Chasing the Story by Shira Anthony

Author:Shira Anthony [Anthony, Shira]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64405-723-0
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2020-02-19T16:00:00+00:00

BRAND’S BRIGHT smile greeted Zach as he walked over to the table at the back of the bar that night. “Zach, meet Kendra. Kendra Marks, Zach Caldwell. Kendra’s my director.”

“Good to meet you, Kendra.” Zach shook her hand. “I’ve been following Brand’s series on post-Florence cleanup. Excellent work, both of you.”

Her eyes grew wide and she grinned. “I… that means a lot coming from you. Thank you.”

Brand blushed. Zach made a mental note to be more forthcoming with his praise. Brand was talented, and he needed to hear it.

“And you know Jesse,” Brand said.

“Nice to see you again, Zach.” Jesse shook Zach’s hand. “How’s the shoulder?”

“Doing fine.” Zach sat next to Brand. “Sorry I’m running late.”

“No worries. Jesse only got here a few minutes before you,” Kendra said.

“We had a report of suspicious activity over at the port,” Jesse put in. “I was the closest to respond.”

“Anything come of it?” Brand asked just as Zach was about to do the same.

“I keep forgetting who I’m talking to.” Jesse chuckled and shook his head. “False alarm. Move along, folks.”

Kendra snorted. “Can’t fault the guy for trying.”

Brand waved down the waiter, and they ordered a round of drinks and appetizers. Zach, whose anxiety level had been at red alert from the moment he walked into the bar, found himself relaxing a bit with the comfortable banter.

“Congratulations on the award, Zach,” Kendra said as the waiter delivered their drinks and a plate piled high with wings. “I read the series. Made me wish we’d had someone like Brand on the job when the first report of groundwater contamination came in.”

“The newspaper business isn’t what it used to be.” Zach picked up his whiskey and swirled the amber liquid around. “We have to jump before you TV folks snatch up the stories.”

“Brand mentioned you used to be in broadcast news,” Jesse said.

Zach nodded. Next to him, Brand visibly tensed. “A few years back.” Beneath the table, he put a reassuring hand on Brand’s thigh. “It’s a different world from running a newspaper.”

“Which do you prefer?” Kendra waited for an answer with an intensity that felt something like awe.

“They both have their good points.” Zach sipped his drink, then set it down again. “I’m not sure I could choose.” He glanced at Brand, who gazed back at him with obvious surprise. “But it’s not about choices. It’s about where you end up, right?”

“We’re happy you ended up here.” Jesse picked up a wing and pointed it in Zach’s direction. “Before you came, there was talk of the River Watch shutting down.”

“I’m hoping that won’t happen. Subscriptions are up, and we’re working on our ad base.” Zach took another, longer drink, and the tension in his shoulders eased. “I just hired a new reporter, and I’m hoping his work’ll help us get a few stories featured in one of BeaconCorp’s nationally syndicated magazines.”

“Reed Barfield,” Jesse said.

“Yes. Have you met him?” Zach asked.

“During Hurricane Florence. Gave him and Justin Vance a ride back to town,” Jesse replied. “The two of them—”

The sound of a table crashing onto the floor drowned out Jesse’s words.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.