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Adam gazed at her with wonder. His mind was anywhere but on the movie they had rented to watch that night, as he found her to be worlds more intriguing to watch. It was funny how, when they'd first met, they couldn't stand one another - but now he couldn't imagine his life without her.
*Four Years Earlier*
"Adam, this is Amy Dumas," Lisa Marie Varon, the station manager and their boss, announced. "Amy, this is Adam Copeland."
The tall blond man found himself staring at a gorgeous redhead. She appeared to be about five-six or -seven and had about the most incredible amber-gold eyes - he'd never in his life seen such a shade before. And she had to be the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on. He was momentarily struck speechless, his breath taken away.
"Nice to meet you," the woman said in a deep, throaty yet feminine tone. She put her hand out to shake.
Adam nodded wordlessly as he gave her the handshake she'd been expecting. He didn't utter a syllable, and the redhead arched a perfectly scuplted eyebrow, as though in question, as she turned her head to meet Lisa Marie's dark eyes.
"Well..." Ms. Varon declared, clapping her hands together. "... I'm sure the two of you have a lot to discuss. Again, welcome aboard, Amy. Good luck." Under her breath, the raven-haired woman muttered, "Looks like you'll need it."
Amy looked sharply toward her new boss as she slipped from the room, closing the door behind her. She could have sworn she'd heard something, but she wasn't sure. She turned back to face the man with whom she would be working and studied him... Adam Copeland was exceptionally handsome, with long golden blond hair, a goatee on his strong jaw. He was quite tall and lean, but decently muscled. And he had unbelievable green eyes - their shade so dark, she'd only seem similarities in cats.
"So..." Adam tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk at which he was sitting. He didn't quite know what to say. What *could* one say when his longtime radio show - which had been geared toward sports fans, at that - was being put through a 180 and was now going to be a relationship and dating advice hotline called "Purple Skies?" As far as he was concerned, the entire deal was ludicrous! And so, he really didn't feel any sense of hospitality toward this strange woman.
"Yeah," the redhead said, sitting down near him and nervously tucking some locks of her hair behind one ear. "So..." Her gaze fell to the desk and then rose as she posed a question. "How long have you been in broadcasting?"
"Four years," came the terse response. "It's what I went to college for."
"Nice." She nodded, offering a smile. When he merely stared at her, an unfriendly expression on his face, she grew uneasy again. She bit her lip and tried to think of something else to say - anything that would break the awkward, tense silence between them.
"I'm really excited about getting the opportunity to work here... And the show - doesn't it sound great?"
Adam simply stared at her. Her entire face just about lit up, which made her look even more lovely. He realized how attracted to her he felt physically, yet at the same time, he wished she would just go away. She would be a constant reminder of what had been taken away from him, after all.
"No," he admitted candidly. "No, it really doesn't."
Amy was taken aback by his response. She clamped her mouth shut for a beat as she eyed him, then looked away. She couldn't recall a more uncomfortable feeling than the one she was experiencing right now.
"Oh..." she said, raising her gaze back to his green eyes. He seemed so unfriendly, even cold. She hadn't been expecting that at all. "... So... You really don't have much interest in anything, do you?"
Adam arched a brow, slightly amused by her.
"Not true," he countered. "I have a lot of interest in plenty of things... Just not in a meddlesome obstacle with red hair." He smirked at her instant reaction.
The redhead's jaw dropped in shock. She couldn't believe her ears, and frankly, she was starting to get angry.
"'Meddlesome obstacle?!' Let me tell you something, Mr. Copeland - you are the rudest, most obnoxious, infuriating asshole I have ever met!"
This time, it was Adam's turn to be surprised, yet still a bit amused. She had fire in her, and he certainly hadn't expected this intense kind of response.
"We just met, yet you don't even seem willing to give me a chance... You don't even *know* me, buddy," she hissed. "But understand this - we're stuck working together now, whether you like it or not. And you *will* respect me," she snapped, bolting up from her chair. "If you don't, I promise you, things will get *very* ugly around here for you." She clasped her purse tightly to her person as she charged for the door. As her hand touched the handle, she turned back to face him, the fury still present on her beautiful face. "Oh, and it was a *pleasure* meeting you."
*
Amy laughed at a particularly comical scene in the movie, and that was when Adam made his move.
The redhead's throaty laughter was suddenly muffled as the tall blond man leaned in to kiss her deeply. Amy responded, her arms going up to encircle his neck as she nearly melted. It seemed to go on and on until he finally broke the kiss and met her gaze, a soft smile on his handsome face.
She cocked her head, hazel eyes sparking with amusement.
"What was that for?"
"That," he said, his right hand snaking up to stroke her soft red hair, "was for just being you... And because I love you."