Rock my world - By Cindi Myers Page 0,28
great no matter what position I’m in.”
“But what position is your favorite?” Nick asked. “Maybe that would be a good poll to take with your listeners. What position is your favorite?”
“I like to sleep on my back, personally,” Adam said, trying to bring the conversation into safer territory.
“Who said anything about sleeping? Erica, did I mention sleeping?”
She laughed. “No, Nick, you did not.”
“Speaking of sleep, we’d better let Nick get some rest,” Adam said. “I’m sure he needs it, after the ordeal he’s been through.”
“All I’ve been doing is resting. I’m ready for a little entertainment. So come on, tell me all about the wild goings-on at Mattress Max’s Furniture Gallery after the lights go out.”
“Not nearly as wild as your imagination, Nick.” Adam signaled Mason to cue up the next song. “This one’s just for you, buddy. Hope you’re back on your feet real soon. Here’s Crash Test Dummies with ‘Afternoons and Coffee Spoons.’”
He pulled off his headphones and leaned back against the pillows. “Nick was in his usual fine form this morning.”
Erica laughed. “The man’s amazing. There he was complaining about how bad he felt and everything and the minute he was on air, he was really ‘on.’ His voice even changed.”
“He’s been in radio over fifteen years. He could probably do a show half asleep. And knowing Nick, he has.”
“What about you? How long have you been doing this?”
“Almost ten years.” Not counting an unfortunate three-year break he didn’t like to think about.
“And how long has Bonnie been with the station?” she asked.
“Five years? I think she was with a small-market station somewhere in Texas before she came here.”
“I don’t think she likes me very much.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe she blew up like that over one missed line.”
“Bonnie can be, um, single-minded when it comes to her job. Forget about the line. She goes out of her way to find slights.”
“Maybe she should switch to decaf.”
“Yeah. What’s up next?”
“A representative from the Salvation Army is coming to talk about their plans for the shelter, we’ve got concert tickets to give away, more music, news and sports—the usual.”
“Listen to you. This is all old hat already.”
“I don’t think broadcasting from a bed could ever be classified as ‘old hat.’”
“It’s not the usual way to begin a career, that’s for sure.”
“But it was a great way for me to get noticed. I’m still glad I’m doing it with you, though, and not Nick.” Her smile turned seductive. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be having nearly as much fun with him.”
He tried to come up with some smart-mouthed answer, but the desire in her eyes sent all the blood rushing south of his brain and all he could do was pretend to consult his clipboard and take deep breaths. So much for his rep as Mr. Cool.
The woman was seriously messing with his head. One more night. He only had to get through one more night of this gig.
And then what? He’d still see her at the station and it wasn’t as if he’d be any less attracted to her once they were both fully dressed.
The idea of mixing it up with a co-worker still made him uneasy, but maybe Erica was right. Maybe if they weren’t actually working on the air together, they could pull off a relationship. She was terrific. Not a ticking bomb like Bonnie. Maybe it was time he let someone in his life again.
BY FOUR O’CLOCK that afternoon, the unrelenting rain had driven all but the dumb or desperate off the streets and into their homes and businesses. The sky outside the showroom window was as dark as night. The parking lot lights made watery circles on the asphalt, and the few people Erica could see from her seat at the end of the bed were hunched against the sheeting rain.
“Anyone know where we can get a good deal on an ark?” she asked no one in particular.
“The weather is the least of my worries right now.” Carl emerged from a side room he’d commandeered as a temporary office and stood in the doorway, scowling.
His grim expression soon silenced all conversation and everyone turned to him, waiting. “I just got a call from corporate. Somebody’s sister-in-law or wife or second-cousin or something objected to some of Nick’s comments this morning during the call-in, and complained to one of the head honchos.”
“What comment offended her?” Erica asked.
The lines on Carl’s forehead deepened. “Something about what the two of you were up to after