The Weather Girl (12 page)

“It doesn’t matter what that guy or anyone thinks,” she said as she merged back into traffic. Travis said nothing in reply. “But for the record, I’m not sorry you hurt your shoulder. I’m glad it happened.”

“Oh yeah?” He spoke to his window, not her. “Why’s that?”

“Because it wasn’t your dream.” He glanced her way and then back out the window. “You deserve to dream, Travis.”

He didn’t say anything or even look back at her, but his hand slid across the center console and covered hers as it rested on the gearshift. He gave it a little squeeze before pulling his back into his lap. She took that to mean he knew her words had absolutely nothing to do with her thirty seconds.

* * *

B
ACK
 
AT
 
THE
 
STUDIO
,
Summer tried to regain some focus. She let go of her worries and prepared for her ten o’clock report. Rachel was in the makeup room when she came in for a touch-up. The row of lights above the eight-foot-wide mirror lit up her beautiful face. Rachel had the face of an angel. Unfortunately, looks could be deceiving.

“Word around the station is there’s been a world of trouble for the Rain Princess lately. Let’s hope you aren’t distracted like last week. Those sloppy graphics were a disaster,” Rachel said, swiping at the excess lipstick on her bottom lip.

“I wasn’t distracted. There was a technical glitch.”

“Is that what you’re calling it? A glitch?” Rachel asked. Summer refused to be provoked, so she continued. “Maybe if you weren’t so busy trying to get the attention of a certain sportscaster, you’d have less trouble.”

“Travis has nothing to do with what happened. We’re...friends.”

Rachel laughed, but it didn’t sound as though she thought anything was particularly funny. “Travis is friendly with a lot of women, isn’t he?”

Summer locked eyes with her in the mirror. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, he has quite a reputation.” Rachel was a gossip, through and through. It was her business to know other people’s business, so in some ways it made her good at her job. Gossiping about coworkers, however, was always a bad idea. “Let’s just say I’ve heard some rather interesting information about our
friend
Travis.”

Summer knew better than to let her get under her skin. Unfortunately, it was working. “Did you know the deadliest weather disaster in U.S. history was an unnamed hurricane that struck Galveston back in 1900?”

“Oh, Summer! Now, don’t go gettin’ all worked up. Just be smart.” Rachel put away her makeup and smoothed down a stray hair. “If he’s half the man the women in Sweetwater have reported him to be, you’re in for a good time. But I heard he has a very short attention span. Don’t expect to be his friend for very long, sugar.” She gave Summer a little wink on her way out.

Blood boiling, Summer set down her lipstick. She put up with Rachel because for every nasty thing she said, she’d make up for it by doing something right for the community. Rachel had founded and was the head of a charity in Abilene that benefitted Alzheimer’s research. Someone said her dad suffered from the terrible disease, but Rachel never discussed her family with coworkers. The good she did usually outweighed the bad. Usually. Tonight, she’d chosen the wrong time to get on Summer’s nerves.

Summer hoped she’d make it through her weather report without calling Rachel a lying witch on the air. Everything went smoothly as she outlined the highs and lows for the day. Her graphics were all in order and she was confident she could wrap up her three minutes without any issues. Until she clicked to the seven-day outlook. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. A second later, one of the studio lights swung down and crashed into the green screen, missing Summer’s head by mere inches.

Complete chaos ensued. Sparks flew, crew members rushed to the scene and Travis had his arms around her before she even had time to process what had happened. They switched cameras and Rachel apologized to the viewing audience before they cut to commercial.

“Are you okay?” Travis pulled her aside, looking her up and down, searching for injuries.

“I’m fine. It missed me.” Her voice was calm, but her body shook. Travis hugged her tightly as the shock began to wear off.

“Travis, we need you at the desk,” the director said into their earpieces.

“Go,” Summer said, giving him a shove toward the news desk. “I’m fine.”

“Maybe you’re fine, but I’m not. If that had hit you...”

His concern warmed her rapidly beating heart. “But it didn’t.”

He frowned and pushed her blond curls behind her ear, checking for a hidden injury. When he was completely satisfied she was unharmed, he went to do his job.

The production techs scratched their heads over what had caused the light to fall, pointing fingers and questioning each other about who had been the last one to mess with the lighting above the green screen. One of the production assistants made sure Summer could report the seven-day outlook from the news desk at the end of the broadcast.

While she waited for her cue, she tried to process what had happened. What if that light had struck her? Was there a higher power here trying to convince her this job could be just as exciting as the one Ryan offered? Or was it telling her she needed to get out of here? The longer she thought about it, the more a frightening thought ran a chill up her spine. How could one of those lights come loose like that? She had had the bad feeling all evening. What if someone wanted to do her harm?

It was one thing to tamper with her maps. It was another to try to hurt her. Summer began to seriously worry she had an enemy on the set. One who had crossed the line tonight.

CHAPTER TWELVE

T
HE
 
FIRST
 
TIME
 
someone messed with Summer’s weather report, nothing was done. Travis heard that Richard denied doing anything to her graphics and that Ken had accepted that without question. The only consolation Travis was able to give Summer was that Richard seemed quite peeved when his fan didn’t work the next morning. Fans tended not to work when their power cords were cut.

It was a childish prank, but Richard didn’t do himself any favors with the way he treated people. Everything about him made Travis suspicious. He figured Richard had something to do with the other mishaps Summer was experiencing—the missed appointments, the trouble with the advertiser. But the crashing light put a new twist on things. A twist Travis didn’t care for one bit. He tried to watch the old weatherman like a hawk. One wrong move and Travis wouldn’t hesitate to take his head off.

Travis tried to be rational about it all. Maybe it was a coincidence that after Ken announced the new promo plans involving Summer and Travis, strange things started happening to the weather girl. Maybe she just had really bad luck. Maybe that light was loose for a completely innocent reason and just happened to fall while Summer was standing under it.

Maybe.

Maybe Richard was a spiteful son of a gun. Maybe his jealousy had gotten out of control. Maybe he had lost his mind and was willing to do something criminal to get back at Summer. The only thing Travis knew for sure was someone needed to be held accountable for what had happened in the studio. This could not be written off like the graphics fiasco. If Ken didn’t get to the bottom of this, Travis would.

Summer was in Ken’s office discussing the previous night’s events. Travis waited outside the door, hearing nothing but muffled voices. He needed to see her, know she was all right.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion when Travis saw the light come crashing down, barely missing Summer. It could have done some serious damage. It scared him half to death. The resilient weather girl had handled the incident better than he had. She might have recited all the statistics related to Hurricane Katrina after the newscast, but she recovered quickly. Travis, on the other hand, still hadn’t calmed down.

During his sleepless night, Travis wrestled with the feelings he could no longer control. Denying his attraction to her was pointless. He might be a nobody, but maybe being with Summer could inspire him to figure out who he should be.

Summer emerged, looking slightly perturbed.

“What did he say?” he asked, pushing off the wall and trailing her.

“He promises everything will be ‘investigated thoroughly’ and says I have nothing to worry about.” The way she said it didn’t sound convincing.

“That’s it. I’m saying something.” Travis turned, but Summer grabbed his hand to stop him. If he weren’t so mad, he could have appreciated the opportunity to hold hands a little more.

“I’ve survived gale-force winds that could have blown me out of town and a lightning storm that looked like something out of a science-fiction movie. I can survive someone’s lame attempts at ruining my weather reports.”

“Hitting you with a studio light is not the same as ruining your weather report.”

Summer tilted her head. “You know what I mean.” She let go of his hand and headed for her desk. She glanced toward Richard’s empty chair. “Ken thinks it was simply an accident. No reason to jump to conclusions that someone made it happen.”

Travis sat on the edge of her desk. “Maybe it was an accident. But if it wasn’t, I want someone’s head. And I usually get what I want.”

Summer gave him half a smile. “I’m sure you do.” She pushed his leg. “Now get out of here. Some of us have work to do.”

* * *

T
RAVIS
 
HADN
’
T
 
REALIZED
how much of his new job would be done outside the studio— speaking engagements, special appearances, station promotion. There were so many community functions to attend, Travis almost lost track. He was ready to hire an assistant to help him keep it all straight. Luckily, the station’s intern was willing to do anything for anyone. If there was one thing Travis knew how to do, it was delegate.

Shannon was a godsend. The young woman could teach a class in organization. She knew how to upload appointments onto Travis’s phone so it would beep and tell him where he needed to be and when. She made sure he had something to eat every day and even offered to help him with tasks that had nothing to do with work, like picking up a birthday card for his aunt. He felt guilty that he had little wisdom about the business to impart to her, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“I talked to Chuck Handley over at the museum like you asked.” Shannon pulled his attention away from the blond beauty who could somehow work without being distracted by recent events. “Everything’s set. Here’s a list of what he wants in return.” She handed him a list of over a dozen items. Travis looked it over with a grin he couldn’t contain.

“Perfect,” he said. Everything was falling into place as he hoped. Summer had helped him avoid failing at this job and he wanted to thank her. Austin offered up the perfect way to do just that.

“All you have to do is call him when you’re ready and he’ll meet you. I can put a reminder on your phone and link it to his contact number.”

“You really are the best, Shannon. You know that, right?”

The girl giggled and turned as red as a can of Coca-Cola. “You know, I bet if you asked Ken, he’d let me come with you to Austin. I could help you guys out, make sure everything goes as planned. I’d love to see you in action outside the studio again.”

True, Ken would probably give Travis whatever he wanted. The boss was ready to induct himself into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame after Travis and Summer successfully reported from their third high-school football game. Travis was gaining confidence and it showed in his reports. Ratings continued to rise and the advertisers were rolling in. KLVA was beating down Channel 4’s door for the number-one spot; it was only a matter of time. Together, Travis and Summer made a great team. If Travis wanted that to continue off the air, there was no room for Shannon on this trip.“Oh, come on. You don’t want to work on the weekend if you don’t have to,” he said, gently trying to discourage her.

“I’m free that weekend, and working for you would barely be like working at all.” Shannon was cute but not Travis’s type. No, his type was blond, blue-eyed and strangely fascinated with the weather. Only one woman fit that bill. She happened to be the woman on her way to the break room, looking mighty worked up. Travis watched as Rachel stood and followed her, an obvious recipe for disaster.

Travis jumped up. “You want something from the Coke machine?”

Shannon blinked and took a step back to avoid being knocked over. She shook her head as he patted his pockets for change and took off.

As he approached, he could hear Rachel. “Has anyone explained to her that she is not his personal assistant? She’s shameless. I mean, she gets in his face practically every chance she gets.”

Travis found it entertaining that Rachel would be so appalled by Shannon’s fawning, considering the fact that she herself had been guilty of it on more than one occasion.

“Leave the poor girl alone,” Summer said. “She’s no different than everyone else who dotes on him around here.”

“Well, I’m going to say something to Ken. That girl needs to be put in her place.”

Someone needed to be put in her place, but it wasn’t Shannon. Travis stepped into the room.

Both women startled, and Rachel instantly turned on the charm. Her hips swayed as she moved in his direction. “There’s my favorite sports man. I was just telling Summer that I think you and I are due for another dinner together. You need to take me out for some Chinese tonight, sugar.”

“Then I’m surprised Summer didn’t tell you we already have plans. But thanks for thinking of me.” Travis walked over to the Coke machine and slipped in a dollar. “You know who you should ask to dinner?” Both women were rendered speechless. “Shannon. You know, the intern? She would be thrilled if you gave her two minutes of your time.”

“That’s a fine idea,” Rachel said as she fluffed her hair with her hand, “but... Shoot, I just remembered I need to go over some things with Brian tonight. Maybe another time.”

“Another time, then. I’ll let Shannon know. She’ll be so excited.” Travis pushed the button for his drink and smiled. Rachel tried to smile, but it was more like a grimace. She hightailed it out of the break room, leaving a snickering Travis alone with Summer.

Summer sat at the long rectangular table, tearing a napkin into tiny pieces. “You know she’s never going to take Shannon out to dinner, right?”

Travis twisted off the cap of his Coke. “I know, but she’s starting to rub me the wrong way.”

“She’s jealous.”

“Of Shannon?” He laughed. How could Rachel be so blind when his sights were so clearly set on Summer?

Summer pushed her chair back and rose to her feet, the napkin bits clenched in her fist. She tossed the confetti into the garbage and pulled open one of the cabinets. “Well, you two have been attached at the hip lately,” she said, pulling out a coffee mug. “People are bound to assume things. You’ve always been very popular with the ladies.”

Clearly Rachel wasn’t the only one who couldn’t see. Travis came up from behind, trapping her against the counter with his arms. She reacted immediately—her spine straightened into a rigid line while the rest of her quivered. Her breathing stopped for a second, and Travis couldn’t wipe the smile from his face.

“I don’t think she needs to be jealous of Shannon,” he said softly in her ear. Summer swallowed hard. He swore he would tell her how he felt and see if she thought she felt the same. After she was almost decapitated the other night, he vowed to do it sooner than later. “Where am I taking you to dinner tonight?”

“I... We... I don’t know if...” Unable to finish any of her sentences, she stopped trying altogether.

“It’s just dinner. We’ve had dinner together several times.”

Now she was breathing too fast. “Did you know that even though tornadoes can appear any time of day, most happen between three p.m. and nine p.m.?” she asked, still shaky.

“Can you feel those comin’, too?” He stepped back, offering her an escape. The weather fact was enough to let him know she was more interested than she’d been letting on.

Summer turned around, her arms like a shield across her chest. “Some storms have a way of catching me off guard,” she admitted.

“Have dinner with me tonight?”

Her eyes exposed her fear. She didn’t trust him. Or maybe she didn’t trust herself. Summer took a deep breath and let it out slow and easy. “Okay.” This woman was nothing if not up for a challenge.

* * *

H
IS
 
FAVORITE
 
WEATHER
girl was waiting for him by the elevators after the five o’clock report. Travis held up a finger, letting her know he needed one more minute. His father was reading him the riot act on the phone.

“If you let this opportunity pass you by, there may not be another waiting for you. You have to show some interest.”

Travis hadn’t called the coach over at Alabama yet. Someone—Travis guessed his brother—was in big trouble for telling his father about his lack of follow-through. “I’ve been busy at work,” he tried to explain.

“We’re talking about getting you a real job. The right job. Don’t make excuses. You never used to make excuses.”

“I’m not even sure I want to be a quarterback co—” That was the wrong thing to say. Travis could hear his father put the phone down and curse loudly. After a good ten seconds, he picked it back up.

“Call Alabama, son,” his dad said.

Travis mustered all the confidence he could find. He had a right to do what he wanted. And it was time to figure out what he wanted to do without input from his dad. “I’ll consider it, but right now I’m going to put a hundred percent into the job I have.” He looked back at Summer, who was chewing on her thumb nail while she waited for him. She was cute when she was nervous. “I’m really starting to like it here.” Before his dad could say anything else, Travis said goodbye and hung up.

Summer needed to get back in time to reset some of her graphics, so they agreed on a little café within walking distance of the station. It wouldn’t be long before this time of day would find the sun sinking lower in the sky, making the weather during the evening break more comfortable and mild. Cars and trucks filled with commuters clogged the street, but the sidewalk was nice and clear.

Travis watched Summer as she fixed her gaze on the ground in front of her. It was almost as though she was intentionally trying to avoid stepping on the cracks in the pavement. He began to wonder if she was a superstitious thrill-seeker. Cautiously reckless perhaps, he mused. She wore her hair up today, a few loose curls framing her pretty face. Summer was a natural beauty. She never wore too much makeup—eyes bluer than the ocean didn’t need any help standing out. Her lips were always a soft pink and lightly glossed. He was going to kiss those lips someday.

As they walked, Travis tried to strike up a conversation. “So, if this weather keeps up, are we going to make it in the record books for the driest fall?”

Summer glanced up at him briefly. He could see her trying to hold back a smile.

“What? What did I say?” he asked, nudging her with his elbow.

Her smile broke free and spread across her face. She looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun. “You’re really willing to talk to me about the weather?”

“Sure, why not?”

She shrugged and averted her eyes again. Travis couldn’t wait to get to the restaurant so she could sit across from him and he could look into those eyes all dinner long. “Once you get me started, I might not be able to stop. I can talk about the weather all day.”