Page 24 of Rumors in Bayberry
Being back in Bayberry was healing those wounds, but she would always have the scars.The question she had to answer was whether she was prepared to go back to worrying if her location was going to be bombed or if they would be captured along with the people that they were trying to interview.
She didn’t have to decide that night.She pushed the troubling thoughts to the back of her mind.There would be time to deal with them later.
“Are you okay?”His deep voice drew her from her thoughts.
She nodded.“Yes.I’m fine.”
“Just checking because you got quiet.Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t boring you.”
“Not at all.”She glanced around.“There’s my parents.”She pointed them out.“Come on.I’ll introduce you.”
Her fingers were still laced with his.When she started toward her family, he didn’t follow.
She stopped and turned to him.“I promise they’re really nice.”
He shook his head.“It’s not that.”
She retraced her steps until she was once again standing next to him.“Then what is it?Do you think I’m moving things too fast?It was only a kiss.”
It was more than a kiss.It was her heart trying to pound its way out of her chest.It was the way she felt at home in his arms.It was so many little things that convinced her they fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, but it was far too soon to say anything like that out loud.
But she couldn’t let him see what she was feeling, because it would scare him off for good.He was already spooked that she’d wanted to introduce him to her parents.
She glanced over her shoulder.It didn’t appear that her parents had spotted them.If they didn’t move, it wouldn’t be long until her parents made their way over to them.
“Let’s go this way.”This time she walked in the opposite direction of her parents, and he fell in step with her.
When they were away from the festival, she stopped and turned to him.“I’m sorry about that.I didn’t mean to freak you out about meeting my parents.I didn’t mean it like you took it.”
He shook his head.“It’s not you.It’s me.”
“You don’t have to blame yourself for anything.I just got caught up in the moment.I’m sorry.”
His gaze met hers.“Please, don’t apologize.”
“But it’s only right.Here you are having fun with me, and I’m trying to make it uncomfortable by introducing you to my folks.”
“And there wouldn’t be anything wrong with that, except that…”
Her ears perked up.“Except what?”Her mind jumped to an awful conclusion.“Are you married?”When he shook his head, she asked, “You have a fiancée?Or a girlfriend?”He shook his head again.“Then what?Tell me.”
He drew in a deep breath and blew it out.His gaze was downcast.He really had her worried.What was going on?
“Reed, just tell me what’s going on.You’re really worrying me.You aren’t wanted for murder or anything, are you?”
His gaze lifted to meet hers, and there was a hint of a smile playing across his lips.“No.It’s nothing like that.”
She crossed her arms.“Talk to me.Tell me what’s going on.”
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.“I’m here in Bayberry on business.”
Her gaze narrowed.“With the candle company?Because I know they’ve been working very hard to expand the business.”
He shook his head.“I’m not here to work with the candle place.I’m here to figure out if my company should buy theBayberry Gazette.”
Her mouth gaped as she stumbled back.Surely, she hadn’t heard him correctly.She pressed her lips together into a firm line.It was the guilty look in his eyes that confirmed she’d heard him correctly.Her father was actively trying to sell the paper and Reed was there to buy a big piece of her past.
She didn’t know what bothered her more: that he wanted to buy her family’s paper or that he’d been cozying up to her without revealing that he was planning to buy her family’s paper.She felt blindsided and lied to.
