keyed up the volume. Her work playlist contained an eclectic mix of genres, everything from classical to country to easy listening to movie and Broadway soundtracks. The words and music usually blended into the background when her creative muse took over. Unfortunately, Madam Muse appeared to have gone AWOL this morning, and the ballad now coming through the speakers scraped at her nerves.
Killing the music, she leaned back in her chair and stretched both arms over her head. She’d been wrestling with concepts for an ad campaign that targeted millennials, many of whom considered themselves civic-minded and environmentally responsible consumers. A recent survey indicated consumers in the eighteen to thirty-four age bracket were more likely than their older, baby boomer counterparts to respond to cause-related campaigns. Additional surveys confirmed they were also more likely to try unique and exotic products.
As a result, Dawn’s company was preparing to market a new line of all-natural vegetable chips. And for every giant bag of the veggie chips purchased by consumers, her company would contribute small, individual-size bags to schools for lunches and snacks to help combat childhood obesity. Personally, she didn’t care for the Jalapeño Kale Bites, but she could devour both the Zucchini Carrot Crunchies and the Sweet Potato Stix by the bowlful!
The proposed packaging helped, she thought as she eyed her computer screen. Although the bags were made from recycled paper, the company’s packaging engineers had managed to make them look glossy and slick. Now all Dawn and her team had to do was come up with distinctive logos for each chip that would appeal to schoolkids, health-conscious adults and—hopefully!—the halftime, snacks-and-beer-guzzling crowd.
Speaking of which...
She didn’t miss Tommy and Brian. She really didn’t. Still, it would’ve been nice if they’d invited her to the game. She would’ve declined, of course. She would’ve had to after pleading work as an excuse to avoid breakfast and any potential postmortems of that torrid kitchen kiss.
Damn the man, anyway! Where did he get off making her feel like a world-class troll when he’d stomped across the kitchen? He’d wrapped his palm around her nape? And he’d tugged her into that intimate, totally erotic embrace?
Okay, so maybe she should’ve backed away. Or at least issued a proceed-at-your-own-peril warning. Maybe then she wouldn’t be so annoyed with herself for hiding out in the gatehouse while Tommy and his dad were out in the crisp fall air, enjoying the noise and controlled mayhem of professional football.
Giving up all attempts to concentrate on Sweet Potato Stix, Dawn put her laptop to sleep and marched into the living room. Moments later she had her feet up and the TV tuned to the raucous pregame activities.
* * *
The fresh air and excitement did a number on Tommy. He fell asleep on the drive home and woke up cranky when they reached the house. So cranky, Brian called the high schooler who occasionally babysat when Mrs. Wells required a much-needed break. Luckily Addy’s own plans for the evening had fallen through and he was available for pizza and videos with Tommy.
As instructed, Brian buzzed Dawn when he was ready to leave for the Westbrooks’. She came in through the kitchen and damned near gave him a stroke. It was the first time he’d seen her all glammed up since the ceremony in Rome, when Kate and Travis had renewed their vows. She’d pretty much stuck to jeans and scoop neck tops this past week and had worn her hair either clipped up or caught back in a loose twist.
She’d pulled out all the stops tonight, though, or so it seemed to a stunned Brian. Slinky black slacks. A black sweater that emphasized her lush curves. A chunky gold necklace interwoven with iridescent emerald beads the exact color of her eyes. Her hair fell in loose, coppery curls to her shoulders and looked so soft and shiny that Brian had to
Killing the music, she leaned back in her chair and stretched both arms over her head. She’d been wrestling with concepts for an ad campaign that targeted millennials, many of whom considered themselves civic-minded and environmentally responsible consumers. A recent survey indicated consumers in the eighteen to thirty-four age bracket were more likely than their older, baby boomer counterparts to respond to cause-related campaigns. Additional surveys confirmed they were also more likely to try unique and exotic products.
As a result, Dawn’s company was preparing to market a new line of all-natural vegetable chips. And for every giant bag of the veggie chips purchased by consumers, her company would contribute small, individual-size bags to schools for lunches and snacks to help combat childhood obesity. Personally, she didn’t care for the Jalapeño Kale Bites, but she could devour both the Zucchini Carrot Crunchies and the Sweet Potato Stix by the bowlful!
The proposed packaging helped, she thought as she eyed her computer screen. Although the bags were made from recycled paper, the company’s packaging engineers had managed to make them look glossy and slick. Now all Dawn and her team had to do was come up with distinctive logos for each chip that would appeal to schoolkids, health-conscious adults and—hopefully!—the halftime, snacks-and-beer-guzzling crowd.
Speaking of which...
She didn’t miss Tommy and Brian. She really didn’t. Still, it would’ve been nice if they’d invited her to the game. She would’ve declined, of course. She would’ve had to after pleading work as an excuse to avoid breakfast and any potential postmortems of that torrid kitchen kiss.
Damn the man, anyway! Where did he get off making her feel like a world-class troll when he’d stomped across the kitchen? He’d wrapped his palm around her nape? And he’d tugged her into that intimate, totally erotic embrace?
Okay, so maybe she should’ve backed away. Or at least issued a proceed-at-your-own-peril warning. Maybe then she wouldn’t be so annoyed with herself for hiding out in the gatehouse while Tommy and his dad were out in the crisp fall air, enjoying the noise and controlled mayhem of professional football.
Giving up all attempts to concentrate on Sweet Potato Stix, Dawn put her laptop to sleep and marched into the living room. Moments later she had her feet up and the TV tuned to the raucous pregame activities.
* * *
The fresh air and excitement did a number on Tommy. He fell asleep on the drive home and woke up cranky when they reached the house. So cranky, Brian called the high schooler who occasionally babysat when Mrs. Wells required a much-needed break. Luckily Addy’s own plans for the evening had fallen through and he was available for pizza and videos with Tommy.
As instructed, Brian buzzed Dawn when he was ready to leave for the Westbrooks’. She came in through the kitchen and damned near gave him a stroke. It was the first time he’d seen her all glammed up since the ceremony in Rome, when Kate and Travis had renewed their vows. She’d pretty much stuck to jeans and scoop neck tops this past week and had worn her hair either clipped up or caught back in a loose twist.
She’d pulled out all the stops tonight, though, or so it seemed to a stunned Brian. Slinky black slacks. A black sweater that emphasized her lush curves. A chunky gold necklace interwoven with iridescent emerald beads the exact color of her eyes. Her hair fell in loose, coppery curls to her shoulders and looked so soft and shiny that Brian had to
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