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air together for two weeks?”
    Neither Clint nor Beth answered. His buddy glared. She shuffled papers, refusing to look at him.
    Damn.
    Their time together burned up the airways. They knew it. He wanted to add Beth permanently to the mix professionally—and personally. But as the show’s ratings rocketed through the stratosphere, Clint’s mood grew more sullen. Beth had admitted to Dustin that, regardless of results, she didn’t believe management would keep her on the show much longer. Dustin would have to work harder at convincing Clint to expand their duo to a trio. Otherwise, Clint would do his dirty work and Beth would be gone.
    He smiled broadly, hoping it might be contagious. “It’s like we’ve been working together for years. We sound great, and I’m having a blast.”
    But the tension he felt between Clint and Beth told him they weren’t. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t get them to lighten up. Only when the mics went hot did they show any spark. And then fireworks boomed.
    He needed to think of something, or one of them would soon explode on air and slaughter their chemistry.
    Dustin looked up just as Candi walked into the studio from the hallway.
    Attractive? On the outside, maybe. But on the inside? He knew the type. Candi’s career ruled everything. Not that ambition was a bad thing, but clearly she wasn’t climbing the ladder through mere hard work and talent. He imagined that the woman would walk over the bodies of dead friends, though he doubted she had any, to get what she wanted.
    She sat in the guest chair closest to the door. “Though it’s early, corporate decided to run a phone survey last night. If the numbers are anywhere close to correct, in the next rating cycle you guys will dominate this time slot in all the key demographics in the entire market. We might even get a five to ten point gain with the twenty to thirty-five year olds.”
    “In just two weeks?” Beth’s jaw dropped.
    “Yes,” the boss lady answered. “Congratulations, guys.”
    Beth looked up with a smile, but he didn’t miss the flash of disappointment in her eyes. “I guess you were right about the innuendos , Dustin. Congratulations, boys.”
    He turned to Clint. His friend’s face showed satisfaction and something else. Regret?
    That look worried Dustin. What the hell had Clint done?
    Then he turned back to Beth. “And congratulations to you. You’re as much a part of the success as Clint and I.”  
    He meant it. Though he and Clint had always made great radio together, Beth being in the mix produced something that far exceeded anything they’d ever fashioned before. She kept them both hopping with her stinging questions, quick wit, and sexy voice. With her, they’d created not just something good, but spectacular.
    Now, Dustin craved something beyond the professional from Beth. An image of her naked and waiting on his bed had been flashing neon in his mind for the past two weeks. After several glances at Clint, Dustin knew his friend shared the same desire. A night with Clint and Beth would be unparalleled. And might be just what they needed to cut the rising tension and get his co-announcers talking to each other.
    “Thanks, Candi. We’re thrilled, of course,” Clint added, but his tone belied something else. Something hidden. What?
    Dread sliced at Dustin. The entire two weeks whenever the microphones went live, Clint’s delivery blazed, sharp, masterful, always directed at Beth as if he couldn’t wait to get her naked and begging. The second the broadcast stopped, Clint’s demeanor dropped to twenty below zero. Yes, he leaned to the serious side, but he’d hit an icy chill since arriving at the station. And today his cold shoulder had grown even worse. The North Pole would be balmy next to him.
    “You’re welcome,” Candi answered. “And since we have two birthdays to celebrate today, I thought I’d take all of you to lunch.”
    “Two?” Beth asked.
    Candi stood up. “Yes, yours