Starlight in Her Eyes (14 page)

“Some I wish I hadn't.” Colin shook his head, filled with regret before he glanced away.

“Don't you see? It makes you who you are. I happen to think that person is incredibly special.” Serena placed a gentle hand on his cheek and her eyes searched his. “The morning show had been steadily failing over the last few years before Graham died. They didn't want to fire him, although they should have in his first six months. For that matter, Graham should have just quit and become a full-time news writer or print journalist. Do you want to know the real irony?”

“What's that?” Colin loved Serena's honesty and appreciated how she felt comfortable sharing such personal information about her late husband.

“After all of Graham's efforts to keep his name anonymous for the newspaper articles he wrote, it was his relation to his famous father that kept the producers from firing him,” Serena said. “And then when Graham died, out of respect for his dad as much as for Graham, they felt it was inappropriate to immediately replace him with a new permanent co-host.”

She shrugged. “It was a hard call, but they did what they thought was best. The producers recognized they needed to bring in the right male co-host to save our struggling show. They filled in with interim co-hosts and—you may not be aware—but they tried out over twenty different men and auditioned over a hundred candidates. You are that perfect guy for the position, Colin, and the numbers since you've joined the show are soaring.”

He chuckled. “Thank you for your faith in me, love, but that might be the optimistic holiday factor combined with the new guy effect.”

“Stop being so humble, Colin.” Serena's voice was firm and she released his hands. “The viewers love you and the producers and network executives couldn't be more thrilled. Accept it and keep doing exactly what you're doing. Aside from the professional aspects, you've brought laughter and joy back into my life. My daughter adores you and can't stop talking about you. Watching the two of you together tonight, my heart was full again. I felt whole and complete in a way I haven't experienced in too many years.”

“I love Lily.” Colin forced down the lump lodged in his throat. “And how does Lily's mother feel about me?” His breathing slowed and his senses came alive as never before.

Before he could speak, Serena drew nearer. Her gaze fell on his mouth, leaving no doubt in his mind as to what she wanted. She lifted her head with expectation.

Colin wrapped her in his arms in a move so natural he ached with longing before lowering his mouth to hers. This kiss was slow and gentle, full of emotion, going on endlessly and yet not nearly long enough. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice husky.

Serena's lips tantalized him, her touch thrilled him. Hungry for her, he could barely think. Cradling her face between his palms, Colin pulled her as close as he dared and deepened the kiss. He'd suspected she was a passionate woman, and he'd been correct. Gloriously so.

“I've fallen in love with you, Serena. I've known it for some time. I wanted to tell you earlier tonight, but I didn't feel it was appropriate standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you.” He teased her soft, perfect mouth with his. “At an outdoor skating rink.” He kissed her again. “In the middle of Center City, Philadelphia.” He leaned in for one more kiss. When a happy sigh escaped her lips, he tightened his hold, finding it difficult to stop. Truly, he was heady with the scent of her, the taste of her.

Serena smiled and traced her finger over his lips. If not love, her smile was one of deep affection. “I wouldn't have kissed you at the ice rink—and just now, multiple times—if I didn't know one thing.”

“What's that?” Colin leaned his forehead against hers, attempting to control his breathing.

“You've made your way into my heart.”

“That's all I can ask,” he whispered. “I am a very blessed man.”

With one final kiss, Colin hoped Serena understood his intentions to keep her in his heart. Always.

12

Friday Afternoon

“Serena, I need you to arrange something with Gabrielle's assistant.” Lawrence snapped his fingers. “Her name escapes me. Dark hair, from Jersey. Mary? Marcia?”

“Martina.”

“Yes. Thanks. The segments with Colin visiting points of interest in the city are doing extremely well in the numbers, and even better than expected. We want to expand on them, and adding Gabrielle will be a smart move. Besides that, it's a great cross-promotion strategy.”

Serena stared at her boss. In several ways, his suggestion was a bad one, and she needed to voice her objections. Lawrence respected her opinion, not that he always listened closely. It might be in her favor that she'd been the one to suggest the idea for the taped segments in the first place. Then again, maybe not.

“May I ask why?” she said. “Our audience enjoys the interplay with Colin and Gabrielle in the studio, but it's Colin they're tuning in to watch in the taped segments. Seeing the city through fresh eyes, especially from the unique viewpoint of a man from Britain running around the birthplace of American freedom and democracy.”

Lawrence paced back and forth beside his desk. “True, but the give-and-take, flirtatious banter between a man and woman would add some interest, spice it up even more. If there's a hint of something going on between Colin and Gabrielle, we could use it to our advantage.”

Spice it up? Was he serious? The entire thing seemed a farce, if not an outright lie. Serena sucked in her cheeks and said a quick prayer under her breath. Then she breathed out slowly. “Colin is funny on his own and the way he interacts with people on the street,” she said, measuring her words carefully. “Even though they're from all walks of life—race, age, nationality, and religious affiliation—he finds a way to bond with most of them. His instincts are very good, and he manages to make people laugh and open up to him. That's a true gift, Lawrence. In my opinion, adding Gabrielle into the mix will detract from the segments. Muddy them, perhaps, by unnecessarily shifting the focus. With all due respect, Colin doesn't need a straight man.” That sentence sounded odd but surely Lawrence would understand her meaning.

Lawrence perched on the corner of his desk and crossed his arms, appearing deep in thought. “I've noticed the closeness you've developed with him.” He'd lowered his voice so as not to be overheard by anyone passing in the hallway. “Colin spoke with me, and I'm aware he wants to escort you—not Gabrielle—to the Liberty Bell Ball. I have no objections, and I wish you the best. As surprised as I am, you two make a good couple. Your personalities complement one another. Colin needs a steadying influence and you give him that. In turn, he makes you smile in a way that Graham never did.”

Serena suppressed her sigh, wondering if she and Colin had been obvious to everyone. This was also why Lawrence was so good in his job. He could be demanding at times but the man was astute and brilliant in making decisions for the show. Just not in this particular case.

“Graham was a good man, one of the best,” Lawrence said. “You're a young woman. Attractive, vital, and—”

“You want us to lay low.”

“Yes. At least, in public. Look, all I'm asking is that you support me in this decision to add Gabrielle to the location segments. Nothing has to be permanent. It's for a few segments to get the audience reaction.” Lawrence's gaze zeroed in on her, pinning her down. “Can you do that?”

“I can do that,” she said. “But first, please tell me how misleading our viewers can possibly be of any benefit?” It made no sense. For a half-second, she considered volunteering herself for the segments, but no. The producers would never accept that idea. Besides, she wouldn't feel comfortable in front of the camera.

“Why do we do anything, Serena? For the sake of ratings. Colin's presence has significantly increased our viewership. Now we want to take the viewership and ratings even higher.” Lawrence's smile was borderline patronizing. “I'm not asking Colin and Gabrielle to hug or kiss and show physical affection for one another on camera. Colin's very good at flirtatious banter, and Gabrielle's a beautiful woman. Our female audience will eat it up and love it, especially at this time of year. Everyone's in a better mood during the holidays and the idea of love at Christmas is a very attractive one.” His gaze pierced through her. “Wouldn't you agree?”

Serena swallowed the lump in her throat. She didn't need a reminder, but her boss was right.

Greed. That's what it was. They couldn't be satisfied that Colin had already rescued their sinking ship. Like everyone else, with dollars clouding the issue, they craved more. Bigger. Better.

“Have you mentioned this to Colin?”

Lawrence frowned. “No, I haven't. I'm sure he won't particularly embrace the idea, either, but he'll go along with it. It's only another week until the Liberty Bell Ball.”

“Why until the ball? With all due respect, where does it end? Will we stage a lover's spat at the Liberty Bell Ball and make sure to capture it on tape so it'll be public knowledge? If we do that, then we're no better than a reality show.” As soon as she spoke those words, Serena realized they might have been a mistake. Still, she refused to apologize even if she'd spoken out of line. As much as she wanted to keep her job, she needed to maintain a clear conscience.

“Lawrence,” she said, focusing on keeping her voice steady, “just so we're clear, are you telling me not to see Colin at all until the ball?” She'd never been a complainer or a whiner, and she didn't wish to start now.

The older man's expression softened as he met her gaze. “No, I'm not. That's none of my concern. You'll be here with him at the station during the week as usual. Continue to do what you do every day. However, for the sake of the station and the show, I'm asking you not to kiss Colin at a popular ice rink in the middle of the city. For the entire world to see.”

Serena inhaled a quick breath. Point taken. How could he know about that? Her cheeks grew warm and she lowered her gaze. “I wasn't aware my personal life was anyone else's concern.”

“Serena, you were married to a high-profile man. Now you're dating another. All I'm asking is that you and Colin not see one another publicly until the Liberty Bell Ball. That can be your public debut as a couple, if you'd like. In the meantime, we'll add Gabrielle to a few of Colin's ‘Out and About' segments this week and see how it goes. That's all.” He waited until she met his gaze. “Please make it happen.” Lawrence returned to his chair.

She was being dismissed.

Serena rose to her feet. “I'll go see Martina now.”

~*~

Later that Night

“Doesn't this idea bother you? That the producers are dictating that we shouldn't see one another in public?” Serena asked Colin during their nightly phone conversation.

He'd gotten in the wonderful habit of calling her a few minutes before the eleven o'clock news and they'd talk for anywhere from fifteen minutes to well over an hour. “Tell me the truth, Colin. Am I overthinking this?”

“Perhaps a bit,” Colin said. “But as Lawrence said, it's only for a week. Like anything else, it's an experiment for the sake of ratings. If it makes you feel better, love, I refused to say or do anything that could possibly mislead viewers into believing there's any kind of a romantic relationship between Gaby and me.”

“Gaby?” Serena almost choked. Since when had he started calling her that?

Graham had called her Gaby, but the support staff and assistants were instructed to only address her as Gabrielle. Seemed only Gabrielle's male co-hosts were granted the privilege of using the nickname.

Thankful that Colin couldn't see her, Serena brought one hand to her brow, massaging it. “You know what it is? By Lawrence telling me not to see you in public, I feel as though I'm doing something wrong. I hate that. I'm not the type to sneak around.” She shuddered. “It's like I'm doing something illicit.”

“Here's what I want you to do,” Colin said, his voice low and teasing. “Pretend I'm sitting beside you. I'll wait while you picture it in your mind.”

Serena snuggled further under the covers. “I'm there, although considering where I'm at in this moment, it would be inappropriate if you were here beside me.”

Colin chuckled. “Ah, what a fetching image that conjures in my mind. I'm already distracted enough. Serena, I'm falling more in love with you every day. Never in my life have I told another woman that I love her. Of course, I bandy about the word, but I'm talking about a soul-satisfying, heart-pounding, ‘want to be with you all the time' love. Even though I didn't become a believer until the past year, I find it fascinating and…wonderful…that even before I knew the Lord, He kept me from saying those words to anyone but my one true love. In case you missed it in the midst of that diatribe, I'm talking about you, Serena Claire Monroe.”

“You are such a romantic.” A slow smile crossed her lips. “I love you, too, Colin Stephen Young.” How wonderful it was to say those words.

“Good answer. I'll call you again tomorrow,” he said. “Several times, most likely. And be prepared for some extra doses of flirting and stolen kisses in the studio. Look at it as an adventure. In some ways, this could be fun.”

Who was she to argue? She liked Colin's reasoning.

13

Wednesday Morning, the Following Week

Serena sat in her office, trying to finish up her mid-week reports, unable to concentrate with the sweet scent of the two dozen roses sitting on her desk filling her senses. She pulled open her middle desk drawer and took out the card that accompanied the bouquet delivered to her on Monday morning.

Dearest Serena,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).