Prologue #2
Seb wouldn’t call it important work—not really.
After The Arkansas Gazette merged with The Arkansas Democrat and formed one paper with a rather uninspired yet self-explanatory moniker, Seb had moved from hard reporting to writing slice-of-life features for Seb’s View .
He didn’t think his column would be missed all that much if it were to disappear tomorrow.
His new editor sure wouldn’t mind if it was gone.
Frank had little respect for what he called “boring” little columns.
“Readers want excitement,” he’d said more than once.
“They like stories with conflict, not fluff.”
He didn’t share Frank’s opinion, and he had enough reader mail to prove his column was popular.
But how long would that last? He’d been in the newspaper business since he was twelve, working for Buford in Clementine, his hometown.
The business had changed a lot since then, and the changes seemed to come at a faster clip the closer they approached the twenty-first century. “Why me?” he asked.
“You were the best carrier I had, and then you turned into the best reporter I’d seen in years, even at sixteen.”
Seb grinned. He hadn’t thought about those days in a long time. “I was just the local sports reporter. Not a big deal.”
“There you go, selling yourself short again. Let me guess—all those awards you’ve won are in a box, right?”
He didn’t have that many awards, but Buford was correct. “Just like yours are in the cleaning supply closet on the bottom shelf. They should have twenty feet of dust on them by now.”
Buford chuckled. “Touché. I’ll cut to the chase. You have the writing talent and reporter instincts. You’ve been around a newsroom for most of your life. You’re the future of The Times , Sebastian. No doubt about it.”
Seb was glad Buford couldn’t see him blushing over the compliments. It meant the world that his mentor thought so highly of him. Yet there was one hang-up they both had to face. “I’m not a businessman.”
“Exactly why I want you to continue my legacy. I don’t need a bean counter who will put the bottom line before journalistic excellence and integrity. The people of Clementine deserve better.”
Clementine, a tiny town nestled in the Arkansas Ozark Mountains, had exactly one general store, one gas station, one motel, a Southern-fried diner that was always packed with hungry patrons, and zero traffic lights.
Not exactly the big time. But the paper’s total circulation was larger than Clementine’s population and included several smaller towns in the area.
It was also Seb’s hometown, and he hadn’t been there since.
.. huh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made the two-and-a-half-hour drive to visit.
Here his mentor was offering him the family business, and Seb had been too busy to see him, although they did keep in touch over the phone every once in a while.
“Sebastian, I’m prepared to offer you The Clementine Times for the princely sum of... one dollar.”
For the second time since answering Buford’s call, Seb’s jaw hit the floor. “Now I know that’s a joke.”
“I’m serious, son.”
And Seb didn’t really doubt him. The man wasn’t only his mentor, he’d been a second father to him after his own dad ran off with the Clementine High School secretary and never looked back, leaving Seb, his mother, and his younger sister, Evelyn Margot, to fend for themselves.
They made it through some tough times, and Evelyn was still finding her way.
Seb probably would be too, if it weren’t for Buford.
Still blindsided by the offer, Seb said, “It’s very generous, but I don’t know. It’s a big decision. Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not in any hurry to retire, and there will be a training period before I turn the reins over to you.”
“You sound pretty sure I’m going to accept.”
“I’m cautiously optimistic. Just let me know when you’re ready to talk.”
“I will. Regardless of my decision, I appreciate the offer.” A lump formed in his throat. “I’ll be in touch.”
They said their goodbyes and Seb hung up the phone.
He leaned back in his chair, still dumbstruck.
He’d never aspired to be anything more than a reporter, and now a columnist. There was the pipe dream of being a novelist too.
But at the rate he was writing his first book, he’d be near retirement age, if he could even get it published.
But owning and running a newspaper? That wasn’t on his radar, and he wasn’t sure it should be. He also had more than a lack of business sense that made him hesitant. And there was something else—or rather someone else. Jade.
Simply thinking about her made him happy.
For the first time in six years, since his last disastrous relationship in college, he was considering his personal future again.
He and Jade had been casually dating for the past four months, emphasis on casual.
But he wanted more. And if things worked out between them, he’d have to take her into consideration when thinking about Buford’s offer.
He glanced at his watch. In a few minutes, he would meet her downstairs at her office in the accounting department, and they would go to the Sports Page for hamburgers and fries, their usual Wednesday lunch.
Seb got up from his chair and shoved Buford’s offer out of his mind. Good thing Buford had given Seb plenty of time to think about it. He didn’t like being rushed. Never had.
He was about to head out when he saw a female figure behind the frosty glass window of his door, which used to enter an empty closet that his former editor had agreed to let him change into a tiny but usable office.
Seb grinned, his pulse quickening as she knocked.
“Hey,” he said as he opened the door with a smile, resisting the urge to take her hand even though they agreed no PDA at work.
It wasn’t a secret that they were dating, but they didn’t draw attention to it either.
“I was just heading downstairs to get you.”
She nodded, her gaze focused on her black pumps. “Can we talk first?”
His smile tempered. “Sure. Come on in.” He stepped back as she closed the door behind her and clutched her hands together. That wasn’t a good sign. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” She pressed her lips together. “Not exactly.”
He didn’t believe her. He was also more than a little distracted by how pretty she was in her brown pants and crisp white shirt.
He’d always had a thing for redheads, and her pixie-cut auburn hair framed a flawless face with round malachite eyes and long russet eyelashes.
Irresistible. When his eyes dipped to her rose-colored lips, he fought not to linger.
They’d kissed a few times, and if he had his way, he’d kiss her a lot more.
She’d made it clear in the beginning that she wanted to take their relationship slow, and he respected that.
Hopefully he could speed things up soon, though. Very soon.
As she lifted her gaze to meet his, she said, “I, uh, have some news.”
“Well, you’re in the right place then. News is our bread and butter.” He chuckled, but her expression remained unreadable. “What’s going on?”
She moved toward his desk, her heels tapping on the wood floor.
He half expected her to comment on how disorganized it was, and she’d have a right to.
Twice she’d helped him get his office in order, and both times he vowed to keep it that way, only to immediately revert back to his habit of setting things down and dealing with them later.
But when she faced him again, she remained silent.
“Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
A quick nod. Then, “You know that new website? Thompson Recruiters?”
“Never heard of it.” He didn’t use a computer at the office, although Frank had given him one.
Forced it on him actually. He’d never been on the internet and didn’t plan to.
He figured it was just a flash in the pan anyway.
No one in their right mind would give up a tangible newspaper or printed book to read a screen all the time.
“It’s a place to post your resumé and find jobs,” she said. “I made a profile last week.”
“You did? Why?”
“I’ve been looking for another job.”
Whoa. She hadn’t given any indication that she was wanting to work somewhere else.
Her hands were wringing now, and she shoved them behind her back. “I got an offer for an analyst position. I start next week.”
“Oh.” Well, that stunk. He wouldn’t be able to see her every day.
But if she was happy, he was happy for her.
He put his arms around her, fully intending to give her a hug.
“Congratulations,” he murmured into her hair.
She smelled so nice. Jade wasn’t one to wear perfume or more than minimal makeup.
He found her simplicity enticing, and before he could stop himself, he was kissing her.
To his shock and pleasure, she melted against him, returning his kiss with more fervor than she ever had before, and he was happy to match her. Bliss, pure bliss.
Suddenly she jerked away, slipping out of his arms and turning. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, so low he almost didn’t hear her.
He scrubbed his hand over his face. Even though his office was well out of the way of everyone else on the floor, he’d blown it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. But I love you—”
“What?” She whirled around, stunned.
He froze, shocked he’d said the words when he hadn’t even thought them before.
No, that wasn’t true. He had, but only once or twice.
.. maybe a little more lately. But now that they were out there, he couldn’t take them back.
He didn’t want to. After having his heart trampled in the past by someone he thought he loved, he realized what he felt for this beautiful woman was the real thing.
She was smart, determined, caring. Sure, she could be a little uptight, a little overly focused on her work.
But he liked the passion and fire he saw inside her. No, he loved it.
“I love you, Jade.” He smiled, the phrase sounding more natural. More right.
She didn’t move or respond. She stared at him, her mouth slightly parted and more than slightly red from their fierce kissing. As the seconds ticked by and she remained mute, his stomach turned into a sour mess.
Seb tried to brush it off. “You don’t have to say it back.
” So awkward. “How about we just forget it and go to lunch? I’m starving.
” The last thing he wanted was food, but he had to leave his stifling office and get some air, because it was becoming clear that he had messed up. Big-time. He started to open the door.
“The job is in Atlanta.”
The door latched shut and he turned around. “Georgia?”
“Yes.”
Now it was his turn to remain silent as reality set in. She wasn’t just leaving The Democrat-Gazette . She was leaving Arkansas. Leaving me.
“I’m sorry, Sebastian.”
To her credit, she sounded genuine. That didn’t make him feel any better. “I didn’t realize you were so unhappy here.”
“It’s not that. I... need a fresh start. This is a good opportunity— one I couldn’t pass up.”
With every word, she deflated him. “What about us?”
Jade’s hands stilled and she looked him straight in the eye. “We weren’t that serious.”
After his declaration of love, she didn’t think they were serious? After kissing him like she couldn’t get enough of him? Like she’d been telling him... goodbye.
“It’s for the best,” she continued, her earlier hesitation gone. “We’re different people, we have different goals. It wouldn’t have lasted.”
“I just told you I love you.” He shook his head, trying to make sense of what was happening. “Doesn’t that mean something?”
A pause. Her bottom lip quivered. Then stilled. “No, Sebastian. It doesn’t.” She brushed past him and walked out the door.
He could hear her clicking heels down the hall, percussing in his spinning head. It can’t be over. Go after her. Tell her again that you love her. Don’t let her go.
But his feet wouldn’t move. He’d done that before, chased after Karen, who in the end didn’t want him either. They dated for three years in college, and he’d been so sure she was the one for him. Just like he’d been sure about Jade.
Seb plopped down on his chair and leaned his elbows on the desk, his head drooping.
He was the guy who didn’t like to be hurried or rushed, and then he prematurely and inexplicably voiced his love to Jade.
While he blamed Karen for breaking his heart, in hindsight she wasn’t the only one at fault.
When he finally came around to wanting to marry her, she had moved on to someone else.
Now Jade was moving on too. He was a loser either way.
He could try talking to her again. Convince her to stay.
But what would be the point? If she wanted to be with him, she wouldn’t take a job hundreds of miles away.
She didn’t even ask him to go with her. He was truly confused by that, since he thought—felt— they’d been growing closer during their short relationship, even before that amazing kiss.
“Your girl picker’s broken.” Evelyn Margot’s words entered his brain.
She’d said that after Karen had dumped him, and considering his high school girlfriend had kicked him to the curb before graduation, his little sister might be right.
He’d also been completely wrong about Jade.
His own emotions too. Minutes ago, he’d been so sure he was in love with her. Now he never wanted to see her again.
His logical brain kicked into gear, instantly hardening his feelings.
Fine. In fact, better than fine. She had done him a favor by ending things before they got too deep.
He was the idiot who had read more into their casual relationship.
He wasn’t going to spend years moping over her like he had Karen. Jade Smith wasn’t worth it.