Spring River Valley: The Spring Collection (Boxed Set) by Clarice Wynter Read Free Book Online

Stanton is short-handed because of the flu, so my whole company is on call. How’s Tuesday night? Dinner…? Maybe someplace other than Colette’s?”
    “Sure. Call me. Anytime.”
    Tanner hung up, still grinning, and Quinn let out a low whistle. “So that was the reporter?”
    “Evie.”
    “The one who doesn’t like you?”
    Tanner smirked. “Apparently she likes me now.”
    “Well, if you want to keep it that way, don’t ever cook for her.” Quinn grimaced as he cleared off the remains of the scrambled eggs Tanner had made for them.
    “Don’t worry. If I get the chance, I plan to take her out for breakfast.”
    “So you’ve already got those kind s of plans? You sure she doesn’t just want to get back at you for flipping her around in karate class?”
    Tanner slipped his phone back into his pocket. “She can flip me anyway she wants me. This girl is special.”
    “They’re all special with you. For ten days, tops. Then they’re history.”
    Tanner shook his head. “No…this is different.”
    Quinn stopped his haphazard housekeeping and stared at his partner. “You say that at least once a month.”
    “And I always mean it. Look, I’m not saying I met ‘the one,’” He paused to make air quotes around the words. After watching the crash and burn of his brother’s long-term relationship, he’d vowed never to let that happen to him, but there was something between him and Evie, and he was determined to see how far it could go. Maybe it was the need to prove her wrong, or maybe it was those blue eyes of hers that had drawn him directly into her soul. Maybe he was just out of his mind. But whatever it was, he’d never felt it before. “I’m just going to enjoy the challenge.”
    Quinn met his gaze for a minute. “Then good luck. I think you’re going to need it.”

Chapter Seven
     
     
    “Thanks for coming with me today, I know this isn’t your usual type of assignment,” Evie said as she pumped coins into a vending machine in an alcove of one of Lakeside Hospital’s winding corridors. A lemon soda rolled out of its slot and plunked to the bottom of the machine, and she retrieved the can and handed it to Max Shannon.
    “I don’t mind. I’m a portrait photographer, so taking pictures of the Women’s Auxiliary officers for the opening of the children’s wing is not too far off from what I do every day.”
    Evie bought herself a soda and pressed the icy aluminum can to her cheek before opening it. The lights in the conference room where the dedication ceremony had been held, coupled with the dry heat of the hospital’s environmental system, had wilted her. She couldn’t wait to get outside into the cool spring air, but she still had a couple of interviews to do with members of the Auxiliary Club for the article that would go with Max’s pictures.
    “In a couple of weeks I’ll need some photos of the finished treatment rooms and a shot of the ribbon cutting at the grand opening. Will you be able to do those shoots too?”
    “I don’t see why not. I’ll check my calendar to be sure. Can you e-mail me the dates and times?”
    “ Will do. How do you like working for the paper? I guess it’s pretty exciting, working with Chad.”
    Max shrugged, his eyes sparkling. “He takes a lot of flack for always being first on the scene, but he’s really not a bad guy.”
    Evie’s already warm face heated further. She hadn’t meant to sound petty. She really couldn’t blame Chad for her lack of upward mobility. She’d begun to think she just didn’t have the drive to push her way into a situation and make headline news out of it. “I know he’s not. He’s just everywhere at once. He has sort of a Clark Kent vibe about him, don’t you think? I keep half expecting him to show up one of these days in a cape and tights.”
    “Now that would make front-page news.”
    Evie laughed and checked her watch. “I’ve got to meet Mrs. Moriarty in five minutes. You don’t need to hang around