difficult position. There aren’t many people with the experience to take on the job.” He watched Ryan intently. “Present company excepted, of course.”
Head of Foreign News. A job tailor-made for a war correspondent. The perfect solution for a man who’d become tired and jaded after long years in the field. Not for him.
Ryan met Ben’s gaze evenly. “I still have work to do in Bekostan. I want to interview Arnat.”
Ben nodded. “I know. It’s right that you should, it would be the perfect final interview before leaving Bekostan. I want you to do it, but I also want you to take on the new job. I can give you a couple of weeks to think about it, then I’ll need your answer.”
Being in one place had always seemed like a death sentence, but the thought of running the news team, deciding what elements should be investigated further, and masterminding the foreign news approach was one that was too attractive to dismiss without giving it long and hard consideration. In the beginning, the job had been all about the buzz being ‘on the ground’ provided, but lately… “I’ll let you know the moment I’ve done the interview.”
Ben smiled. “In that case, we’ll make contact with Arnat, and try to set up the interview as soon as possible.”
They stood.
“Keep your phone on.”
Back in the hallway, Andie was shrugging into Bri’s lacy sweater. She pulled her hair out of the neckline, flicking it with one hand so that it swept in a blonde ribbon down her back. She clutched a collection of DVDs in her other hand. A dazzling smile shone out as she saw Ryan, and his heart did a funny little flip.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes.” She clutched the DVDs to her chest. “I think that went well.”
“You were great.” Ryan kissed her cheek, breathing in the scent of lemony shampoo. “How about we get an early dinner before we head back?”
They walked to a nearby restaurant. He’d only been back in England for a couple of days—it felt so much longer.
Ben would organize the interview with Arnat. A plane ride to Bekostan was only days away. For the first time in years regret curled around Ryan’s insides at the thought. There was so much left unexplored. The relationship blooming to life between them for one. Brianne knew he was in the country, contact would have to be made there too, before he left.
“You’re very quiet.”
She was so open. So caring. Conflicted emotions raced through Ryan. The first time they’d met he knew he didn’t have what she needed. He should do the decent thing, and walk away.
The black circle of Andie’s pupil expanded to swallow the brilliant blue. The soft bow of her upper lip tempted, and his whole body rioted with the urge to taste it again.
A waitress arrived with menus, then left them alone.
“It will be safe for you to go back home tonight.” He didn’t want her to go. He wanted to spend every moment before he returned to Bekostan with her. In bed and out of it. The urge to tell her was strong, but he held back. The decision to stay had to be hers. He squared his shoulders. “The press will leave you alone, once the segment airs.”
Andie steepled her fingers. “Do you want me to go back home?”
He leaned close, stroked a finger down her cheek. “No. I want you to stay with me.”
The corners of her mouth lifted in a smile. “I want that too,” she whispered, the blue of her eyes darkening to navy. “I’ll have to pick up some stuff from home,” she waved a hand over her clothes, “then I’d like to stay with you in the cottage for a few days.”
“That’s all it can be,” Ryan said. “I’m not the settling down kind. I don’t want to hurt you…” He couldn’t lead her on, couldn’t let her think there would be more.
“I understand.” The truth shone from her eyes. “You have your life, and I have mine. There’s no reason we can’t…” a blush swept her features, “spend time together while you’re here. We’ve only known
Head of Foreign News. A job tailor-made for a war correspondent. The perfect solution for a man who’d become tired and jaded after long years in the field. Not for him.
Ryan met Ben’s gaze evenly. “I still have work to do in Bekostan. I want to interview Arnat.”
Ben nodded. “I know. It’s right that you should, it would be the perfect final interview before leaving Bekostan. I want you to do it, but I also want you to take on the new job. I can give you a couple of weeks to think about it, then I’ll need your answer.”
Being in one place had always seemed like a death sentence, but the thought of running the news team, deciding what elements should be investigated further, and masterminding the foreign news approach was one that was too attractive to dismiss without giving it long and hard consideration. In the beginning, the job had been all about the buzz being ‘on the ground’ provided, but lately… “I’ll let you know the moment I’ve done the interview.”
Ben smiled. “In that case, we’ll make contact with Arnat, and try to set up the interview as soon as possible.”
They stood.
“Keep your phone on.”
Back in the hallway, Andie was shrugging into Bri’s lacy sweater. She pulled her hair out of the neckline, flicking it with one hand so that it swept in a blonde ribbon down her back. She clutched a collection of DVDs in her other hand. A dazzling smile shone out as she saw Ryan, and his heart did a funny little flip.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes.” She clutched the DVDs to her chest. “I think that went well.”
“You were great.” Ryan kissed her cheek, breathing in the scent of lemony shampoo. “How about we get an early dinner before we head back?”
They walked to a nearby restaurant. He’d only been back in England for a couple of days—it felt so much longer.
Ben would organize the interview with Arnat. A plane ride to Bekostan was only days away. For the first time in years regret curled around Ryan’s insides at the thought. There was so much left unexplored. The relationship blooming to life between them for one. Brianne knew he was in the country, contact would have to be made there too, before he left.
“You’re very quiet.”
She was so open. So caring. Conflicted emotions raced through Ryan. The first time they’d met he knew he didn’t have what she needed. He should do the decent thing, and walk away.
The black circle of Andie’s pupil expanded to swallow the brilliant blue. The soft bow of her upper lip tempted, and his whole body rioted with the urge to taste it again.
A waitress arrived with menus, then left them alone.
“It will be safe for you to go back home tonight.” He didn’t want her to go. He wanted to spend every moment before he returned to Bekostan with her. In bed and out of it. The urge to tell her was strong, but he held back. The decision to stay had to be hers. He squared his shoulders. “The press will leave you alone, once the segment airs.”
Andie steepled her fingers. “Do you want me to go back home?”
He leaned close, stroked a finger down her cheek. “No. I want you to stay with me.”
The corners of her mouth lifted in a smile. “I want that too,” she whispered, the blue of her eyes darkening to navy. “I’ll have to pick up some stuff from home,” she waved a hand over her clothes, “then I’d like to stay with you in the cottage for a few days.”
“That’s all it can be,” Ryan said. “I’m not the settling down kind. I don’t want to hurt you…” He couldn’t lead her on, couldn’t let her think there would be more.
“I understand.” The truth shone from her eyes. “You have your life, and I have mine. There’s no reason we can’t…” a blush swept her features, “spend time together while you’re here. We’ve only known
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