Free Risking Trust by Adrienne Giordano Page B

of sleep and she closed her eyes while her insides melted. It had been a long time since she’d heard that just-woken-up-I’m-so-sexy voice. Don’t go there . She cleared her throat.
    “It’s Roxann. Sorry to wake you.”
    “I’m used to it. Why’re you up?”
    She tugged at a loose string on the comforter. Need to fix that. “We’re running the story on Carl and Alicia tomorrow. I didn’t want you to be blindsided.”
    She heard a ffftttt and wondered if he’d tossed the covers and gotten out of bed. She hoped so. Talking to him while he lounged in bed unnerved her. Particularly if he still slept naked. She imagined his tall, solid frame wearing only his lightning quick smile and it stirred up a whole lot of memories. She squeezed her eyes shut again. Don’t go there .
    “Phil’s been busy,” Michael said, but nothing in his tone revealed pleasure.
    His reaction wasn’t a surprise. After all, some of the seedy details of his failed marriage were about to be splashed across the front page of her newspaper.
    “That was it,” she said. “So, goodnight.”
    “You okay?”
    “Sure. My editors hate my management style, but other than that, doing just fine.”
    Where did that come from? Wow.
    “Fine generally means not fine.”
    She couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re so astute.”
    “I’m in my sensitive phase. What’s on your mind, Rox?”
    She gripped the phone tighter, reluctant to hang up, but also terrified of sharing the intricacies of her life with him. And yet, here they were, both executives at large companies. He would understand it from a business angle. Yes, back to the business arrangement. Focus. “My father’s only been gone a few weeks. I’m trying to get through it and working is the best way, but my managing editor is mad at me, which is nothing new, but it’s annoying. Another little thing to deal with.” What am I doing? “I’m sorry. You don’t need my problems added to your stack. I should go.”
    “Rox, us working together is…odd.”
    “I’ll say.”
    “Anyway, thanks. For everything.” He hesitated. “I can’t go to jail. You saw why the other night with Matt. He’s having a tough time. The poor kid wants to have sex in the worst way.”
    “Oh. How does Gina deal with that?”
    Michael snorted. “ Gina ? She’s not going near that one.”
    “ You talk to him about sex?”
    This revelation nearly put her over the edge. Michael discussing the birds and the bees. Frightening. He had always been more of a let’s-get-a-hooker-in-here-to-give-the-kid-his-first-lesson type of guy.
    “Somebody’s got to,” he said. “My sister wants to lock him up somewhere. He’s fifteen and hormonally challenged. I feel for him.”
    “It’s nice they have you.”
    “I need to stay around.”
    There it was. The anxiety. His attitude toward people’s suspicions of him was generally casual. Nothing seemed to penetrate the armor, except a discussion about a young boy going through puberty.
    “Look, Rox, Alicia and I were at each other, but I wouldn’t have done that to her. Never. The money isn’t worth it.”
    A sudden burst of heat saturated Roxann’s cheeks and she tugged on the loose string again. Minutes ago she had fantasized about his sexy voice and now he was proclaiming innocence to his wife’s murder. A woman he’d married instead of her. Complicated.
    “As you said, it’s a good business deal. I don’t know what will come of it, but we’ll both benefit.”
    “I hope so,” he said.
    Roxann flattened the loose string for the last time and sat on her hand. “I should go now, but I guess we’ll talk tomorrow. Goodnight.”
    She hung up and stared at the wall and the framed front page of the Banner from the day she was born. She had stored thirty-five newspapers, one from each of her birthdays, and could immediately pick the year she’d celebrated with Michael. As much as she would deny it, a late night phone call with him was nice. It sent her spiraling