Night Whispers - Leslie Kelly [67]
“You going to a birthday party or something?” Brian asked.
“I have no idea where they came from,” Kelsey said softly as she opened the door and retrieved the huge bouquet. The balloons were brightly colored, with swirling ribbons attached. Holding the ribbons together at the bottom was a chess piece. A white knight.
“Subtle,” Brian said with a smirk.
“Pretty,” murmured Edgar.
“Goodbye,” said Kelsey as she yanked the knight off and let go of the ribbons. The balloon bouquet flew up out of her hands and was picked up by a breeze that carried it over the city. She didn’t say another word as she got in her car—which she knew she occasionally forgot to lock—and left the parking lot. Kelsey tried hard not to think about the fact that someone had actually come to the station and, knowing which car was hers, had gotten into it while she was inside the building.
Luckily, Mitch helped her forget when she got home that night.
THEY SLEPT LATE the next morning, as they usually did on weekdays. Mitch had adjusted his sleep schedule to fit in with Kelsey’s work hours and enjoyed waking up slowly beside her every midmorning.
“I wish you’d change your mind and let me come to the banquet with you tomorrow night,” she said as she snuggled close to him. “Baltimore can survive one night without Lady Love if I call in sick.”
“You’d be bored stiff. I’m not looking forward to going, myself.”
Kelsey sat up and stretched. Since she slept naked, Mitch couldn’t help pausing to admire the picture she made. He felt his body harden in instant response.
“You should be thrilled about it,” she said. “You’re being honored by a charitable organization for some very wonderful work you did. Foreign adoption agencies in the city have really benefited from those articles you wrote last summer.”
“I’m proud of the award, Kels, just not too interested in being around the Downtown Charitable Society. I know some of the members. Rich snobs who dabble in good works. Believe me, tomorrow night will be a bore. I’d be just as pleased to accept the plaque in my own living room.”
Mitch saw her nibble at her lip and glance away. He sensed there was something she wasn’t saying. “What’s wrong?”
“I just wondered, I mean, it’s not that you don’t want me there, is it? I mean, I don’t imagine it would do your reputation a lot of good to show up with the infamous Lady Love on your arm.”
Hearing the uncertain tone in her voice, Mitch immediately sat up and drew her into his arms. He was shocked that she would even think he could somehow be ashamed of her. “Kelsey, you’re crazy. The problems I have with your job have absolutely nothing to do with embarrassment or worry about my reputation. It’s your safety that concerns me. I’d be the luckiest guy in the place if I showed up with you on my arm tomorrow night.”
She nodded, reassured, and Mitch lay back against the pillows, pulling her down with him.
“Maybe I’ll plan on giving you a private little award tomorrow night in your own living room,” she offered in a sultry whisper.
“How about a preview?” he said with a grin.
Smiling, she slid on top of him and complied.
“WHAT HAPPENS WHEN attraction becomes obsession?”
Kelsey saw Brian’s frown from the other side of the booth. She’d changed topics on him with no warning again.
“You and I have talked many times, my friends, about desire, about wanting someone. But we’ve never really discussed that line…that fine line between being attracted to someone and being obsessed with them. Tonight I want to talk about it. Call me. This is Lady Love and you’re listening to Night Whispers on WAJO.”
Kelsey sat back in her chair, confident about her decision to change tonight’s topic. She didn’t really feel like getting on the air and talking about the “funniest places people made love.” Not after last night’s balloon incident, and the love letter she’d received earlier today. In it, her admirer commented on how much he had liked the way she’d worn her hair one night last week. For