Hot Spot. Debbi Rawlins

Madison’s short, uneven nails. “No, get a manicure instead.”

      “You’re hysterical.” She picked up her portfolio that contained a recent head shot of Logan and a brief bio she’d found on the Internet.

      She figured she ought to know a little something about him other than he had a face and body that gave even her elderly grandmother heart palpitations.

      “You coming by tomorrow?” Talia took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes.

      “Probably, but it kind of depends on tonight.”

      Talia grinned. “I’m jealous.”

      Yeah, right. As if. Madison sighed. “You’re hopeless.”

      “You know what would be a real kick?”

      “Do I want to hear this?”

      “Remember that psychic you went to?”

      “Don’t even go there.” Madison headed for the door. “Anyway, I didn’t go to see her. She was at a party. It was stupid.”

      “I’m just saying…” Talia’s eyes widened. “Hey, didn’t your friend Karrie’s prediction come true?”

      Madison’s hand froze on the doorknob. She’d been so wrapped up in getting this assignment she’d forgotten. Not that Karrie’s or her prediction meant anything. Coincidence of course.

      Even so…

      Jack Logan? No way.

      JACK ARRIVED AT EROTIQUE ten minutes early, but she was already there. He knew it was Madison Tate sitting at a small table near the black circular bar. Not just because she was the only woman sitting alone. The voice on the phone matched this woman perfectly. The way she was dressed, the way she sat with her back straight and her head held high. No-nonsense.

      While the other women in the bar were decked out in the latest fall offerings from Prada or Bebe, she dressed simply in jeans and a white T-shirt, generic, not designer. Her dark-blond hair wasn’t particularly stylish, either. Kind of short and unruly, and before he crossed the room, her long slender fingers pushed the stubborn locks away from her face twice.

      The moment she saw him she stood and smiled. A nice friendly smile. Not the kind he usually got from women.

      “You’re early,” she said and offered her hand.

      He accepted the firm handshake. “You’re earlier.”

      “Bad habit of mine.” She reclaimed her seat, and he took off his overcoat and sat across from her, laying the expensive coat across his lap.

      “My mother used to say that being prompt or early shows respect. Being late indicates you think your time is more valuable than the other person’s.” He didn’t have the faintest idea why he’d elaborated like that. But when her mouth stretched into a beautiful smile he was glad he had.

      “Your mama sounds like a wise woman.”

      “Yes, she was.”

      “Oh.” Her smile faded. “I’m sorry. I lost mine, too. Last year. It was really hard. Still is.”

      “Yeah. My mom passed away while I was in college. Seems like yesterday.”

      An awkward silence settled for a few moments, and then they both spoke at once.

      Madison grinned. “Go ahead.”

      Two women sitting at a table behind Madison stared blatantly at him. He was used to the intrusion. Came with the territory. But this pair particularly annoyed him, especially the redhead, who gave him one of those silly four-fingered waves. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

      A slight frown puckered Madison’s brows. “Here comes the waitress. Know what you want?”

      What he wanted and what his personal trainer allowed were two different things. Ah, what the hell. “Scotch,” he told the young woman in the pink vest. “Neat.”

      “Right away.” She looked barely twelve, although she obviously had to be over twenty-one. “Would you like another club soda?” she asked Madison.

      “I’m good.” She waited until the waitress moved away, and then said, “You gotta admit, this place is amazing.”

      Jack glanced at the unique, black-lacquered circular bar, awash in a rosy glow from the pink overhead lights. The bar chairs with the inverted triangular backs were chic and surprisingly comfortable from what he remembered of the grand opening. The entire hotel was a class act. That didn’t mean he wanted to be associated with the place. “No argument there.”

      Her eyebrows rose. “But?”

      He shrugged a shoulder. “What do you want me to say?”

      “That you’ll do the photo shoot here.”

      He smiled. “Why not Central Park?”

      “Because it’s November and you’re likely to freeze you’re a—behind off.”

      “It’s not that cold yet.”

      “You won’t say that after we’ve been outside for six hours.”

      “Six hours?”

      “If we’re lucky.”

      “Well, let’s make sure we’re real lucky.”

      Her expression tightened, and she lifted her drink to her lips.

      After a brief silence, he said, “I understand this isn’t just about me. It’s about the city. Isn’t that the first thing people think of when you mention Manhattan?”

      She gave him a funny look. “They probably think of the Statue of Liberty.” Then quickly added, “And no, we’re not doing it there.”

      “I guess that leaves out two places.”

      Annoyance flashed in her light-brown eyes. “I don’t understand why it matters. It’s not like I’m asking you to run naked through Times Square.”

      The waitress had reappeared and she’d obviously heard given the way her eyes widened slightly. “Excuse me.” She smiled at Jack. “The ladies at the next table would like to buy you a drink, Mr. Logan.”

      He shook his head, his gaze staying on Madison. “Tell them thanks anyway, but it doesn’t look as if I’ll be staying long.”

      Meeting his eyes, Madison didn’t seem the least bit intimidated. Angry, maybe. Frustrated, definitely.

      Unaware of the undercurrent, the waitress said, “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you earlier, Mr. Logan. Between this job and school I don’t have much time to watch the news. Not that kind, anyway.”

      He switched his gaze in time to see her oblivious smile before she walked away. Not that kind. Her words stayed behind, taunting him, reminding him of how many people didn’t consider him a serious newsman. To them he was just a pretty face, delivering national news, joking with his coanchor and providing entertainment while the television audience sipped their morning coffee.

      “I have an idea,” Madison said, her nervousness betrayed by the way her fingers continuously circled the glass.

      “I’m listening.”

      “After our drink, why don’t we go for a walk around the hotel and—”

      “I’ve already seen it.”

      “All of it?”

      “At the opening.”

      “Ah.” She sighed, sinking back. “Of course.” And then she straightened and leaned toward him with renewed determination on her face. “So? Is the place stunning or what?”

      “Was that rhetorical?”

      “Absolutely.”

      He