Heart of the Matter Read Online Free PDF Page B

inside workings of the place.”
    “We?” He stressed the word. Taking Amanda along on interviews hadn’t been part of his plan.
    Amanda’s eyebrows lifted. “My father is expecting us at three-thirty today. I hope that works for you.”
    He was tempted to make it clear that he didn’t need or want her company. But if he did, that could put paid to any more help on her part. He might need her goodwill to gain future access.
    “Fine.” He tried to look as if he welcomed her company. “I’ll see you then.”
    He turned away, startled to realize that on at least one level, he did.

Chapter Three
    A manda didn’t know whether she was more relieved or surprised that Ross didn’t fight her on the visit to Coast Guard Base Charleston, but he’d headed back to his office without further comment. Maybe he was beginning to see that she had something to offer. If this worked out well, maybe he’d…
    She looked at C.J., and she came back to earth with a thump. Ross hadn’t changed his mind about her. He just hadn’t wanted to get into a hassle in front of the new intern.
    No, that didn’t sound like Ross. He didn’t mind coming off dictatorial, no matter who was listening.
    Thinking of him had brought a frown to her face. Amanda replaced it with a smile for C.J. Although, come to think of it, she wasn’t exactly feeling warm toward the young woman. What had she meant by her outspoken distaste for working with Amanda?
    She nodded toward a chair at the vacant desk next to hers—vacant since Ross had decided that its occupant was expendable. “Pull that seat over, so we can talk.”
    Wearing a sullen expression, C.J. rolled the chair to Amanda’s desk and plopped into it, folding her arms.
    Amanda had to hide a grin. C.J.’s body language was eloquent. Still, she’d have to learn that she couldn’t call the shots at this point in her career. Any more than Amanda could.
    “I suppose you’ve been working on your school newspaper,” she ventured, wondering what the key would be to opening up this abrasive personality.
    C.J.’s lips pressed together. After a moment, she shook her head. “Have to be a teacher’s little pet for that, don’t you? Anyway, I’m not gonna write stupid stories about poster contests and decorating the gym. I want to write about important things. That’s why I entered the contest.”
    That hit a little too close to home. “Sounds like we have something in common then,” she said briskly. “We both want to write more challenging subjects.” She’d never really regretted retuning home, but the truth was that with the paper’s already well-established staff, it was tough to move up. Especially when the new editor refused to believe she could write.
    C.J. glowered at her for another moment, and then she shrugged.
    Amanda resisted the desire to shake her. Working with this kid might be an exercise in suppressing emotions.
    “Okay, then.” Might as well go on the offensive, since nothing else seemed effective. “How did you know what kind of articles I write?”
    Another shrug. “I know what everyone who works for the paper writes. It’s my thing, isn’t it?”
    So she’d put time and effort into this chance at success. Did she even realize that her attitude was working against her? With a more accommodating spirit and some advice on what to wear, C.J. could come out of this on the road to success.
    Dismayed, Amanda recognized her crusading spirit rising. It was the same irresistible urge that led her to one lame duck after another, always convinced that somehow she could help them.
    And she had, more often than not. Her brothers insisted that her victims, as they called them, responded because that was the only way they could get rid of her, but she didn’t buy that. That hapless Bangladeshi student at College of Charleston would have been sent home before he finished his degree if not for her organizing his fight to stay. And the article she’d written about endangered sea