He didn’t share Frank’s opinion, and he had enough reader mail to prove his column was popular. But how long would that last? He’d been in the newspaper business since he was twelve, working for Buford in Clementine, his hometown. The business had changed a lot since then, and the changes seemed to come at a faster clip the closer they approached the twenty-first century. “Why me?” he asked.
“You were the best carrier I had, and then you turned into the best reporter I’d seen in years, even at sixteen.”
Seb grinned. He hadn’t thought about those days in a long time. “I was just the local sports reporter. Not a big deal.”
“There you go, selling yourself short again. Let me guess—all those awards you’ve won are in a box, right?”
He didn’t have that many awards, but Buford was correct. “Just like yours are in the cleaning supply closet on the bottom shelf. They should have twenty feet of dust on them by now.”
Buford chuckled. “Touché. I’ll cut to the chase. You have the writing talent and reporter instincts. You’ve been around a newsroom for most of your life. You’re the future ofThe Times, Sebastian. No doubt about it.”
Seb was glad Buford couldn’t see him blushing over the compliments. It meant the world that his mentor thought so highly of him. Yet there was one hang-up they both had to face. “I’m not a businessman.”
“Exactly why I want you to continue my legacy. I don’t need a bean counter who will put the bottom line before journalistic excellence and integrity. The people of Clementine deserve better.”
Clementine, a tiny town nestled in the Arkansas Ozark Mountains, had exactly one general store, one gas station, one motel, a Southern-fried diner that was always packed with hungry patrons, and zero traffic lights. Not exactly the big time. But the paper’s total circulation was larger than Clementine’s population and included several smaller towns in the area. It was also Seb’s hometown, and he hadn’t been there since... huh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made the two-and-a-half-hour drive to visit. Here his mentor was offering him the family business, and Seb had been too busy to see him, although they did keep in touch over the phone every once in a while.
“Sebastian, I’m prepared to offer youThe Clementine Timesfor the princely sum of... one dollar.”
For the second time since answering Buford’s call, Seb’s jaw hit the floor. “Now I know that’s a joke.”
“I’m serious, son.”
And Seb didn’t really doubt him. The man wasn’t only his mentor, he’d been a second father to him after his own dad ran off with the Clementine High School secretary and never looked back, leaving Seb, his mother, and his younger sister, Evelyn Margot, to fend for themselves. They made it through some tough times, and Evelyn was still finding her way. Seb probably would be too, if it weren’t for Buford.
Still blindsided by the offer, Seb said, “It’s very generous, but I don’t know. It’s a big decision. Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not in any hurry to retire, and there will be a training period before I turn the reins over to you.”
“You sound pretty sure I’m going to accept.”
“I’m cautiously optimistic. Just let me know when you’re ready to talk.”
“I will. Regardless of my decision, I appreciate the offer.” A lump formed in his throat. “I’ll be in touch.”
They said their goodbyes and Seb hung up the phone. He leaned back in his chair, still dumbstruck. He’d never aspired to be anything more than a reporter, and now a columnist. There was the pipe dream of being a novelist too. But at the rate he was writing his first book, he’d be near retirement age, if he could even get it published.
But owning and running a newspaper? That wasn’t on his radar, and he wasn’t sure it should be. He also had more than a lack of business sense that made him hesitant. And there was something else—or rather someone else.Jade.
Simply thinking about her made him happy. For the first timein six years, since his last disastrous relationship in college, he was considering his personal future again. He and Jade had been casually dating for the past four months, emphasis on casual. But he wanted more. And if things worked out between them, he’d have to take her into consideration when thinking about Buford’s offer.
He glanced at his watch. In a few minutes, he would meet her downstairs at her office in the accounting department, and they would go to the Sports Page for hamburgers and fries, their usual Wednesday lunch.
Seb got up from his chair and shoved Buford’s offer out of his mind. Good thing Buford had given Seb plenty of time to think about it. He didn’t like being rushed. Never had.
He was about to head out when he saw a female figure behind the frosty glass window of his door, which used to enter an empty closet that his former editor had agreed to let him change into a tiny but usable office. Seb grinned, his pulse quickening as she knocked. “Hey,” he said as he opened the door with a smile, resisting the urge to take her hand even though they agreed no PDA at work. It wasn’t a secret that they were dating, but they didn’t draw attention to it either. “I was just heading downstairs to get you.”
She nodded, her gaze focused on her black pumps. “Can we talk first?”
His smile tempered. “Sure. Come on in.” He stepped back as she closed the door behind her and clutched her hands together. That wasn’t a good sign. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” She pressed her lips together. “Not exactly.”
He didn’t believe her. He was also more than a little distracted by how pretty she was in her brown pants and crisp white shirt. He’d always had a thing for redheads, and her pixie-cut auburnhair framed a flawless face with round malachite eyes and long russet eyelashes. Irresistible. When his eyes dipped to her rose-colored lips, he fought not to linger. They’d kissed a few times, and if he had his way, he’d kiss her a lot more. She’d made it clear in the beginning that she wanted to take their relationship slow, and he respected that. Hopefully he could speed things up soon, though. Very soon.
As she lifted her gaze to meet his, she said, “I, uh, have some news.”
“Well, you’re in the right place then. News is our bread and butter.” He chuckled, but her expression remained unreadable. “What’s going on?”
