That Weekend...

by Jennifer Mckenzie

  She so wants to hate him…

  As a TV blogger and celebrity reporter with her finger on the pulse of the entertainment world, Ava Christensen figures she’s a shoo-in as co-host at Entertainment News Now. Wrong. The reason?

  Jake Durham.

  To add insult to injury, Ava has to spend a week with her Judas of a boss at the industry’s A-list film festival. All right, so maybe she used to think the hotshot executive producer was a hunk, but that was before he passed her over for promotion. These days, Ava isn’t ready to believe there’s a tender, caring side to the guy. But Jake’s surprising her in more ways than one, making Ava wonder what she really wants. Her dream job…or possibly her dream guy?

  He reached out to brush a lock of hair off her cheek

  Ava’s pulse jumped higher at the brief contact of skin on skin. Oh, no. This was bad.

  “I’m definitely coming over.” Jake smiled at her. “You’ll need me around to poke you awake.”

  Poking? There would be no poking. Ava yanked her mind out of the gutter. “Wouldn’t you rather have the night to yourself?”

  “No.” He was good, but she saw the way his eyes flicked down her body and back up.

  Her breath caught in her throat then and she had to look away before she did something crazy like lean forward and kiss him.

  “Ava.”

  Again, with her name. She could smell the mint of his toothpaste. If she leaned back now, she would be sending a clear message. Hands off. No entrance. Keep your distance.

  “You okay?”

  No, she was not okay. So, so not okay.

  She let her purse fall to the floor and leaned forward.

  Dear Reader,

  Let me be the first to admit it: I love celebrity gossip. And it seems to be everywhere from magazines and television programs to website and blog posts. But what about the people who report on the gossip?

  Ava Christensen works as a senior television reporter for a Vancouver-based entertainment news show and runs a celebrity blog on the side. Her real dream is to become the host of her own show; a dream that is crushed when her new—annoyingly attractive—executive producer Jake Durham, deems her not the right fit. But when they’re forced to travel to Idaho to cover one of the industry’s hottest film festivals as a team, they discover that what happens in Idaho doesn’t always stay there.

  I had a lot of fun writing That Weekend... and hope you enjoy reading it just as much. For more information on me, my life and anything else that captures my attention, visit my website, www.jennifermckenzie.com.

  Happy reading,

  Jennifer McKenzie

  That Weekend...

  Jennifer McKenzie

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jennifer McKenzie lives in Vancouver, Canada, where she enjoys being able to ski and surf in the same day—not that she ever does either of those things. After years of working as a communications professional and spending her days writing for everyone else, she traded in the world of water coolers, cubicles and high heels to write for herself and wear pajamas all day. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, eating chocolate, trying to talk herself into working off said chocolate on the treadmill or spending time with her husband.

  For Clark

  Contents

  Blog 1

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Blog 2

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Blog 3

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Blog 4

  Excerpt

  ENTNEWSNOW.COM/AVASBLOG

  Rocking Reporter in Rockdale

  Yes, I know the title is lame, but whatevs. Am pumped to be attending Rockdale’s film festival again this year! In fact, I will out myself as a child of the ’80s and say: I’m so excited. And I just can’t hide it.

  Rumors, rock-star parties and the ritziest fashions will be everywhere as the Tinseltown glitterati make the place their own for a whole week. I’ll be reporting live for Vancouver’s Entertainment News Now, so tune in every night to get the latest in celeb gossip and the juiciest scoop. Yes, I’ll be there covering it all. Bliss!

  Shaping up to be the biggest year yet. Attendees already confirmed: Jennifer Lopez (who will surely be decked out in white fur that only La Lopez could pull off), George Clooney (people, I am swooning. Swooning!), plus Matt and Ben, Brangelina, Reese, and every celebutante on the planet. And.

  ...Rob Lowe! Now, I know that some of you are too young to remember him in anything but TV, but let me tell you that Mr. Lowe was the hottest thing happening in movies in the ’80s. And I have had a crush on him and his baby blues going on twenty-five years now. (What? I was a precocious seven-year-old.) Suffice to say that if he is here...? There will be much stalking.

  Lena is producing the shoot and promises that she will actually squeal out loud if Robert Pattinson talks to her. (I so need to make this happen.) And Brandon is working the camera. (Yep, got-picked-up-by-a-contessa-in-Italy Brandon). Will be posting every second I have a chance, so check this website often to make sure you get the scoop first.

  Kiss kiss,

  Ava

  CHAPTER ONE

  JAKE DURHAM WAS EVIL.

  Okay, so fine. It was Monday morning and Ava Christensen was never at her best until it was past noon and she’d had at least three cups of coffee, but she needed neither caffeine nor sleep to know the truth about the man sitting behind the big fancy desk.

  “I hope you understand this was a difficult decision to make.”

  Ava just stared at him. Jake Durham, Entertainment News Now executive producer. Aka: Evil Incarnate. Alias: Beelzebub. Pseudonym: Norman Bates. Seriously, she must have been blind to ever think he was even sorta, kinda, maybe hot.

  Well, even the most brilliant reporters made the occasional mistake. And it had only taken her a month to uncover the truth. Probably wouldn’t have even taken her that long had she not been on a six-month dry spell. She needed to get out more.

  She swallowed and tried not to think about how, even as he was callously and carelessly crushing her dream, she could still find him attractive. “Who is getting the position?”

  The position. Said so casually, so free of emotion, as if it was no big deal. Ava swallowed again, wishing sh
e had a coffee to wash away the bitterness coating her mouth. Why hadn’t she poured herself a mug before attending this morning’s meeting?

  And why had she told her mother that she was a shoo-in to be the next cohost at Entertainment News Now?

  “Tommy.” Jake studied her closely. Too closely.

  “Tommy?” The little tug of recognition that always twisted her stomach when he looked at her like that was overridden by a sudden roiling. Her fingers curled around the arms of the cheap plastic chair she was sitting in. “Tommy Langtry?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.” He couldn’t be serious. Could he? But there was no sign of humor in his dark gray eyes.

  But Tommy? It didn’t make sense. While she’d been a regular reporter on the show for the past three years, Tommy had only been around six months. He wasn’t even a regular reporter, but more of a correspondent who was lucky to get a piece to air every couple of weeks. And he’d only gotten the job because his uncle was Harvey Langtry, the station owner.

  Her blog on the station’s website was incredibly popular. It not only satisfied the appetite for celebrity gossip that couldn’t be covered in a thirty-minute program, but it also drove viewers to the show with teasers and tidbits about on-air exclusives. And she was the replacement host when the regulars were sick or on vacation. To date, Tommy’s greatest achievements were stuffing Mentos and Coke into his mouth until they exploded in a gush of foam and convincing his uncle to host a holiday party with a top-shelf open bar.

  Even for someone who’d been around for only a month, like Mr. Big-Shot Executive Producer, giving her the job was a no-brainer. “You think he’s ready?”

  Jake clasped his hands on the desk. Long strong hands that Ava had no business remembering the feel of. “We felt he brought something extra to the show. Something that had been missing.”

  Something that she’d been missing? Her spine stiffened. Garbage. Unless they were planning on adding a stupid-human-trick segment to the show that she hadn’t heard about, there was nothing in Tommy’s repertoire that she didn’t do better.

  “And we liked the dynamic between him and Danica.” Jake’s voice softened. “We like you a lot, but we just didn’t feel you were the right choice in this situation.”

  “Oh.” To her horror, Ava felt tears prickle behind her eyes. Great. Just great. She blinked rapidly, pretending a speck of dust had lodged in there until she got herself under control. But she knew it was a temporary reprieve. She needed to get out of here before the tears returned and a weepfest ensued. Talk about unprofessional. She started to rise. “Well, thank you for telling me in person.”

  At least he’d had the courtesy to let her know before the news swept through the station at warp speed. But it was a small consolation when it felt as if he was grinding her career to dust beneath his heel.

  “A minute.” Jake waved for her to sit back down. Ava was torn between ingrained good manners and the need to get out of there before the tears began rolling down her cheeks. “I’m sure that you’re disappointed,” Jake said, “but I trust that you understand it was a difficult choice.”

  Yeah. Or not, considering Tommy was related to the station owner. Yay for nepotism. She clutched the arms of the old chair harder. “Of course.”

  She hated the warble in her voice. God. She was a trained media professional. She should be able to speak without sounding like a fan meeting one of the Twilight kids. For the record, she had and her voice hadn’t warbled a bit.

  Jake leaned forward. “You were a strong candidate.”

  Instead of consoling her, the assurance made her feel worse. The prickle behind her eyes became a full-fledged ache. No. The chair arms were going to leave lines in her palm. She didn’t care if the hard material sliced right through her skin. She was not going to cry. Not here. Not now. Not in front of him.

  “An extremely strong candidate.” Jake glanced around his desk and came up with a crumpled napkin from Starbucks.

  Ava looked at it, but didn’t take it. She didn’t want to accept anything from him except his heartfelt apology when he realized what a mess he’d made of things. And he would realize it. She’d make sure of it.

  He looked at the napkin when he realized she wasn’t going to take it and then slowly folded it into his palm before sinking back into his chair. “You probably just need some time to take it all in.”

  Anger surged forward, hot and fierce. Some time? As if a good night’s sleep or a pint of ice cream was going to make up for losing out on her dream job? Not likely. But she forced her expression to remain neutral, a trick she’d learned during her years of dealing with spoiled celebrities and their publicists. “I’m fine.” Because turning into a female version of the Incredible Hulk and upending his desk wouldn’t solve her problems. Even if it would feel good. “If there’s nothing else, I should get back to work.”

  Jake balled up the napkin and tossed it in the wastebasket beside his desk. “If you have any further questions, I’ll be happy to discuss them with you.”

  She even managed a cool smile, though it just about killed her. Phhht. As if she’d ever discuss anything with him. “I appreciate that.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He smiled back.

  She felt it like a punch to the gut.

  * * *

  IT WAS ALL JILLY’S FAULT. Ava stormed down the hallway toward her best friend’s office, the heels of her glorious black shoes clacking like bullets. She never should have gone to that stupid anti–Valentine’s Day party Jilly had organized two weeks ago, never should have flirted with Jake Durham while she was there, never should have almost kissed him.

  Thank God she’d come to her senses before anything had happened. Heat rose to her cheeks at the memory. The way his hand had rested on her shoulder when they’d gotten shoved together in the corner of the booth, how his breath had tickled the nape of her neck, the feel of his body as he turned in to her.

  She so needed to get out of here.

  She bypassed the door to her own office without glancing at it. So much for that pretty nameplate she’d been hoping to have made. The one that would read Ava Christensen, Cohost, in gold lettering.

  But when she arrived at Jilly’s office—Jilly insisted everyone at the station call it an office even though as the studio’s makeup artist, her space held no desk and was twice as large as any real office in the building—Ava found the door closed. An unanswered knock confirmed that no one was inside.

  Well, she wasn’t hanging around until Jilly finally turned up, which probably wouldn’t be until noon anyway. This was a time for action. Mostly because Ava was afraid if she waited, she’d lose what little composure she still had and would end up saying something she’d regret. Something like, “Jake Durham is a rat bastard and I can’t wait until his three-month contract is over and we can get a real producer in here.” She didn’t even want to consider what her mother would say about that.

  She stomped back down the hall. Not only would her mother kill her, but there was a strong possibility that at the end of Jake’s contract, Harvey would offer him a long-term permanent placement. And then she’d be stuck forever with a boss she’d called a rat bastard.

  Awesome.

  She stopped at her non–gold nameplated office only long enough to grab her coat, bag and umbrella—it was late February in Vancouver, which meant cool temperatures and a high likelihood of rain—and left the building. Before she’d even made it partway down the block, she had her BlackBerry out
, fingers flying over the tiny keyboard.

  Are you up yet, Jilly? Emergency. Meet me for coffee. Now. FYI: This is a Red Alert.

  Jilly’s response was almost instantaneous.

  Did you get it? Of course you got it. Eeeeee! Did you kiss McHot Stuff when he told you? (You know you want to.)

  No and no. Devastation being held off momentarily. See you at Bucky’s in ten.

  * * *

  “YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.” Jilly’s face held just the right mix of surprise and disgust. She was a true friend. “Tommy? He picked Tommy?” She huffed in indignation. “Well, one thing is clear. McHot Stuff is a McHot Ass.”

  “And he’s no longer McHot Stuff. He is cut off.” Ava sliced a hand through the air. “Plus, he’s not really cute.” Which was totally true. She’d never thought Jake was cute. He was too dark and rugged to be called cute. And dark and rugged was so not her type.

  “Not smart, either,” Jilly said. Her hair, currently dyed a bright red that was probably called Spicy Ginger or Fiery Sunset, flashed as she shook her head. “I don’t understand it. You’re perfect for the job. What has Tommy ever done?”

  “You mean besides be born into the Langtry family?” Ava shrugged and took a sip of her latte. “What else did he need?”

  Starbucks was warm and steamy with the scent of roasted beans in the air. People were scattered around the room, lounging on chaises and chairs, their chatter blending with the sound of the grinder behind the counter. Jilly had managed to nab a pair of squashy leather chairs in the corner, which was normally Ava’s favorite spot, but today she just couldn’t feel grateful.

  She put the latte down since it was only spreading the bitterness around her mouth. Nothing like the comfort she’d imagined it would be in Jake’s office. “You know what really kills me? He didn’t even give me a good explanation. Just said that it was a difficult decision and that they thought Tommy brought a new dynamic to the show. Guess they never clued in to the fact that Danica can’t stand him.”