This Just In... (Harlequin Superromance)

by Jennifer Mckenzie

  But the unused information sitting in front of her was fantastic. In particular, George’s story about the time Noah had driven him down to the lake and taken him fishing last summer. How Noah had carried him from the car to the dock since George couldn’t walk the distance and the ground was too bumpy for his wheelchair and set him up with a lawn chair, a rod and a fully stocked cooler. Then the two of them had sat there the rest of the day, eating sandwiches, drinking bottled water and shooting the breeze. George’s only complaint had been that Noah refused to let him have beer. George didn’t think that Noah’s reasoning—he didn’t want to cart George to the woods to do his business all day—stood up since beer is “ninety percent water anyway.” But that hadn’t stopped him from telling Sabrina to inform Noah that George expected another trip this year.

  Sabrina considered starting the second article anyway. Noah would probably agree and Trish would love it. She’d even typed the opening sentence. But the words didn’t flow, so she brainstormed some other potential ideas instead. The Northern Lights festival was happening in a few weeks to kick off the summer season and the July holiday weekend. Trish probably already had a plan to cover it, but maybe Sabrina could find a new and exciting angle. She wrote down a few other ideas, as well, and then fizzled out.

  Working on a Saturday night. How sad was that? The last time she’d lived in Wheaton she’d been a teenager with a curfew and other parental restrictions and yet she’d managed to have a full and busy social life. And tonight? She’d been forced to drop in on her parents for dinner so that she didn’t have to eat alone.

  Not that her parents had minded. On the contrary, they’d been thrilled and used the opportunity to push their move-back-permanently initiative. She smiled. Even if they were her parents and expected to love her no matter what, it was still nice to feel wanted. It certainly helped to dispel the disappointment that her Vancouver friends seemed to have forgotten about her. Not one of them had returned her calls or emails.

  Sabrina took another sip of tea to ease the sting. She didn’t expect them to spend hours texting with her or even offer to visit, but a timely response would have been nice. Oh, well. All her free time had at least provided her with the opportunity to finish decorating the apartment.

  The walls looked great—a huge improvement over the ugly stripes—and with all her furniture and other decor, the place was starting to look like a real home. Too bad she wouldn’t be around to appreciate it for long.

  Sabrina checked her email, but her in-box remained empty. Nothing from her editor. Nothing from her friends. Not even a piece of junk mail promising millions from a foreign prince if only she’d share all her banking information.

  She fired off a few of the better article ideas to Trish and then powered down the computer. She’d already fulfilled her patheticness quota for the day; no need to add to it by doing more work. Although sitting in front of the TV with her tea might be even sadder. Seriously, how was it that the busiest her social life had been since she arrived was going to a dance with the residents of Cedar Oaks?

  Still, Sabrina had enjoyed herself and not just because of Noah. Though he’d certainly been part of the appeal. She wondered where he was tonight. She’d looked for him when she got home from her shift at the coffee shop, but his car was gone and was still missing when she returned from dinner with her parents.

  So when she heard the crunch of wheels turning into the driveway, it was only reasonable that she get up to check and see who it was. She turned off the lights so he wouldn’t notice her peering through the window at him. Yes, this was what passed for excitement in her life these days.

  Noah walked up the front steps, a tired cast to his features. Sabrina leaned closer. Judging from the green polo shirt and pressed khakis—his usual daily uniform—he’d been on the go since this morning. Did he ever take time for himself? Ever say no or do something he wanted to do instead of busting his butt to do things for everyone else?

  She didn’t think so. Mayor, brother, son, neighbor. He was always being someone for somebody. Even for her. And now he was providing her with some eye candy, albeit unknowingly. Guilt prickled at her and Sabrina stepped away from the French doors, letting the curtains she’d hung earlier in the week fall closed. A man should be able to enter his own home without being ogled.

  She’d only just flicked on the light when he knocked on the door. For a moment, excitement flooded through her. Then reality hit. Most likely, he’d noticed her spying and wanted to know why.

  Great. Just great. She inhaled slowly. She’d been busted like a teenager with a crush, which wasn’t too far from the truth.

  “Mr. Mayor. What a pleasant surprise.” Her pulse sped up when she looked at him. He looked tired, but good. Really good. All tall and strong and perfectly pressed, but he frowned at her.

  “Were you just peeping at me through the windows?”

  “No.” Sabrina swallowed. Maybe if she acted innocent, he’d think he’d been mistaken. She reached up and brushed a thumb along the grim lines carved around the side of his mouth. “You’ll get wrinkles.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “You should.” She heard the rise in her voice, hoped he didn’t notice. “Good skin maintenance starts now.” He had seen her and he wasn’t happy about it. She let her hand fall back to her side.

  Really, there was no reason for him to be bothered by a little peek. Maybe she’d just been checking to make sure the flower destroyers weren’t back. Yes, that’s what she go with if he pushed.

  “It looked like you. Right there.” Noah pointed to the exact spot she had indeed been standing.

  Sabrina flipped her hair, going for airy disinterest. “I don’t know what you saw, but I was just hanging out watching TV.”

  “The TV’s not on.”

  “I was about to start watching, I meant.” Damn. “Do you want to come in?” She hadn’t expected him to agree so quickly, but he was in her apartment in a matter of seconds. He smelled like pine and the outdoors. Her breath was shaky. Even so, she managed to find her manners. Her mother would be so proud. “Can I get you something? Tea? Coffee? Water?”

  “Water, please.” His eyes tracked the room. “You took down the wallpaper.”

  She pulled a jug of water from the fridge, letting the cool air wash over her warm skin. “Do you blame me? It took a whole day, but I think it was worth it.” Thought so every time she looked at the clean, fresh walls.

  He ran a finger along the mantel, looked at the pieces she’d placed there, then sat on the couch. “It looks great in here. Very homey.”

  “Thanks.” A flush of pleasure swept through her as she handed him the glass. “So what brings you here tonight?” It obviously wasn’t just about the peeking. Noah had asked, she’d answered and if that were all, he’d have taken himself across the hall to his own apartment, not settled himself on her couch.

  “I read the article.”

  She studied his face, but it showed nothing. Simply that cool, composed mayoral look he was so good at. She hoped that wasn’t bad. “I’m guessing since you aren’t ignoring me, you liked it.”

  He stared at her. “I lied. I didn’t come because of the article.”

  “Oh?” Sabrina’s breath was caught in her throat and that flush was back, now heating her cheeks. “Then why did you come?”

  He didn’t answer, just sat forward to put his glass on the coffee table, then slid across the couch and cupped the back of her head. His lips were firm and warm when he pressed them to hers.

  So she hadn’t been imagining that spark of interest in his eyes and he’d definitely noticed her wiggling. Good.

  His hand slid around to the small of her back. She should probably pull away, ask what was going on here. She wasn’t looking for a lifelong commitment, but she also wasn’t going to be a booty call. A good fling should last at least
a month. But it was a slippery thought and one that was impossible to hang on to when he kept kissing her like this.

  When they broke apart, Sabrina’s lips felt swollen, but her shirt was still on. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

  “Thank you.” Noah’s hand remained at the back of her head, his fingers twirling through her hair. “I needed that.”

  “Why?” It was a natural question. “Not that I’m complaining, but I was pretty sure you’d been avoiding me all week.” She saw the guilt flash across his face and suddenly the answer was obvious. “You were waiting to see the article.”

  His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I’m not proud of it, but yes.”

  Sabrina swallowed the chilly nausea that was trying to overtake her warmth. “Right. Of course. Because you don’t really know me, and I’ve certainly never given you or your family any reason to trust me when it comes to my articles.”

  Did she sound bitter? She thought she sounded bitter. She hadn’t meant to. She picked up her tea and washed the taste out of her mouth with a small sip.

  Noah put a hand on her leg when she tried to shift away. “I was wrong.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You weren’t.” It was a hard thing to admit, but she could see it from his perspective. Hadn’t she made a career of writing not-very-nice things about people? “You were protecting yourself. I don’t blame you.”

  His gaze was steady, as steady as the hand that remained on her leg. “I was wrong. I should have trusted you.” Sabrina felt a flutter in her chest. “Nothing you’d done or said gave me any reason to think you were lying.”

  “I don’t exactly have a stellar history with your family, though.”

  He studied her. “Still, I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. I should make it up to you.”

  She was surprised and touched. “You don’t have to make it up to me. You’re allowed to have feelings.”

  He shifted his hand to cup her cheek. “I want to. How about dinner?”

  “I already owe you that.” She pinned him with a look. “Or are you going to keep putting me off?”

  “No.” Noah’s smile turned rueful. “You pick the time and I’ll be there. But this would be something else.”

  His thumb stroked across her cheek. Sabrina swallowed. “Are you serious or is this just banter?” Casual jokes and conversation that never went anywhere because they weren’t meant to. She felt hope begin to percolate, make her all tingly. Or maybe that was his hand.

  “I’m serious.” And he certainly looked serious. There was no teasing twist to his lips, no sardonic smirk or cheesy wink that undermined his words and told a different truth. His body language was as open and honest as she hoped his words were.

  “Would you be interested in letting me write another article about you?” One that used some of the information currently sitting on her computer.

  To Noah’s credit, he blinked but didn’t jerk back though she saw the shudder pass through him and felt the brief tightening of his hands that were still on her. “What kind of article?”

  She tilted her head, so her cheek rested in his palm and suppressed a shiver. “A more personal piece. Something that would showcase you as a person as opposed to the mayor.”

  He winced. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with that.”

  Sabrina put her hand on his knee. “It’ll be great, Noah. Better than today’s article.”

  He didn’t look convinced. He pursed his lips and he lifted his hand from her cheek.

  “Or not.” She exhaled. Apparently, he didn’t really trust her. She wasn’t sure why that stung as much as it did. Maybe because he was the only person in town besides her parents who’d spent any time with her since she’d been back. Maybe because she didn’t understand how he could kiss her like that if he didn’t trust her. She moved her hand away, too.

  He caught it, wrapped his fingers around hers. “Okay.” His voice was soft, almost a whisper.

  “Okay what?”

  “You can write another article.” His eyes caught hers.

  She stared back. “You sure?” Because she didn’t want to pitch the idea to Trish only to have him back out at the last minute. Trish had been more than generous in agreeing to allow Sabrina a part-time position at the paper, but family friendships only went so far. Sabrina needed to provide solid and interesting articles, too.

  He nodded.

  This time, she was the one who slid forward and kissed him. Hard.

  “Is this because I said yes?” Noah asked when they came up for air.

  “No.” Their noses were practically touching, their eyes mere inches apart. “This is because I wanted to.” She kissed him again and felt some of the angst guarding her heart begin to lessen.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE MORNING OF THE festival dawned bright and hot. Sabrina slipped her red cowboy boots on and then twirled in front of the mirror. The pretty white eyelet dress wasn’t Alaïa and the shoes weren’t Manolo Blahnik, but she was happy. The realization surprised her. She hadn’t expected to be happy. Not here. Not in Wheaton.

  But her reporting job was going well. Trish had been wholeheartedly in favor of her article ideas over the past few weeks, which ranged from a feature on porch gardening, showcasing her very own porch, to a piece on a homegrown artist who was gaining recognition across the country. And that was her humming along to the music playing from her iPod speakers and smiling as she put on lipstick. How long had it been since she’d felt this way? Since she was fired? No, longer than that. She just hadn’t realized it. What else had she not realized?

  But Sabrina didn’t like thinking about that, so she pushed the thought away.

  She had plenty of other things to fill her mind today. Not the least of which was spending more time with Noah. She spritzed on her favorite lavender scent, rubbing her wrists together.

  Although she and Noah had been seeing each other a few times a week, she was still looking forward to today. Rather than using her leftover information from the original interview session, she and Trish had decided a behind-the-scenes feature on Noah at the festival was likely to interest more readers. And Noah had agreed.

  Sabrina wondered if the town knew just how much he did for them. Probably not and she wasn’t certain that following him at the festival would get the point across. This was a special event and of course he would be busy. But it was a start.

  As well, she’d be busy covering other festival highlights and taking photos. A standard report on the whos, whats and wheres. People were interested in learning who took home the blue ribbon for the best pie and who was going to represent the town as their pageant princess, and Sabrina liked knowing that she’d be able to preserve their moments of glory for them.

  Supporting each other and celebrating accomplishments was part of the glue that held small communities together. She’d forgotten about that. Though she was reminded every week when people made a point of complimenting her articles in the paper’s latest edition.

  The circulation might be a fraction of that in the city and she might not be interviewing any bold-faced names, but there was something satisfying about knowing that her work was being read, being recognized.

  Sabrina had always loved the Northern Lights festival. In her mind, it was the true kick-off to summer, always happening on the first weekend in July. Even the year she’d been uncrowned for underage drinking behind the tents while still wearing her tiara and sash hadn’t dampened her enthusiasm. She grabbed her purse and jacket and was waiting by the front door when Noah knocked.

  “Oh, my God.” She looked at him, lounging in her door frame like a cowboy from one of those hot romances she liked to read in the bath. She clapped her hands, unable to contain her delight. “You’re wearing a hat.” A white Stetson. Like a real cowboy.

  He touc
hed the brim uncertainly. “The crowd likes it.”

  “I do, too.” She rose onto her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. She couldn’t resist. His hesitation and sheer hotness was a potent blend. “It’s perfect.”

  “No.” But a shy smile crossed his lips. She kissed them, too. “You look amazing.”

  She noted the flick of his eyes to the boots. Which was exactly why she’d worn them. Underneath his calm and proper exterior, Noah had a thing for her bright cowboy boots. Oh, he’d never say so, but she could tell.

  She locked the door behind her and they headed outside. Noah’s fingers caught hers and held. The birds were busy tweeting and singing to the world. Everyone looked forward to the town’s annual festival, even those of the avian persuasion. Noah led her past his dark sedan and down to the detached garage, which fit only one car.

  The doors made a loud rumble when he raised them. It was the first time she’d see what was inside. Sabrina blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dark interior. A dark green truck sat inside, all glossy paint and shiny chrome. An old truck. One that had clearly been lovingly restored. She looked at Noah. “Special event?”

  He nodded and ran a hand along the edge of the flatbed, then patted it lovingly. “I don’t take her out too often.”

  “It’s gorgeous.” Sabrina trailed a finger along the bumper. Captain Midnight would have loved it. And named it.

  Noah’s eyes lit up and he started talking about original paint colors and a V-8 engine and something about a flathead. The information was beyond her limited car knowledge, but the excitement in his face made her smile.

  He caught himself and stopped. “I’m boring you, aren’t I? Sorry. I know most people don’t get this excited about cars.”