Thrill Me

“Okay, that’s not a happy face,” he said, leaning against the doorframe. “You’re upset.” He moved toward her. “It’s not what I would have chosen, either, but it’s no big deal. In a way, it’s funny.”

“The kiss,” she whispered, knowing he couldn’t be talking about the cancer, even though that was what she was thinking about.

He moved into her office and shut the door. “Is someone going to get angry?”

“Someone? Like a guy?”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “If it’s not a guy, can I watch?”

She started to laugh, then had to fight unexpected tears. The latter were because of his mom, she thought. The surgery, the fact that the doctor was optimistic. Once again she wanted to walk into Del’s arms and be held. She also wanted him to know what was going on. But she’d promised. A promise that sat like a rock in her stomach—and on her conscience.

“There’s no girl or guy,” she said, hoping her tone was light enough. “I was surprised by the clip. I’m sure you were, too.”

“Completely. I’ve been getting a lot of jokes from my friends.”

“I can imagine. You’ll also be getting a lot of fan mail. You looked good on-screen.”

“So did you.”

Kissing. They’d been kissing.

“It was Eddie Carberry,” she said to distract herself. “I found her going through my material.”

“Not a surprise. She’s impressive.”

“I put a password on the files.”

He laughed. “Good for you. Make her work for it.”

“My plan is that she won’t have access to it anymore.”

Maya moved to her desk. Del took the visitor’s chair. He studied her.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Just tired. I was in shock last night. I couldn’t believe it. How did you find out?”

“Ryder Stevens saw it online and emailed me. Did you know Eddie and Gladys’s show has an internet following?”

Maya rubbed her temples. “No, and I didn’t need to. At least the internet is an open system and we don’t have to worry about the FCC there.”

“You’re not mad at them, are you?”

“No. Surprised. Flummoxed by them.”

“They’re uncontrollable.”

“You don’t mind about the kiss going viral?”

His gaze shifted. For a second she would have sworn he was staring at her mouth. She felt a flash of heat followed by longing.

They could do it again, she thought. A real kiss this time. With bodies pressing and tongues... Well, she could use a little tongue in her life.

But that wasn’t going to happen. She and Del were friends. They worked together. He liked her, they got along, but she was pretty sure he had no sexual interest in her. As for her feelings, they were, ah, nostalgic. That was all. She was reacting to the past.

“At first I was a little uncomfortable, but what the hell. Stuff happens.”

She smiled. “You like the attention.”

“Some. While you like being behind the scenes.”

“I do,” she said slowly, immediately thinking about her network dreams.

“What are you thinking?”

“That I put so much energy into getting a network job. I wanted to be on camera. To be the star. But you’re right. Looking at the video, I didn’t like the attention, but I did appreciate how good the shot was.”

That couldn’t be right, could it? Had she been chasing the wrong dream all this time?

“Regretting your decision to come here?” he asked.

“No. I was so tired of the gossip show. I couldn’t have done it anymore. This is nice.”

But maybe not permanent, a little voice in her head whispered.

“It’s good to be happy in your work,” he said.

“It is. What are you doing this weekend?”

“Hanging out. You? Oh, that’s right. You have your girls’ weekend with my mom. What does that entail? Mani-pedis?”

“I’m impressed you know what a mani-pedi is,” she said, dodging the question. Because her girls’ weekend would consist of making sure her friend was recovering.

“I’m well traveled,” he told her, coming to his feet. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. We are now world famous kissers. I’m sure we can both use that to our advantage.”

He grinned. “I know I will.”

* * *

DEL LEFT THE studio offices and headed for The Man Cave to see Nick. Maybe a little one-on-one time with his middle brother would give him some answers as to why Nick felt he had to hide what he was doing. Because Del sure didn’t get it. Ceallach might not approve of the medium, but he would be happy to see the art being produced. So why not let the old man know?

He crossed the street and turned at the corner. Everyone had their reasons, he supposed. Very few actions were random. Like his coming home. It had been a deliberate choice and he had a feeling he’d made it for reasons that were not the ones he’d first thought.

He walked into the bar and saw Nick wasn’t alone. Aidan was with him. Two for the price of one, Del thought as he approached them, wondering if Aidan would walk out the second he saw him. Their last conversation hadn’t ended well.

“It’s TV’s newest reality star,” Nick said from behind the bar. “Back only a couple of weeks and already making time with Maya. Everything old is new again.”