Last night, Camilla paced the lobby for thirty full minutes before returning to her apartment. The entire time she thought of nothing but Hunter. The nice dinner they’d had, the kiss, the card, and the fact that he hadn’t even asked how she knew where he lived. Now sitting behind WTZB studio lights, Camilla’s mind was still on Hunter, mostly because shortly after arriving at the news station, she’d found out while going through morning reports that Hunter was in the rotation to be interviewed today. A flush of warmth swirled around her face, making her blush instantly. Apparently, after the news cycle the day before, the station received a call from the man himself. According to everyone there, it was a rarity for Hunter or any other celebrity to call in and request an interview.

The team was ecstatic, and of course, he asked specifically for the new face of WTZB to be the one to interview him. Camilla. She fumbled with her earpiece thinking about his sneaky tactics. He’d known yesterday while they had dinner that she would be interviewing him today. So, why hadn’t he mentioned it to her? Camilla couldn’t get her thoughts together adequately to call him for a practice run. It was enough that she’d tossed and turned last night with wicked foreplay with him in her dreams.

“We’re live in 5, 4, 3, 2…”

The light on the camera turned red, and the station’s recorded morning introduction sailed across the viewers’ televisions before cutting to Gerald Meyer.

“It’s a great morning at WTZB, and I’m here with my lovely co-anchor Camilla Augustina. Good morning, folks, and good morning, Camilla.”

Camilla’s smile spread across her face, and her brown eyes lit up as she acknowledged Gerald. “Good morning, Gerald, and good morning, Chicago. Today’s weather is better than yesterday’s, I think, or is Chicago’s weather normally in this much disarray?”

Gerald laughed a heavy chuckle that brightened his already lively face.

“I’m sorry to say that I think it’s always like this.”

“Oh boy,” Camilla responded.

“You’ll get used to it eventually, then when you go back home to Florida, you’ll feel like an outsider.” Gerald laughed at his own joke.

“Now that’s something I can’t imagine.”

“Well you’ve lived there all your life, so somethings will never change, but Chicago may grow on you. Our weather is interchangeable, and the environment is healthy.”

“Which is why I chose this city to move to, and speaking of the environment,” Camilla turned her attention toward the live camera, “today, we’re speaking with Hunter Valentine about his green energy initiative and the ribbon-cutting ceremony that will be held later this week.”

“Friday,” Gerald intervened.

“Yes,” Camilla picked up. “Have we been invited to cover it?”

“We’re working on it,” Gerald cajoled. “Maybe we should ask the man of the hour.”

“You’re right.” Camilla glanced back at the camera. “Mr. Valentine, do we have you on the line?”

Camilla held her breath, and the authoritative voice that was Hunter Valentine crooned through the studio speakers of WTZB.

“Good morning, Camilla,” he said, deciding not to be formal with her, live air be damned. “It’s nice to hear from you again.”

Camilla’s grin was uniformed in a concealed covering that presented a beautiful smile but underneath it all, Camilla was completely flushed, and the stinging heat that slipped over her flesh traveled to her nipples. Oh, dear God. Not only had Hunter made it known that they were previously acquainted with that introduction, but his baritone voice didn’t disappoint. Camilla hoped beyond hope that her now rock-solid areolas weren’t protruding through the silk blouse she sat comfortably in.

Damn, I shouldn’t have worn this blouse.

Camilla was stuck in her smile, and before anyone had a chance to notice the absence of her response, Hunter moved to Gerald, making sure to acknowledge him as well.

“Good morning, Mr. Meyers, thank you both for taking my call.”

Gerald spoke up. “We’re your number one fans here at WTZB. I just wish I could’ve gotten the warm welcome Camilla just received.”

Gerald chuckled and so did Hunter, but their voices were entirely different. Where Gerald’s was an upbeat guffaw, Hunter’s was a deep thunderous chuckle that threatened Camilla’s heartbeat.

“I’m just kidding. I know it’s reserved for the ladies. I’m not jealous,” Gerald continued to joke.

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that,” Hunter acquitted.

“No?”

“Nah, just for Ms. Augustina,” Hunter replied.

It was as if he were trying to take her down before she could gather herself. Was it possible Hunter didn’t know the effect he had on her? She’d told him last night that he could be a bit of a distraction. So, either he didn’t care, or he genuinely wasn’t aware that he was doing it at that very moment.

Shaking herself inwardly, Camilla put her professional hat on and charged full throttle into the interview. “It is nice to hear from you again, Mr. Valentine.” She turned the tables by addressing him formally, and he caught her drift. Although she couldn’t see him, Camilla felt entuned with his aura and could immediately tell there was a delicious grin on his strong face.

“We’re interested to know how your green energy initiatives project came to fruition. Can you tell us a little bit about it?”

“Certainly,” he paused. “Our environment is threatened by the burning of fossil fuels that we as a people release into it daily. Coal, oil, and gas have a harmful effect on not only our airwaves, but the earth in general. If we plan to leave a planet to our children and our children’s children, then something must change, and it starts with each individual currently inhabiting this wonderful planet today.

“My contribution to what I like to call the Save the Earth project starts with my green energy initiative. Having the power to make a change with a vast impact is something I take seriously. Because although this is business for me, it’s personal, too. Without a clean environment, the human race loses. We have to do better. We must.

I’ve partnered with Toyota to bring more energy efficient cars to consumers. Vehicles that the everyday citizen can afford and give their own helping hand to our environment by simply exchanging their gas induced vehicles for a better, stronger, much more resourceful automobile. Toyota’s Prius is the world’s top-selling hybrid electric vehicle on the market. Its aerodynamic features are unmatched to any other hybrid out there. Along with the charging stations provided by my company, the Toyota Prius is a smart innovation that’s hard to pass up. And,” he paused. “It comes in a variety of colors.”

Gerald and Camilla chuckled.

“Tell me, Camilla,” Hunter said, “are you driving and energy efficient vehicle?”

“No.” Camilla quickly cleared her throat. Her voice had dipped soft and sultry. “I don’t have a car now since I’m new in town, I’m driving a rental.”

“Even better.” Hunter’s deep voice sailed through her earpiece and stroked her flesh. “What’s your favorite color, Camilla?”

“I wouldn’t say I have a favorite color, but if I had to choose, I’d say salmon pink and apple green.”

Those were her sorority colors, and Hunter caught on immediately. A full-on smile trekked across Hunter’s lips, and he felt refreshed that she’d chosen to add a piece of their personal conversation into this one.

“Now if you tell me Toyota’s got those colors, then I’d run down there myself and signup,” Camilla added.

“You should come anyway. Consider this my personal invitation to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. I’d love to show you and WTZB an up-close look at what we’ve put together.”

Camilla cut her eyes quickly at Gerald. She wasn’t the reporter for the station, so it wasn’t her place to accept his request. Standing behind the cameras, Allison and the station’s owner Avery Michele smiled brightly. Avery nodded, as if to say, it’s okay to accept. Still Camilla hesitated.

“We would love to be there. Thank you for inviting us,” she said after a quick consideration.

“My pleasure. I’ll provide transportation for you, Friday at two p.m.”

“We’ll be ready, and thank you for calling in.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you soon.” The studio ended the call.

“It looks like we have a date, folks,” Gerald shouted.

This time Camilla couldn’t hold back her blush. Her brown cheeks darkened, and her smile took Hunter’s breath away. Her reaction was beautiful, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the screen as he stood in his office.

“Oh, Gerald,” Camilla drawled teasingly. “Don’t stir up trouble for me now. We all know Mr. Valentine may have a woman at home. She’s probably ready to come down to the station and hurt me now,” she continued to tease.

Hunter wished he was still on the line to dispel that comment, but he would address it later, if, Camilla decided to still come to Velvet Café and hear him play.

There was a swift knock at his door followed by a feminine voice.

“Nice interview.”

Hunter didn’t take his eyes from the TV. His assistant was always somewhere lurking when she didn’t need to be.

“Thanks. Is everyone in the conference room,” he asked.

She cleared her throat. “Let me check on that.”

He listened as her soft steps glided away. He shook his head.

Most of the women he’d hired to be his assistant in the past were pretty much the same. It was hard to find good help without the woman being attracted to him. Devin, his right-hand man had warned him about hiring anyone with an X chromosome; spoken like a true chauvinist. Hunter ignored him. He hired according to the experience and attributes a person could add to his company, not because of gender.

Dismissing the thoughts, Hunter watched as Camilla’s luscious lips moved. She’d worn her hair in a bounty of curls different from the straight layered look she’d had the day before. As he stared, Hunter remembered the taste of her mouth, the softness of her lips, and the way he’d wanted desperately to send his tongue on an invading crusade. Camilla probably didn’t think so, but Hunter had held back not wanting to come on too strong but needing to connect with her all the same. She took the viewers on a commercial break with promises to come back and hand over the segment to Dan the weatherman.

Hunter stepped to the high definition screen and stretched his long arm out, powering off the electronic. Strolling around his large corner office desk, he removed his suit jacket and tossed it over his arm then bent to retrieve his suitcase. After this meeting, he would leave for the day and head to the flower shop before arriving at Velvet Café. He wanted to make an impression on Camilla, and in the back of his mind, Hunter was still trying to figure out, why.