Page 1 of Reluctantly Married

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Megan dug her fingernails intoher palms and stared at her co-host, Adam, while the camera zoomed in on her. She couldn’t believe what he’d said. He flashed his white teeth, waiting for her answer. What could she say to him that wouldn’t get her kicked off the morning show? She swallowed the saliva gathering in her mouth and forced a smile. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Come on, Megan. Don’t you think it’s true that single women who pour all their energy into their careers are just trying to hide the fact that they don’t have what it takes to get a man?” His demeaning smile widened, and she fought the urge to smack him.

He was baiting her. Again. On live television. What a colossal jerk. She shifted in the cheap upholstered chair and crossed her legs. “Why no, Adam. That would be like saying men who pour their money into expensive cars are simply trying to hide the fact that they’re not as intelligent as the women they work with. What kind of car do you drive again?”

Adam’s pride and joy was his fully restored 1968 Mustang convertible. His baby. Probably paid almost as much for it as his little dump of a house just outside of town.

Dale, the camera man, smirked and pulled back so the audience could see Adam’s jaw muscles tightening. For a brief moment, Megan thought he might lose his cool, but he raised an eyebrow and put on his ‘I’m too sexy for you’ face. “Why Megan, I do believe you’re flirting with me.”

She laughed, keeping her tone light. “Only in your dreams.”

Adam turned to the camera, his award-winning smile in place. “I’m afraid we’re out of time. Tune in tomorrow for our guest, relationship specialist Dr. Lemon.” He glanced at her. “Maybe she’ll have some pointers for you, Megan.”

She gritted her teeth but kept her smile in place. “I can’t wait.”

The ‘on-air’ light went out, and Dale took off his headphones. “Nice show. You really played it up this time.”

Megan stood, ripped off her microphone, and stalked off set. If she stayed, she couldn’t be held responsible for what might fly out of her mouth.

“Wait.” Adam ran after her and grabbed her arm. “You’re not mad, are you? It was Leon’s idea.” She had to hand it to him. He actually looked concerned.

Heat burned her cheeks, and she straightened to her full five foot six, squirming out of his grasp. “You are such a jerk. And a coward. Blaming the producer? Really?”

Leon came waltzing in, rubbing his hands together. “Great show! Our website is blowing up. You wouldn’t believe the comments!”

Megan narrowed her eyes. “When I joined the show six months ago, I wasn’t signing up for daily humiliation.”

Leon put on his best apologetic face, which frankly was about as sincere as a dead fish. “Our audience loves you, Megan. The comment about Adam’s car? Priceless!”

“It’s only an on-air persona. Nothing personal.” Adam flashed a grin, which made her want to punch him in the face.

She resisted the impulse to quit and walk off the set. Unfortunately, she needed the job. It wasn’t much, but there was a possibility of growth. The show was getting recognition. And she hated to admit it, but the sparks between her and Adam had pushed the popularity up.

Biting back words she might regret, she stared at Leon. He looked like he’d stepped out of a cheesy 70’s movie. With a large handlebar mustache and shaggy hair, it was hard to take him too seriously. She sighed. “Just tone it down, okay?”

The men nodded like bobble-headed idiots. Leon grinned. “Sure.”

She suspected he’d tell her anything to deflect her anger. Without further comment, she grabbed her purse, left the set, and headed to the parking lot. Before she applied for the position of co-host on the morning show, Wake Up with Adam Warner, she’d watched several episodes. Adam had seemed like a regular guy. Why he’d become a chauvinistic pig the moment she stepped onto the set was beyond her.

That wasn’t true. She knew why. Ratings. The first week on the job, he’d used the word ‘mankind’ and she had gotten riled up about it. She’d argued for the use of a more gender-neutral ‘humankind’ instead. Her mistake was clear to her now. That little fight went viral online. Leon jumped on it.

She opened the driver’s side door and slid into her 1990 Honda Accord. She inserted her key and turned the ignition. The car cranked, but the engine wouldn’t start. She tried twice more before giving up. Of course. She blew out a frustrated breath. Served her right. It had been her grandmother’s car. She’d inherited it when her grandmother passed. Megan couldn’t bear to trade it in, even though it was on its last legs. The fond memories of driving through the country on lazy Sunday afternoons and of the talks they had shared were too much to give up.

A knock on her window made her jump. Adam leaned over and peered at her through the glass. His ice blue eyes caught her off guard, and her heart sped up. He really was handsome. His chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw line would make any woman swoon. He even had dimples. Too bad he was a pig. She rolled the window down.

“Having car trouble?” His eyebrows pulled together in concern.

Megan would rather walk the five miles home than admit anything to him. “Nope. Everything’s fine.”

He stared at her for a moment before folding his arms across his broad chest. “Start ‘er up then.”

Despite the cool spring morning, heat crept up her neck. “I actually was going to sit here for a minute and read.” She glanced around for something with words on it. A pamphlet lay on the passenger seat. When she was leaving the house yesterday she’d tossed it in the car and ignored it. She grabbed it and waved it at him. “This looked interesting.”

He raised an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “You in need of their services?”

She stared at the pamphlet, the heat now warming her cheeks. In big bold letters, it read ‘Male Pattern Baldness: We’ll help you fight it.’ She coughed, choked, pounded on her chest, and then regained her composure. “My dad suffered from this. Before he died.”

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