With Family In Mind (Saddle Falls Book 1) by Sharon de Vita

Author:Sharon de Vita [Vita, Sharon De]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Reporter, Small Town, Screts, Childhood, Investigate, Kidnapping, Sensuality, Salvation, Family, Trust, Mysterious Past
Goodreads: 25158393
Publisher: Silhouette Special Edition
Published: 2011-06-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Rebecca was almost certain her pulse had stopped. Wishing her hands were steadier than her heart, she lifted her wineglass, prayed she wouldn’t bobble it, then took a slow sip before looking at Jake over the rim, forcing herself to hold his gaze.

On some level she understood his anger, his suspicion, but that didn’t mean it was warranted.

“I’m not going to say your brother’s disappearance wasn’t a factor in my decision, Jake,” she said slowly, aware of the intensity of his gaze.

It was the first time they’d actually spoken about Jesse or acknowledged what had happened. And she knew they were now on shaky ground.

She had to tread carefully, measure her words so that she didn’t let on how important this part of his family history actually was to her being here or doing this story. The last thing she wanted to do was scare Jake and have him cut off all access. She wasn’t really lying to him, she reasoned, she was telling him the absolute truth, just not all of it.

But, she wondered, was that a lie by omission?

“But if you’re asking me if I took this story so I can exploit the fact that your younger brother disappeared twenty years ago, that I plan to publish all the gory details for the entertainment of others, to appease their curiosity and interest, the answer is no.” Her voice was firm and cool. “Absolutely not.” She was on solid ground now, professional ground. Much easier to deal with than anything personal.

She let a long moment of silence pass before she continued. “I have no intention of publicizing or sensationalizing any part of your brother’s disappearance, nor of taking advantage of your family’s trust or sensationalizing their tragedy.” She hesitated, glancing down at her wine, then back up at him, unaware that her eyes had gone cold, icy-cold. “Jesse’s disappearance is part of the Ryan family history, but it’s not all of it, Jake.” Her insides were trembling, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. “There’s much more to the family than your brother’s disappearance.” Deliberately, she made her voice dispassionate, professional. She was a reporter now, not the lonely little girl looking for personal answers that had eluded her for most of her lifetime.

“Your brother’s disappearance is not going to be the focus of my story, Jake, if that’s what you’re asking me. It’s merely one small part in the whole picture of the Ryan history.” She tried to focus on relaxing, on not letting her nervousness show. There was nothing to be nervous about, she told herself, then realized she’d been incredibly nervous from the moment she’d arrived in Saddle Falls.

Perhaps she was losing her objectivity, she thought with another flash of worry, biting her lip. For a reporter, it was the kiss of death, and it frightened the daylights out of her. Objectivity, emotional detachment, were a must in order to see things clearly. Without either, she was no good to herself, the newspaper or her subjects.

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