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Their boss sighed. “Okay,onelistener called, but my wife agreed, and Becky has the best instincts of anyone I know. She’s the one who suggested I pair you two together in the first place.” Charles harrumphed. “She told me you two have chemistry. That’s one reason I played last Thursday night’s show for you since I doubt either one of you goes home, listens to a replay of the show, and tries to figure out how you can be better.”
Ouch.Better co-hosts or betterpeople? “We want tohelpour listeners, and I’m afraid we’re failing because of the way we act toward each other.” Although true, how lame she sounded.Excuses.
Hayden massaged the back of his neck. “I think Violet and I are trying so hard to be entertaining that we took our eyes off the end goal.”
“I understand it’s a fine line to walk,” Charles said. “Your individual shows are popular because you connect on a personal level with your respective audiences. I thought the idea to pair you together was genius with your dueling philosophies of life and love, but the listeners don’t have toseeyou to sense the tension. And that’s not good.”
“I’m sorry,” Hayden said, echoed by Violet.
“Given the opportunity, we’ll do better,” she promised. “Bebetter.”
Charles clapped his hands, making them both jump. “Good! You’re starting to get it, so my job here is done. Have fun, kids.”
Hayden balked. “You’re going to leave us out here? How are we supposed to get back to town?”
Moving beside Hayden, Violet rested her hand on his arm. “We’ll figure out a way.”
“You’re resourceful, so I’m not worried.” Returning to the car, Charles pulled out a blanket. “See you on Monday,” he said, handing it to Hayden. “No rush in getting this back to me. Just make sure it’s clean”
Hayden looked as stunned as she felt. They stood side by side, watching as Charles drove back down the dirt road seconds later. Hayden coughed and waved away the dust that spewed around them. “The man knows how to make his point.”
“Yes, he certainly does.”
Lifting his face to the sky, Hayden surprised her by laughing. “Looks like the clouds are rolling in. Do you have an umbrella in your tiny purse? We might get a little wet, after all.”
“The forecast for rain was only about twenty percent.” Violet angled her head at the blanket. “We could hold the blanket over our heads since it’s the only thing at our disposal.”
Hayden chuckled. “You are such a realist.”
She lifted her chin with a determined look. “Don’t make it sound like such a bad thing, Mr. Idealist.”
“Did you just call me Mr. Ideal?”
She shook her head.Wrong day to wear a white dress.How was she to know she’d find herself in this situation? Couldn’t Charles have warned them? Violet lowered to the ground, patting the spot beside her. “Have a seat. Let’s talk.”
“Hang on.” He held out his hand. “Up we go.”
“What? Why?”
He helped her to her feet. “I’m fairly sure Chuck wants us to sit on this so you don’t get dirt or grass stains on your pretty white dress.”
“I appreciate the chivalry.” Violet stood up while Hayden shook out the blanket. After settling on it once more, she watched as he unbuttoned his long-sleeved, blue and white striped shirt and opened it over a white T-shirt.
“You know the real reason Charles did this, don’t you?” Wrapping his arms around his propped knees, he looked over at her.
“Besides having nothing to do with ratings or how others perceive us?” Violet removed her straw hat and set it beside her.
He nodded. “We need to talk aboutus, Violet. The reason we’re so at odds with each other on-air is because our personal lives are a mess. Ourrelationship.”
She traced the pattern in her dress with one finger to avoid staring at the scars on his left leg.
“I see you checking out my scars,” he teased. “Lovely, aren’t they?”
Violet snapped her gaze to his. “Actually, they are. They’re your battle scars, Hayden. They’re a reminder and a testament of the pain you suffered to bring about the beautiful soul inside you.”
“You can touch them if you want.” When she didn’t respond, he took her hand in his.
Slowly, hesitantly—glancing up at him—Violet stroked a finger over the worst of his scars, tracing the patterns from just above his knee down to his ankle. “Do they hurt?”
