Homecoming. Heather Inc. Justesen

      “Whoever made up the rhyme about April showers didn’t live in the Rockies.” As she emerged from her car, Alanna Jenkins yanked up the hood of her coat to protect her hair from the swirling white flakes. A cold breeze blew down her neck and made her shiver.

      Others were returning from lunch breaks and Alanna grimaced at her tardiness. Her editor, Doug Casell, would want to know where she’d been all morning. If she hadn’t left her cell phone charger at work the previous evening, she would have been able to check in with him.

      She greeted the editorial department’s office manager, waved to the ladies in classifieds, and avoided making eye-contact with Bob in advertising.

      Alanna slid into her desk and plugged in her cell. With any luck, Doug would remember her morning’s appointment. That was probably too much to hope though.

      The phone on her desk rang. “Chronicle, this is Alanna, how can I help you?”

      “So you decided to come in?” It was Doug’s voice on the line.

      “I’ve been in interviews. I told you where I’d be.”

      “Yes, but you didn’t mention you were going to be incommunicado.”

      “Sorry. My cell died. It’s charging and I’m writing the story now.” She made clicking noises with her keyboard to solidify the excuse.

      “Good, I’ll expect it by day’s end. I have the new head photographer in here. He’s going to shoot your appointment this afternoon. Would you join us?”

      Alana was relieved. The newspaper’s head photographer had quit without notice several weeks earlier and the other two had been spread pretty thin. Alanna had learned a thing or two about taking pictures when she was in college, but she was no expert. “Terrific, I’ll be right there.” Alanna adjusted the lapels on her lavender suit jacket, finger-combed her hair to make sure it wasn’t sticking out in odd directions, and tried to look confident as she walked around the cubicles to Doug’s office.

      “Alanna, how are you doing today?” Bob greeted her as she rushed around a corner and nearly knocked into him. He wore an expectant smile.

      She rushed past before he could try to ask her out. “Great, busy, busy. Doug’s waiting on me.” Alanna waved over her shoulder at the advertising manager and shot toward the glass doors enclosing Doug’s office. Two steps into the room her expression froze and her last step faltered.

      Kyle.

      What is he doing here? She couldn’t breathe when she looked into his dark eyes, saw the rough angles of his face, and the shock of red hair she’d loved against all sense—red hair had no right to be so sexy on a man. It was probably good she stopped breathing since the words running through her mind were definitely not office appropriate. She had the urge to step back and protect herself, to drive him off now while there was still time.

      Kyle was completely at ease, however, and smiled. “Hey, Ahnna. Long time, no see.”

      The