Page 16 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Courtney made a face. “Just you wait.”

“Well, geez. I can’t wait to read it then.”

She could pull off ironic, too. He sighed and looked away.

She downed the last of her coffee. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” Nick raised an eyebrow.

“So, is—how do I say this?” She paused a second. “Is Kiraalwayslike that?”

Nick lowered his voice, not that anyone was around to hear them. “If you meana bit direct, then yes, she is.” He grinned.

Courtney relaxed a little. “If that’s how you want to put it, then yes, that’s exactly what I mean.” She shot him a look of amusement. “Switzerland.”

Kira was an original. He knew not to step on her toes or get involved in something that was none of his business. But Courtney seemed genuinely concerned.

“Don’t worry. She’s basically harmless. Just needs to get to know you, then she’s awesome. She’ll come around.”

Courtney looked thoughtful. “I hope so. I didn’t know I’d have to fight battles at this level. Hadn’t even considered it—matter of fact.”

Nick leaned in. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something because I don’t want her to scare you off—and because she’s not usually this bad. It’s no secret, anyway.”

“Okay?” Courtney leaned toward him. “I’m all ears.”

“So, the writer you’re replacing was a guy that Kira dated for almost a year. Sam. Good guy. They broke up a few weeks ago when he took a job in Boulder. Some travel resource company. Couldn’t turn it down. He’s from Colorado, so I doubt he’s ever coming back.”

“Oh,” she said slowly.

“Kira took it pretty hard.”

“Well, that makes a lot of sense.” Courtney sat forward again and kicked her heels off the rock. “So she’s been a bit moredirectever since?”

“Much more.”

Sam had worked closely with Kira for over a year. They were a dynamo team—Beecham had been very happy with Sam’s work.

Sam was offered a lot more money at the new job than Beecham could afford to give him. Despite Kira’s emphatic attempts to change his mind, Sam had packed up and left three days ago. Nick was pretty sure the guy had broken Kira’s heart.

Nick figured Kira was taking out her frustrations on the new girl. “Yeah, she just needs a little time. She’ll come around.”

“Okay, well, yeah, that makes me feel a lot better. Thanks for telling me.”

“Probably a good idea not to let on that you know, though.” Nick dumped the last drops of his coffee onto the dirt beside the rock and twisted the cup back on top of the thermos. “Let her tell you herself.”

“Good idea.” Courtney stared out at the lake again.

Nick thought she seemed relieved. “You about ready to go? We should head back.”

“Oh, yeah. Sure.”

They packed up their things and headed for the main trail.

“So, where’re you staying this summer? I figured you’re local, since I saw you at the West End?”

“Right. Yeah, I am. I’m actually staying at a guesthouse not far from town. And it’s pretty cool. There’s a trail you can pick up right out in front that leads all the way to the docks. Runs right along the water. So pretty.”

“No way? Big yellow house? Little cottage to match?” Nick was shocked.

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