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“Ah…one of those born-again things?”
“No. I mean…not attached, either.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s such a funny way to say it. Attached. Like stapled to a man. Or handcuffed.”
William’s eyebrows lifted slightly when she mentioned handcuffs.
She studied the cracks in the sidewalk as they walked in uncomfortable silence. Finally, she asked, “How do you know Dixie?”
“She doesn’t like my dad, and he’s trying to dictate where I live.”
“Why would he care? You’re not ten.”
Bitterness tainted William’s laugh. “My dad is a big deal around here. Huge benefactor to charities, countless years spent as an elected official and, for now, he’s the head of Crestone Mountain Media.”
She pressed a hand to her lips. Life did that run-her-over thing again. Why did everything in this town have to be so connected?
“We don’t talk. He’s got it in his head I should move in with him and Teresa so we can be a happy family again,” he continued. “Got here a week ago, and he made it impossible for me to find a place to rent.”
“Impressively passive aggressive of him. Why would he care, though? You’re old enough to take care of yourself.”
“Control.” He glared ahead at nothing in particular. “It’s all about control.”
“I take it Teresa back there is connected to your dad?” Lucy gestured down the block from where they came as the automatic doors of their building opened for them.
He moved to the side so she could go ahead. “Yeah. She’s his wife.”
Oh.
True to form, families never failed to bring on the worst kind of drama. Which is why she avoided hers.
Lucy scooted ahead of him. A Wet Floor sign near the bank of elevators served as a reminder of their collision.
Thanks to the coffee massacre, Lucy entered the newsroom more than an hour after leaving. William passed the bag of drinks to her and sat at what must have been his desk at one of the cubicles.
Reid emerged from a small editing bay near the door. “Don’t producers manage time for a living?” He held his watch up and tapped the face. “Whoa. You’re supposed to bring the coffee. Not wear it.
Lucy’s heart sank.
So much for first impressions.
CHAPTER FOUR
William thumped his pencil on his notepad as he worked alone from the leather couch in Parker’s office. In contrast to the bare-bones newsroom, Parker’s office was plush—white walls, straight lines, and not a particleboard to be found. He deserved it. Parker had hustled his way up from the wrong side of the tracks, put himself through college, and worked his ass off to become station manager at KDVX. He hadn’t been handed a thing. Ever.
News staff milled around William’s cubicle, making it impossible to concentrate. Add in the distraction of Lucy, sitting only two desks down, and he got nothing done out there.
The introduction to the afternoon news promo played on a large television mounted in the corner of the office, directly in line of sight from where he worked. A perky reporter with chin-length blonde hair started the news hour with a story about the humane society and their donation shortage.
Not the best lead-in.
He grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. Overnight, one of the largest methamphetamine drug rings in the state had been taken down near Confluence. That should be the lead. The entire town buzzed about it. Both the morning and midday news had led with that story.
William chewed on the end of his pencil when Parker breezed through the door. His assistant scurried behind him with a fistful of message slips.
Parker stilled as the television came into view. Several volunteers paraded across the set with a menagerie of cats, dogs, and rabbits that did not seem to be enjoying their moment in the spotlight. Parker motioned to the screen. “Things are out of hand in the newsroom.”
“No kidding,” William replied.
“You found a place to live, huh?” Parker waved the assistant out and leaned against the desk, arms folded across his chest.
