxious to an art form.”

Rory sat down as the man posed for pictures. She couldn’t help but notice he was cute in that boy-next-door way. Probably in his mid-thirties, slim, dark hair, sparkling green eyes.

And short. The president was probably a foot taller. The winner took his award back to his table, getting pats on the back and handshakes along the way.

She turned to Skylar. “So what’s the story on this Napoleon guy?”

Skylar shook her head. “That’s not his real name, it’s what all the girls in the dorm called him because he’s short and thinks he’s God’s gift to women. He hit on me at a dance with a line so bad even you couldn’t write anything more lame.”

“And that line was...”

“You must be my parking ticket. Because you’ve got fine written all over you.”

Rory laughed. “That is pretty bad. Wait... you’re like six feet tall.”

“Five-eleven. And I was wearing some serious heels. Top of his head barely reached my shoulder.”

“So I assume with your snarky attitude you had a perfect response.”

“Oh, absolutely. I held my hand a few inches over his head and said, Sorry, you must be this tall to ride.”

“Ouch. I’ll bet that one left a mark.”

Skylar shook her head. “Oh, no. The guy is impervious to insults. He didn’t take the hint. He actually laughed and said, ‘Good one. Hadn’t heard that before.’ And then asked me to dance. I walked away and he followed me. He wouldn’t give up until I grabbed my roommate’s boyfriend and dragged him out to the dance floor just to get away. Which sort of backfired since he then hit on my poor roommate, who never let me hear the end of it.”

“Well, I guess his writing is a lot better than his approach with women. To be perfectly honest, I thought his entry was the better than mine. And you know it too.”

Skylar slowly nodded. “I’m glad you said it, because I would never admit it. But trust me, if we have to start rubbing elbows with him at these functions, you’ll grow to hate the guy.”

***

RORY CONTINUED HANDING out business cards to some prospective clients and a few major agencies who had freelance work as she and Skylar schmoozed in the crowded bar of the hotel. She couldn’t help but notice the winner doing the same thing and seeming to be the most popular guy in the place.

Damn, he’s a cute little thing. Sure doesn’t look like a jerk.

Suddenly Skylar reached out, took Rory’s chin and turned it. “Stop staring.”

“What? I wasn’t staring.”

“Yeah, you were. I’ve known you long enough to recognize that look. Sure, he’s cute and a lot better looking than he was in college, but please take my advice, you don’t even want to be in the same room with him.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re already there.”

“Yeah, but we’re only doing this to pick up new business. C’mon, let’s move to the other side.”

“Oh for God’s sake, how bad could he be? People change, Skylar. And you know how pathetic college guys were when it came to hitting on us.” She cocked her head in his direction. “Check it out. It doesn’t look like he’s offending anyone. Maybe he matured.”

“Doubtful. People don’t change, Rory. But if you insist on seeing for yourself, knock yourself out. Go over and congratulate the guy. He’ll have you running to the parking lot in five minutes.”

“We don’t have to go over there. He’s headed our way.”

Skylar rolled her eyes. “Oh, great. Here comes the flashback from hell. Get ready for an experience you’ll never forget.”

The man arrived and looked up at Skylar. “I thought I recognized you. Skylar, right?”

Skylar looked down at him and studied his face. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.”

“Sure we have. University of Connecticut, that dorm on the south part of campus. You were in a couple of my advertising classes and you always wore your hair short, like you do now. I usually don’t like girls with short hair but it really worked for you. Still does.”

Skylar shot Rory a look. Rory began to see what Skylar was talking about. Maybe she’s right...

Skylar turned back to him. “That’s where I went to school. But I apologize, I really don’t remember you.”

“Well, I don’t forget a girl who looks like you.” He turned to Rory. “She was the best artist in that class. No one else was even close. Oh, I’m sorry, we haven’t met.” He extended his hand, smiled and locked eyes with her. “Will Prescott.”

“Rory Callahan.” Damn, he’s got some seriously great eyes. They’re like the color of the Caribbean. And those dimples running the length of his cheeks... She shook his hand and felt a bit of electricity. “Congratulations on the award.”

“Thanks. And what do you do?”

“Copywriter. I got second place. Thanks to some great artwork by Skylar.”

“Like I said, she was very talented in college. Which entry was yours?”

“The small hardware store chain.”

“That was really well done. Perhaps you’d like to come work for me. I just opened an agency on Staten Island. Got tired of Madison Avenue after ten years. I could teach you some stuff.”

Skylar shook her head as she turned to Rory. “And... we’re off and running.”

Rory’s face tightened a bit. “I have my own agency, thank you. And not sure I need to learn anything else about advertising from someone who’s about the same age as me. I already have a mentor.”

“You ever work on Madison Avenue?”

“Ugh. God, no. Never had any desire to.”

“Well, things are different over there.”

Rory folded her arms. “Oh, really. How so?”

“The little tricks we use that make us the best. They didn’t title the show Mad Men for nothing.”

“You mean that series about womanizing drunks set in the sixties? What, you wanna chase me around your desk? Those kinds of little tricks?”

“It’s not like that now. Though I wouldn’t mind chasing you if you’d like to be caught.”

Rory’s blood pressure spiked as her face slowly tightened. She realized she was slightly taller than him even though she was wearing flats, so she moved closer, stretched to her full five-feet-four inches and looked down. “Apparently the arrogance is the same as it is with the men in the TV show. Who do you think you are, Don Draper? I’m not taking advertising lessons from you.”

He backed up and put up his hands. “Sorry I brought it up. I was just trying to help.”

“I didn’t ask for your help. And don’t need any. I do quite well. And if Madison Avenue is so great and you know so damn much about the business, how come you’re not working there anymore? What, you couldn’t cut it?”

Incredibly, he continued to smile at her.

What the hell is wrong with this guy? I insult him and he keeps smiling?

Skylar moved closer, towering over him. “You know what? Now that I think of it, I do remember you. And apparently you haven’t changed a bit.”

He nodded at her. “I knew you recognized me. Anyway, good seeing you again.” He turned to Rory. “And nice meeting you. Guess we’ll lock horns at the contest coming up next month.”

She glared at him. “I can’t wait.”

“She’ll kick your ass,” said Skylar. “And you’d better move along, or I’ll kick yours right now.”

He turned and left.

Still smiling.

Rory shook her head and exhaled. “Good God, you were right. I’ve never met anyone like that. Did you see that he kept that damn smirk even when I tried insulting him? And that line about chasing me and wanting to be caught by him? Seriously?”

“Told you. As usual, you don’t listen to me. Damn, I hate the fact that he’s moved here. Maybe he’ll do something stupid and we can get him thrown out of the ad club.”

She watched as Will Prescott moved on to some other people and started shaking hands. “Why do the really cute ones have to be like that?”

Skylar moved in front of her, blocking her line of sight. “Stop staring, you’ll only encourage him. There are plenty of cute guys who aren’t.”

“Right. Let me know when you find one for me.”

“Uh, last time I checked, you do quite well in the man department. Oh, I almost forgot... what was the deal with your seven-wheel vehicle?”

“You know my friends Madison, Tish and A.J? They’re all engaged. Lately when we all get together I’m the odd one out. I’m a third wheel, times three.”

“Three times three is nine. What is this, Common Core?”

“The math doesn’t matter. I’m the odd one out.”

“So why don’t you bring a date when you guys go out?”

“Seriously? You really think it’s a good idea to bring a guy out with a group of three couples planning weddings? He’d leave skid marks.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. So, what’s the deal, your biological clock ticking and you need to get married?”

“No, that’s not it. I’m fine being single. But you know what happens to friends when they get hitched. Things change. Every activity is for couples. And if they have kids you never see them again. I guess I’m worried that I’ll lose the best friends I ever had.”

“You won’t. I know how close you guys are. Hey, at least you found out that Will Prescott isn’t wheel number eight.”

“I know, you warned me, but I had to see for myself. I’m stubborn that way.”

“No argument here. You’re the immovable object, not the irresistible force.”

“Oh, I’m not irresistible?”

“You know what I mean. As for Will Prescott, he may be cute, but he’s even shorter than you are.”

“That doesn’t bother me.”

“Speaking of the men you date, what happened to that hunka hunka burnin’ love you were seeing last month?

“Ted? Pffft. Hated cats. And that was a deal breaker. Love me, love my cat. There’s gotta be a real man for me who loves cats.”

***

“HEMINGWAY? WHERE ARE you, buddy?”

Rory looked around her home that doubled as her office and didn’t see her tabby, named since she was a writer and the cat had six toes like those at the famous author’s home in Key West. Since it was after midnight she had a pretty good idea where to find him. She headed into her bedroom and saw a lump on the bed under the comforter. “Ah, there’s my little bed warmer.” The lump started to move to the headboard. The tabby poked his head out and meowed at her. “Hey there, tiger. How were things in the cat world today?” She reached for him and stroked his head, getting the usual look from those beautiful green eyes that went right into her soul. “You might be the only single male I know who isn’t a jerk.”