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Violet almost spit out a mouthful of water. “Warn me before you say something like that.”

“Sorry. Where’s he from?”

She wiped her mouth. “Somewhere near Kansas City originally.”

“Which side?”

“Missouri. He went to Kansas, though.”

“We won’t hold being a Jayhawk against him. Their basketball team just won the NCAA.”

She grinned. “Because that’s the most important thing, after all.”

Trent tilted his head with aYou know it!glance. “What else?”

Violet thought a moment as they ate. “To everyone else in the world, Hayden’s outgoing and charming.”

“And youhatethat.” Trent chuckled when she gave him a look. Besides Dani, her twin knew her full dating history, including her missteps. He’d hit on a truth she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge—the two guys she’d dated most seriously were too much like Hayden for comfort.

“This isn’t about wanting todatehim, Trent. We have a kind of like …notlike thing going on between us.”Hatewas too strong a word.

Her brother shrugged. “Not from what I saw tonight, and sometimes that kind of tension makes for the most exciting relationships. Not to mention passionate marriages.”

Not what I want to hear, brother dear.

“To his credit, Hayden tends to see the best in others. He suggests solutions or ideas people might not otherwise consider. But you wouldn’t believe some of the things he says to callers sometimes. He’s got a lot of nerve.”

“‘Nerve’ meaning what, exactly?”

“I don’t know … what it usually means! He can be totally off-the-cuff, and it’s as though the man doesn’t have a filter. Oh, and thewayhe says things can make me physically cringe.”

Trent laughed. “I saw the sign for The Hen House on the way into town. That’s one of the station’s biggest sponsors, isn’t it?”

“Bingo.” She shook her head and took a drink.

“Surely by now you’ve noticed not everyone’s as proper as Violet Simmons. You’ve heard of the New York ‘shock jock’ Harry Sternum, right?”

“Unfortunately.” Violet frowned. “The man spews out vile, disgusting, and chauvinistic filth.”

“Yet he’s one of the most popular radio personalities in the country and has been for years. One of my college buddies knows him and says that beneath the crass exterior, Harry loves his wife and treats her like a queen.”

“Wife number three? Or is it four? For her sake, I pray the poor woman’s quick at dodging flying objects. I imagine he’s a frequent target.”

Trent chuckled. “Is Hayden like Harry?”

“No, no. Not in any way.” She shook her head. “They’re completely different, thank the Lord.”

“Does Hayden use foul language or make chauvinistic comments on the air?”

“Of course not! I can’t imagine he’d ever use bad language. He can be borderline insensitive and chauvinisticoffthe air on occasion, though.”

“Give me an example.” Trent thanked the server as he delivered chocolate tiramisu with two forks. She didn’t know her brother had ordered dessert, but he knew it was her favorite.

Violet relayed the gist of thekick up your heelsconversation, ending with Hayden’smerry widowcomment. “What’s so funny?” she asked when Trent snickered.

“It’s actually pretty funny.”

“Takehisside, will you? Trent, he acts like he’s God’s gift to the women of Goldenrod. The women at the station practically fall over themselves to gain his favor. Even Jillian, and you know she’s a hard one to crack.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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