Free Heart in the Field by Jillian Dagg

“I’ve been home for nearly two
years. I’m getting married.”
                “Congratulations. Anyone I know?”
                Wrong thing to say, Nick decided, as
Paul frowned.
                “No one you know. You’ll meet her at
the party on Saturday, if you’re going.”
                “I’ll look forward to it.” Nick
nearly asked how Lise was, then thought better of it. He glanced around him. “Not a bad space.”
                “It’s great. You and Serena have the
end two offices.” Paul indicated the location of the offices with a head
movement. “Then there’s a boardroom. Don mentioned I could use the third office
when I need one. Cam’s staying put on five.”
                Paul was forcing friendliness. To
ease the tense atmosphere, Nick walked around the suite. He saw one office was
full of belongings that he recognized as Serena’s. The office next door to hers
had a computer, phone and a phone directory on the desk.
                “This mine?” he asked Paul.
                Paul nodded. “Yep. Serena’s next door. I helped her move in yesterday. I’m only here for a few
minutes. I came in hoping to see her again to make sure everything was fine.
Now you’re here you can help her if you have to. I have to run.”
                “Don’t both of you run,” a female
voice said from the door.
                Dressed in a short-skirted mauve
suit, the woman held the doorpost with one hand. Her hair was a lush, deep
brown, and eyes of the same color settled on Nick. “I know who you are, Nick
Fraser. I’m Juliette Marshall. Serena’s replacement on the
afternoon news.”
                Juliette strolled forward, shook
Nick’s hand, and turned to Paul. “Hi, Paul.”
                “Hi, Juliette,” Paul said. “But I
really do have to run. I have to meet someone.” He picked up his large leather
camera bag and made himself scarce.
                Juliette had a mouthful of perfect
teeth and flipped her hair from her face with a practiced shake of her head.
“I’ve heard so much about you, Nick. I knew Cara quite well when she was
freelancing here in the city.”
                Cara had been the woman who’d given
him Redding Brown’s book. “Where is she now?”
                Juliette fluttered her hand. “Last I
heard she was married and was living in Mexico. Writing, I believe.”
                “That’s great. Any writing from her
will benefit society.”
                Juliette smiled. “Anyway, I must be
off. I just stopped to say hi. Welcome to Steel. I’m on air in ten minutes.
Have a good day.”
                She swung around and Nick watched
her mauve hips and long legs glide from view. She was sexy but that was about
all. She didn’t hit his gut hard the way Serena did.
                He knew exactly why this should be
when Serena came into the office a few minutes later wearing pants and jacket
in a light oatmeal with nothing but a coffee silk and lace chemise peeking from
beneath the wide satin lapels. The outfit made her look very tall and slim. She was stunning, Nick thought.
                She tossed briefcase and handbag on
to a leather couch. “Hi. I just saw Juliette, so I presume you’ve met her.”
                “Yes. She flew in to tell me she
knew who I was.”
                To Nick’s astonishment, Serena
laughed with real humor. “She eats men for lunch and spits them out for
dinner.”
                “I figured that.”
                “Your type?”
                “Could be.”
                She put her head to one side and her
sleek hair fell in a smooth wing. “Well, then, you’re in luck. She’s very free. Hates the thought of being tied down. Likes hot, flaming affairs that burn but