along. “A new bed? Something you bought to celebrate our new show?”
“Not exactly. Mattress Max was so pleased with the job we did raising money for the Salvation Army that he’s sending me my very own Therapedic Sleep System.”
And what exactly did Max expect in return? The lecher. Adam pushed the thought away and kept up the patter. “How about that, folks? Max didn’t send me a mattress. Maybe if I had long blond hair and big b—”
“Now, Hawk, you’re going to give people the wrong impression.”
“I was going to say big blue eyes.” His eyes met hers, and his heart beat a little faster. Seeing her every day this way hadn’t done anything to make him stop wanting her. Working together in the small sound booth, it was impossible not to brush up against each other a dozen times a day. And now she was talking about mattresses, reminding him of the time they’d spent alone, in the dark, in a certain king-size bed…
While he segued into the commercial break, she scribbled a note and passed it to him. Since you didn’t get a new mattress of your own, you’ll just have to come over and try out mine.
He cleared his throat, determined to steer the conversation back to safer territory. You know why that wouldn’t be a good idea, he wrote back.
Oh, I think it would be a very good idea. She winked as she passed back the scrap of paper. He checked the countdown clock and saw it was time to go live once more.
“Good news, folks. Naughty Nick will be back on the air Monday morning. His leg’s still in a cast, but he hasn’t let that slow him down.”
“I heard they kicked him out of the hospital for chasing nurses,” Erica said.
“I heard they booted him because he caught one.”
“I’m sure he’ll have some wild stories to tell,” Erica said. “So be sure to tune in Monday morning at 6:00 a.m. for the return of Naughty Nick.”
“Looks like it’s time for us to say goodbye. Have a safe weekend. Casey is up next to take you out on the town for your Friday night.” He hit Play and the strains of Korn’s “Did My Time” blasted from the speakers.
Erica removed her headphones and grinned at him. “Our first week done. I thought it went pretty well.”
“You did great.” He stowed his headset and stood and stretched. He lowered his voice and moved close enough that any listening production crew wouldn’t be able to overhear. “What’s with the stuff about the bed?”
“It’s true. I am getting a new bed this weekend.” She gave him a coy look. “And you’re welcome to try it out anytime.”
“I am not getting back in your bed.” He had to force the words out, but he meant them.
“You say that, but I know you want to be there. And I want you there.”
Her words sent heat curling through him. “Enough. I told you why that’s a bad idea. Nothing’s changed about our situation to make it a good one.”
“You’re too young to worry so much.” She retrieved her purse from under the console and slung it over her shoulder. “Want to go for a drink? Celebrate our first week together?”
He shook his head. “Give it a rest.”
“You know what I think?”
He groaned. “No, but you’re going to tell me, aren’t you?”
“I think you’re a masochist. You like to punish yourself. Either that, or you’re afraid to have a good time.”
“Thank you, Dr. Laura.” He fished his car keys from his pocket and headed toward the door. “See you on Monday.”
He hurried across the parking lot, hoping she’d have the sense not to follow him. So she thought it was cowardly not to follow through on his feelings for her. From his point of view, avoiding her took more guts than he’d known he had. If he’d been the type to believe in karma, he’d have said he was paying for past sins by having to struggle so hard to do the right thing now.
He was unlocking his car, almost home free, when Bonnie cornered him. “Going to meet your little girlfriend?” She leaned against the driver’s side door, preventing him from opening it.
“If you’re talking about Erica, she’s not my girlfriend.”
“Doesn’t look that way to me. You two sound pretty cozy on the air.”
“It’s part of the act.” A lie, but she didn’t have to know that. Carl had encouraged them to flirt on air.
“You’re a terrible actor. I should know.