Spring River Valley: The Spring Collection (Boxed Set) by Clarice Wynter Page A

her heart. He wasn’t going to forgive her for leaking the story about Annette Drummond, and with Janet working diligently to convince her there was nothing wrong with what she’d done, she’d decided she’d probably been better off in the first place, concentrating on her career and leaving love and romance to those who could be trusted to put someone else’s feelings and needs above their own.
    “Come on, it’s for a good cause,” Bailey prompted.
    “I’ll write a check to the hospital for the fund raiser—”
    “That’s not what I mean. Not that the children’s wing isn’t a good cause, but I’m talking about the ‘Let’s get Bailey a man project.’ Don’t you want in on that?”
    Evie almost laughed. If her heart didn’t hurt so badly, she might have managed a dry chuckle, but all that came out was a wistful sigh. “That is a good cause. How about I make my donation check out to you so you can afford whichever guy you want?”
    “I’d say no if it wasn’t for the kids…but okay…as long as you don’t let me get carried away.”
    “I’m still going to pass on the festivities if you don’t mind.”
    “ Oh, come on. Don’t make me go alone.”
    “You above all people should understand my need to take a break and regroup.”
    Bailey’s smile faded. “Have you tried to call him?”
    “I’ve dialed his number a few times, but what do I say? Sorry isn’t good enough. I wrote the article. I can’t deny that. And Janet made a point. My subconscious sent it to her rather than the trash bin because I wanted the headline. I have to live with that.”
    In the days following Evie’s article, Senator Diele had left his wife for Annette Drummond. Any pending charges against her had been dropped, but whether that was due to Evie’s article or the police investigation was anyone’s guess. Either way, it wasn’t enough, in Evie’s mind, to justify her actions. “It doesn’t matter anyway,” she said, breaking into a slow jog again. “Whether I really meant to do it or not, it’s done. I hurt Tanner, and I don’t expect him to get over it.”
    Bailey eyed her sidelong as the caught up. “The question is, will you get over it?”
    Evie shrugged. “Some things you never get over.”

Chapter Fifteen
     
     
    “I’m going to be a little late for movie night,” Evie told Emerson over the phone as she strolled through the parking lot at Landry’s Dock. “I have to run an errand for Bailey.”
    The aroma of buttery lobster and fried shrimp greeted Evie when she entered the front door of the restaurant , and she paused a moment to enjoy the scent. She’d been looking forward to pizza at Emerson’s apartment and a rented comedy, but before she reached the white-jacketed maître d’, she was entertaining the idea of ordering a couple of seafood platters to go, just to give girls’ night a boost.
    “After this, I’m stopping at…” she paused to whisper the next words so the Landry’s staff members wouldn’t hear. “Taverna Fiora to get some chicken soup for Bailey. I can’t believe she wasn’t kidding when she said she was coming down with a cold. It’s killing her that she has to postpone her charity auction date.”
    “Why do you have to meet the guy to cancel? Can’t she just call him?”
    “Laryngitis. She sent me all these instructions by text. I’m just going to wait here until he shows up and see if he’s willing to try again next week. It’s a shame, she paid over seven hundred dollars for this date—well, we did. I let her bid with my donation too. I hope she got our money’s worth.”
    “I hope the guy is understanding about having to cancel at the last minute.”
    “He volunteered his time to raise money for sick kids, I’m sure he’s got a heart of gold. Keep the pizza warm, I should be at your place in forty -five minutes. Hey, what do you say to a bucket of shrimp? They have a to-go menu.”
    “You had me at bucket. Girls ’ night is the perfect time