“But I had a plan,” she said.
“Plans change. This way, the Gazette lives on. In the name. In you.”
“There’s that.” She searched his eyes. “Did you make this happen?”
He said nothing, but he saw the realization kindle a light in her eyes.
She took a deep breath. “We were thrown together for such a short time. I thought maybe it was just a game for you.”
“I don’t call being chased, shot at and threatened much of a game.”
“Not the story,” Roz said — and then, as if it cost her a great deal — “me.”
Alden squeezed her hands and moved closer so their knees touched. He felt the spark, and it fueled his declaration. If he didn’t tell her everything now, there might never be another chance.
“I’m in love with you, Ms. Melander. I’m in love with your stubbornness and your high standards. I’m in love with your infuriating righteousness. I think I fell in love with you the first time you asked about goat poop at a zoning meeting. And I want to spend a year writing poems about your hair and your eyes and your mouth.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were going to write a novel.”
“That, too. I’m thinking of calling it ‘Scandal Sheets’ by A. A. Knox.”
“See, that’s just it!” Roz pulled her hands away. She stood and paced, tears forming in her eyes. “A. A.? I don’t know you nearly well enough, Alden. I’ve never even asked you your middle name!”
“It’s Alden.”
“What?”
“My middle name is Alden.”
“Then what’s your first name?”
He grimaced. “Archibald.”
Through her tears, she started laughing.
“Exactly. This is why I don’t tell people my first name. In fact, I think you’re the only one, ever.” Alden stood, too, walking toward her, slowly backing her up against the wall in the dappled shade of a palm tree. He was inches away from her, but it might have been miles. “You know everything about me that matters. Is it enough? Am I enough? You’d get to be the boss of me, you know.”
She granted him a half-smile. “You and I are so different, Alden. Archibald.”
“Shut up and talk to me.”
“You’re smart. You’re resourceful. You’re even a good guy, underneath all those good looks, though you try hard to hide it. And what you’ve done for my mother — all I can say is thank you,” Roz said. “To merge the papers would be so good for everyone. But I don’t know if you need me to do it. In fact, I might be more of a hindrance. It’s like you and I come from two different planets. How could we ever make this work?
“Didn’t you hear me? I love you, Rosalind Melander. My spaceship has landed on your world. I come in peace. I love you. Don’t you believe me?” And wasn’t that enough? God, he hoped it was enough.
“Oh, Alden.” She looked up at him, searching his face. And then she slipped her arms around his neck, and time stood still as birds twittered and a gulf breeze sighed and a distant boat droned.
“You are extraordinary, and I believe you. And I believe in you,” Roz said. “I love you, too, you impossible man.”
Alden let out a pent-up breath, yanked her to him and covered her mouth with his, devouring her, bestowing her with all of his being, with all of the love and energy it had taken him to convince his publisher to make the deal, with all of the passion that had consumed his soul since Roz had walked into and out of his life. She clung to him and ran her hands down his back, mirroring his hunger, his need, as he pressed into her and savored her sweet mouth. She tasted like butter pecan and forever.
He made himself take a breath, to make sure of her. Roz looked up at him, flushed and smiling, happy and lovely. Her hair was coming out of the bun, and he wanted to shake it loose, run his hands through it, take her right there.
Though the front patio of Ms. Icey’s wasn’t exactly the ideal spot for ravishment.
“You’ll stay?” he asked, burning for her response.
Her smile widened, and her lovely eyes twinkled. “Yes, Alden.”
Alden embraced her, kissed her neck, held her tightly, and she hugged him back, almost taking his breath away.
“I guess I’ll have to book that balloon ride for real,” he murmured in her ear.
Roz loosened her hold, caught his gaze and grinned. “But we’re not movie stars.”
“Better, sweetheart.” Alden kissed her again. “We’re the Times-Gazette.”
-30-
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≈ Acknowledgments ≈
I come from a journalism background, and as a rule, reporting isn’t nearly as silly and exciting as it gets in Desire on Deadline. That said, I’ve always loved funny movies about journalists, so in this plot, I’ve mixed authenticity with a dash of screwball comedy. “His Girl Friday” is my favorite newspaper film. Extra points if you spot the references to the movie and its actors. And regarding authenticity: The “-30-” at the end of the text is the traditional newspaper mark that signified to an editor the end of a story. Its origins are debatable.
I’m grateful to author Roxanne St. Claire for her invitation to write in her fabulous Barefoot Bay world. Barefoot Bay is located on the coast opposite my fictional world of Bohemia Beach and in a different kind of community. But both are so very Florida, and it was a fun challenge to delve into her world and create my own characters and story inside its parameters. As a writer, I enjoyed shifting from the steamy romance of Bohemia Beach to romantic suspense (with a dose of steam!) in Barefoot Bay.
Thanks to the other authors who wrote Barefoot Bay stories for Kindle Worlds at the same time as I did and shared their process on the way. You provided much-needed support and inspiration on deadline.
Thank you also to the members of Spacecoast Authors of Romance, who are a constant source of joy and encouragement.
Ample gratitude goes to my perspicacious editor, Holly Martin, who knows her way around a deadline. And thanks to Karen Ann Dell for her valuable feedback.
Finally, thank you to Mr. Lakestone for making this adventure possible. I owe him a fine bottle of rum.
≈ About the Author ≈
Lucy Lakestone grew up loving Jane Austen, romantic adventure stories and all genres of fiction. After producing countless articles and photographs for newspapers and magazines and writing thrillers under another name, she revels in writing romance. She lives on Florida’s east central coast, among the towns that serve as an inspiration for her novels.
≈ Also by Lucy Lakestone ≈
THE BOHEMIA BEACH SERIES
BOHEMIA BEACH
An irresistible obsession . . .
BOHEMIA LIGHT
Wild as a wave . . .
BOHEMIA BLUES
Good guy, meet bad reputation . . .
≈ Table of Contents ≈
Title Page
A Letter From Roxanne St. Claire
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Lucy Lakestone
Cover design: Sky Diary Productions
Couple photo: Lorand Gelner, iStock
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Desire on Deadline Page 18