The Stranger In Room 205 (Hot off the Press! 1)

Serena tossed the melting remains of her dessert into a nearby trash can, wiped her hands on a paper napkin and then rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “I know that. But I can’t force him to get help.”

“And you’re too softhearted to fire him because you don’t want him to end up in a gutter or something.” Lindsey gave Sam a look filled with irony. “Can you believe it? A tenderhearted lawyer. Bet you didn’t know such a critter existed, hmm?”

“Now that seems like a headline for your newspaper,” Sam said.

“Nah. Old news. Everyone knows Serena’s not as tough as she pretends to be.”

Uncomfortable at the direction the conversation was taking, Serena changed the subject. “We passed a fire truck on the way over. It looked like it was responding to an emergency call.”

“I already know about that. Riley just called and said he’s covering it. He heard the details on his scanner. The old dairy barn on Locust Street caught fire.”

“That building’s been abandoned for several years. That’s somewhat of a relief. I was afraid someone’s house was burning.”

“You can read all about it in tomorrow’s Evening Star. It’ll be front-page news—right above a photo of the winner of tonight’s chicken-scratch game.” Lindsey spoke dryly to Sam. “As you can see, there isn’t a lot of hard news to report around here. That’s why I was so interested in the stranger found all beaten up in a ditch.”

“Lindsey.” Even for the compulsively irreverent reporter, that comment seemed a little too flip to Serena.

Sam seemed to find it more amusing than offensive. “Sorry I ruined your chance at a big byline.”

Lindsey shrugged matter-of-factly. “It’s not like I have a lot of competition. I get all the bylines I want.”

“So why aren’t you chasing stories in a bigger market? Some place where a dominoes game isn’t front-page news?”

Serena glared at Sam. “Please don’t try to deprive me of my one truly dependable employee. Talk Lindsey into leaving, and I might as well put the paper to bed for good right now.”

“You know I’m not going anywhere for a while,” Lindsey replied. Glancing at Sam, she added, “I used to work in Little Rock, but I moved here a couple of years ago. My father’s in poor health and my brother is career military, so he doesn’t get home very often. I’ll stay as long as Dad needs me.”

As different as Serena and Lindsey were in many ways, they both placed their obligations to their families above their own desires. Serena wondered if Sam had made note of that—and, considering his defense of Kara, how he felt about it. Not that she cared all that much about what he thought, of course.

Lindsey finished her treat and tossed the empty cup into the trash can. “I think I’ll run by the old dairy barn and see if there’s anything interesting going on. I just had a craving for a lime snow cone on the way. I’ll see you guys around.”

“You still haven’t stopped by the diner for that cup of coffee I offered,” Sam reminded Lindsey as she stood.

She gave him a dimpled smile. “I might just take you up on that invitation soon.”

Realizing that she was frowning, Serena quickly smoothed her expression. It was certainly none of her concern if Sam wanted to flirt with Lindsey—or if she flirted in return. The only reason Serena disapproved was that they really didn’t know this guy very well. He was several years older than Lindsey and an admitted drifter—but undeniably good-looking and charming. She would hate to see her star reporter swept off her feet when there was no future in it.

With her father ill and her workplace in turmoil, Lindsey could be vulnerable—especially if Serena was right about her harboring an unrequited crush on Dan. She would hate to see Lindsey hurt—which was the only reason she cared if Sam flirted with her, she assured herself.

She was in a rather pensive mood when she parked in her garage a little while later. Her mother wasn’t home yet; it was only ten o’clock and the dominoes games often went on until eleven. Serena frequently teased her mother about having the more exciting social life.

After tonight, Sam probably thought Serena was just about the dullest woman under sixty he’d ever spent an evening with.

Apparently, he wasn’t much of a mind reader. “I had a great time tonight.”

“I’m sure you’ve had more exciting evenings.”

“Not recently.” He opened his door.

Serena could have entered her house directly from the garage, but instead she found herself following Sam onto the walkway that led past the swing and rose garden to the guest house. “Mother and I usually go to church on Sunday mornings. I don’t know if you’re interested, but you’re welcome to join us tomorrow if you’d like.”

“Your mother already invited me. I think I’ll pass this time.”

She wasn’t really surprised. “Sure. So, I’ll see you around then.”

“You bet. Thanks again for going with me this evening. It was a nice change of pace.”

“For me, too,” she admitted, oddly reluctant for the evening to end.