Page 31 of Rumors in Bayberry
He’d looked her up and read some of her other work.It was thought-provoking and in some cases heart-wrenching.She had a way with words.It was no wonder her work had won awards.
Sadie was gifted.She might even be the best journalist he’d ever read.But he didn’t know if she would be able to get past her anger at him in order to hear the offer he was willing to make her.He had to handle this very carefully.
He thought of going to see if she was working at the hay bale maze, but he didn’t want to go empty-handed.Then he got an idea.He’d go to the Steaming Brew and pick up a coffee for her.It was a small peace offering, but maybe it would be a beginning.He hoped.
After ducking into Samuel’s office to let him know that he’d completed a preliminary talk with each of the staff, he handed Samuel a detailed list of reports he’d need next and, once Samuel had those pulled, he’d be back.He picked up his leather bag and slung the strap over his shoulder before he headed for the exit.
He was going to have to let his partner know he was going to be in Bayberry longer than he’d originally planned.It wasn’t the first time he’d been delayed.That was why his schedule was normally flexible with time between his visits to the various small town papers.
Only this time, he truly wasn’t in a rush to wrap up his business in Bayberry.It was why he didn’t ask Samuel to have the numbers ready for him until tomorrow morning.He had other things on his mind today.
He told himself his pursuit of Sadie was business-related.It had nothing to do with the amazing weekend he’d spent with her or the kiss that had totally blown his mind.
On his way out of the newspaper office, he recalled the glare she’d leveled him with that morning.Perhaps he’d get her a muffin too.
As though it was meant to be, when he stepped outside, he caught sight of Sadie.She’d just exited a door a mere ten feet from him.So much for getting her a coffee to help smooth things over.He was going to have to wing it and hope she would hear him out.
“Sadie, wait up.”He picked up his pace.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then she continued in the opposite direction.If he hadn’t been watching her, he would have thought she hadn’t heard him.He didn’t bother to call out to her again; instead, he quickened his long strides.
He noticed she was wearing a white sweater with faded blue jeans.Her brunette hair was pulled back in her usual ponytail.In fact, he hadn’t seen her hair down yet.Maybe someday…if he was lucky.
Once he was by her side, he said, “Good morning, again.”
She didn’t say anything nor did she slow down.
“It’s okay,” he said.“I can do the talking for the both of us.”
She kept walking, as though he hadn’t said a word.This was going to take more work to repair than he’d originally thought.It was a good thing he had the rest of the day.In fact, he had the rest of the week if that was what it took.This was that important to him.
It was time to start at the beginning.He reached out to her, gingerly touching her arm.“Please stop.I need to say this to you, and I’d like to look at you when I say it.”
She stopped, and his hand fell away.Her gaze narrowed on him.“We have nothing left to say to each other.The person you need to speak to is my father.Now I have things to do.”
When she turned and continued walking, he did the same.If she thought he was giving up that easily, she didn’t know him.He wouldn’t have theRumor Quillif he wasn’t tenacious.The problem was that he didn’t know Sadie well enough to know how to get through to her.But he would figure it out.
“Boy, it’s cold today.”He rubbed his upper arms as he sent her a side-eye glance.“It’s downright frosty.”He wasn’t talking about the weather but rather the company.“I might have to get a winter coat if I keep hanging out with you.I wouldn’t be surprised if a snow cloud formed over your head and dumped a foot of snow on you.”
She didn’t take the opening.She didn’t smile.She didn’t so much as glance his way.Instead, she kept on walking.
So…he tried again.“So, where are you headed?”
“Do you really think I’m going to tell you?”She kept her head held high as she continued to walk.
He glanced around, trying to figure out what direction she was headed.“Well, you’re going in the wrong direction for the festival, and it’s a little early for the maze to open.”He gave it some more thought.“Perhaps you’re headed to the café.That’s it.You’re going to have a late breakfast.No.You’re having brunch.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you can be annoying?”
“Maybe so but I got you to speak to me.”He grinned at her.“See you still like me.”
She dramatically rolled her eyes.“If you think that means I like you, you have very low standards.”
He continued to smile.The more he got her to speak to him, the more her frosty exterior melted.
“Perhaps I do,” he said.“Don’t disillusion me.I’d much rather think that you like me.”
She came to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk.The people behind them almost ran into them.Once the other people veered around them, she said, “I don’t like you.I don’t trust you.And I don’t want to see you again.”
