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Chapter One

“DID YOU TELL THAT CALLER to ‘kick up her heels’?”

Violet Simmons spun around in her chair to face the man lounging against the doorframe of the sound booth. “I did. She’s a lonely widow who used to love square dancing with her husband. Her friends asked her to join them again, and I encouraged her to go.”

“So she can meet her next husband?”

One, two, three, four . . ..Hayden Brooks would be the end of her. “So she can enjoy a fun evening out. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He lifted his hands. “Hey, I’m only asking. No crime in that. I hope the merry widow goes and has a great time.”

Don’t say it, Violet.“Just because a woman’s single doesn’t necessarily mean she’s looking for a man.”

Hayden’s lips curved. “Are you referring to yourself, or is that a sweeping generalization?”

This man!She tried not to be obvious in reading the words on his black T-shirt as Hayden sauntered into the small booth. If he was to be believed, his legion of listeners gifted him with most of the shirts. He wore them like a badge of honor. Based on how taut they stretched across his chest and showed off his upper arm muscles, Hayden must quote his fans a size too small.

“Let me make it easier for you.” He smoothed his hand over the shirt and puffed out his chest.I tried to get into TV journalism, but they told me I had a radio face.“My sister sent this one to me.”

“Well, she would know.” Embarrassed he’d caught her eyeing him, Violet lifted from her chair, the changing of the guard fromLove Notes with ViolettoTough Love with Hayden. “It’s all yours.” She checked the clock. “You have two minutes.”

“Lots of time, but thanks for the reminder.” Dropping onto the chair, Hayden sighed. “Ah, nice and warm. Maybe I’ll sit back and, I don’t know, kick up my heels.” Stretching his arms, he crossed them behind his head and propped his feet on the desk.

“I’ll have to ask you not to do that.” The owner’s dutiful assistant, a wiry woman named Jillian, whisked into the room and set a memo in front of him.

Violet restrained her chuckle when Hayden sat up so fast he almost toppled over in the chair. Then tried not to roll her eyes as Jillian poured a cup of coffee into hisThe Best Kind of Mom Raises a Radio Announcermug before handing him two creamers, a packet of raw sugar, and a plastic stirrer. The man was ridiculously proud of his job, not to mention spoiled by every woman at the station.

Except you.

“Thanks, Jillian. You’re the best.” Hayden scrubbed a hand over his short beard and studied the memo listing his program sponsors for the evening. “The Hen House is back? I guess they settled their lawsuit.”

“Judge Raney ruled the food poisoning claim had no merit. They’re paying good money to sponsor your program tonight, so…” Jillian placed a finger over her lips.

“No worries.” Hayden graced the woman with his easy, all-too-charming smile. “I’ll talk up the chicken. Best legs in town. Andmore.” He positioned the mic and put on his headphones with five seconds to spare.

Her cheeks warm, Violet gathered her things and headed for the door.The man’s talking about chicken.He could be so inappropriate at times. The station owner and manager, a benevolent, hands-on man named Charles Barton, would never allow one of his radio personalities to say such a thing on-air if it meant anything . . . unseemly.

“Good evening, Arcadia Valley! This is Hayden Brooks at KGOLD Christian Radio, broadcasting from Goldenrod, Missouri. On behalf of all our staff, especially the lovely Violet Simmons, who’s handing over the reins as we speak”—he gave her a wink—“we’re thrilled you’ve joined us tonight. If you’re a regular, then you know the drill. If not, stick around and join the fun.” He slapped his hands on the desk in a familiar rhythm. “Time to make hay while the sun shines!”

How ridiculous.What did Hayden’s signature catchphrase even mean? Violet quickly slipped out of the sound booth as the opening music began.

Catching her eye through the window of the sound booth, he smiled and waved. The man was a huge flirt, one of several reasons Violet kept her distance.

Time to go.

ON THE DRIVE HOME, Violet passed a new billboard for The Hen House. She almost choked when she glimpsed their new slogan:Best legs in town. And more.

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t whatHayden said so much as thewayhe said it. The Hen House was one of the oldest establishments in town, run by an upstanding, church-going family. The bottom line? Charles needed sponsors to keep the station afloat. Unless a business was an institution of ill-repute for some reason, they’d be happily welcomed into the KGOLD family.

Violet turned on the radio, automatically tuned to the station.

“Eddie, here’s what you should do.”

Oh, no.Why did Hayden have to take such an overbearing approach? Not that his listeners seemed to mind. She preferred a gentle approach, making suggestions so listeners could reach their own conclusions. Then again, she dealt mostly with female callers, while Hayden’s callers were predominantly male. Telling someone what to do could backfire on Hayden—and ultimately the radio station, speaking of lawsuits. One lawsuit could bring them all down.

“Send your wife a bouquet of her favorite flowers. The bigger, the better.”

Seriously, Hayden?Stopping the car in the driveway, Violet switched off the engine. Clearly, the man didn’t subscribe to theless is moretheory. And flowers weren’t the answer in every situation. Although come to think of it, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d received flowers.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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