Chapters (50)
- Dedication
- About This Book
- CHAPTER ONE
- CHAPTER TWO
- CHAPTER THREE
- CHAPTER FOUR
- CHAPTER FIVE
- CHAPTER SIX
- CHAPTER SEVEN
- CHAPTER EIGHT
- CHAPTER NINE
- CHAPTER TEN
- CHAPTER ELEVEN
- CHAPTER TWELVE
- CHAPTER THIRTEEN
- CHAPTER FOURTEEN
- CHAPTER FIFTEEN
- CHAPTER SIXTEEN
- CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
- CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
- CHAPTER NINTEEN
- CHAPTER TWENTY
- CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
- CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
- CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
- CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
- CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
- CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
- CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
- CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
- CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
- CHAPTER THIRTY
- CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
- CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
- CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
- CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
- CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
- CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
- CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
- CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
- CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
- CHAPTER FORTY
- CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
- CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
- CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
- CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
- CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
- CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
- CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
- CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
“Oh, I can’t stay, and neither can Cat.” Paige glared in her direction until Cat rose from the chair and crossed her arms. “What I’d like to do is invite you to our briefing. We’re sitting down with your county’s emergency services chief and waste management to get everyone on the same page. We don’t want to be stepping on any toes while we’re here, and we’d like to fill any gaps you have in the cleanup process so we can begin renovations immediately. I know you’ve probably got a full calendar dealing with the city end of things, but if you can spare an hour, I think we’ll all be better prepared and have a clearer idea of what our roles are.”
“I’d appreciate that, Mrs. King.”
Cat glared at him. “I was going to invite him to the meeting,” she muttered to Paige.
“Of course, you were,” Paige grinned. “Gannon was looking for you. He went through the Hais’ house and has a preliminary list of concerns. Can you go track him down ASAP?”
Cat shot Noah one last dirty look. He met her scowl for scowl. “I’ll see you outside,” she told Paige and strode out.
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER TEN
Noah watched Cat go. He felt like he’d gotten in a few good shots, felt a little raw in some of the spots she’d poked. But fighting with her was better than any shot of espresso. It made him feel awake, focused, energized. And it gave him something to do with the ball of nervous energy that had lodged itself in his gut the moment the first rain drop had fallen on Merry.
“Noah, I’d like to be candid with you, if I may,” Paige said, sinking into the chair Cat had just vacated.
He spread his hands. “By all means.”
“I can’t imagine how upsetting the past week has been for you. It would be devastating for anyone who cares about their community to watch it be destroyed. And I understand how important the Christmas Festival is for Merry. I also know better than most how ugly reality television can be. You can trust me—and Cat. We don’t do drama for ratings. We’re going to give you your town back in one piece in time for Christmas. But we can’t do it without your cooperation.”
Noah sighed and rose. He opened the minifridge behind his desk and took out a Coke. “Want one?”
“I’ll take a water if you’ve got one.”
Paige seemed like an upstanding person, even if she did work in TV. She was earnest, smart, and didn’t waste her time trying to enhance her already striking natural beauty. She seemed sincere, and he felt the slightest bit embarrassed that she’d caught him and Cat sniping at each other.