WLUV Box Set: Ignited, Consumed, Burned Read Online Free PDF Page B

and
fast-paced news, so whenever possible, it was good practice to label things
“breaking news.” It got attention, and that’s what the station needed.
    Macy had her work cut out for her which, fortunately, pushed
her dirty thoughts about Wes Thompson to the back burner. If she could keep
that burner on low, maybe she could make some progress at WLUV.
    When she finally flipped her laptop shut, it was 11:45 p.m.
The staff from the late news got out of the place seconds after they were off
the air. The only one left in the bullpen was an overnight producer. She had
talked to him for a few minutes and didn’t envy the kid. Her first on-air job
was in a station just like this, chasing down scanner traffic in the middle of
the night with her photographer.
    “Whatever you do, lead with some overnight breaking news,
and make sure you have your anchors say things like, ‘this just in,’ ‘new from
overnight,’ and ‘while you were sleeping.’ I’ll give you a gold star every time
I hear it.”
    “This just in: I got it, Miss Green,” the young producer
smirked as he downed a Mountain Dew, one of the four food groups of overnight
producers everywhere.
    “Call me Macy.” Gathering her jacket and bag, she remembered
Wes had asked her to stop up before she left the station. She walked up to the
second floor and sure enough there he was, talking on the phone, probably to
someone on the West Coast. He smiled and signed off when he saw her.
    “Convenient to do my California calls at night.” Wes stood
up and grabbed his own coat, “How was your first day?”
    “You’ve got a few great people here and a lot of bad habits.
I just need to get them working together and focused.” Macy explained.
    “So we’re not a lost cause here at WLUV?” Wes smiled at her
again and she felt a flutter in her chest, not good for the “Ignore Mr.
Gorgeous” plan.
    “No, you’re not. It’s late though, I’m going to head out.”
    “Hold up. I want to make sure you get to your car. No
argument. If there’s a bad guy out there, those heels will put you at a
disadvantage.” Wes used the comment as an excuse to run his eyes over her legs.
Macy worried suddenly that the slit of her skirt was revealing too much-stockinged
leg above the knee. Why didn’t she wear slacks today?
            “I’m pretty agile in these babies.” Why had she just egged
him on? Was she actually flirting? Maybe it was fatigue. Maybe it was that Wes
was gorgeous and being in close proximity to him was dangerous for any woman.
    She set her bag down and started to put on her coat. Wes was
behind her immediately, helping her slide her arms into the sleeves. Why was
that allowed in polite society when it seemed such an intimate gesture? Maybe
it had never seemed like an intimate gesture until it meant that Wes Thompson
was that close to her.
    Her mind was racing with thoughts like these when her scarf
fell from the collar of the coat and floated to the floor in front of her.
Before she could grab it, Wes bent down and picked it up. Instead of handing it
to her directly, he lifted it to his nose and inhaled. Macy watched him and
felt the heat building in her core. He took a step closer and draped the scarf
around her neck. She stood frozen for a moment. Even though she’d fought it
throughout the day, she’d imagined the heat of his hands, and the looks he’d
given her. This gesture with the scarf, or the effect it would have on her,
made it clear that Wes Thompson was thinking the same was she was. She was on
thin ice already with this man. He was audacious, and she was out of practice
resisting audacious.
    “Really, can we just head down?” She decided to go with
tough. Yes, tough –and ice cold. It was her only option. She’d turn him off
with sarcasm. That usually worked.
    “Yes, let’s head down.” Suddenly words like head and down
seemed poorly chosen. Macy was going to have to put some distance between
herself and the station