Jayne Addison - About That Kiss

Cal Peterson cut in jokingly. “It’s not fair of you to walk out without letting one of us win the yearly bet. Just how old are you?”

Earl chuckled. “Old enough to know better, but not old enough to stop doing it.”

There was laughter and cheers.

Earl waved both his hands to bring the group to order. “Ladies and gentlemen…may I present Nick Tremain, the new owner of the Greenport News. You’ve got a renowned photojournalist for a boss now, but I’ll let him tell you about that himself.”

Earl smiled at Nick. “It’s all yours.”

But it wasn’t all Nick’s yet, as the staff crowded around Earl to wish him well. In that moment only Joy stood to one side, where Nick’s full attention was on her. There was a hint of devilishness around his mouth. Joy flicked him a look of sheer incredulity before she included herself among Earl’s well-wishers.

“I’m not leaving without a big hug from you,” Earl smiled, getting to Joy last.

“Oh, Earl,” Joy said emotionally as the hug ended. “I’m really going to miss you.” She’d already had that feeling on her mind, knowing she was going to give three weeks’ notice this morning.

Earl fondly patted Joy’s shoulder as he looked out at all the people who had worked for him. “Is tomorrow enough time for you to get a cake for me?”

Pamela called out, “I’m going to bake you my triple-layer chocolate cake.”

Someone joked, “Is that the one we have to use a saw on?”

Earl smiled broadly. “Settle down, kiddies. And behave yourselves.”

Cal Peterson said, “So you finally get to take your wife to Florida. Pearl must be dancing a jig.”

“She’s certainly nagged me about it long enough,” Earl replied. “But I will be around a few more days just to make sure you all stay in line. Only right now I’m going out to have myself a long, leisurely breakfast while the man of the hour takes over.” Earl gave Nick a two-finger salute.

A tense silence filled the newsroom as soon as Earl walked out. All eyes were on Nick. Joy was certain she was the only one that noticed Nick was a little tense himself. She could tell just from the way he stood.

Nick smiled at the group. “Let me begin by saying that my intention is to be more than an editor. I’m planning to work out in the field, as well.”

The twenty-eight-year-old staff photographer for the Greenport News cleared his throat. “I’m real familiar with your photos, Mr. Tremain. I guess you won’t be needing me around here anymore.”

“You’re George DeGeneris, right?” Nick questioned.

“Yes, sir.” George put an uneasy hand up to his hair in a reflexive motion, but the untamable blond cowlick sprang right back up.

“Cut the ‘sir.’” Nick grinned. “Now it may take me a little time to put a name to all your faces, but I am fully aware of the work each and every one of you do around here. And I haven’t seen anything to complain about. I’m especially familiar with your photos, George. Your concepts are fresh and alive. What I’m going to want is more of the same. A lot more of the same. I want a lot more of the same from all of you, but I’m also going to want you to stretch beyond where you’ve been. We’re going to create something together. Something new and different.

“We are not going to be just a local paper anymore. We’re going to feature stories that today’s top magazines will envy. We’re not going to just deliver the news. We’re going to tell the stories behind the news. In-depth stories about the people that make the news and not just in Greenport. We’re going to cover the entire East End. We are going to become the East End Journal and we are going to give the ‘big boys’ a run for the money. And, by the way, it’s Nick and not Mr. Tremain.”

The applause came. It started slowly then built up. And the ice was broken, replaced by an excitement that permeated the room.

Joy saw Nick take a deep breath and then give one of his easy, relaxed smiles. She felt the same exhilaration as her co-workers and thought about how much she would have liked to be a part of his plans.

Nick made a kidding motion with a slice of his hand in front of his throat to quiet the buzz that had started. Succeeding, he spoke again. “I’m going to want to meet personally with each one of you throughout the day. Right now I think we all need another cup of coffee.”

Except for Joy and Nick, the staff dispersed to queue up in front of the coffee maker.

“How about being the first one I meet with personally?” Nick asked with a teasing grin that was meant only for her.

Joy wanted to return his dynamite smile, but she didn’t. “Actually there is something I need to speak to you about,” she replied in a professional tone.

The smile left Nick’s mouth as his eyes searched hers. He nodded briefly and then led the way to the office that had just become his.

“Sit down,” Nick said, once they’d both entered the room and he’d closed the door—and after they’d stood for a fraction of a second just evaluating each other. She was nervous. He could read that easily, though she was working at not letting it show.

Joy settled herself into one of the two wooden chairs in front of the desk while Nick took the chair behind the desk. He leaned forward.

Joy swallowed. “I can’t believe you’ve bought the paper. But, anyway, everyone loved your ideas.”

“Did you?” He was studying her closely.

“Absolutely.” Her eyes became bright with the excitement he’d engendered with his comments before Joy dropped them to look at her lap.

Nick watched her pull the hem of her skirt down some. It still didn’t get any nearer to her knees.

Joy swallowed again. “I was going to give Earl three weeks’ notice this morning. It seems that you’re the one that I’m going to have to give my notice to now.” There was no way she could stay and work with him, not feeling the way she did about him. Just thinking about it was torture.

Nick felt like he’d just had his lights punched out. He picked up a pen from the desk and fiddled with it. How was he supposed to court her with her taking off? “You have three more months to run on your contract here.”

“I know that.” Joy’s focus was on the pen he was holding, not his eyes.

“Would you mind telling me what brought you to this decision?”

“I’ve been offered an assignment with New World magazine. They’re going to be sending reporters out to a number of South American countries to do stories on daily life. I’m slated to go to Bolivia. There’s still some reservation on their part, but they’re giving me a shot.” It was her chance to, if nothing else, have a stimulating career for herself.

“There shouldn’t be any reservations on their part. They don’t deserve you if they haven’t figured out how talented you are.”

Joy’s gray-green eyes came up to find sincerity written on his face. She felt all aglow at his praise.

This time it was Nick who broke eye contact. “I’m not letting you out of your contract.”

Joy blinked. “That’s ridiculous. In three weeks’ time you’ll find a hundred reporters to take my place.”

“I want you,” Nick said tersely, his eyes back on her.

“I can’t stay, Nick,” Joy said just as succinctly while their gazes locked.

Nick dropped the pen to the desk. “I don’t see that you have any choice but to work out your contract. I am not accepting your notice.”

“I have a choice. I can break my contract,” Joy returned rigidly.

“Try it and I’ll sue you,” Nick said, bluffing.

Joy tipped up her unsteady chin. She didn’t know if she wanted to cry or throw something at him. “You’d actually sue me?”