Page 15 of Rumors in Bayberry (The Bayberry, Vermont #3)

Chapter Eleven

T hat hadn’t gone well.

Not at all.

Later that morning, Reed had finished an initial talk with the newspaper’s employees. It was hard to focus. He needed a break. He needed to speak to Sadie.

This morning their encounter hadn’t been any better. Instead of the shocked look on her face, her eyes were filled with anger. He wasn’t certain who she was angrier with: him or her father.

Reed couldn’t let things stay like this between them.

Even if she didn’t want to be friends with him any longer, they had business to discuss.

He needed to know if there was a way he could persuade her to stay on at the paper.

They needed her perspective and her engaging voice.

Her articles would be just what they needed at the Rumor Quill .

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 the Rumor Quill if 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.”

Then she turned and entered the coffeeshop. He could definitely use a good cup of coffee.

He’d need his energy, especially if she kept trying to walk away from him.

When he stepped inside, Sadie was already at the counter, placing her order. Before she could pay, he stepped up beside her. “I’ll take care of her coffee, and could I have one too?”

Abby sent him a hesitant smile. “Uh, sure. The same?”

He had no idea what Sadie had ordered. He could only hope it wasn’t some sickly-sweet concoction. “Sounds good.”

Sadie looked directly at him. “You don’t even know what I ordered.”

He shrugged. “It’ll be a surprise.”

She crossed her arms as she continued to frown at him. “Do you intend to follow me all around Bayberry?”

“I don’t know. Maybe just until you hear me out.”

“I’ve already heard enough from you.”

“Hey, you two!” a female voice called out from behind them.

When they both turned, he saw two of Sadie’s friends smiling at them. They waved her over to the table. Immediately, Sadie groaned.

She looked at him. “This is your fault.”

“My fault?” He was willing to take responsibility when he’d messed up, but that wasn’t the case in this instance. “How do you get that?”

“You just had to follow me here. Now, leave me alone.” As though she’d just bid him a good morning, she pasted a smile on her face and strode over toward her friends.

Well, so much for his plan to wear her down and then win her over. He turned back to the counter and looked to see if his coffee was ready. It wasn’t. And Abby had disappeared into the back.

“Hey!” the same female voice called out. When he turned around, he saw Kate. She tucked her shoulder-length brown hair behind her ear. “Yeah, you. Come here.”

His gaze moved to Sadie. She gave her head a quick shake.

Sadie’s other friend Carrie said, “Oh, come on. We don’t bite. I promise.”

He wasn’t so sure about that. Although, it was Sadie’s bite he was more concerned about. Still, he didn’t let that stop him.

Reed walked over to the table where two of the three women were smiling at him. Sadie didn’t even bother to look in his direction. Instead, she pulled out her phone and pretended to check her messages, but he knew she was listening to everything being said.

“How are you liking Bayberry so far?” Kate asked.

Not exactly what he was expecting, but he could work with it. “I think it’s great here. Sadie has been a great tour guide.”

Sadie uttered a groan as she rolled her eyes.

“How long are you planning to stay?” Carrie asked.

His gaze returned to Sadie. This time she lifted her gaze to meet his. At last, he had her full attention. He subdued a smile. “I’m not exactly sure. I guess it all depends…”

“Well, now I have to ask,” Kate said, “what does it depend on?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that one.” Abby approached them with his coffee in hand.

After he took the coffee from Abby, he said, “It depends on Sadie.”

There was a collective “Oh.”

All heads turned in Sadie’s direction.

She looked back at her friends with a neutral expression. “What are you looking at me for?”

Abby spoke up first. “You’re going to keep him around, aren’t you?”

“I don’t have time for this.” Looking flustered, Sadie got to her feet. “I have an interview to do.” With her coffee in hand, she headed for the door.

Reed turned to Sadie’s friends. “Sorry, ladies. I have to go.”

The three women called out words of encouragement to him. He appreciated it. He was going to need all of the luck he could get because Sadie was determined to stay angry with him.

He could be equally determined when it was something important to him. And Sadie was important to him.

He took long, quick strides out the door of the coffeehouse. He quickly spotted Sadie heading in the direction of the newspaper. He had to practically jog to catch up to her.

“Hey,” he said. “What interview are you going to do?”