“A Little Advice”

“My, aren’t you the busy little cubby these days,” Alex drawled, as he sauntered into the newspaper office, grinning.

“Yeah well, some of us have a job to do around here... uh... Ross, wasn’t it?” Abby snorted, barely looking up at the man.

Alex chuckled, “Oh, I’ve got a job alright, just not the one I want.” He walked up to her desk, picked up a slip of paper and began reading it until Abby snatched it from his hand and set it back down.

“Where’s that boss of yours hiding?” Alex asked, leaning on the edge of her desk.

“Why, you still tryin’ to hit him up for a job?” she asked, sarcastically.

“Nah, given up that idea, actually,” he replied, a cocky smile spread across his face, “Got bigger plans than workin’ for this little rag.”

“Well, good for you,” Abby told him, coolly, then added, “Cal’s not here.”

“Never seem to time my visits right, do I?” he grinned.

“Unfortunately for me, no, you don’t,” she told him, as she continued typing.

Alex stood there, smiling at her – his head tilted to the side.

Abby stopped her typing, looked up. “Something I could help you with?” she asked, hoping he’d just hurry and leave so she could get back to her work.

“Actually, doll-face, I think maybe I’m the one that can help you,” he told her.

“Oh yeah?” she snorted, “And how’s that?”

“Little boyfriend advice for you,” he replied.

“I’m curious, Ross, what kind of relationship advice could you possibly give me?” she chuckled.

“For starters, if you actually care about a fellow and you want to keep him as your boyfriend, it might be in your best interest not to go pushin’ them out of windows. Seems they aren’t too keen on the idea and tend to break.”

“Break? Oh my gosh! Colin?! Is... is that what happened to him? Is he alright?”

“Seems like you’d know... seein’ how you’re the one that pushed him out the window. Why was that, again? I’m a bit fuzzy on that little fact...”

“Pushed him? I didn’t push him from the window, I just... well, ushered him out onto the balcony...,” the realization that she’d caused Colin’s accident horrified her.

“Tell that to the cops,” Alex told her, “Broke the poor guy’s leg as well as his heart.”

“Thanks for letting me know, Ross,” Abby told him, quickly gathering up her purse and heading for the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get down to the hospital to see him. I’ve... um... got some explaining to do.”

She ushered him out of the office and locked the door behind her.

“Need a lift?” Alex asked, opening the passenger side door of his car.

She looked around, realizing she’d left her car parked back at the inn and sighed. “Umm... sure, on one condition.”

“What’s that, slim?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“The name’s Abby... not slim, or doll-face, or whatever other little condescending nickname that you come up with. Got it?”

“Got it,” Alex chuckled, then added, “Abby.”

She cast him a sidewise glance as she slid into his car. He smiled to himself, as he closed the door behind her, then walked around to the driver’s side and got in. “Dames,” he thought to himself, as he adjusted the rearview mirror and drove off towards Coffs.

TBC...