Page 55 of Savannah Sweethearts

Budget meetings were a necessary evil. Nobody liked them, but everybody went. And emails were just too slow or easy to miss, so in person they were, every day. Stories on politics, a shooting, an unfortunate drowning. Sadly, things that made the news had become mundane for me. I hadn’t been surprised by a murder in years.

“Piper, what are you working on?”

My attention turned back to Piper who sat beside me. She straightened and tucked her hair behind her ear. It was adorable the way she did that every time before she began to talk. Why was I noticing this? I was supposed to be a life-long bachelor, why was I thinking I could fall in love with her?

“Yesterday we spoke with a woman who is a professional bridesmaid. We should have it ready for tonight.” She turned toward me with a raised eyebrow.

Right, we’re at work. Nodding, I confirmed. “Yes, I should have it ready within an hour of sitting down.”

Mr. Andrews jotted it down on his legal pad. “Great. I also want you to run out to the Soup Kitchen. A local Girl Scout troop is volunteering there. Quick feel-good piece.”

We nodded in unison and the agenda moved on.

As we left the meeting, Piper fell in step beside me. “If you want to finish that bridesmaid package, I’ll call the soup kitchen and the Girl Scout person and arrange to go out there.” She waved a paper with a phone number on it.

“Perfect. Give me about an hour.” My mind was already on the next step of editing as I stepped away from Piper and toward my edit bay.

Maria stopped me before I got too far. “AO, would you do me a favor?”

My mind on my footage, I bounced from one foot to the other. “Um, sure?”

“Can you put together a package for me so I can apply for the anchor position? And would you recommend me?” She batted her eyelashes and adjusted her shirt so her cleavage was well in view.

I had worked with Maria for two years but didn’t know her well. Of course, I had noticed her flirting in recent months but I hadn’t thought much of it. “I’m a little busy, Maria. Can’t Rex do it for you?”

“You’re way better than Rex.” She pressed against me ever so slightly. “Please?”

It was easier to just go along with it for now. With a sigh, I held my hands up in surrender. “Do you have the footage you want? I can take a look. But probably not today.”

She squealed. “Oh, thank you, AO. You’re the best. I’ll bring it by your desk later.” With that, she scurried away on impossibly high heels.

Within an hour, I had a visually appealing, if not a little boring, package for Piper on the bridesmaid. I texted her that it was ready for her voice over and seconds later she appeared in my doorway.

“Give me ten minutes and I’ll knock this out and we can leave for the soup kitchen.” She plopped down in Rex’s chair and pulled a set of headphones in front of her.

“Perfect. Hey, Maria wants me to edit a package for her to apply for anchor.” I cued up the video as I told her what Maria said. I wondered if she thought Maria would be good as anchor.

“Well, I would agree that you’re a better editor than Rex, but isn’t that a little underhanded?” Piper fiddled with the headphone wire as she looked at me, her dark eyes searching my own.

“It kind of feels that way, yeah. And she wants a recommendation.” I sat back in my chair and put my hands behind my head.

Piper stiffened. “You’re not going to give her one are you?”

“I don’t know her that well and we haven’t worked together much at all. You don’t think I should give her one?”

“I mean, you’re going to give me a recommendation, aren’t you? I realize I’m newer here, but I’ve been doing this longer than Maria has.” Piper blinked several times as she spoke and a stray piece of glitter sparkled with the movement.

Sitting up, warmth crept through my body. Did Piper want the job? Then she wouldn’t be with me every day. The thought didn’t sit well with me. I liked working with Piper. We had good chemistry and I realized the potential for more chemistry. Perhaps if we weren’t working side by side every day, it would make it easier for us to go out socially. Or give me room to breathe so I could get over this crush and stop fantasizing about what her lips taste like.

“I don’t know, Piper.” It was a non-committal answer and a cop-out, but it was the truth. “Record your V. O. and I’ll be back in a few minutes.” With that, I stood and left the room.

We got in the car to head to the local soup kitchen and Piper’s door slam did not escape my notice. She crossed her arms as she sat back and huffed.

“What put you in a mood?”

She turned to me and glared. “You did. You don’t think I deserve to be an anchor?” Anger showed plainly on her face, but I could see the hurt behind it. Her eyes were glossy and her lower lip poked out.

“I didn’t say that, Piper.” I pulled out onto the main road, glad to not have to look her in the eye.

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