Love at Work

By Pat Simmons

How do two people go undercover to hide an office romance in a busy television newsroom? In plain sight, of course. 
Desiree King is an assignment editor at KDPX-TV in St. Louis, MO. She dispatches a team to wherever breaking news happens. Her focus is to stay ahead of the competition. Overall, she's easy-going, respectable, and compassionate. But when it comes to dating a fellow coworker, she refuses to cross that professional line.

Award-winning investigative reporter Brooke Mitchell makes life challenging for Desiree with his thoughtful gestures, sweet notes, and support. He tries to convince Desiree that as Christians, they could show coworkers how to blend their personal and private lives without compromising their morals. 
But Desiree has more on the line than protecting her job or reputation.
She's safeguarding her heart. However, Brooke will prove to her that love doesn't just happen, it takes work!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Generations Quest Press
• Release date: Feb 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507028339

Pat Simmons

Pat is the multi-published author of several single titles and eBook novellas, and is a two-time recipient of Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. As a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth, Pat is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. God is the Author who advances the stories she writes. Currently, overseeing the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions, Pat has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped, sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and her administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Read more about Pat and her books by visiting www.patsimmons.net, or on social media.

Book preview

Praises for Pat Simmons

I LOVE CHRISTIAN ROMANCE novels and Pat Simmons knows how to unlock the imagination and take it on a quick path of hope, love and Jesus. You will always find some sort of message in her books just like I found in Stopping Traffic. I smiled! ...Tamara Gatling, reader

Pat Simmons does it again and again!

Another great story from Pat Simmons! What I love about her books is they are all biblically based! She shows how we, as humans, are in need of healing, deliverance, forgiveness, etc. I really like her approach to the dating scene! It is refreshing from some other Christian novels that allow their characters to engage in sexual activity without being married! Thank you, Pat, for giving us some good, pure, interesting Christian materials to read!! I appreciate you! You and a handful of other Christian Authors are rare commodities in these last days! ...LeeLee, reader

Simmons has laid it all out on the line in this installment of the Jamieson legacy. This is pure Christian romance with a touch of heritage. There were moments in the middle that I wanted them to get it together but it turned out better than expected. The personal touch of genealogy is wonderful and will make you think about your own family heritage. Wanted to see more Grandma BB but loved the new character development. Simmons is on top of her genre...  Reviewed by M. Bruner Deltareviewer on Free from Guilt

Free from Guilt may be listed as Christian fiction, but it's so much more. You read about family history, romance and transformation. This is a great read and leaves the reader wanting more, with that being said I'm looking forward to the next Guilty installment.

...Reviewed by Melody Vernor-Bartel for Reader's Paradise

Other Christian titles include:

THE GUILTY JAMIESON Legacy series

Book I: Guilty of Love

Book II: Not Guilty of Love

Book III: Still Guilty

Book IV: The Acquittal

Book V: Guilty by Association

Book VI: The Guilt Trip

Book VII: Free from Guilt

Book VIII: The Confession

The Carmen Sisters

Book I: No Easy Catch

Book II: In Defense of Love

Book III: Driven to Be Loved

Book IV: Redeeming Heart

Love at the Crossroads

Book I: Stopping Traffic

Book II: A Baby for Christmas

Book III: The Keepsake

Book IV: What God Has for Me

Book V: Every Woman Needs a Praying Man

Making Love Work Anthology

Book I: Love at Work

Book II: Words of Love

Book III: A Mother’s Love

Restore My Soul series

Crowning Glory

Jet: The Back Story

Love Led by the Spirit

Perfect Chance at Love series:

Love by Delivery

Late Summer Love

Single titles

Talk to Me

Her Dress (novella)

Christmas Greetings

Couple by Christmas

Prayers Answered by Christmas

Anderson Brothers

Book I: Love for the Holidays (Three novellas): A Christian Christmas, A Christian Easter, and

A Christian Father’s Day

Book II: A Woman After David’s Heart (Valentine’s Day)

Book III: A Noelle for Nathan (Book 3 of the Andersen Brothers)

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Chapter 1

Desiree King looked forward to each New Year. She couldn’t help but be excited about the new possibilities, blessings, and yes, even challenges she was sure to experience.

Normally, she didn’t get caught up in the yearly craze of making resolutions. Besides, it was a matter of time before each declaration began to fizzle.

But this year, on a whim, Desiree decided why not toss a few of her own resolutions into the ring. She had her priorities set.

First, Desiree vowed to God to increase her prayer life, then maintain a healthy lifestyle, and last, get back into the dating scene to attract a good Christian man. To help in that department, her best friend, Malinda Thompson, suggested the two of them should try some gradual makeovers to snag a brother’s attention.

Although Desiree agreed, it really wouldn’t matter. Who would notice her? Desiree’s job had been the real culprit that hindered her from attending many of the Friday night services at church that catered to singles.

Then one week into January, something unusual occurred. Never in her three years as an assignment editor for KDPX-TV had Desiree received an anonymous letter. The sealed envelope was hidden among other items in her designated mail slot.

Tucking it under her arm, she headed to her work station. Jokingly, Desiree called the assignment desk the circus area. On some days, it was like a zoo when everything exploded, overwhelming the newsroom.

The assignment desk was more like a service counter rather than an actual desk or cubicle. It was the newsroom’s central command center. The person manning the post had to monitor several radio and television stations’ news stories.

If that wasn’t enough, emergency, fire, and police scanners occupied most of the back wall. When breaking news happened, it was Desiree’s job to dispatch a photographer with or without a reporter to any location to cover the story.

Her goal, along with the entire news team, was to beat the competition to the scene and report it first on the air.

At her work station, curiosity about the envelope got the best of her. She broke the seal.

Desiree, I’m not shy, but I’m respectful of your time while at work as well as my own.

Oh boy. She took a deep breath. What rumor was stirring in the newsroom now? Bracing herself for some kind of complaint or gossip, Desiree continued reading.

I’m very interested in getting to know you. Besides being gainfully employed, I’m single, never been married, and have no children. I do have three adorable little nieces. You would like them. They’re heartbreakers in training, thanks to my sister.

Huh? Frowning, Desiree was dumbfounded. Was this supposed to be akin to a love letter?

If so, she had not received one of those since...first grade when cute Peter Jones was practicing his cursive letters and sent her a sloppy I love you note. Desiree exhaled and finished.

I’m a Christian who believes in practicing what the pastor preaches. I give God more than lip service. If my approach is too forward or too juvenile for you, and you don’t wish to receive another letter from me, you can unsubscribe from any more of my intentions by marking on the outside of this envelope, return to sender.

Okay. This had to be a prank. Although Desiree didn’t preach the Word per se at work, she did wear her allegiance to God on her sleeve in her treatment of others. Dismissing the note, Desiree shoved it to the bottom of her purse and forgot about it. 

A week later, another sealed envelope was tucked in her mail slot.

Yesterday, as I sat in the newsroom, your beauty constantly distracted me. If you’re thinking this is a prank, it’s not.

I’m just a man who appreciates God’s amazing handiwork. I hope your interest is at least piqued. Texting, phone calls, and dates are more my style, but I’m biding the right time.

Her so-called secret admirer had lost his mind. It was a well-known fact among her colleagues that she did not date on the job. There were no exceptions! Cheez, did she have to send out a mass email to reiterate her position? If she received one more letter, Desiree would take it to personnel and let them deal with the harasser.

At twenty-seven years old, Desiree had, so far, evaded potential coworker-wannabe-suitors at the St. Louis NBC affiliate. When someone tried to cross the line into her personal affairs, she steered them back toward topics she deemed work-related.

She had good reasons to be so adamant. Then there were the cheating spouses right under her nose. One, in particular, came to mind. The sheriff had delivered divorce papers from John’s wife