Read Speaking of Love (Perfect Kisses) for Free Online Page B

surprising.
    They hadn’t spoken since he’d dropped her off at home the night before. After reading a few lines of her first message, he knew she was plenty ticked off about something.
    He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over the back of the desk chair as he continued reading. She was worked up about the article he’d written concerning Lincoln Park in that morning’s paper. He had taken on the story himself and not assigned it to another reporter because he thought the story was interesting and definitely something the community should be aware of.
    After reading her final message, he reached for his cell phone, deciding it would be best to call her so they could actually talk about it. But when he checked his watch, he noticed it was already late. He needed to type up his notes from his last interview and then check in at the paper. Plus, he knew Mac didn’t like to be disturbed after ten o’clock when she had work the next morning. To wake up an already-irritated Mackenzie was not an action he relished. An e-mail would be more appropriate.
    Rick unbuttoned his shirt, walked over to the bedside phone, and called room service. He would need his strength for this. After placing his dinner order, his pulled off his shirt and dropped it on the bed.
    Back at the desk, just as he was about to start typing, his laptop suddenly pinged, made a sucking sound, and then a new window popped up.
    Skype.
    When he saw the user name, he clicked to connect.
    Mac’s face appeared. “Hey,” she said.
    Rick sat forward, adjusting his computer screen. “Hey,” he replied, not quite sure where to look at the camera. “This is unexpected.”
    “You’ve never Skyped before?” Mac asked. “Or you’ve never Skyped naked before?”
    “Huh?” Only then did Rick remember he wasn’t wearing a shirt. He sprang from his seat and found a T-shirt in his suitcase behind him.
    “Oh, only half naked, I see,” Mac’s voice said. “Nice pants.”
    Rick turned around. It was kind of freaky how she could still see him. “Sorry,” he said, pulling on the shirt. “I wasn’t expecting…company.”
    Mac laughed. “I can’t believe you’re the owner of a newspaper and you don’t video chat.”
    “It’s been a while,” Rick said, settling back into his chair. He was relieved that Mac appeared to have calmed down since the last e-mail she’d sent. “So…I got some messages from you.”
    Video Mac ran a hand through her hair. “I’m upset, Rick.”
    This had been obvious. Rick decided to go on the offense, break the tension with humor; that had worked before.
    “I caught as much,” he said. “Why is a classy girl like you using so many four-letter words?”
    “Shhhut up…” she hissed, as she held her hand in front of her face and pinched her index finger and thumb together, as if crushing Rick’s head on her screen. “I’ll give you one more four-letter word if you don’t listen.”
    Okay, so maybe now wasn’t the best time for jokes.
    “You’re upset over my article about Lincoln Park,” Rick tried again.
    “I’m pissed about the whole thing.”
    “Tell me what I can do,” Rick said, wishing he could step through his computer screen and offer her comfort in person.
    “Did you know about the developers?” Mac asked, her voice calmer now. “I mean, before you decided to write the article?”
    “Well.” He sat back, adjusting the screen so Mac’s face was brighter. “There’s always talk about new projects and proposals in the works. Because of my position, I hear a lot of things, but—”
    “So you did know.”
    Rick could see the notch forming between Mac’s blue eyes. “No,” he said, speaking calmly. “I didn’t know anything about it until it came to the floor at the last city council meeting.”
    “But you know who the developer is, right? That wasn’t in your story, but you know.”
    Rick reached for the bottle of water on the nightstand. “No,” he said, unscrewing the cap. “I