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“Bummer, maybe next time.” The gentle way he said the words and his clear disappointment was real.
“Okee dokee then. Have fun.” Warmth flooded her cheeks. She didn’t need a mirror to tell her they’d become bright red beacons of embarrassment.
“I’ll do that.” The edges of his lips lifted slightly.
Lucy yanked the sliding door closed before he said anything more.
She leaned against the glass, head in her hands. Avoiding William Covington had become exponentially more complicated.
CHAPTER THREE
Lucy entered the tallest building in the downtown block and headed to the KDVX studio in the basement. The elevator slid open, and she hit the switch to the hallway lights. Florescent bulbs flickered like something from a B-grade horror movie.
She gritted her teeth. First one here.
Of course she was the first one there. She had intentionally arrived thirty minutes before the morning shift to ensure she’d be ready for the show. Still, being the only one in the huge building chafed her perpetually raw nerves.
The corridor loomed ahead as she hustled along. Dark hallways and corridors were not her friend.
She swiped her keycard against the security panel. When the yellow light flashed to green, she pushed the door open from the hallway to the brightly lit reception area.
“You’re early,” a man’s voice said.
She sealed her lips closed against a scream. Her purse fell from her grip, and her knees froze in place.
“Whoa.” A handsome guy about her age with dreadlocks emerged from around the corner.
Not every man is out to hurt you.
“Didn’t mean to scare you. Figured I’d get here first. Show you around.” He tucked a pen in the pocket of his designer jeans.
Her heart rate continued to run a half-marathon on its own. Someday it would return to a normal pace, but probably not today.
He dropped some papers on the reception desk and retrieved her purse from the floor. “I really am sorry I scared you, Lucille.”
“Lucy. Everyone calls me Lucy. Well, not everyone. Most people.” She took her bag from him and slipped the strap over her shoulder.
His kind eyes studied her. “You okay, Lucy?”
No. I am not okay. I’m on the run, hiding in a job I don’t want, nearly screaming at random men, and living in a make-shift motel room! Not okay. Not at all.
“I’m fine. Sorry about that. I figured I was the first one here.”
“Don’t sweat it. I’m Reid, your director this morning and official KDVX tour guide.” He gestured for her to follow and held open another door for her to pass through. “Corporate offices are on the fifth floor. We operate independently so they mostly keep to themselves unless we screw up.”
She hurried to keep pace with him. “Do we screw up often?”
“Often enough.” He led her to a darkened control room consisting of a small auditorium and three sets of risers. “This is our temple. A shrine to the goddess of news.” He made an elaborate gesture to the top platform. “Producer desk is up there. I’ll be down here. We’ve got a good staff for mornings, so it should be easy. Newsroom is this way.” He jerked his thumb toward an open door on the other side of the room. “Police busted a meth ring a few hours ago. We’ve got a reporter on it now. Should have video in time for the morning show.”
“Lucky us.” Lucy flashed him an attempt at a smile as they entered the bullpen of cubicles. “Which desk is mine?”
“Against the wall over there. Night producer left you video to go through and a few things came through last night.” He pulled her chair out for her.
“Thanks,” she replied as she settled in at her desk. “Really. Thank you.”
“Good to have you here. Holler if you need me.” Reid waved as he disappeared back to the control room.
She resolved she wouldn’t ask for help. Not after the Nervous Nelly blip from earlier. Nope, she would do her job and do it well. Within minutes, Lucy lost herself in news stories, scripts, and segues.
