There was a wary look in his eye that warned her this wouldn’t be easy. But then he didn’t give a damn about what people thought. He wasn’t ruled by the opinions of others. As she had so many times before, she wished she could be like him. Instead of answering him, she rummaged in her bag for the stupid gossip rag and then she thrust it at him as if it was self-explanatory. And it was in a way.

He glanced over the paper and then looked back up at her. “So? What’s the problem?” he asked.

She knew he’d react that way. Positively knew it, and it drove...