no idea. I mean, we never would have played something like that on the air.”
“There’s a rumor going around that it was you and Adam on the tape. Is that true?”
She sighed. “Yeah.” Those moments in the library had been so special. She and Adam had been closer right then than ever before. Having their most intimate sharing broadcast before strangers that way, turned into something lewd and wrong, hurt worse even than losing her job.
“Where were you? When?”
“Swear you won’t pass this around?” It was bad enough that Carl knew.
“Cross my heart. Tell.”
“We were at the station. We were supposed to be doing inventory.”
“Couldn’t keep your hands off each other, huh?”
“Something like that.” Would Adam ever feel that way about her again? If he didn’t, what did that say about the professions of love he’d made?
“So how did that tape get made?”
“Bonnie says she was there that night. That she stopped by to record the commercials for Mighty Mike’s and that she saw me doing something with the computer. In other words, she implied that I must have made the tape and planted it.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Exactly what I said, but Bonnie said I did it to get attention. That I’d do anything to make a name for myself.”
Tanisha snorted. “She would know about that, wouldn’t she?”
“I think she set the whole thing up. That she heard us, taped it and put it in the computer so that we’d get caught. And so far, it’s worked out perfectly for her.”
“So Carl believed her crazy story?”
“The tape was there. It was obviously us. I don’t think Carl cares at this point who put it there. He’s worried about his job.”
“The FCC already sent someone to investigate. They’re going to want to talk to you and Adam, too.”
“I know. All I can say is that I didn’t have anything to do with the tape being recorded and played on air. It’ll be Bonnie’s word against mine.”
“She’s playing the innocent right now. All long-faced about the terrible tragedy. But I overheard her tell Davie the drive-time show is going to be an even bigger hit now that she’s in charge.”
Erica tightened her grip on the phone. “It’s probably a good thing I’m not at the station right now. I’d give her something to wear a long face about. What does Carl say?”
“Nothing. He’s been locked in his office. He looks like somebody shot his dog. He really does like you and Adam.”
“And we’ve disappointed him.” She felt as if she’d swallowed rocks. Carl wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type, but she’d come to respect him. Knowing she’d fallen in his eyes was hard to take. “I know Bonnie was behind all this. I just have to find a way to prove it.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
“Even if you prove she set you up, you still broke Carl’s no dating rule.”
“Yeah, but I’m thinking that looks pretty small compared to this. And even if it doesn’t get our jobs back, I’d like to try to salvage our reputations.”
“What does Adam say?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. He’s not talking. In fact, the minute Carl stormed into the studio, it was like a gate closed over his emotions. He even asked me if Bonnie’s story was true.”
“He just wanted you to verify that it wasn’t. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t believe you.”
“Then why doesn’t he say that? He wouldn’t even let me come back to his place with him.”
“Men are like that. Give him time in his cave, he’ll come around if he really loves you.”
“Yeah.” Big if. “I’d better go now. Thanks for calling.”
“Hang in there. And let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Thanks.”
She hung up the phone and slumped against the sofa. This morning she’d felt as happy as she’d ever been, so in love with Adam she was sure no problems could touch them. Then, at the first hint of trouble he’d pulled away from her. What did that say about the strength of his feelings for her?
She sat up straighter and took a deep breath. She couldn’t moon around worrying about what Adam thought of her. If he couldn’t come out of his funk and see that she was a strong, together woman who cared about him—a woman who was worth making an effort for—then he wasn’t worth having.
The thought induced a flutter of panic. She’d said and thought this kind of thing before—about other men, other jobs. Whenever a situation or relationship got uncomfortable, she’d been the first