The glee faded into horror. "Oh, honey, that's awful."
In a flash, Yvonne reached into her desk drawer and grabbed her purse. "Let's go. You and I have got to talk."
Rick stared at the closed door of his office. It made the room feel smaller, and somehow dimmer. He could even imagine there was less air to breathe.
Leaning back in his chair, he put his feet up on the desk and eyed the fresh scuff mark on his right loafer. The damage went a lot further than a scuffed shoe and a sore toe. Just friends. Who was he kidding?
He had no idea what had sent Christie barreling out of the office to haul speakers. But he knew perfectly well why he'd acted like a jerk, and it was ridiculous. Jealous of a comment from Rob? Rob would flirt with anything that walked. It had nearly cost him his job, a couple of times over. Christie was too smart to fall for anything like that.
On the other hand, she might be emotionally vulnerable lately. Rick had himself to thank for that. And she saw Rob alone in the studio. Every night.
Maybe, just to be safe, he should have a little talk with Rob about not hitting on impressionable newcomers.
Or maybe not.
Rick knew his judgment was getting cloudy, and he didn't like it. There was no point in any of this, not with both of their jobs on the line. The job fit her like skin, and he had no business asking her to risk it, or to give it up. It was one of the things he loved about her.
Love. He hadn't meant to think that. It was just there, as natural as breathing.
And it was impossible. He'd just have to stop breathing.
Love. Based on what? A couple of lovely evenings, one great week in the studio, and one kiss.
Well, all right. One really amazing series of kisses.
It had felt more than good. It had felt right. The same way it felt right to have her there in his apartment, making popcorn as though she'd done it countless times before.
But it wasn't right. It couldn't be. Not when Christie worked for him. Not when the owner of the businessnot the most flexible man, from what Rick had seenhad a hard-and-fast policy against managers getting involved with employees. There was no way around it.
And there was no way he could maintain a professional relationship with her, in the same office, and still maintain his sanity. Today was proof of that. Not when all he wanted to do, every time he saw her, was kiss her again. And again. Until both their knees buckled.
Rick shook himself. Man did not live on sensory flashbacks alone.
With new resolve, he dug through the pile on his desk for a trade magazine, and started searching the ads for available positions.
"Okay," Yvonne said. "Spill it."
Yvonne had dragged her to a cafe around the corner from the station. Although there wasn't much warmth in the January sun, Christie had asked Yvonne if she minded a table out on the patio, where anything she said could be scattered to the breeze. Christie didn't know if this was a good idea or not, but the need to unload was too great.
Yvonne listened to Christie's story with no attempt to disguise her widening eyes. Her cappuccino cooled in front of her, barely touched.
When she finished, Christie said, for the second time, "You know, if you repeat any of this, I have to kill you."
"Relax. I can keep a secret." Yvonne sipped from her cooling styrofoam cup. "But it's a lulu."
Christie took a big swig of her own cappuccino, like a sailor knocking back whiskey. After nearly three months on the overnight shift, coffee didn't make her bounce off the walls any more. It was becoming a permanent part of her system.
Yvonne shook her head. "You and Rick. Between the two of you, you drink enough caffeine to power a city. You must be meant for each other."
"Not when we both work for KYOR."
"You know, women have fallen for the boss before. Sometimes they live happily ever after."
"Not when the job is so important."
"This is radio, hon, it's not brain surgery."
"I know. But there's not another station within a hundred miles of here, except in L.A., and I'm not ready for that. I know it's just a starting point, but I love my job. And where else would I go?"
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that in this business, you have to be ready to move?"
"I know. But then I found this, and it seemed so perfect."
Yvonne sat back, folding her arms for warmth. "Well, maybe you could get away with it."
"With what?"
"Dating Rick."
"No. It's against company policy." And he's not asking.
"Does the company have to know?"
"How long does something like this ever stay a secret?"
"Good point." Yvonne smirked. "Rob and one of the part-timers were sneaking off to the station van for a while a year or so back, and they were the only ones who thought it was a secret. It was a big joke for a while."