Latte Lessons

…imponderables such as: “Is it possible to transform an addiction to reality dating shows into a substitute for actual dating?” and “Is scanning demographic lists of available men with nice (read: British-sounding) names and upscale addresses more dignified if one does it in the privacy of one’s apartment with a bottle of wine and an equally romance-challenged friend?” Not having all the answers doesn’t keep thirty-year-old Claire Duncan up at night. She loves her job as a copywriter at a small Venice Beach advertising and promotion agency—even though it’s not making her much money. She loves her hemp drawstring capris—even though they’re not getting her any dates. And she loves her mother—who in turn despairs of ever having grandchildren.But Claire’s comfortable, moderately caffeinated routine gets a double-espresso jolt when she’s given the assignment of promoting an up-and-coming pop band. Heartthrob needs a change of image. And lead guitarist Brendan Baker has Claire rethinking her don’t-date-the-clients-no-matter-how-hot-they-are rule. His earnest brown-eyed gaze makes her feel like an underwear-throwing groupie. Which is quite below her, if you ask her co-worker Dennis—whose own revived love life leaves something to be desired, if you ask Claire. Suddenly—and quite accidentally—Claire has become someone to whom cute twenty-something boys (as well as guy pals and ex-boyfriends) are attracted, and everything has become just a tad more complicated than before. Not to mention a hell of a lot more fun…