Page 28 of Dirty News
Artimus wrapped up the call. “I tell you what. Come in at eight in the morning and I’ll talk to you then. I know I don’t have anything going on at thattime.”
“I’ll be there, sir. Thank you for understanding. See you in the morningthen.”
“Goodbye, Lila.” He ended thecall.
Before he hung up, I heard Duke ask, “Is sheokay?”
The answer to that was no. I wasn’t okay. But I would be. I just had to get Duke off mymind.
The little fantasy I’d had about him, coupled with hanging out with him all day, had gotten to me, was all. He was gorgeous, built like a Roman god, and charming. Who wouldn’t have taken him up on the offer of akiss?
I was only human. But I didn’t have to be around him anymore now that the classes were all done. We wouldn’t have any reason to end up at the same place at the same timeanymore.
And I knew it was best just to let what had happened fade out of my mind. My lips still tingled when I let the thought of what we’d done flitter through myhead.
Okay, so what if the kiss was out of this world? The career I wanted would be out of this world too.Right?
Duke was great and all, but I wasn’t about to let my job go. Duke Cofield wasn’t worth losing everythingfor.
But even as I told myself that, my insides twisted, my body aching to feel his all over it. Well, my body didn’t always get what it wanted, but I’d make sure my headdid.
Chapter Fourteen
Duke
I had no idea if Lila had actually gotten sick or not. So the next morning I made sure to show up at the station around the same time as her meeting withArtimus.
Our cab ride together was still on my mind. It was all I could think about. Well, that and where we’d be going from there. The way she’d reacted had told me she wanted it too. But then she’d gone and gotten sick, and I had to wonder at the timing of itall.
Was she sick that she’d done those things with me, or was she actually sick? Either way, I wanted her to know I cared whether she was sick or not. Lila needed to know that I did care about her. I wasn’t just out to score a piece oftail.
As I stepped off the elevator in the reception area outside of Artimus’s office, I could hear the two of them talking. At first, I tried not to listen and took a seat in the waiting area. But then I heard her say, “I’m sure that Duke’s told you he’s got viewers in the bag,sir.”
“And he does, Lila. Don’t underestimate him,” Artimus toldher.
I had to get up and move to the chair closest to the open door. My curiosity had taken meover.
Lila went on. “That may be true, but I’ve got something hedoesn’t.”
“And that is?” heasked.
“Youth.”
Does she think I’m old at thirty-two?
“He’s not old, Lila.” Artimus went to bat forme.
Yeah, Lila, I’m notold!
“He’s from a different generation, Artimus. This whole station is geared toward the younger generation—and that’s me, not him” She was certainly going for thethroat.
“I think what you’re getting at is that Duke won’t have a long shelf-life and you will. Is that right?” Artimus askedher.
“I’d give him a couple years, tops, before he loses touch with the viewers,” she said with a matter of facttone.
And my heart felt a stab ofpain.
Does she really thinkthat?
