Bonnie, my producer, pulled me away for a quick session in the makeup chair. It was mostly just powder to keep my face from being shiny on camera.
“Don’t forget the eyeliner,” Clara said from beside the chair.
I gave her a playful glare and then looked at my makeup artist. “Don’t listen to her, Delphine. She’s just kidding.”
“And who is this lovely lady?” Delphine asked.
“Delphine, meet Clara, my girlfriend.”
Delphine almost dropped her makeup brush. Eyes wide, she gave Clara another look, more critical this time. “I never thought I’d see the day,” she said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Clara. You must be really something to land a free bird like Luke.”
Clara smiled and shook her head. “He came chasing after me, if you can believe it. Begged me to come visit him for the holidays because he missed me too much.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Delphine smacked me in the arm with a laugh. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you were such a romantic?”
“I’m only finding it out myself,” I said with a chuckle. “But when you find the right one, you just know.”
Delphine nodded. “I can see it when you look at each other. It’s the real deal.”
Clara’s gaze met mine again and the sparks I saw there sure felt real.
A few minutes later, I went live with the other analyst, jumping right into a story about a quarterback who got injured. The words scrolled by on the teleprompter and I read them without stumbling over anything, but my focus was on Clara.
Beyond the glare of the studio lights, she stood with Delphine watching me, her eyes shining, her hands clasped between her breasts like she was both nervous and excited for me. I was feeling it too, surprisingly.
Today’s broadcast should have been no big deal, just another show like any other. But with Clara there, I wanted to be at my best, to impress her. It was a silly thing to do for a fake girlfriend, but maybe fake wasn’t enough for me anymore.
Near the end of the show, my co-anchor asked about my Christmas plans, which wasn’t scripted. We usually did a bit of light banter like that while we wrapped things up. I realized he had given me the perfect opportunity.
My brothers might see this. All of the country would see this.
I put on my most charming TV smile and looked dead center into the camera. “I’m glad you asked me that, Johnny, because I have a bit of an announcement for everyone.”
Johnny chuckled. “Wow, an announcement. You’re not retiring on us, are you?”
“Not yet,” I said. “No, my girlfriend is visiting for the holidays, actually.”
“Whoa, stop the presses,” Johnny said. “Luke Whitaker has a girlfriend? I know a lot of ladies out there who will be disappointed to hear it.”
I laughed. “True love isn’t something to be disappointed about. It should be celebrated. Now, I didn’t plan this and I don’t want to put her on the spot, but she’s here today. Clara, come on up here.”
Her eyes went wide as dinner plates and she shook her head vehemently. The crew around her gestured encouragingly, knowing this was great television and not caring if she was uncomfortable.
Clara walked into the stage lights, looking camera-ready and hot as hell. Without thinking, I walked directly up to her once she was onscreen. Then I leaned down and pressed a deep kiss on her lips.
The contact was electric, and when she leaned in to me, not pushing me away but inviting me in, I thought I might take her right there on camera in front of the entire nation.
“There you have it, folks,” Johnny said, still sitting at the desk. “Join us next time. Maybe there will be a wedding.”
The show ended and the stage lights dimmed. I barely noticed, with how much Clara dazzled me.
“Let’s get out of here,” I told her gruffly.
Clara blinked and nodded, jolting herself back to reality. She waved goodbye to everyone in the area and we left.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with her after that earth-shaking kiss, but then she reminded me she had to go do some work with Kerri.
We parted ways, and I went back to my office feeling things I had no business feeling.
