by Leslie Kelly
Kelsey’s voice trailed off, and Mitch heard music. The song asked for just one minute of “real love.” When she returned to the air, after the song and a commercial break, Kelsey picked up where she’d left off.
“Now, about real love…I want to hear from all of you about when you discovered it existed. I want to know the exact moment the excitement you felt when he walked into the room turned into absolute devastation when he left it. Gentlemen, don’t be shy tonight. I want to know when you realized the woman you asked out to dinner became the woman you wanted to spend your life with.”
Mitch wondered if she knew he was listening. Was she asking him to evaluate his feelings for her? Mitch wasn’t ready to do that, but she seemed to be forcing the issue.
“Your physical attraction to him, the excitement you feel when you’re in his arms, that’s only the beginning. It’s also your complete trust in him, knowing he’ll be on your side even if you’ve done something totally stupid, the idea that you’d rather stay home with him to watch an old movie than get dolled up and go out. These are clues of love. Realizing that he doesn’t care if you look like Frankenstein’s bride the morning after a party, or that he’ll tell you your bathing suit looks terrific even if you know you look fat in it, looking at him doing something as simple as reading a newspaper and thinking just how much you actually like him…well, now you’re in very deep.”
Mitch smiled during her brief pause. He liked her, too.
She continued. “Now, add that moment when you’re ready to scream because he left the toilet seat up and then he hands you a bunch of flowers he picked from your own garden. Your annoyance just evaporates. That’s the moment. Real love is when all the varied feelings you have for another person come together in an instant of utter clarity and you realize your life was a huge empty shell before he stepped into it.”
Mitch frowned. This was just a show. Kelsey was onstage when she did Night Whispers. She spoke about topics designed to encourage callers and help her ratings. So why did he feel she was reaching through the speakers, telling him, and only him, how she felt?
“Real love…once you find it, hold it tight and never take it for granted. It will last if you nurture it. And when you are both old and gray and slow in your movements and have only each other to laugh at your bad jokes, it will still be there.”
As a song began to play, Mitch walked to the stereo to turn it off. He didn’t want to hear any more.
Mitch paced around the living room, nearly tripping over a pair of shoes she’d left on the floor near the fireplace. One soft leather glove lay near the door. A fashion magazine rested on the coffee table among the archaeological journals, and a bottle of pale pink nail polish stood on an end table. The room was filled with her light scent. He couldn’t turn around without seeing something that belonged to her or reminded him of her.
When had he fallen in love with her? For there was no question that he loved her. Her words tonight had forced him to acknowledge that. He’d reached that “moment” she’d been babbling on about and now didn’t know what on earth to do about it.
He couldn’t love Kelsey. He liked her. He was amazingly attracted to her. He’d drifted into an affair with her against all common sense. But he didn’t have room in his life to love her.
Mitch was essentially a loner, getting mentally swept away when studying something that intrigued him. He’d never planned on marrying and raising a family. He liked being able to pick up and leave the country for six months at a time. He liked his calm, unencumbered life.
With Kelsey, he found his emotions called the shots and his brain ran to catch up. She appealed to a part of him he thought he’d managed to suppress, the part of him that didn’t fit in with his current existence.
Using every bit of his analytical experience, Mitch went over and over the reasons he couldn’t love Kelsey. A couple of hours later, he nearly had himself convinced.
But, of course, when she walked in the door and smiled that smile, he knew he was a goner.
11
KELSEY DIDN’T THINK too much about the roses. After all, they’d arrived at the station, just as the letters had. The address was right in the phone book for anyone to see.
The balloons in her car were another matter entirely. Brian and Edgar both noticed them right away as they walked her out after her show the following night.
“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 l
istening 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 the first time since the whole “knight” business had begun, she was actually feeling a little nervous. Somewhere, this man was watching her, paying attention to where she parked and what she looked like. It was a disconcerting feeling.
“I know how it feels to lie alone at night, dreaming about being with someone who doesn’t feel the same way. It can physically hurt, wanting him that much. So you start to imagine he wants you, too. You fantasize, planning how perfect your relationship will be once you get his attention. But how far should you go to get that attention? Call me, tell me about it.”
The show sped by quickly. Night Whispers was never short on callers. Dozens of people were anxious to talk about their own brushes with dangerous love.
“I never realized there were that many lonely, lovesick people in Baltimore,” Brian muttered as he walked her to the lobby after the show ended.
“Yeah, but none of them sounded like my lonely, lovesick knight,” Kelsey replied.
“You’re lucky. That’s the last thing you need, to get this guy on the air and fuel whatever sick fantasy he’s got going.”
Kelsey saw Edgar waiting for them. The guard unlocked the front doors as they approached. As they walked toward her car, she prayed there would not be a repeat of the balloon incident.
“Everything looks A-okay, Miss Logan,” Edgar said as he held her driver’s side door open for her while she got in.
“All right, then, I’m outta here,” Brian said as he waved and hopped into his own car. He beeped as he quickly pulled away.
Kelsey waved back, then inserted her key into the ignition and turned it. Nothing happened. She tried again, pumping the gas pedal a few times, mentally cursing the sporty little coupe. Why could cars never break down in their own garages?
Edgar knocked on her car window, startling her as he asked, “Having some trouble?”
“It’s just dead.”
Kelsey stepped out of the car to allow Edgar to get in and try to start it. Nothing happened. He popped the hood and got out to look under it. Kelsey was glad the man seemed to know what he was doing, because she wouldn’t have known a carburetor from a gas tank.
“I can’t see what’s wrong, Miss Logan. I think maybe you’ll have to have it towed to a garage tomorrow.”
She groaned.
“Hey, I’ll let them know inside and I’ll drive you home. It won’t take me long.”
“I can’t put you out. I’ll call a cab,” Kelsey said.
“I wouldn’t hear of it,” he insisted. “We can’t have some stranger coming and picking you up in the middle of the night. Keeping you safe is my job and I take it very seriously.”
He puffed out his chest and hitched up the loose waist of his pants. Kelsey bit her lip to stop a grin. His bravado seemed so out of character in the small, balding, middle-aged man. She was suddenly reminded of Barney Fife from the old Andy Griffith Show.
“Okay, Edgar, I really would appreciate it.”
She waited for him in the lobby while he got his keys and locked up the building for those remaining inside. When he was finished, he took her by the arm and led her back to the parking lot. As they neared his blue pickup truck, Kelsey noticed it sat in a very large, muddy puddle. It had rained earlier in the day, and Edgar had managed to park right in the middle of a huge, water-filled pothole.
She glanced ruefully at her brown leather shoes, hiked her pants up a bit and prepared to step into the water.
“Oh, no, Miss Logan, let me,” Edgar protested.
Before she realized his intention, the man bent over and picked her up. He staggered under her weight. He stood only a few inches taller than she did.
Kelsey yelped. “Edgar, put me down!”
“Can’t let you ruin your shoes,” he panted as he sloshed through the water.
Edgar shifted her so she pressed against the side of the truck while he tried to open the door. She knew he was going to drop her about two seconds before he actually did it. Luckily, as his arms gave out, she leaned back and slid down the side of the truck, using it to keep her balance as her feet splashed into the muddy water.
Breathing a quick sigh of relief that she hadn’t landed on her fanny on the pavement, she looked down at her sopping wet shoes.
“Oh, Miss Logan, I’m so sorry!”
“No, don’t pick me up,” she ordered when he moved to lift her again.
Edgar took a quick step back, losing his balance. Kelsey reached out to grab his arm, and he clutched at her hand, pulling her with him. They both went down, Kelsey landing on her rear end right in the middle of the puddle.
Feeling cold water seep into the weave of her beige slacks, Kelsey closed her eyes. She didn’t know whether to burst into tears or shriek with laughter. Lifting her arms, she placed her elbows on her knees and dropped her head into her hands.
“Oh, please, don’t cry, Miss Logan. I’ll pay for your clothes to get clean.”
She heard the misery in Edgar’s voice, lifted her head and struggled to smile. The man looked utterly mortified.
“It’s all right, Edgar. Why don’t we just go now, okay?”
He insisted on helping her up. She climbed inside as he walked around to the driver’s side door, his wet black boots making a squeaking, sloshing sound she could hear from inside the truck. Kelsey felt a grin tickle her lips. When he got inside the truck, he hung his head sheepishly and wouldn’t meet her eyes.
“It’s really all right, Edgar. I know you’re just trying to help.”
He glanced up, gave her a faltering smile and nodded. Kelsey held in a laugh when she saw a soggy leaf fall from his shoulder onto his lap. Shifting in her wet seat, she made herself as comfortable as possible for the ride home.
MITCH GLANCED AT THE CLOCK and frowned. Kelsey was late. She usually arrived home at around two forty-five and it was already past three. He couldn’t help worrying. It was bad enough that her job was so provocative. The fact that she had to drive home alone in the middle of the night made it that much worse.
He saw headlights swing into the driveway and breathed a sigh of relief. He walked into the foyer just as Kelsey came in the front door.
“You’re late,” he said as he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him. “I was getting worried. Hey, your pants are wet!”
“I’m sorry,” she said breathlessly. “I had car trouble and had to get a ride home from someone. I slipped in a puddle. Klutz, huh?”
Mitch saw a car back out of the driveway and pull away up the street. “Who was that? Brian?”
“No, it was Edgar. I don’t think you’ve met him.”
“Edgar, hmm? Should I be jealous?”
Kelsey giggled. “Baby, you’d have no reason to be jealous if Leonardo DiCaprio drove me home. I am all yours.”
He kissed her neck, liking her words. She was all his.
“Prove it,” he challenged as he drew her into his living room.
“That sounds like an order,” she murmured as she let her jacket fall off her shoulders onto the floor.
“I’d never dream of ordering you to do anything you didn’t want to do,” he said as he began sliding the buttons of her blouse open, one by one. Then he cocked a sly grin. “I prefer to use gentle persuasion.”
He whispered a suggestion in her ear and heard her moan deep in her throat. She rolled her head to the side and let her blouse fall off her shoulders. Mitch followed the fine curve of her neck and shoulder with his tongue as he unzipped her slacks and let them slide, along with her underclothes, down her legs. He kissed a path down her body, pausing for a d
electable moment or two to taste her breasts before dropping to his knees on the floor in front of her. He was glad he reached his arms behind her legs and held her thighs steady because when he began intimately caressing her with his mouth, her knees nearly buckled.
“Gentle persuasion works,” she muttered while she was still somewhat coherent.
Mitch barely heard her.
SOMETHING WOKE HIM EARLY the following morning. Mitch glanced at Kelsey, sleeping soundly beside him, then saw the clock. It was just past eight. Very early, considering they hadn’t gone to sleep until after four that morning. A languorous smile crossed his lips when he remembered how she’d kept him awake to try some gentle persuasion of her own after they’d moved to the bedroom. Lady Love’s mouth was absolutely amazing even when she didn’t say a word, he thought.
Mitch heard another noise coming from the front of the house.
Quickly getting out of bed, he pulled a pair of sweatpants over his naked body. He didn’t know what the noise had been, maybe a car passing close to the house, possibly a horn blown nearby. But the creak had seemed close, and familiar.
Walking through the living room into the foyer, he saw a box and a piece of paper lying on the floor by the front door. He immediately realized what he’d heard creaking: the mail slot.
Kelsey realized she was alone when she started to feel cold. She shifted over in her sleep, seeking Mitch’s warm body, but found his side of the bed empty. She sat up with a start.
“Mitch?”
He didn’t answer. Curious, she got out of bed, slipped on one of his shirts over her head and walked toward the front of the house.
The door between the living room and foyer was slightly ajar. Kelsey walked to it and gingerly pushed it open. “Mitch? What’s wrong?”
She saw him squatting in the foyer, holding a long, thin box covered with gold foil that looked as if it contained expensive candy. Mitch rose to his feet, staring steadily at her. He slowly extended his arm, offering her the box.