Read A Reason to Stay for Free Online Page B

in the hallway. “You must have loved him.”
    â€œYes, I did.” Geary tossed the used paper plates in the trash. “He was a very special man.”
    She scrambled to help clear the table.
    He held up his palm, seeming to ignore the fact she’d struck out three times on the impression meter. “Nah, leave it for later. Let’s get y’all back to that tournament.”
    He delivered them across the lake and to the main dock in record time, bypassing the masses of crowds that had now gathered and packed all the roadways and parking lots.
    Geary then offered to make introductions to several of the tournament officials standing in the holding area by the stage, which gave her ample opportunity to secure exclusive interview footage.
    â€œWhy are you being so nice to me?” she asked when she’d finished. She unclipped her lavalier mike. “Especially after—uh, this morning.”
    â€œBecause I’m hoping you’ll stay for the fireworks show tonight.”
    Those gorgeous eyes seemed to twinkle, and one thing became immediately clear. After he’d been so charming, she couldn’t possibly say no.

5
    T he low hum of medical equipment and muted voices pierced Faith’s consciousness, pulling her back from inside her head. She tried to think, to clarify the sounds floating around her.
    Her mouth, her throat—so parched the skin inside seemed to stick together. She needed a drink of water.
    Through the tiniest slits, she realized the room was dark. She struggled to lift her weighted eyelids a bit more, but the effort was too much.
    It hurt to breathe. She hurt all over.
    Where was she?
    Her mind tried to think. Tried to remember.
    â€œDon’t worry, honey. You’re all right.”
    She attempted to turn toward the voice, but her head felt like a block of cement. Her vision blurred and she felt confused. She opened her mouth—her dry mouth—to speak. But no sound came out.
    â€œHere, baby, this will help.” A stranger—a woman—leaned over the bed. “Just sleep now. Everything’s all right.”
    Immediately, every muscle relaxed. Her eyes closed, and she let the gentle voice soothe her mind.
    Slowly, she slid back into total darkness.

    Faith knew her heart was headed for trouble.
    In a totally uncharacteristic move, she skipped racing back to the station after the final shoot. Instead she parked herself inside the news van and worked with Chuck to edit the package, electronically filing it with their producer in time for the ten o’clock broadcast.
    â€œWell, as they say, that’s a wrap.” Chuck slipped his monitor closed and slid his computer into a black leather backpack. “You used great storytelling in that block.”
    The compliment made her beam. He could be throwing her a bone after the lake incident, but not likely. In her short time at the station, she’d learned Chuck was one of their best cameramen and didn’t have much to prove, a guy who didn’t frost any cupcakes.
    â€œThanks, Chuck. Your edits made me look better than I had a right to today,” she conceded. “I appreciate it.”
    He winked. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
    Chuck tossed her a set of keys, then migrated in the direction of the media tent to take advantage of free food and drink with a girl he’d met earlier that afternoon.
    Faith hung back to change clothes in the back of the van. Every instruction manual she’d studied clearly stated that a good reporter always carried multiple outfits, extra batteries, and a flexible attitude.
    Geary showed up just as she was locking up the van.
    â€œHey,” he said as he approached.
    She adjusted her belt. “Do you think the van will be secure here? I mean, there’s a lot of expensive equipment inside.”
    Geary pulled his phone from his back jeans pocket. “Don’t worry. Got this covered.”
    She watched him dial.