His eyebrows shot up. “I beg your pardon?”
“A romantic relationship with a source creates a conflict of interest, or at least the appearance of conflict.” Her Ethics of Journalism professor had hammered that point home with cautionary tales of careers ruined and valuable reporting wasted. And Hannah was in no position to take risks, not with theBeacon’s fate hanging by a thread. Like it or not—and she damn sure did not like it—if she had the tiniest hope of using this story to rescue theBeacon, she had to maintain her journalistic impartiality.
He tilted his head and gave her a quizzical stare. “What’s the big deal? You’re not the Washington Post, and I’m not a politician. We’re a small-town newspaper and a souvenir shop.”
He just didn’t get it. The men in her life never got it. Indignation simmered in her gut as she straightened to full height.
“I beg your pardon. TheBeaconhas been a respected news source since 1897. It’s a big deal to this community, and my journalistic integrity is a big deal to me. Especially because I might be job hunting soon.” She resumed pacing, because looking at his handsome, bemused face was too painful.
His footsteps dogged hers. “Okay, okay. Let’s look at this logically.”
She shot him a glare over her shoulder. “That’s what I’m doing.”
“Right. You’re a paragon of logic and integrity. But what if—maybe we could—” he snapped his fingers. “What if we disclose our dating status? Like, on the record.”
“We have a dating status now?”
He stepped into her path, halting her anxious steps. “I’d like to.”
His hopeful expression was so cute, she couldn’t quite restrain the upward twitch of her lips.
Encouraged by that tiny slip-up, he grinned and tapped his forefinger to the tip of her nose. “Or how about this? You could focus on the UFO angle. Report on the cosmic whatsis and the people who believe in it. You’re not dating them, right?”
“That’s a helluva turnaround. The other day, you asked me to tone down the UFO angle.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I’m growing a spine. Took me long enough, but it’s high time I told my family where to shove their judgy opinions.”
Well, if nothing else, she could feel good about that. Cold comfort for her frustrated libido.
She shook her head. “I’m not sure that would fly, since the cosmic whatsis is on your property. Some might see that as inventing news to benefit my friend’s business.” She almost said ‘boyfriend,’ but caught herself in the nick of time. A few hot kisses didn’t make him her boyfriend, for God’s sake.
He crossed his arms and huffed. “Well, you’re practically family with everyone in Trappers Cove, right? You said as much yourself.”
“True.”
“Yet you report on them all the time. And I live in TC now. Why should I be any different?”
She chewed her lip, noting how Xander’s gaze followed the movement. “If it were just Trappers Cove, I wouldn’t worry so much. But the story’s already been picked up in Seattle and Olympia. If word gets out that I’m dating a source, I’ll look like a joke.”
He clapped his hand to his forehead. “It’s a human-interest story, for God’s sake! Just silly shit about flying saucers and wannabe space scouts.”
Indignation sizzled along her nerves. “There you go again, belittling the people who could keep your business alive.”
“That’s not the freakin’ point!” he roared.
She dropped her gaze to her soggy boots. “It kind of is, Xander. I want you to succeed.”
“Gah!” He spun away, paced the length of the gelato parlor’s storefront, then strode back. “Okay, you know what? We’re not getting anywhere. You’re upset. I’m upset. Let’s just—” he flapped a hand— “go to our separate corners and think on this. We’re both smart people. Surely, one of us can come up with a solution.”
Frustration knotted her insides. How had their sweet afternoon crumbled into this debacle?
Because you kissed him, dummy.
Stepping in close, Xander grasped her hand and clasped it to his chest. “I’m warning you now, Hannah. I don’t give up so easily. In fact—” He lifted her knuckles to his lips. And zowie! Even a hand kiss from him was enough to stiffen her nipples to diamond hard points. “I may be the most determined person you’ve ever met.”
Chapter Eleven
Twenty-fourhourslater,andstill clueless about how to overcome Hannah’s scruples without coming across as a selfish, horny asshat, Xander fled the drywall crew’s din for the sugar-scented peace of Sweet Dreams Bakery. Between Garrett’s calm, the coffee’s strength, and the sweet treats’ carb rush, something would jolt him out of this pointless rumination.
