Free Desperately Seeking Fireman by Jennifer Bernard

of reporters, camera people, and other members of the media milled around the dock. Camera equipment filled the cargo shed.
    The senator’s secret location wasn’t a secret anymore.

 
    Chapter Seven
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    T HE E NCHANTED G ARDEN was under siege. The sidewalk out front bristled with tripods and cameras. Reporters paced back and forth, cell phones in one hand, coffee cups in the other. When the ladies arrived for their tea, Jeb had to push his way through the crowd and personally escort them inside.
    Spotting a business opportunity, Angie gave in and began brewing coffee for the hordes and charging an outrageous five dollars a cup. In Jeb’s opinion, it should have been ten considering the amount of aggravation the press provoked. But he was happy about the coffee.
    Inside the inn, things were just as crazy as outside. The senator ranted and roared, until Nita managed to convince him that it was inevitable word would get out. Then he slammed the door to his room and told everyone he needed some time alone.
    No one minded giving him that.
    As soon as the reporters had seen Nita, they’d begun pestering her for a statement. Jeb had to admire how she handled the situation, keeping her cool and her manners, and maintaining a steady sense of humor. It was clear that the reporters respected her, and even though she kept telling them she’d have something for them shortly, they still peppered her with questions.
    Seeing the lines of stress reappear on her face, he longed to whisk her away somewhere private. Somewhere they could be alone, and he could work on that slow lovemaking he’d promised her.
    It stunned him how much he wanted her. How much he wanted to be close to her. He didn’t even know her, not really. And yet she’d given him something precious. When she’d let him into her confidence, she’d given him a piece of herself. It created a bond between them that felt very significant. He wanted more—he wanted to talk more, touch more, laugh more.
    But his first responsibility was to Brody, and that meant getting Melissa the hell away from this madness. Which meant he’d have to leave the island, and Nita, as soon as possible.
    He tapped on Melissa’s door, then entered at her distracted “come in.” She was standing in front of her dresser, her body angled sideways so she could reach her laptop, which was balanced on top of some books. One hand was typing, the other rubbing her lower back.
    “Melissa, that doesn’t look comfortable,” he said in alarm.
    “It’s fine. I’m almost done.”
    “I think we should try to catch the afternoon ferry out.”
    “Uh-huh.” With both hands on her keyboard, she clicked furiously.
    “How about if I pack your things while you wrap up your story.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    He was pretty sure she hadn’t heard him, but decided to proceed anyway. Spotting her suitcase in the corner, he dragged it out and set it on the bed.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Packing.” He gave her a brief glance, unsurprised to see her green eyes throwing sparks at him.
    “I can’t leave yet. The senator wants to do another interview. If I leave, he’ll wind up talking to one of those other billion reporters out there. I’ll lose my entire exclusive.”
    “But if you leave now, you can get back to San Gabriel and get your story on the air first.”
    “It won’t work that way. The senator wants to talk. Those reporters out there are just as good as I am. Probably better. And they work for national news organizations. Unless I’m right here under his nose, he’ll decide it makes more sense to talk to one of them. I can’t leave.”
    He straightened up and studied her for a long moment. “How are you feeling?”
    “Fine. The same as before they showed up. Really, Jeb, I appreciate it. I admit I’ve had my hormonal moments, but this isn’t one of them.”
    He deliberated. His main concern was her health. If she felt fine, there was no reason to whisk her away. Not that he could, if she