Page 24 of Date with a Devil
Really weird, actually,she thought.In fact, I have a hard time believing it.
“You’re telling me,” he said. “So?”
She looked at the photographs. As much as she wanted to hear DeHardt’s story—and she wanted to hear it now more than ever—the possibility that someone important might not want it to air meant that she’d only get in that much more trouble for trying to report on it. Besides, if other journalists were getting their stories squashed, how could DeHardt expecthersto run? She was an employee of the Dallas Devils organization, too!
And the last thing she wanted to do was disobey a direct order from Thayer. Her job was everything she ever wanted, everything she had in life.
She swallowed loudly. “Look. I know you want to talk about what happened that night—”
“Andin the time ever since,” he interrupted.
“—But my boss told me in no uncertain terms that the topic was forbidden.”
“Simply obeying orders, then, huh? Good on you. Good little soldier.” Arrogantly, he patted her on the head.
She swatted his hand away. “Well? What am I supposed to do? Get fired over it? My show isn’t about truth-seeking journalism! It’s about goofy, lighthearted interviews with the players.”
“Whatever, girl. You want goofy and lighthearted, fine. But don’t expect me to read from some damn script. Let’s just get this interview over with already.” He pointed in the opposite direction. “The door’s that-a-way.”
DeHardt walked off, leaving Austen behind.
Whatever, girl.The way DeHardt had said that made Austen feel like the athlete had just mentally downgraded her from somebody with potential to just another nobody. Somebody with no integrity, somebody he could never trust. Even though she loathed DeHardt a few short minutes ago, the thought of letting him down now devastated her. She wanted to call him right back here and ask himeverythingabout Campbell and Hathaway,
… but …
Thayer’s orders were clear.
And they were already behind schedule.
DeHardt had stopped in the doorway and stared at her under the brim of his hat. He had his hands buried in his pockets, jingling his keys—making his pert, round assreallystick out of his form-fitting joggers.
“You coming or not?” he asked, with a brooding in his eyes that only made him even moresinfully attractive.
“Coming,” Austen answered quietly, and hurried to catch up with him.
I hate to let him down, but …
Gah, he’s hot when he’s mad at me.
Chapter 10
Dane
Dane and Austen slid into the backseat of their waiting car, a black SUV rigged with cameras and microphones.
“What’s up, ya scumbags,” Dane said, greeting the two male members of Austen’s crew.
“Scumbags?!” Austen repeated, giggling in her bubbly TV personality voice that was already getting on Dane’s nerves. She touched her small hand to his forearm. “Don’t be mean to them, Dane. They’re good people.”
He removed her hand from his arm and gave her look. If eyes could speak, they’d say,Let’s not do that, since you think I’m such a sleaze.
“It’s just hockey talk,” he told her.
“You mean, like calling someone a pigeon?”
“Nah.” Dane shook his head. “Pigeon’s more of an insult.”
“Butscumbagisn’t an insult?”
