Chapter 13

I was out to lunch with ‘Mom’, the office manager and oldest woman in the office. She was in her late fifties and earned the nickname by literally mothering all the younger females in the office and it was given with love. She had married when she was just seventeen and had just celebrated her fortieth wedding anniversary.

I’d been hit on by a salesman at the office and was complaining to Martha. “I know I’ve been out of the dating pool for awhile, but are all men horn dogs now? It seems like everywhere I go they stare at me.”

She grinned. “The short answer to that is yes. You have been out of the game too long, baby. They’re staring because you’re hot, you silly girl. I’ve watched you blossom over the last year. It was like watching a flower unfurl. A very attractive flower.”

I now had my hair the way I always thought is should be and also wore nicer, more fashionable clothes. Maybe I had gone a bit too far. Maybe I needed to tone it down a bit. I said as much to her and she laughed!

“Do that and you would break the hearts of eight-six men who have started taking their break ten minutes early just so they can watch you walk across the parking lot every morning. If you ever let that mane of hair down and fluffed it, or God forbid wear a dress that was higher than your knees, production would drop to zero. Don’t worry about it girl, own it. There’s a Handsome Prince out there with your name on him, you just have to find him.”

I sighed. “What if I’ve already found him but he won’t get off his horse and storm the castle?”

“Oh, so there is an object of your affections? This is the twenty-first century, child. If he won’t make the first move it’s up to you.”

“How?”

“My husband is a military history nut. I’ve learned a bit listening to him over the years. You always attack your you enemy’s weakest point. What is his weakness?”

I thought for a minute. “He really likes kids and dotes on his niece and nephew but I don’t see how that helps.”

“Well, there you go then. You’ve identified his weakness. Now you have to find a way to manipulate it.”

“He’s a trained psychologist. He’d see any ploy like that immediately.”

“Good, then he would know what you’re atempting to do.

A couple of weeks went by and she called me into her office. “I’ve got a new responsibility for you. You’re going to volunteer to help at the company picnic. There’s going to be a lot of activities for children. You won’t have to do anything because everything has already been planned and will be handled by professionals. Your assignment is to get your Prince to attend. Use his niece and nephew to catch him.”

“How?”

“That part is up to you.”

“It seems unethical and sneaky.”

She grinned. “To quote my husband, all is far in love and war.”

“He’s a trained professional. He’ll see right through this.”

“Good. Then he would know your intentions. Another quote, from the Brits I believe. He who dares wins.”

“Enough! I get it.”

She gave me a hug and sent me out of her office. “Off you go then. Into the breech...”

“Stop!”

I was so conflicted I confided in Amanda. Her response surprised me. “Count me in on your plan. I already love you like a sister and I’ve long thought you’d be excellent sister-in-law material.”

“What about Brian?”

She shrugged. “What about him? I see the way he looks at you when you don’t see. You don’t see the hunger in his eyes. He wants you girl. He’s just afraid to love again. We need to get him over that.”

So we plotted, and a week later we were at my house. I’d left brochures out on the counter and table about all the activities for children knowing one of the kids would see them. Marcus found them first.

“What are these Aunt Angel?”

“Oh, honey, those are some of the things we’re having at my company picnic. It’s too bad I don’t have any children.”

He looked thoughtful. “We could be your children. For a day anyway.”

“I’d love to take you but I’m one of the volunteers. If we just had someone along to watch you while I did my duties you could go.”

“Mom could watch us.”

Amanda tried to hide the grin. “I can’t my babies. Remember, I volunteered to help with the 5K that Saturday.”

Tammy jumped up and ran out the door, coming back fifteen minutes later with Brian. “Unky said he would go! Is that all right?”

It was all Amanda and I could do to keep a straight face. I tried to look uncertain before grinning. “I suppose so.”

He looked at me and me and grinned back. It was like he could see into my heart. Good.