Page 67 of Love on the Byline

“Yeah, he’s holding steady,” she replied. “My parents areselling the house.”

“Oh.”

Blake spied a cargo ship in the distance and watched it sailslowly past.

“Do we have…feelings about the house?”

She almost laughed. “Surprisingly, yes.”

“Why surprisingly?”

She turned to find his eyes on her, clear and bright andcurious.

“Well, I didn’t realize what it meant to me until Mom brokethe news.”

“Isn’t that the way of things?” Ollie asked.

“We never know the true meaning until it’s gone?”

“Exactly.” He nodded. “Or, until it returns.”

She frowned but he only smiled and shoved his hands into thepocket of his shorts.

“Lunch?”

“Sure.”

“How about a picnic on the beach?”

After a short trip to the kitchen for salad fixings andfresh fruit, they were walking back down the steps to an outcropping of rocks.

Ollie set down the tote full of food and took the throwBlake had snagged from the sectional, spreading it out.

“This feels decadent,” she said when he produced two glassesand a bottle of white wine. “And not at all like work.”

“Live a little.” He poured wine for each of them beforeputting the bottle back and pulling out the food.

They ate to a soundtrack of waves and birds, with Olliemaking contented food noises.

“You know, at some point, I’m going to have to actually askBran questions. Real interview questions.

“Are you in a rush?”

“I’m not on a strict deadline, but my editor will expectsomething sooner rather than later.” And she had bigger fish to fry withDiamond Moon.

As if reading her mind, Ollie nodded. “You’re anxious towork on your other, more important story.”

She opened her mouth to say it wasn’t more important butdidn’t want to lie. “Deanna said another one of the students, well, a formerstudent, signed to them.”

His brows dipped. “Shit. Did she say who?”

“His first name was Desmond, but I don’t remember his lastname.”

“Desmond Jiminez?”

“That’s it. You know him?”

He shook his head. “No, he was out before I came in, butI’ve heard some of the kids talk about him. Talented, from what they’ve said.”

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