Evidence of Desire. Pamela Yaye

and you make the people you’re interviewing feel comfortable. My dad rarely talks about his childhood, but he did with you, and once you encouraged him to open up, he wouldn’t stop talking!”

      Azure smiled, but the heavy feeling in her chest remained. “Leland’s only been at Eminence for a few months, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about him it’s that he doesn’t make idle threats. Last week, he fired a pregnant staffer for insubordination and had her escorted off the premises. I’ll be lucky if he lets me stay long enough to clean out my desk.”

      The rowdy group at the other end of the restaurant started singing “Happy Birthday,” and after three rounds of boisterous applause, they began stuffing their faces with cake.

      “How was everything?” the waiter asked, collecting their plates.

      “Great, thanks.” Azure forced a smile onto her lips.

      “Would you care to see the dessert menu?”

      Harper declined, and once the waiter left, he set his sights back on Azure.

      “I’m sorry for wasting your time, Harper. I shouldn’t have let my boss bully me into setting up a meeting with you.” Uncomfortable with the blinding intensity of his gaze, she lowered her eyes to her hands and fiddled with the silver bracelet her roommate, Maggie, had given her for her birthday last month. “Tomorrow, when I get to work, I’ll tell Leland there is no story.”

      “I appreciate you telling me the truth, Azure. I know that couldn’t have been easy.” His touch on her arm was light, full of tenderness and warmth, and his smile friendly. “Don’t stress out about your job. I have a feeling everything will work out.”

      “You do?”

      “What if you could give Leland the big story he’s looking for?”

      Azure raised her bent shoulders. What was Harper about to disclose? she wondered, studying his face for clues. A hundred scenarios raced through her head. What was the Hamilton family dynasty hiding? A financial scandal? A crooked billionaire client? A skeleton in the closet? It didn’t matter. Harper had a story, something scandalous about his family he was willing to divulge, and she planned to use it to her advantage.

      “I have a story that will benefit us both.”

      Picking up her notebook, she snatched her pen off the table. “Go ahead. I’m all ears. Start from the beginning, and go slow, because I don’t want to miss anything.”

      Harper wore an arch grin. “Marry me.”