“I don’t like the fact that you wimped out and gave that silly girl time to contact an attorney. Now this is going to cost me more time and more money.”
“The time was necessary, and in the long run it will save you time, money
The words came out smooth, but Kyle’s boss, who seemed to recognize the signs of a fraying temper, stepped in, trying to further defuse the situation. “Steven, we’ve already discussed this. You don’t want to come across as some hard-hearted bastard who frightened a young, naive girl into doing something she later regretted. By allowing her time to meet with her attorney, she won’t be able to insinuate later that you forced her hand.”
“No matter. I’ve discovered a way to turn this delay to my advantage.” Walker reached into the breast pocket of his suit coat and pulled out a sheet of folded paper. “Got an interesting e-mail earlier this morning, with a link to the
The instant Kyle heard the paper’s name, panic tried to take hold, but reason quickly won out. If the man had seen the picture of Kyle dressed as Santa-with Shayna snuggled in his lap-this conversation would not even be taking place. He’d have been fired days ago.
Walker handed the press release to Roscoe. “Seems my long-lost daughter has inherited my interest in giving back. My publicist thinks it would be a great idea if I make a surprise appearance at that little festival of hers, pledge a donation and bond over our mutual love of helping the less fortunate. It would make dynamite footage for the debut show.”
Thomas tossed the paper onto Kyle’s desk, the gleam in his eyes just as devious as Walker’s. Kyle didn’t even glance at the page. Tension bunched up painfully in Kyle’s shoulders. Surely Thomas would recognize this idea for the train wreck it was.
“I don’t know much about television, but it sounds pretty compelling,” Thomas answered, doing a damn fine impersonation of a brownnosing yes man.
“Are you out of your mind?” Kyle emphasized his disbelief by banging his fist on the printout lying on his desk. “You can’t blindside her like that. You promised her a reasonable period to review the documents with her lawyer, and if you force the issue prematurely, she’s likely to balk and refuse to cooperate.” Which, technically, she was already trying to do, but since he’d hadn’t completely reviewed the document and wasn’t ready to discuss it with anyone, he justified keeping his comments hypothetical.
“
That was taking things too far. Hinting that Kyle had been swayed by Shayna was one thing-hell, it was exactly what had happened. But insinuating that he’d obliterate all ethical standards? That was more than Kyle was willing to take from this arrogant blowhard.
Later that evening as he rushed through the nearly empty Knoxville airport terminal, Kyle finally faced facts. He was in big trouble here. This morning, during his meeting with Walker, he’d skated the ethical lines, his actions and responses balanced precariously on the edge of right versus wrong.
Nothing he’d done or said could be considered, on its own merit, to be a breach of attorney-client privilege. He hadn’t given anything other than sound, legal reasons why sending a production crew to film Shayna at the Noel Festival Parade wasn’t a smart move. She was guaranteed to freak out, and would, more than likely, halt any and all negotiations, especially if, as Kyle suspected, Patty Hoyt turned out to be Walker’s source for Land’s Cross social news.
His carefully worded arguments and suggestions hadn’t impacted Walker’s decision to send a crew. Worse yet, the man was still considering making a cameo appearance. Kyle had done his best to convince his client that his presence would stir up too many questions. Thomas has seconded Kyle’s argument, but he wasn’t sure Walker had chosen to listen.
Apparently, no one was taking his advice these days.
What the devil was Shayna thinking? Walker would not react well to her refusal to cooperate. In the back of his mind, he’d expected Shayna’s attorney to urge her to ask for more money, maybe pass on the live television program. But declining the entire offer? That just didn’t make any sense. Walker was going to persecute her for this.
Unless he could get to her first and make her see reason.
He skidded to a stop in front of the long row of darkened car rental counters. Damn. He’d forgotten to prearrange a vehicle, which meant he’d have to hope there was a cabbie still on duty somewhere in the area willing to drive him out to Land’s Cross. Since he’d taken the red-eye out of LAX, it was barely two a.m. here in Tennessee.
Fate must have been working on his side, because when he hit the passenger pickup area he found one cab, its driver sound asleep behind the wheel. After a stiff negotiation-and some serious pleading-he had a ride to Land’s Cross.
Kyle spent that dark, quiet hour trying to come up with an excuse for his silent exit Tuesday morning. Any sane man knew better than to walk away from a well-loved woman without a word, especially if you ever wanted her to speak to you again.
Kyle desperately wanted much more than just conversation from Shayna. He flat out wanted her. Which was why he was jacking with his career and jeopardizing his future.
While flying out to Tennessee without his client’s approval wasn’t enough to get him disbarred, his actions once he got to town very easily could be. It all came down to Walker. If his client pursued actions designed to harm Shayna, Kyle wouldn’t be able to stand silently by. And stepping in would be akin to stepping down. The next twelve hours would either make or break his career. So why the hell was he more concerned with Shayna’s reaction to his unsanctioned return to Land’s Cross than Walker’s?
Chapter Fourteen
The setting was soft-focused and beautiful-a gently flowing creek provided the background music and wildflowers carpeted the large open field. Kyle, wearing nothing but her best bathroom towel, laid her out on the bed of sweetly scented flowers. Love shone from his crystal-blue eyes. He smiled at her, that adorable dimple creasing his left cheek.
“Shayna, I have something very important to tell you,” he whispered, that deep voice she loved vibrating within her own heart.
Sure he meant to offer the proposal of her dreams, she was all trembling inside. “Yes!” sat on the tip of her tongue, just waiting to be unleashed.
Then Brinks woke her when he sat up, howled for all he was worth and took off downstairs. She slowly opened her eyes, staring up into the darkness. Darn dog. Couldn’t he have waited another two minutes?
She started to throw off the covers, but the ringing of the phone stilled her movements. Middle-of-the-night calls were rarely good. She’d left the phone by her bed, hoping Kyle would return the message she’d eventually had no choice but to leave. But would he really call this late? Or had there been an emergency elsewhere?
Deep woofs continued to echo up the stairs. “Hang on,” she called to Brinks as she rolled over and snagged the phone. “Hello?”
“Shayna?”
The connection was a bit staticky but there was no mistaking that warm, deep voice she loved so much. “Kyle? What time is it?”
“Too early. I’m sorry, but I was afraid you’d be scared.”
Her eyes flicked to the bedside clock-3:27 a.m. “Why?”
“The barking.”
The barking? She pushed herself up awkwardly with her elbows and tried to shake the sleep from her brain.
