Page 60 of Breaking the Ice

After hanging up, my mind whirls with all things Zach, until I go to bed a few hours later. I don’t actually expect to fall asleep, but the minute I close my eyes, I’m gone. I don’t even dream, I just pass out into oblivion and sleep through the night until my phone startles me awake.

“Hello?”

“It’s Zach. I’m sorry to call so early.”

Sitting up, I ask, “Do you have news?”

“Tony was able to get Melinda Star from American Wrap.”

“Holy heck, she’s big!”

“She is,” he says. “She wasn’t happy about taking a red eye to Washington from New York last night, but she wants this scoop. She and her camera operator will arrive at your house straight from the airport. She wants you to have Yolanda situated at the cottage by two this afternoon.”

Even though my mind is spinning with potential roadblocks, I tell him, “I can do that. Can you get word to Melinda that I’ll leave a key to my house under the mat? I’m going to have to stalk Yolanda, so she doesn’t show up early and run into them.”

“Will do,” he says before asking, “Are you nervous?”

“Terrified, how about you?”

“I’m just happy to be getting this all settled before the hockey games start. As much as Troy wanted me there to ensure a big press turnout, I’d rather not do so with my head on the chopping block.”

“Totally,” I tell him. “I need to get going. I’ve got a busy day ahead of me.”

“I wish I could be there to help,” Zach says.

“I’ll keep in touch, so you know what’s going on,” I tell him.

“Thanks for everything, Ellie. You’re an amazing woman.”

“I’m looking forward to hearing you say that in person.”

“Fingers crossed that’s tomorrow,” he says in a low, sexy voice before adding, “Good luck.”

As I hang up, I realize we’re going to need luck. Yolanda Simms is a pro and I’m fairly certain no one catches her unaware—until today, hopefully.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Zach

I nervously pace around my house for hours until Mac says, “Dude, go for a run or something. You’re stressing me out.”

“I can’t leave until this thing with Yolanda is settled.”

“When is that going to be? Because if it’s not soon then I’m leaving.”

Looking at my phone, my heart starts to beat like a drum in a heavy metal rock anthem. I read Ellie’s latest text out loud. “Melinda Star is at my house now. Yolanda will arrive in thirty minutes.”

“Thank God,” Mac says.

Picking up the television remote off the coffee table, I turn on the TV. Keeping it on mute, I tell my brother, “Melinda’s segment airs live at three our time.”

“You know this could go spectacularly wrong, don’t you?” he asks.

I glare at him. “Of course I do.” Then I walk out of the room.

Once I’m in my bedroom, I call Ellie. “How’s it going?”

“I’ve been nervous sweating all day,” she says. “But Melinda is nice. Way nicer than Yolanda.”

---