Page 12 of Rumors in Bayberry (The Bayberry, Vermont #3)

Chapter Eight

S adie couldn’t believe she’d met a possible Mr. Right at exactly the wrong time. Reed was leaving the next day, and she would soon be heading out to track down her next byline.

She supposed the silver lining was that she would have these wonderful memories to keep her company when she was behind enemy lines or in bomb-ravaged territory where around each corner was a new horror.

But in her opinion, those were the most important stories to tell the rest of the world.

Those victims needed their voices to be heard, and that was what she did—what she attempted to do to the best of her ability.

Her reputation as a talented journalist had grown over time.

For the past five years, she’d been getting the big stories.

In some ways, she felt as though she were just getting started.

But being with Reed was making her think that in her effort to get the truth out into the world—the next heart-tugging tale of bravery and sacrifice—that she had been neglecting her private life.

She had a secret that she hadn’t told anyone. She was burnt out. Those stories had taken a personal toll on her. Seeing and witnessing such devastation left their marks on her. It was impossible for it not to if you had a heart.

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 the Bayberry 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.

Why did she think he was someone special?

He was no different than the other men who had crossed her life.

He wanted something from her. It was something she didn’t have the right to give—nor did her father.

The newspaper had been in their family for generations.

In fact, her great-great-grandfather started the Gazette .

It wasn’t something her or her father should sell.

They were just the caretakers. It was intended to be there for future generations.

Of course, that would mean her settling down and having a family—something she hadn’t had time for, but it wasn’t too late.

It was on her list of things to do in life.

Anger pumped through her veins as she looked at Reed. “Well, the joke is on you. I don’t have any say in the newspaper. It’s my father you’ll have to deal with.”

Not about to let him see how much his deception had hurt her, she leveled her shoulders, turned, and strode away. How had such a beautiful evening ended so horribly?

“Sadie, wait.” When she didn’t stop, he called out, “Sadie, I’m sorry.”

She kept going. She didn’t slow down. She knew if she were to look at him, he would see that she’d let herself fall for him. She was such a fool.

Her pace was brisk as she made her way back to her two-bedroom apartment. It was above the newspaper office. It was where she stayed when she was in town.

As soon as she opened the door, a big black cat ran up to her.

Binx was a stray cat. A few months ago, she’d stumbled across him not far from her apartment.

Back then, he’d been little and skinny as could be.

She couldn’t just leave him there, so she took him home.

She got him some kitty kibble and water.

After posting flyers around town about a “Found Cat” and no responses, she took him to the vet.

She found out that they couldn’t take him, but thankfully, Binx was quite healthy.

So, she took him home with her. Each day, she told herself that the next day she’d take him to the closest animal shelter.

The next day always came and went with one excuse or another of why she hadn’t taken him.

It didn’t take long for Binx to grow into a beautiful black cat with a mighty purr. He was loving and gentle. But she wasn’t keeping him. This was all just temporary. Because her life was on the go. There was no room in her life for romance or pets.

But none of that mattered at the moment. In that moment, Binx was her little guy. She could count on him not to hurt her and not to lie by omission.

“Oh, Binx.” She scooped him up in her arms.

As Binx purred, she buried her head in his downy soft fur. And though she didn’t want to cry—though she hated losing control of her emotions—the tears that had been burning the back of her eyes spilled forth.

How could I have been such a fool? She was trained to follow the facts—to check out her sources. Yet, she’d just taken Reed at face value. And she’d fallen for him.