Love You Madly(28)
Chapter Eight
The lights on the studio dimmed as they faded to a commercial, and Travis watched from the wings as Meredith faced Annabeth, who, without the cameras on her, was smiling like a feral alley cat.
“You don’t think you could have clued me into the change in direction for your interview, Mer? Not that I don’t have sympathy for your plight, but this is my show. And your hijacking the interview made me look anything but professional.”
Ah, there’s the Annabeth he knew so well. She’d given them both a glowing smile when they first arrived, as, like Meredith before, she hadn’t realized she’d previously made his acquaintance. Now, her lips were stretched tightly over her lips, and she was ready for a fight. Unbelievable.
Meredith didn’t look concerned as she stood, pressing her hands down over her dress. “I’m sure that your exclusive interview with the mayor after he announces his intention to run again in the next election should help your injured pride.”
That also sounded right. Annabeth wouldn’t do anyone a favor, not even her own mother, unless she had something to gain.
The scary stretched smile on the woman’s face loosened. “Yes. As long as you hold true to your word.”
He walked out to join them, coming to Meredith’s side.#p#分页标题#e#
“Travis, any word?” she said immediately on noticing him.
He shook his head, aware of Annabeth’s gaze raking over him and then settling back on his face. Her face scrunched up as she took a minute. “Do we know each other? Wait. Oh my God. You’re not that computer guy, are you? From high school?”
His silence spoke for itself, and the woman placed her hand on his arm. “Wow. You sure have changed. For the better.” She laughed and wrapped her arms around him like they were old friends, her cloying scent also wrapping around him like a snake, suffocating him.
A glimpse of Meredith’s face showed clear exasperation.
He pulled away, eager for air, as Annabeth continued, “And you’re here with Meredith? That’s rich, considering your history.”
Meredith smoothed her face into a neutral mask. Save for the slight twitch under her left eye that had returned. “Travis is helping me find Darcy. He’s with a private security company.”
Annabeth ripped her gaze from him and stared at Meredith, that cunning smile back. “Really, Mer? I was certain that stunt out there on air was just a ploy to grab attention for yourself. Are you actually serious about this missing daughter thing?”
“I appreciate your graciousness in giving me the airtime, Annabeth,” Meredith continued, not bothering to respond to the jab. “I trust I’ll see you tomorrow night at the event?”
“So you’re going?” The woman’s voice dripped with condemnation.
“I have every confidence that Travis will find my daughter and things will be back to business as usual.” Meredith accepted her purse from a page who appeared at her other side. “Thanks again, Annabeth. You’ve been…gracious, as always.”
With that special swish of her head, she walked away, graceful and poised like the queen bee he’d known her to be. Only in this instance, he admired the spunk she’d shown. Not lowering herself to the other woman’s level.
She kept a fast pace, not stopping until they were outside, the heat hitting them like a furnace.
“Interesting friends you keep,” he said when she took a breath in, her face relaxing after the tension moments before.
“She’s been useful.” She gave him a side glance. “Although you didn’t seem to mind when she was rubbing herself against you.”
“Careful, Mer. If I didn’t know you better I’d think you might be jealous.”
She choked. “Believe me, Travis, I’m not jealous. You can hug and grope whoever you want, I could care less. Just try not to do it in front of me. I think I have to bleach my eyes to unsee it.”
He wasn’t buying it for a minute. With a smug smile, he walked to the car and unlocked it, opening the door for her. “I’ll work on it.”
The door slammed shut, and he whistled to himself as he reached the driver’s side and climbed in. He turned the ignition. A high screeching ring ripped the silence before the engine started and then hummed.
“What did you think? Will it work?” she asked. It took him a moment to realize she was asking about her on-air plea for information about her daughter.
He shrugged. “You did good. Now we wait. Review those files Meems gave us to see if we can find anything else to help. But first, since we’re in the area, let’s stop at the police station and file a report on your stolen car and update the missing persons report. Then we’ll swing by and get my car before heading to your place.”