A week later, just when Tabitha's embarrassment had all but been forgotten, and her public plea for a spouse left behind, the phone rang. She was two steps out the door and almost let the machine grab it when curiosity killed her better judgment.
"Hello?" She fumbled for her keys and snatched the receiver after a couple of rings.
The only thing she heard was a deep, almost dark voice. "I'm hunky by some standards, gorgeous by others and I'm interested if you're buying dinner."
"Who is this?" She would have laughed if she wasn't agitated that she'd raced back inside to grab a call from an obvious prankster. She was irritated that she'd even stopped to pick up the phone. Her pending work-out trumped buying a meal for a complete stranger. That's when it hit her. The man on the other end was calling because he'd obviously read the want-ad she'd placed. So the fun begins.
"I'm Lamar and I was reading your advertisement for a husband and thought I'd give you a call." His labored breathing came through in an exasperated plea of desperation.
"Oh, you must have the wrong number. I'm not looking for a significant other." She cursed herself, Mary and Donna, and the damn paper for printing such nonsense in the first place. Damn it to hell! What have I done?
"You're not? Well, this paper in front of me states something entirely different." He chuckled dryly.
Tabitha could feel her face heating by the second. It was out and on the other end of the phone was caller number one. Fabulous, fantastic, why the hell did I answer the phone? "You must be mistaken. Good-bye." She quickly hung up. If she was going to talk to someone about becoming her future mate, she certainly didn't plan to jump at the chance to buy the guy dinner.
As soon as she replaced the receiver, she felt guilty for being so rude. When the phone rang again, she answered apologetically. "Look, I'm sorry if I seemed dismissive but if I wanted to buy a man's meal, I assure you I wouldn't have placed a public announcement. I work with plenty of attractive men and can buy any number of them a meal."
There wasn't any noise on the other end.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
"Well, how about starting with me? I'd love to take you up on that offer." His voice held a mischievous ring in every word spoken.
Oh shit. Oh no. It's Vince from the office. Why was he calling? It was Saturday for crying out loud! He should've been dangling around a buxom blonde or something.
"Tabitha, are you still there?" His light laughter told her that he knew damn well she was there.
"Yes." She cleared her throat. "Hi Vince, I had a prank caller and I just..."
"Well, with the post you ran in the newspaper, I can't say I'm surprised."
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