face. “Wow. You really aren’t the complete witch we thought you were.”
When she shut the door, Macy snorted.
Well, at least there’s that.
6
F OR THE PAST two days, a certain newspaper publisher had avoided Blake. She’d claimed that she was too busy with work. He didn’t consider it stalking when he’d driven by the newspaper office on the way to the feed store and noticed her car was there.
No. It wasn’t stalking.
For the life of him, he didn’t understand why he couldn’t get her out of his head.
Well, except for the fact that she was sexy as hell, smart and funny when she wanted to be. The waitress at the Lone Star Café had been gossiping about the new lady with the giant dog when he had his breakfast that morning.
“She’s so uppity. Have you seen her walking around? That sneer on her face. I want to tell her that she’ll catch more bees with honey, but she tips good so I ain’t sayin’ a darn thing,” the waitress said.
Obviously, not everyone saw Macy the way he did. But then, he had heard her story. Orphaned, world traveler who was in search of a home. He knew that last bit because he felt the same way.
He was lucky that he had his mom, and that would always be home. Nevertheless, he was at a crossroads in his life. Again, he was lucky that he had many opportunities open to him. A marine to his core, the idea of desk duty didn’t sit well with him. Pushing papers might be great for some folks; he liked to stay active and to be challenged.
There were a couple of business opportunities. He could take over one of the divisions of the security company he’d invested in with Rafe and Will. And his brother, J.T., had mentioned a number of other businesses that were looking to expand into Tranquil Waters. He liked the idea of being in on the ground floor of something and watching it grow.
His phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but he picked it up.
“Hello.”
“Lieutenant Michaels, this is Amanda from the Tranquil Waters News calling for Ms. Reynolds. She’s in a meeting right now, but she wondered if you might be available to stop by the office either today or tomorrow afternoon.”
Ms. Reynolds, eh. “Today is fine. What time?”
“Four-thirty will work well with her schedule.”
“Fine by me.”
They hung up.
She didn’t call him herself, but she wanted to see him. Was she going to pawn his story off on another reporter?
He’d already told her that he wouldn’t trust anyone else.
Glancing at the clock, he realized he had about an hour before the meeting.
She had a penchant for sweets. She said it was one of her few vices when she showed him her version of a whoopie pie.
Blake knew exactly what to do.
* * *
S TANDING IN FRONT of the bathroom mirror at her office, Macy pushed her curls into some semblance of a style and reapplied her lipstick. She tried to convince herself that it wasn’t for Blake’s benefit.
Liar.
I need to look my best so I can convince him that my new plan for the story is a great one.
She wasn’t sure he’d see it that way. Mentally, she prepared counter arguments for many of the points he might bring up.
Her eyelashes, which were much lighter than her hair color, were barely visible. She pulled out the mascara Cherie had insisted she buy on her shopping spree and applied a coat to one eye.
As she did the other, someone knocked on the door. She jabbed the stick into her eye, leaving a trail of black down her cheek.
“Banana shakes.” Her least favorite flavor.
“Sorry, but your four-thirty is here. You told me to let you know as soon as he arrived,” Amanda said.
“Thanks. I’ll be there in just a minute.”
Gathering up some tissues, she dabbed at the eye and did her best to remove the black makeup.
Most of it came off, but...that’s when she remembered the sales woman telling her that she’d need an oil-based cleanser to remove it entirely.
Wonderful.
Both eyes were red now and watering. Why was it that if you
When she shut the door, Macy snorted.
Well, at least there’s that.
6
F OR THE PAST two days, a certain newspaper publisher had avoided Blake. She’d claimed that she was too busy with work. He didn’t consider it stalking when he’d driven by the newspaper office on the way to the feed store and noticed her car was there.
No. It wasn’t stalking.
For the life of him, he didn’t understand why he couldn’t get her out of his head.
Well, except for the fact that she was sexy as hell, smart and funny when she wanted to be. The waitress at the Lone Star Café had been gossiping about the new lady with the giant dog when he had his breakfast that morning.
“She’s so uppity. Have you seen her walking around? That sneer on her face. I want to tell her that she’ll catch more bees with honey, but she tips good so I ain’t sayin’ a darn thing,” the waitress said.
Obviously, not everyone saw Macy the way he did. But then, he had heard her story. Orphaned, world traveler who was in search of a home. He knew that last bit because he felt the same way.
He was lucky that he had his mom, and that would always be home. Nevertheless, he was at a crossroads in his life. Again, he was lucky that he had many opportunities open to him. A marine to his core, the idea of desk duty didn’t sit well with him. Pushing papers might be great for some folks; he liked to stay active and to be challenged.
There were a couple of business opportunities. He could take over one of the divisions of the security company he’d invested in with Rafe and Will. And his brother, J.T., had mentioned a number of other businesses that were looking to expand into Tranquil Waters. He liked the idea of being in on the ground floor of something and watching it grow.
His phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but he picked it up.
“Hello.”
“Lieutenant Michaels, this is Amanda from the Tranquil Waters News calling for Ms. Reynolds. She’s in a meeting right now, but she wondered if you might be available to stop by the office either today or tomorrow afternoon.”
Ms. Reynolds, eh. “Today is fine. What time?”
“Four-thirty will work well with her schedule.”
“Fine by me.”
They hung up.
She didn’t call him herself, but she wanted to see him. Was she going to pawn his story off on another reporter?
He’d already told her that he wouldn’t trust anyone else.
Glancing at the clock, he realized he had about an hour before the meeting.
She had a penchant for sweets. She said it was one of her few vices when she showed him her version of a whoopie pie.
Blake knew exactly what to do.
* * *
S TANDING IN FRONT of the bathroom mirror at her office, Macy pushed her curls into some semblance of a style and reapplied her lipstick. She tried to convince herself that it wasn’t for Blake’s benefit.
Liar.
I need to look my best so I can convince him that my new plan for the story is a great one.
She wasn’t sure he’d see it that way. Mentally, she prepared counter arguments for many of the points he might bring up.
Her eyelashes, which were much lighter than her hair color, were barely visible. She pulled out the mascara Cherie had insisted she buy on her shopping spree and applied a coat to one eye.
As she did the other, someone knocked on the door. She jabbed the stick into her eye, leaving a trail of black down her cheek.
“Banana shakes.” Her least favorite flavor.
“Sorry, but your four-thirty is here. You told me to let you know as soon as he arrived,” Amanda said.
“Thanks. I’ll be there in just a minute.”
Gathering up some tissues, she dabbed at the eye and did her best to remove the black makeup.
Most of it came off, but...that’s when she remembered the sales woman telling her that she’d need an oil-based cleanser to remove it entirely.
Wonderful.
Both eyes were red now and watering. Why was it that if you
Similar Books
