Page 69 of Exclusive

She laughed. “To hear Sherry talk, it almost sounds like itwasdesigned for me. She’d wanted to run with a show like this for a while, and when she heard I’d been freed up, she got the investors on the phone and got the ball rolling immediately. They don’t want to wait. It’ll run locally on the network every Saturday with a replay on Sundays. Lots of on-location shooting, but it’s mostly in-town stuff.”

“You said yes, right? You sent a messenger pigeon and a smoke signal as backup?”

She smiled, serene and in control. “I told her I wanted to think about it. Skyler, it’s a big decision.”

“What’s there to think about? There’s no thinking required. This is dream-come-true material.” I almost screamed that one. Her response did not compute. This offer was golden. They didn’t come any better. “Is it a money issue? Are you holding out to get them to come up?”

“No. What they’re offering is actually quite generous.”

“Call her right now,” I said, laughing.

“Here’s the thing. It sounds fun, but this kind of show is not really what I do. I’m a newswoman. I like the hard-hitting stuff. It’s in my blood.”

“You’re also an expert when it comes to pairing a great glass of wine with any and every dish while on your break from nursing a shrub back to life and picking out a stellar paint color. You’d be the perfect guide for a show like this.”

She tapped her chin. “It would certainly take me down a new path. I just have to figure out if it’s the right one.”

I wanted to leap onto the kitchen counter and explain via impassioned speech that this offer was the answer to everything I’d been afraid of. The perfect fix. It meant she didn’t have to leave San Diego and seek out another market. She’d have a job she enjoyed and get to use her platform for something meaningful and relevant to the viewers who had watched and loved her for years. Instead of giving said speech or, better yet, performing a musical number of all the ways this was great, I instructed myself to exercise patience and let her explore the option on her own. “Well, I’m thrilled for you and hope that you’ll seriously consider it.”

“I will give it some careful thought. I promise.”

“That’s all I’m asking.”

She sighed and stared into my eyes. “You’re so beautiful and smart. How did I get so lucky?”

“Speaking of lucky. How long till I can take these off?” I asked, touching the fabric of her leggings and cupping her ass. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and I watched her nipples harden against the fabric of her shirt. She rocked her hips, and I descended on her lips. “Does that mean we can have couch sex? I’ll show you my boobs,” I said around the kiss. “Say yes.” She nodded and slid onto my lap.

Moments later, we were off.

I’d thank the stars, but I was already seeing them.

* * *

I woke up the next morning to freshly baked biscuits and a gorgeous woman with a spatula plating one for me. There was also homemade jelly, which was probably the most flavorful I’d ever eaten. I gestured to the air around me as I stared down at my plate. “I am spoiled rotten and don’t deserve the outpouring of amazing food. I need to pick up more charity work or something. I’ll call around if you give me a biscuit.”

“Ever been to the Willamette Valley?” she asked.

“No. Is that where I should volunteer to pay the universe?” I asked, my mouth already full.

“Maybe,” Carrie said. “There’s this little town in wine country I want to take you to someday with the best little spot for biscuits. All kinds. There’s a line to the door each morning. I’ve been trying to duplicate them ever since, but haven’t been successful.”

In that moment, my feelings for her swelled. I wanted trips to wine country every bit as much as I wanted everyday life with her. I couldn’t take my eyes off Carrie and couldn’t imagine my morning without her right there in front of me. I knew I had to communicate, let her know. “I’m going to say this, and you can take it for what it’s worth.” She quirked an eyebrow. “I don’t want you to leave for some other city because you’re a newshound. My feelings are a little out of control for you, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. So please, take this lifestyle show job, and stay right here in San Diego, so we can have more nights like last night and more wonderful mornings like this one.”

She blinked at me, jelly knife in midair. Perhaps she hadn’t seen this coming.

I held up a calming hand. “Not to freak you out or anything.”

She lowered the knife. No one spoke until, “Okay.”

I leaned in. “I’m sorry. What did you say, and what does it mean?”

She grinned. “Okay. I’ll take the job. Decided.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

I jumped from my seat, ran around the counter, grabbed her by the waist, and hauled her in. I kissed her neck. Her face. Her shoulders. “Did you just sayokaylike it was no big deal because I will tackle you to the floor and kiss you senseless!” I continued my kissing fest.

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