Her answer.

The solution, and it lay with Jesse Chapman.

A shiver of concern raced through her when she thought about the fact that she had told Jesse that she loved him-and he hadn't responded. Was she deluding herself that things could work out?

She couldn't worry about that right now. She had a job to save.

Sliding the sedan into gear, she wheeled out of the KTEX TV parking lot, taking I-10 instead of Mesa Street, making it home in record time. But when she pulled into the driveway, Jesse's Jeep wasn't there.

She threw the gearshift into reverse, then drove to the golf course. When she didn't find him there, she drove to a golf supply store. She even wheeled through the Home Depot parking lot, looking for his black Jeep. But Jesse was nowhere to be found.

With every mile she drove, she thought of how Jesse had told Travis that he needed to be himself. And that was exactly what she needed to do. She had to be herself. As silly and trite as it sounded, that was exactly what she had to start doing.

She felt almost giddy at the realization that she had to stop trying to be sexy or smart or any of the things she wrapped around herself so she didn't have to dig deep to find out who she really was. Kate Bloom. A newswoman who could give Julia her ratings, help Travis with his friends, and at the same time give the public sports programs the funding they deserved.

She just had to convince Julia. She also had to convince El Paso's very own prodigal son of the part she needed him to play in her plan.

To: Julia Boudreaux From: Katherine Bloom Subject: Idea

Julia! I have an idea. A great idea for a new segment. Something that will please us all. Just give me one last chance and I promise to deliver.

Kate

Katherine C. Bloom News Anchor, KTEX TV West Texas (Hopefully still)

To: Chloe Sinclair From: Julia Boudreaux Subject: Relief Chloe, I just heard from Kate. She hasn't gone off and done something drastic, as you feared, but she actually sounds excited about some new plan of hers. Can you buy us some time with the auditors?

Jules To: Julia Boudreaux From: Chloe Sinclair Subject: Excitement?

About what? Whatever it is, don't screw it up, Jules. And yes, I can eke out a bit of time.

Chloe Sinclair Station Manager Award-winning KTEXTV To: Katherine Bloom From: Julia Boudreaux Subject: Idea?

What is it, Kate? What kind of idea? If you want to talk in person, why don't we go to dinner tonight?

xo, j To: Julia Boudreaux From: Katherine Bloom Subject: Can't

... do dinner, but thanks anyway. Too much to do. As to my idea, I mentioned it because I didn't want you writing me off too soon. Let me put it together first. Then I'll surprise you. Also, have you heard from Jesse recently? I've looked all over for him, but can't find him.

To: Katherine Bloom From: Julia Boudreaux Subject: Fine I guess I'll be the one who has to endure the surprise this time. Serves me right. As to Jesse, I heard he was meeting with Bobby Mac today at Bobby's Place.

Keep me posted, xo, j

NINETEEN.

Kate wheeled along Mesa Street. She drove up the undulating hills as fast as she could. Mount Franklin rose to her left, craggy and beginning its afternoon turn to red as the sun started beating into it. To her right, she could make out Mount Cristo Rey, with its towering cross peak, and the Sierra Madres in Mexico just beyond, forming a valley that cradled the west side of El Paso.

Turning into the parking lot of Bobby's Place, she threw the car in park, then hurried to the door. She saw Jesse the minute she stepped inside.

A rush of heat mixed with a settling calm washed through her at the sight. He sat with Bobby Mac,

Jesse's shoulders wide and braced as he leaned forward, his elbows on the table, a beer in front of each man. Both men were handsome, but it was Jesse who filled her mind and her heart. Jesse hadn't come home last night before she had gone to bed, but his Jeep had been there when she woke in the morning. Though he had left again by the time she got out of the shower.

Now he looked tired, as if he hadn't slept at all. His expression was grim as he talked to Bobby Mac.

But when he looked up and saw her, he smiled. Just that, enough to reassure her that everything was going to be all right.

She all but ran over to the table.

"Kate," Bobby said, surprised, as he stood.

Jesse studied her for long seconds before his smile broadened and he rose slowly. "Kate," he

acknowledged.

She wanted him to reach out and take her hand. But he didn't. Instead, he held her chair like a perfect gentleman.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," she said, and even she could hear that she sounded like a giddy schoolgirl.

"You're not," Bobby said. "Jesse and I were just talking about how being a father isn't so easy. Kids

don't come with instruction books."

"Jesse's doing a better job than he realizes," she defended.

"I'm sure he is."

Jesse just shook his head.

"What can we do for you?" Bobby asked.

Kate blinked as his question sank in, or rather as a single word sank in. We. As in Jesse and Bobby.

The unexpected insight cleared her thoughts, and suddenly her plan shifted and expanded. Not only

was Jesse a professional golfer, but Bobby Mac was an ex-quarterback for the Texas Lone Stars.

This would be great.

"I have a proposition to make."

Jesse's smile quirked devilishly. "You? A proposition?"

Kate felt embarrassment rush to her hairline as the men appreciated the humor. "Funny."

"I try."

She leaned forward, planting her elbows on the table in her enthusiasm. "I've been thinking about the

fact that Travis's golf camp needs money. I did some research on the Internet and made some calls before I drove over here. I learned that most public sports programs in the area need help. No surprise really, and I wanted to do something about it."

Bobby chuckled. Jesse did not.

"What did you have in mind?" the ex-football player asked.

"Well..." She glanced back and forth between them. "I was thinking of a golf showdown of sorts."

The smile on Jesse's face froze. "And who did you see showing down?"

"Well, um, you and Bobby Mac."

The change happened so quickly that it felt like her head spun. Jesse's jaw visibly tensed and his grip on

the beer mug tightened so hard his knuckles went white. Confused, she rushed on.

"It makes all the sense in the world! El Paso's two most famous sports stars playing for charity. Jesse Chapman versus Bobby Mac McIntyre. It would be great."

"You know," Bobby said with a laugh, "now that I'm not out on the field, I've been playing some

serious golf. I wouldn't mind a friendly matchup for charity."

Jesse still hadn't moved. His forearms were still planted on the table, the muscles taut and well defined.

She felt light-headed from keeping herself from reaching out to him.

"It's not a bad idea," Bobby continued.

"It will be great!" Kate cheered, as much for the distraction as for the idea that Bobby was on board.

"Not only will the proceeds go to public programs, but it will bring more awareness to the problem. And

the two of you will prove that you truly are hometown heroes."

She realized that she sounded no better than Tommy Davis, who wanted to do an expose on Jesse. But this was different, wasn't it? Granted, it would save her job, but it would help a good cause in the process. If she told him how much this meant to her, how she needed this to stay employed, surely he would agree.

"What's in it for you?" Jesse asked.

Not exactly the response she was looking for.

"Fair enough." She clasped her hands in front of her. "I want to tape the event for Getting Real with Kate.

And yes, I need this, I admit it. But it also showcases both of you and helps the sports programs.

I'll televise the event. Of course, it won't be a full eighteen holes. We'll come up with a mini version of the game that will be fun and competitive. I'll walk along with a cameraman and a mike and interview both of you as we go. Then I'll edit it in the studio to fit a one-hour format."

Bobby considered. "Where will the winner's money come from?"

"The whole thing just came to me today. So I don't have all the details ironed out yet. But as I see it, we get local businesses to sponsor the event. They get great exposure, plus goodwill in the community