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“How is it going with Mitch?” Celia asked.

“It’s not going at all,” Kelsey replied with a sigh. “He’s not responding in the least. He doesn’t appear to even be aware of me.”

Celia grinned. “You must be joking. I was watching out the window the other day when you washed your car. He definitely knew you were there. Fred thought I was crazy for laughing when Mitch got himself covered with oil.”

“Well,” Kelsey conceded, “he knows I’m around, he’s just not ready to admit he cares I’m around. I think it was better when we were just friends. This acquaintance business is getting tiresome.”

“So, you just want to be friends again? Yeah, right,” Celia said with a knowing smile.

“Well, maybe friends isn’t quite the right word.”

Celia crossed her arms across her chest and raised one eyebrow. “I think lovers is the word you’re looking for.”

Kelsey laughed at Celia’s droll tone. “The thought has crossed my mind.”

“A woman would have to be made of stone for that thought not to cross her mind when Mitch Wymore walked into a room.”

Kelsey pretended she was shocked. “Why, Celia, for a nearly engaged woman to say such a thing…I’m appalled!”

“Hey, I love Fred, okay?” Celia explained with a laugh. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a male body that looks like it should be a centerfold…or a face that looks like it should be on the cover of GQ.”

“Don’t forget those dark blue eyes that seem to see everything,” Kelsey contributed.

“I think I prefer green eyes.” Celia’s sweet smile told Kelsey she had switched her thoughts to Fred.

When they heard a car pull up outside, Celia glanced out the window. “Fred’s home. Looks like he’s unloading some boxes. Uh-oh, Mitch is going out to help him.”

“I think I’ll slide on outta here, then,” Kelsey said. “I’m not exactly dressed for another seduction attempt.”

Kelsey glanced ruefully at her purple sweat suit and sneakers as she carried her teacup into the kitchen. She had a little flour on her chest from the cookie baking, and a brown smear on her wristband where she’d accidentally leaned into a bowl of chocolate chips.

“Don’t go,” Celia said. “When they get up here I’ll order pizzas or something, and the four of us can have dinner.”

“With Mitch ignoring me and me drooling over him? Thanks, but no thanks.”

“You don’t drool, and he doesn’t ignore you.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I am about ready to call this plan quits, anyway. Mitch has made it clear he’s not interested, and I’m not about to ambush him. Besides, my producer, Brian, is stopping by later. I need to get home and make some notes about show ideas before he arrives.”

Kelsey opened the apartment door to leave and found Fred, carrying a large carton, reaching for the knob. She held the door for him, and said hello and goodbye. Hoping Mitch wouldn’t be too quick, she dashed to the stairs and was halfway down when he started coming up. He hadn’t seen her yet; the large box he carried blocked his view. Kelsey decided to press against the wall and let him move right past her on the wide stairway. With any luck he’d never even notice she was there. It almost worked.

Mitch peered around the side of the carton he was carrying to see if he was nearing the top step, and came face-to-face with Kelsey. Startled, he dropped the box, watching helplessly as plastic beakers and papers spilled onto the wooden stairs. The cardboard container tipped on its side and slid like a toboggan straight down to the landing.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m sorry, I was just trying to get out of your way.” Kelsey shrugged slightly, but grimaced at the loud thump of the box hitting the floor at the bottom of the steps.

“Dammit, Kelsey,” Mitch snapped as he faced her and moved closer. “This is going to stop. Understand?” Kelsey leaned back farther as he crowded her. His hands braced the wall on either side of her head, and he trapped her, inches from his chest, as he continued his tirade. “I hope Fred didn’t have anything breakable