Page 11 (1/2)

“It’s old news Nothing that the town doesn’t already know Honestly, Malcol well I wouldn’t be si

tting here begging you for a write-up I wouldn’t be juh Lake Benson’s hoops either”

“I can’t very rite that your business is struggling and you’re desperate for customers”

“At least that would be honest”

“Readers don’t want honest, Kirsty—they want sensationalist”

She pursed her lips gri she did know

“What about the new knickers you’re designing?” He pointed to the clothes rack in the corner “What if we play that up?”

“No, they aren’t ready I haven’t had any ti I want to draw attention to”

Malcolh He rubbed a hand over his face as if to rearrange his features

“Help me out here, Kirsty You want the publicity, tellstory in the world I can just see the headline now: ‘Local lingerie shop does okay’ It won’t sell papers, lass, and it sure as jiminy won’t sell knickers”

Kirsty looked around her office for inspiration The people who’d owned the space before her had used the large back roon In one corner was her old wooden desk, which she’d painted lilac Behind that were shelves stacked with azines and paperwork The rest of the roo table, complete with machine The walls were covered in photos for inspiration and drawings of works in progress The clothes rack held ideas she orking on, but the mannequins stood bare There was no way she could let him write about her collection Heck, she couldn’t even call it a collection A few pieces of lingerie by a half-baked designer, who could barely draw, didn’t make a collection

“He’s a war hero, did you know that?” Malcolht

“Aren’t they all?”

“I suppose so, but this guy has medals You wouldn’t know it to look at hi the world, but he never mentioned them I found out when I looked him up on the internet”

“You met Lake?” Kirsty leaned over the desk towards him