Love in the Air Read Online Free Page B

office. “She’s here,” Sherry announced to the stocky man rising from behind his heavy oak desk. “Shall I bring coffee?”
    “Morning, Kay.” Sam Shults came to meet her. “Kay doesn’t drink coffee, Sherry.”
    Sherry bobbed her auburn head. Grinning, she clasped her hands in front of her, rooted to the spot, staring at Kay. “Would you like to go to lunch with me, Ms. Clark?” Sherry ventured hopefully.
    “Sherry—” Sam Shults put on his gruff voice “—I see five lights blinking on the switchboard. Think you could tear yourself away to go back out to your desk and answer a few calls?”
    “Oh, sorry, Mr. Shults.” The impressionable young woman backed away, lifting a hand to wave goodbye to Kay. “We usually eat over at Leo’s, Kay, so—”
    “Sherry!” Sam Shults pointed to the door. She hunched her shoulders, winked at Kay and scooted out the door. “Now,” Sam said when he and Kay were alone, “have a seat and let’s go over a few things.”
    “Sam,” Kay said, taking the leather chair across from her old boss, “will you level with me?”
    “Why, Kay, haven’t I always?” He looked puzzled. Dropping back down into his padded chair, he laced his stubby fingers together atop his desk. “What’s on your mind? I thought we settled on your salary.”
    Kay lifted a slender hand in the air. “I’m not concerned about the salary; it’s plenty generous. I’m concerned about Sullivan Ward.” She looked directly into Sam Shults’s soft brown eyes.
    His beefy shoulders slumped. “Kay, what can I tell you? We both know that—”
    “Sullivan doesn’t want me here. Is that it?”
    Sam Shults, reluctant to meet her gaze, sighed. “Kay, Sullivan is a pro. When you’re on the air together, he’ll be just like he was before.”
    “You didn’t answer my question, Sam.”
    “I’m the general manager of Q102. I have to decide what is best for this station without a great deal of regard to personal feelings.”
    Kay smiled sadly. “You just answered my question.”
    Sam Shults smiled with her. “I guess I did. Honey, you and Sullivan will just have to work out any personality problems. I care about one thing—audience.”
    “Why, Sammy, you’re as sentimental as ever,” Kay kidded.
    “Yeah—” Sam Shults reddened “—that’s what Betty tells me.”
    After half an hour Sam said, “That about does it, I believe. If you’ve nothing further to ask, I’ll turn you over to Sullivan.” He looked at her questioningly and rose.
    Kay stood up. “Do you suppose Daniel was just a bit nervous when he was tossed into the lion’s den?”
    Sam grinned at her. “In this case, I’ve a feeling the lion is just as jittery.”
    He was tall and slim and graceful. His hair was shiny black except for a sprinkling of silver streaking his temples. His face looked a little leaner, harder and more handsome than ever. Lazy-lidded dark eyes were looking at her and Kay felt unaccountably warm despite the coldness of his gaze. The full male mouth was stretched into a welcoming smile that didn’t extend to his eyes.
    His shoulders, wider than she’d remembered, were unnaturally rigid, and his broad chest was noticeably rising and falling beneath a shirt of pale-blue cotton. Crisp, black hair curled appealingly from the open throat and upon dark forearms revealed by rolled-up sleeves. Hard-finish black trousers draped perfectly over narrow hips and closely fitted the sinewy thighs and long legs.
    At thirty-six years old, Sullivan Ward was at the peak of his rugged masculine appeal. Kay stared at him in awe. And in fear. His icy, handsome face told her what she’d suspected. He didn’t want her here. He was sorry she’d returned, and Kay had the uneasy feeling he planned to make her sorry, too.
    Coolly assessing her, Sullivan finally nodded his dark head and said evenly, “Ms. Clark.”
    “Mr. Ward,” Kay returned flatly.
    Sam Shults, shaking his head, said, “I’ll leave it with you. I’ve