AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why didn’t anyone ask why donations are down? Anyone know the rate of euthanasia? How does it compare nationally? It’s not our job to raise funds for kittens. Our job is to share actual news. The Edge ran a story about domestic violence rates in Confluence and how they’re at a five-year high. Where were you?” she asked instead.
No one spoke. Apparently, they had no idea where they’d been.
Lucy wasn’t giving up. She addressed the room at large. “What story ideas are everyone working on?”
The group fidgeted with their pens and notepads, but no one looked at her. Finally, she caught Anderson’s gaze. “C’mon, you have to be working on something?”
“Trying to convince you to have dinner with me. Not going well so far.” Anderson’s thousand-watt smile likely had women throwing their panties at him regularly.
It didn’t work on Lucy. She preferred her panties on, thankyouverymuch.
“Work related, Anderson.” Lucy leaned forward on the table. “Not?—”
“I’m considering an investigation into Twin Lakes Resorts.” William sliced through her reply. “They’re based in Denver, but the chain includes three hotels within hours of Confluence. They do these big honeymoon retreats. It’s wedding season, and we’ve been getting complaints about couples on their honeymoon being up-charged for things they didn’t order, pre-paid rooms being unavailable, and personal items going missing.”
“Great story.” Lucy scrawled Honeymoons from Hell at the top of the whiteboard.
Bridgett turned to William. “You’ll need to go undercover? Pretend you’re on your honeymoon? I like it.”
He shrugged. “Something like that. I’m working on the details.”
“That’s why we’re here. To help you work out specifics.” Lucy underlined the words on the white board. Twice, for good measure.
Within minutes, the team was throwing ideas back and forth. Lucy shook out the cramp forming in her hand from keeping up. This was good. Exactly what they needed in the newsroom.
“When William goes undercover, he’ll need a wife.” Bridgett was all business.
“Who wants to be William’s wife?” Lucy asked offhand.
“It can’t be a reporter anyone will recognize,” Bridgett pointed out. “Someone behind the scenes makes the most sense.”
“Lucy,” William interjected. “You’re behind the scenes. Looks like you’re the one.”
Nope. That was a bad idea. Her hormones were already all out of whack when he was around. But, if he took someone like, say, Bridgett, then they’d both be out of her hair for a while. Win-win or whatever.
“Actually”—Lucy capped her marker—“I think you should take Bridgett. I don’t mind covering her shifts.”
The lines around William’s mouth hardened. The look shouldn’t have been sexy, but it was.
Bridgett grinned. “This is so fun. I’ll get a dress and a ring—just like the real thing without all the messy paperwork when it’s over.”
By the time the meeting finished, everyone had solid assignments. Lucy rubbed her wrist and organized the markers she had used to color code the board. She turned to leave. William had stayed behind and was leaning against the closed door.
“Please, don’t do that again.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Excuse me?”
“I prefer to pick my own wives.”
The way he made that declaration made her feel like she was seventeen again. Her heart thumped quick in her chest.
Pick me. Pick me!
She mentally instructed her heart to shut up.
“Ah.” She moved to put the table between them. “I’m sorry. I thought I was helping.”
“I’d just prefer if you didn’t send me away for a honeymoon with someone else.” His announcement hung heavy between them.
