Into the Fire - Leslie Kelly [69]
Then she planned to thoroughly seduce the man.
* * *
Nate arrived at the station early, wanting a chance to visit with Kelsey. He hadn't seen her in several days, since he'd been so busy with the assignment. He found her running around frantically, preparing for the evening's show.
"Haven't you ever learned the value of organization?" he asked her when she paused to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Nice to see you, too." She punched his upper arm. "That's for not coming to see your niece and nephew in two weeks."
He rubbed his arm. "Sorry. I've been a little distracted."
"No kidding," she said with a disgruntled expression. "Who is she? And please tell me she's at least of legal drinking age. I'd like to be able to leave the liquor cabinet unlocked when you bring a date over to meet me."
Nate snorted. "Ha, ha, smart-ass. Thanks for the vote of confidence. She's not only over twenty-one, she's actually a beautiful, brilliant, successful writer."
"Luckily, I know your tastes in reading have changed," Kelsey replied, "so I assume she doesn't write jokes for bubblegum wrappers."
He rolled his eyes.
"Okay, okay," she admitted, "I heard it in your voice when you told me about this assignment you're doing with Lacey Clark. It's her, right?"
He nodded.
"You nuts about her?"
"That pretty much sums it up."
A pleased expression crossed Kelsey's face. "I'm glad for you, Nate. I'm so glad you found someone who totally blew you away. I knew it would happen someday."
"Just like I knew you'd never have eyes for anyone but Mitch." Nate threw an affectionate arm across her shoulders.
"Have you told her yet?" Kelsey asked. "You know, not every woman has the confidence to be, uh, blunt about her feelings. I made all the overtures to Mitch, but I hear there are actually some women out there who like the man to be the pursuer."
Nate laughed as he followed his whirlwind little sister to her office in the radio station building. "Moving up in the world, I see," he said as he noted the size of the room and the view of the harbor out her window.
"I mean it, Nate. If you're crazy about her, don't you think you ought to tell her? Then again, maybe you shouldn't. Maybe you should wait until after I meet her, because if I don't like her, she's history."
"You'll like her," Nate predicted. "And I plan to tell her tonight after the show, when I give her a copy of my article."
"You have a copy with you?"
He nodded warily, recognizing the sparkle in his sister's eyes. As expected, Kelsey didn't relent until she'd gotten him to let her look at the article. Giving up, Nate pulled the manila envelope out of his briefcase and handed it to her. He sat down in a chair and watched as Kelsey leaned against her desk reading the piece.
She smiled as she read. Then she started laughing. When she was finished, she banded it back to him, then grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. "I can't wait to meet her."
* * *
Lacey prepared more for the evening she had planned after "Night Whispers" than she did for the interview itself. Though it seemed silly, since Nate had a great supply of lingerie hanging in his coat closet, she couldn't help visiting her favorite shop to pick up something new.
Not that she'd be wearing it for very long. If Nate was half as frantic as she, it wouldn't matter if she showed up