Free My Last Blind Date by Susan Hatler Page B

Medium build. Brown eyes and brown hair—that used to get highlighted for a steal. Not exactly a blonde bombshell like Melinda or my ex-hairdresser. No tight butt, firm abs, or long legs either.
    “But, like I said, my plans aren’t etched in granite.” Melinda lowered her sultry voice, but thankfully I had the closest cubicle. “If something better crossed my path, I’d certainly be up for that—even if it meant staying in.”
    I scoffed. Subtle.
    Noah’s eyes widened a fraction, then he gave her a friendly smile. “Well, have a great night with whatever you end up doing.”
    “Mmmm.” She pursed her pink lips, started down the hall, then tossed over her shoulder, “You, too.”
    “Wow.” I used a low voice so my co-workers in surrounding cubicles couldn’t hear. “Noah must have some serious plans to turn down an invitation with her.”
    Ellen raised her brows. “Maybe he’s looking for more in a woman than a killer body.”
    I immediately thought of Jeremy and the woman he’d dumped me for. “Yeah, that’s exactly what guys want. Good conversation.”
    “I give up. Live happily ever after with your mutt. See if I care.” Ellen stood, huffed, and stomped out of my cubicle.
    “He happens to be a pedigree.” How dare she insult my miniature beagle-baby? I snatched pages from the printer tray, stapled them together, then sensed someone behind me. “Don’t even try it. I’m not going to say yes.”
    “I haven’t asked you for anything yet.” The smooth male voice had a hint of laughter in it.
    Noah. My heart raced. It wasn’t unusual for Noah to stop by my cubicle and chat before leaving work, but being dateless on V-day had thrown me off-kilter. “I thought you were Ellen.”
    He smiled, revealing straight, white teeth underneath his perfect lips. “Close, but I’m a little taller.”
    And a lot more handsome. “Yes, you are that. ”
    When he leaned back against my desk, it put everything below his belt buckle in my direct eye line. “What’s Ellen trying to talk you into?”
    “A blind date,” I blurted. With great effort, I forced my eyes from his sculpted chest to his spectacular face.
    His brows rose as if surprised. “No date on the Hallmark holiday, huh?”
    Had he just…. “I thought I was the only one who called it that.”
    “Don’t tell anybody, but...,” he held his hand to the side of his mouth and whispered, “I think St. Valentine’s Day is all part of a huge advertising scheme created by flower and chocolate companies. Now, if we could just make a holiday to help sell software programs, we’d be set.”
    “Great idea. It’s the twenty-first century, after all. How about Happy Computer Day?” Oh, how I’d like to celebrate that holiday with him in a non-working way. Run my fingers over his…keyboard. I smiled at the thought.
    Everything felt better when I was with Noah. The way he looked at me, our easy banter, the sparks between us that I was obviously imagining.
    My mood went from elated to deflated in a matter of seconds. That’s reality for you.
    “I’ll put Computer Day down on my calendar.” He checked his watch suddenly. “Almost time to call it a day. So, uh, are you going on that blind date?”
    I paused, wondering why he sounded so interested. Probably just being polite. “Me? Make trivial conversation with someone I’ve never met, likely don’t have anything in common with, and all for the minutely slim shot it’ll work out? I haven’t decided.”
    He tilted his head and gave me a side-glance. “You make dating sound worse than going to the dentist.”
    I avoided his eyes, wanting to kick myself for letting that slip. “I hear you have big plans.”
    His brows quirked and he glanced toward his office. “You heard what I said to Melinda?”
    Uh, yeah, and I still had the neck strain to prove it. “Couldn’t help but notice, what with the e-mail poll going around.”
    “E-mail poll?”
    “About whether or not you’d ask her