“Okay, then,” Travis said, standing up. He started from the room, then turned back. “Maybe this staff meeting idea is a good thing. Schedule it once a week, okay?”
“You want me to schedule it?” Sarah asked.
“Why not? It was your idea, after all. And, for the record, will you stop thinking of me as the boss and start thinking of this place as a partnership? We’re all in it together.”
She seemed momentarily taken aback by that, but of course she couldn’t leave it alone. “It’s your money. That makes you the boss.”
“Not if I put you in charge,” he countered with a wink. “Consider yourself the office manager.”
Her mouth gaped as he walked away. He was almost out of the building when he heard her call after him.
“What?” he shouted back.
“Does that mean I get a raise?”
He laughed at her audacity. “If you sell enough advertising, you do.”
Before he could get half a block down the street, she was beside him.
“What if, as your new office manager, I authorize a raise?” she asked.
“You can’t.”
She pinned him with a look. “So, let me get this straight,” she said slowly. “I have more responsibility, but no more money and zero authority?”
“Something like that,” he agreed.
If he’d expected an argument, she surprised him yet again. She simply nodded.
“Just so we’re clear,” she murmured, and walked away.
Something told him, though, that sooner or later he was going to pay for that ready agreement.
Walter stared at the front-page story in the Serenity newspaper that Raylene had plunked in front of him on the kitchen table. The kids were upstairs napping, but he wasn’t anxious to go back to the motel, so he’d opted for hanging out here. He suspected the scent of the chocolate-chip cookies she was baking had been part of the allure, more so than Raylene’s usually testy company.
“What’s this?” he asked, startled to see a picture of Sarah and a guy he immediately recognized as a former big league baseball player. Some American League team, if he recalled correctly, a team not carried on local cable all that often, but big enough for the networks. Probably the Yankees or the Red Sox. Whoever he was, what the devil was he doing in a place like Serenity?
“You’ve been asking why Sarah’s never around when you’re over here to see the kids,” Raylene told him. “There’s your answer. She has a new job. The station goes on the air day after tomorrow.”
Walter blinked at the news and tried to make sense of it. “Sarah’s working for a radio station? I thought she was working in that diner.”
“She was. That’s where Travis met her. He hired her to work for him.”
“Travis?”
“Travis McDonald.”
Recognition dawned. McDonald had been a hotshot for the Red Sox, at least for a couple of seasons, then he’d been dumped when his batting average had gone down the tubes. How had a man like that hooked up with Sarah?
“Doing what?” he asked. “The woman couldn’t keep our bank statement straight, so it better not be accounting.”
Raylene gave him a look that took him to task for his sarcasm. “Sorry,” he murmured, “but that’s a fact.”
“Look, I just thought you ought to know. Any questions you have, ask Sarah. I’m sure she would have told you herself, but she’s been overwhelmed trying to learn all this new stuff.”
“Like what?”
“Booking guests, interviewing people, working the controls on the air.”
“Hold on a minute! You’re telling me Sarah’s going to be on the radio?”
“With her very own morning show,” Raylene said, tapping a finger on the newspaper. “Carolina Daybreak. You can read all about it in the article. You should be proud of her.”
Walter had no idea what to think. Back in college he’d been able to envision Sarah in front of a classroom of first or second graders, but then he’d seen how much trouble she had keeping up with Tommy and Libby and wondered how she’d manage with twenty or thirty kids. Even though it had annoyed the daylights out of him seeing her working in the local diner, he’d known she was a capable waitress. But this? Some kind of local radio celebrity? It didn’t make sense for a woman who got flustered too easily.
He gave Raylene a questioning look. “You really think she can pull this off? She’s not much for confrontation.”
Raylene slid another tray of cookies into the oven before answering. “I do, as a matter of fact. More important, so does she. And she’s not planning to be Mike Wallace or Morley Safer. There won’t be a lot of on-air confrontations. And, in case you haven’t noticed, Sarah’s changing. She’s not the timid little thing who let you and your parents walk all over her. Like I said, you should be proud. In a way you’re responsible for her discovering just how strong and talented she really is.”
His gaze narrowed. “Somehow I don’t think you meant that as a compliment for me.”
Raylene patted his shoulder. “There you go, demonstrating more insightfulness than I ever expected.”
He frowned at that. “You don’t like me much, do you?”
She didn’t even blink at the direct question. Nor did she hesitate. “How could I? You almost destroyed my friend.”
He sighed at the undeniable accusation. “And no one is sorrier about that than I am,” he said quietly. “I wish Sarah nothing but the best. If this radio thing matters to her, then I hope she’s a huge success.”
“She will be,” Raylene said confidently. “But it might mean a lot to her to hear that from you.”
“She stopped caring what I think a long time ago,” he said candidly, then quickly added, “My own fault.”
“I’m not sure a woman ever stops caring what the man she once married thinks of her,” Raylene said, her expression suddenly sad. “Even when she should.”
Walter studied the woman who was busying herself with a batch of cookies just out of the oven, her back to him. Though his impression of Raylene had been shaped by her bitter attitude, he saw something oddly vulnerable about her now.
“Are we still talking about Sarah?” he asked carefully.
She turned back to him, lifted her chin, her gaze steady. “Who else?” she said in a way meant to forestall any further speculation.
Walter was out of his element. His sensitive side, if he even had such a thing, floundered in the face of her response. Something told him she’d just revealed something important, but he didn’t know if he should pursue it or let it drop. Because it was more comfortable, he let it go.
“I think I’ll take a drive into town, see if maybe I can track Sarah down,” he said, standing up. “Mind if I steal a handful of these cookies to take along?”
She gave him the kind of look she usually reserved for the kids. “Don’t spoil your supper,” she chided.
“Trust me, my appetite won’t be affected. You going to be okay here with the kids? I’ll try to get back before they’re up from their nap.”
“We’ll be fine,” she assured him. “If they wake up, we’ll play inside till you get back.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d hinted at the fact that she didn’t leave the house. He’d never questioned her about it. He hadn’t figured it was his place. Now, though, he wondered.
It was just one more question for the long list he was accumulating for when he saw Sarah. Hopefully he could get through them all without getting into one of their trademark fights, because as determined as he was to stop criticizing and making judgments, his tongue still had a tendency to get away from him before his brain could kick in.
7
Sarah had known Dana Sue Sullivan almost all of her life. Annie, Dana Sue’s daughter, had always been one of her two best friends, along with Raylene. She’d had sleepovers at Annie’s. She’d eaten at Sullivan’s more times than she could count, especially when Dana Sue and Erik had been fine-tuning the menu. Back then, A
nnie, in the throes of her anorexia, hadn’t touched more than a bite, but Sarah had savored every mouthful, then answered every painstakingly detailed question Dana Sue and Erik had about her opinion of each recipe.
Despite all that, sitting across from Dana Sue in the studio at the station made her palms sweat. There was a lump the size of a prime ribeye steak lodged in her throat. This would be the third test-run she’d taped before the official station launch, and it wasn’t getting any easier. How was she ever supposed to enjoy doing a show every morning if all she wanted to do was run from the studio and throw up? Worse, so far all the guests had been people she’d known forever. What on earth would happen when she had to interview some stranger or a real celebrity?
She glanced through the glass partition into the control room and got a thumbs-up from Bill. “We’re starting in one minute,” he said, just as he’d told her he would for the real thing.
Her gaze darted to the clock on the wall as the second hand ticked off the time way too quickly.
“Sweetie,” Dana Sue said in a commanding tone, “look at me.”
Sarah’s panicked gaze locked on her friend’s mom. They were both Sweet Magnolias, for heaven’s sake. That ought to make this easy. And maybe it would if they’d started with a margarita. Stone-cold sober, Dana Sue’s familiarity didn’t seem to make a difference.
“You’ve known me way too long to look so terrified,” Dana Sue said, keeping her own gaze steady. “You were there when I tossed all Ronnie’s things onto the front lawn, remember? You were there the night Annie collapsed and nearly died. We’re friends, Sarah, and all we’re doing is chatting, okay? Just the way we used to do around the kitchen table at my house.”
Sarah gulped in a deep breath and nodded. “This is ridiculous. I should be reassuring you that I’m going to make it painless. We’re just going to talk about how you started Sullivan’s, the rave reviews you’ve had.”
Bill cut in. “We’re going live in five, four, three, two and…” He signaled for her to begin.
Swallowing hard, Sarah found her voice. “Good morning, it’s Carolina Daybreak and I’m Sarah Price, coming to you from the heart of Serenity, right on Town Square. Today my guest is Dana Sue Sullivan, the mastermind behind Sullivan’s restaurant, known all over the state for its Southern cuisine with a contemporary twist.”
Once the words started flowing, her nerves seemed to settle. Dana Sue’s reassuring smile helped, too. The questions, which she’d spent all last night preparing, kicked off the conversation. Dana Sue did the rest, answering with the sort of lively, self-deprecating humor that everyone in Serenity expected from this one-time rebel who’d grown up to be an innovative chef and businesswoman.
They’d taped for nearly an hour, pausing where commercials would be inserted when the show eventually ran on the air, when Sarah looked up and saw that Travis had joined Bill in the booth. When he winked at her and gave her a thumbs-up, she nearly lost her place on her list of questions.
Something on her face must have given her away, because Dana Sue turned around to catch a glimpse of Travis, then turned back to Sarah with a broad grin. “Oh my!” she mouthed silently.
Sarah blushed. Bill’s whispered reminder in her headset that she needed to wrap things up finally steadied her.
“That’s it for today. I’d like to thank our guest and suggest you all stop by Sullivan’s to try out the tempting new menu items we’ve been discussing this morning. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. I’ll be back in a minute with more of Carolina’s favorite music.”
“And we’re out,” Bill said. “Good interview, Sarah.”
Though his praise meant the world to her, Sarah’s gaze immediately went to Travis. It was the first time he’d heard one of her tapings. The broad smile on his face said everything.
Stepping into the studio, he swept her up in his arms and twirled her around. “You were fantastic!” he said. “Even better than I was expecting.”
“If I was, you can thank Dana Sue. She provided all the entertainment.”
“I did not,” Dana Sue corrected. “You asked all the right questions. You’re a natural, Sarah. I couldn’t be more proud of you. I know this was really just a dress rehearsal of some kind, but I hope you air it one of these days.”
“First chance we get,” Travis promised, his arm still securely around Sarah’s waist. He gave Dana Sue a considering look. “You know, speaking of natural, you were great on the air. Sarah was right about that. I don’t suppose you’d want to do cooking tips or something like that on a regular basis? Sullivan’s could sponsor it. It would be great exposure for the restaurant. Maybe I could even get it into syndication around the state.”
Sarah’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Dana Sue, do it. It’s a great idea.”
“How often would you want it on the air?” Dana Sue asked, though she looked skeptical. “I don’t have a lot of spare time.”
“I’d like once a week, maybe an hour-long show for Saturday morning,” Travis suggested. “You could tape it whenever it’s convenient.”
“I’ll think about it,” Dana Sue promised. “Now I have to run. The restaurant opens for dinner in a half hour. Why don’t you all come over? Your meals will be on the house to celebrate the launch of the station.”
Sarah wasn’t sure what to say. Dinner at Sullivan’s was a big deal to most people in town. Going there with Travis, even if it was mostly a business thing, would feel an awful lot like a date. Of course, Bill would be along, too.
Travis met her gaze. “How about it, Sarah? I think we deserve a celebration.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Sure.”
Bill shook his head. “Unfortunately my wife’s expecting me, and she hates it when I don’t turn up after she’s cooked. You two go and enjoy yourselves. I want to spend a couple of minutes editing this tape. We ran over by sixty seconds, and I think I know where I can cut. I’d like to do it now, while it’s all fresh in my head. Then this will be ready for air whenever you need it.”
“Okay, then,” Travis said to Dana Sue. “Count on the two of us. We’ll be there shortly.”
After Bill had gone back to the control booth and Dana Sue had left, Sarah looked at Travis. “We don’t have to do this. Dana Sue was a sweetheart for asking, but we both have a million things to do before the launch. I should probably get home and have dinner with the kids for a change.”
Travis held her gaze. “Don’t try wiggling off the hook. I don’t have anything to do that’s more important than taking my best on-air talent to dinner. I need to keep you happy.”
The flattery went straight to her head, just like a glass of champagne. Because she wasn’t used to such compliments, Sarah couldn’t let herself trust it. It was smarter to treat it lightly.
“Besides Rick the Rocket, or whatever his name is, I’m your only on-air talent,” she reminded him. “So I don’t think I’ll take your compliment too seriously.”
“Hey, what am I?” he demanded.
She grinned at him. “That remains to be seen. I’ve heard you chattering away to yourself in the studio, but you haven’t done the first rehearsal or made a single note about your program, as far as I can tell.”
“Sugar, I’m relying on my charm and spontaneity to win over the audience.”
“I suppose that’s one way to go,” she said. “I think I like my way better. At least I won’t be floundering around like a fish trying to come up with something to say.”
A grin spread across Travis’s face. “You ever known me to be at a loss for words?”
“No,” she conceded. And that was precisely the reason she knew she didn’t dare let her guard down. Because when words flowed that easily, so could the lies.
Travis knew that even a couple of hours with Sarah in the low-lit, cozy ambience of Sullivan’s was probably dangerous. On his own, he probably wouldn’t have issued such an invitation, at least not for a while. But when Dana Sue had offered, he hadn’t been able to say no.
&n
bsp; The past couple of weeks had been hell on his libido. All it took was one of Sarah’s shy glances or the casual brush of her hand across his and he’d been on fire. He hoped like crazy it was because he hadn’t been dating for a while now, because otherwise it suggested he was falling hard and fast for a woman he needed to keep at a distance. He’d figured that out in a hurry. Sarah was all about forever, and he was mostly about what felt good tonight.
During his years playing ball, finding a woman who wanted to play by those rules had been easy. He’d never once been tempted to change the rules by which he lived, the same rules that had finally forced his mother to kick his daddy to the curb. Travis had sympathized with her, but he’d known intuitively that he was a chip off the old McDonald block. Settling down just didn’t appeal to him, mainly because he knew firsthand how badly someone would get hurt if he couldn’t make it last.
Yet, here he was with a forever woman, sitting down in a cozy booth, trying not to notice how soft the candlelight made her skin look or how brightly her eyes shone. Only a last-second burst of rationality kept him from sliding in right next to her, instead of on the other side of the table.
“Is this the first time you’ve been here?” Sarah asked him.
Travis nodded. “I’ve been meaning to come by, but my schedule’s been too hectic ever since I bought the station. It’s a nice place.”
“It’s wonderful,” Sarah said. “And the food really is as amazing as all the reviews claim.”
She studied the menu with an intensity that Travis couldn’t help wishing were directed his way. She even unconsciously licked her lips a time or two, which gave a real jolt to his system. Clearly his hormones had been shut down for too long.
“What do you recommend?” he asked eventually, too fascinated with Sarah to bother looking at the menu.
“I’m having the meat loaf,” she said at once. “I know that sounds ordinary, but trust me, Dana Sue raises it to a whole new level. It’s one of their most popular dishes.”
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