5
Chapter 1
Danica Austin waited impatiently at the Dearborn Street martini bar in Chicago for a lunchtime date that her fellow photographer friend Jessy Sarchuk had insisted would be worth her while. With no man in her life at the moment Danica had reluctantly decided to go on the date, if only to show Jessy she was totally over the guy she’d dumped six months ago after he’d hit on one of her other friends. Now it looked as if she had been stood up.
She checked her iPhone smartphone for messages and saw it was blank. It pissed her off, but Danica was careful not to show anything other than the outward appearance of a beautiful, well-dressed African-American woman sitting all by her lonesome enjoying a Death by Chocolate martini. You owe me, Jessy, for wasting my valuable time. I won’t make that mistake again. Suddenly she was in no mood to finish the drink and decided to head home and relax a bit before going back to work.
Danica was an award-winning professional photographer who made a good living doing everything from fashion to scenery to corporate photography. Though independent, she belonged to a loose group of other female photographers which included Jessy.
Speak of the devil, Danica thought as her phone rang just as she got into her Subaru Impreza sedan.
“Your friend never bothered to show up,” Danica told her curtly, putting the call on speaker so she could drive safely.
“That’s why I’m calling,” Jessy said. “He accidentally deleted your number. He called me instead to say that he was running late but still wanted to get together.”
Danica sneered. “It’s called Bad Karma. We just weren’t meant to be. Sorry.”
“So am I. Just don’t say I told you so.”
I’ll think it instead, she silently replied. But to her friend she uttered, “I’m not saying a thing. I think I’ll just stay on my own for now and see what the future holds.”
“A guy won’t simply fall into your lap, girlfriend,” Jessy said. “You have to make things happen.”
“I’ll try to remember that. For now, I’d like to focus on the present. Talk to you later.”
Danica disconnected and brushed away some of her long, straight brown hair with blond highlights that had fallen into her face. She wondered if it was her true destiny to be single for the rest of her life. Granted, she was only thirty-two. It wasn’t as if she was at the end of her road and couldn’t get a decent man if she tried. It was more about quality over quantity. Much like her photography.
And for this day anyway, it just wasn’t going to happen. At least not with some guy who couldn’t hold on to a phone number.
Danica arrived at her loft on Michigan Avenue just south of the Loop and parked in the garage. She took the elevator up to the place she’d called home for three years now, having been the first person to occupy the converted warehouse loft. She loved the space, with the high concrete ceilings, exposed beams, large windows and bamboo flooring.
Maybe it would be a little better if I had someone to share it with.
Or not.
She kicked off her clogs and poured herself a glass of white wine. Her cell phone chimed to indicate she had a text message. Lifting it from the granite countertop, she saw it was from her old college roommate, Ashlyn Hirokawa.
If not busy, make a Skype call.
Danica smiled, only too happy to video chat with her friend. Ashlyn lived in Hawaii on the Big Island, a place Danica had always wanted to visit. Somehow, though, it never seemed to be the right time. She had not seen Ashlyn in person for nine years now—since, a year after their Michigan State University graduation, Ashlyn had met her briefly in New York while they both were there for business.
Danica sat down at her workstation and turned on the computer. She brought up the Skype interface and clicked on Video Call for Ashlyn. A moment later her friend’s smiling face appeared on the screen.
“Aloha!”
Danica returned the island greeting. She noticed Ashlyn’s raven hair had been cut into a cute bob that highlighted her light brown complexion and big sable-colored eyes. She had gotten the best features of her Polynesian mother and African-American father. Ashlyn had chosen to use her mother’s maiden name, both in memory of her and as part of her Hawaiian heritage.
“What are you up to?” Ashlyn asked.
“It’s more like what am I not up to?” Danica said, then vented over her arranged date failing to show up.
“Join the club,” Ashlyn complained. “The men in my life haven’t exactly been at my beck and call, when they bother showing up at all.”
Danica laughed. “Maybe it’s just us.” She didn’t truly believe that. Both of them were beautiful, successful women who probably could have had any decent man they wanted—if there was such a thing.
“I seriously doubt that. Could be we’re just looking in all the wrong places.”
“You could be right about that,” Danica said. “I wonder when the first flight to Mars is going out. We could sign up to take the trip and see who’s on that uncharted land.”
Ashlyn’s head fell back in laughter. “Count me in.” She grew serious. “Or maybe there’s another way to take on uncharted territory…”
Danica watched as her friend’s eyes seemed to twinkle. “I’m all ears.”
“We could swap places.”
“Are you serious?” Even as she asked, she tried to imagine actually trading life in the Windy City for the more laid-back Hawaii.
“Why not?” Ashlyn responded. “I’ve got a month’s vacation coming up and I would love to spend it anywhere other than the Hawaiian Islands for a change. Chicago seems as good a place as any to meet some new people and enjoy the hustle and bustle of life that I don’t really get to see here. And you, girlfriend, would just love it in Hilo, where there are activities galore and so many things you can take
