Anytime Any Place

She noticed him the moment she entered the condo association meeting. Tall, handsome, and with the distinct look of a Native American hunk, he invoked thoughts of capture romances. He was surrounded by several women whom she suspected were more interested in gazing up into his eyes than they were in discussing proposed changes in the condo fees.
Not that she blamed them. He was the type of man that made a woman very glad to be a female. In fact, if she were half as attractive as the women surrounding him were, she'd flirt with him too. She sighed. What she wouldn't give to be tall and slender with mounds of flowing locks like the women vying for his attention. He wasn't likely to be impressed with her five-foot four-inch plump frame, with her brown yes, dark skin and dark hair.
As if he felt her eyes on him, he turned and looked directly at her. Embarrassed at having been caught staring, she was nonetheless unable to look away. He had a warm dark gaze. He smiled. The corners of her mouth curved upward in response.
He looked briefly away to speak to the women around him. Then she watched in amazement as he came toward her with his hand extended.
“Hi. I'm Seneka Elkhorn.”
Nice name. Nice voice. She could easily imagine him whispering sweet nothings in her ear in that deep, velvety voice.
“And you are?” he prompted.
Oh, no! She was staring again. “Autumn Walker.”
His eyes lingered on her ringless fingers as they shook hands. “Ah. And is there a Mr. Autumn Walker?”
“No.”
“Good.”
They grinned at each other.
She was racking her brain for some witty remark that would titillate and entertain him when the association president went to the podium. “Good evening. If you'll find seats, we'll begin.”
She bit her lip. “I guess I'd better find a seat.”
His hand on her elbow sent a pleasant tingle through her and halted her movement away from him. “Yes, we'd better.” He nodded toward two seats near the back of the room. “Join me.”
She hesitated. Contemplating flirting with him as they waited for the meeting to start was one thing; but sitting with him might lead her somewhere she'd promised herself she wouldn't go again.
“I won't hurt you,” he said softly. “You can trust me.”
That was asking a lot. Unhappy high school and college romances had convinced her that love was overrated. Since then she had managed to remain romantically unscathed by channeling all her time and energy into preparing her students for careers in math and science.
Some of her students had done very well. Her work was satisfying. Her life wasn't exciting. It was safe. Safety was important.
His fingers tightened on her elbow. “You can trust me, Autumn.”
The assurance sent a rush of excitement through her that made her feel like a daring teenager again. She suspected she could easily lose her heart to him if she wasn't careful. But she'd be careful. And one night wouldn't hurt.
She smiled up at him. “Okay.”
He guided her towards the two seats.
Despite her best efforts, she spent the entire meeting wondering if he were as aware of her as she was of him. Each time she cast a quick glance at him, he appeared to be totally engrossed in the meeting. Just her luck. After the meeting, she didn’t recall how she'd voted on the proposed condo fees. Who could think of condo business with a big, handsome, Native American hunk smiling down at her?
“Do you have any plans for the rest of the evening, Autumn?”
She shook her head.
“Great. Would you join me for a drink?”
Hell to the yes. She nodded. “I’d love to.
“Patty’s all right?” He asked.
She often had coffee or a sandwich at Patty’s, a small coffee shop a few blocks from their condo. “Yes.”
At Patty, he propped his elbows on the table and fixed his gaze on her face. “How long have you been at Oak Gardens?”
She resisted the urge to smooth her hair and freshen her lipstick. “Six months.”
“That long? Why haven't I seen you at any of the other meetings?”
“I'm usually too busy grading papers to attend.”
“Grading papers? What does Autumn Walker do for a living?”
She liked the way he called her Autumn Walker. His steady regard allowed her to return his scrutiny without embarrassment. He was certainly worth looking at with sexy dark eyes and dark, silky looking hair. What she couldn’t give to lean across the table to stroke her fingers through his hair. What would it look like with the sun shining on it?
“Autumn? What do you do for a living?”
She blinked, dragging her thoughts away from intimacy. “I teach math at community college.”
“At last! A woman I can talk numbers to and have her really understand. What a find!” He smiled into her eyes.
She laughed. “What a wonderful man you must be.”
His smile turned into a wide grin. “I am rather wonderful. But how did you know?”
“Only a natural born charmer could make the ability to understand numbers sound like a compliment.”
“Oh, but it was a compliment.”
She nodded, satisfied that he was serious. “What about you, Seneka? What do you do for a living?”
“Nothing as exciting or as rewarding as teaching. I'm a C P A. My partner and I–”
“Your partner? Are you married or involved with anyone?” The unasked question had plagued her from the moment she saw him.
He shook his head slowly. “No.”
Thank God. “Why not?”
He shrugged. “For the usual reason.”
“Which is what?”
“Don’t you know?”
“I know what it would be for me, but not necessarily for a man.”
“I haven't met anyone I want to be involved with.”
She guessed he was in his early thirties. Surely, that was long enough to have fallen in love. “Ever?”
“I married my high school sweetheart when we graduated from college.”
“Oh. How sweet. Now you’re divorced?”
He sighed, shaking his head. “No. She died two years ago from cancer.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.” Autumn hesitated. While she didn’t want to appear to be insensitive, two years had passed since his wife’s death. She hoped that was long enough to have eased his pain.” And since then?” She asked gently.
If he were annoyed by her question, he concealed it. “I'm not interested in casual relationships, Autumn.”
“Oh. Does that mean ….what does that mean, Seneka? You don't mind if I call you Seneka?”
He grinned. “You can call me anything you like, Autumn.”
Including lover? “You haven’t answered my question,” she reminded him.
“It means that the next woman I ask out will be someone I'd like a serious relationship with.”
She barely suppressed a shudder as she thought how exciting a serious relationship with him would be. Don’t read too much into this, girl. “Oh.”