Part 9 (1/2)
”Yes,” she said, ”but they all will be bringing significant others, and since I don't have one, I feel I'll be a target for any single guy who wants to cash in on some of Lady Love's knowledge.”
”So you do realize that some of the attention you're getting is not positive?”
”Of course I do,” she answered, s.h.i.+fting her gaze uncomfortably.
Kelsey didn't want to be dishonest, but she also didn't want Mitch any more worried than he already was. She couldn't tell him everything that was going on.
”Look Mitch,” she finally said, ”we disagree about what I do. But I have no argument with you about the fact that I've put myself in a position where I might draw unwanted admirers.”
”Well, I guess we're getting somewhere,” Mitch murmured.
He really didn't want to go. Mitch didn't care for college functions anymore, neither the boring faculty ones, nor the raucous student ones. And the Halloween ball, usually held at a downtown hotel, was traditionally a combination of both.
But Kelsey needed him. He couldn't refuse. And it absolutely would not be a date. He'd be simply a stand-in for Nathan, he decided, a male body to run interference between Kelsey and any overzealous fan.
”All right, I'll come. But don't try to put me in costume.”
”You have to wear a costume! They're not letting anybody in who's not in costume.”
Mitch rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders in resignation. ”I suppose I could come up with something, though I have no idea how, since the party's next week and I'm absolutely swamped with work.”
”Don't you worry about a thing,” she a.s.sured him. ”You're doing me a big favor by coming, so I will take care of your costume. I'm sure we've got something at the station that will fit you. As a matter of fact, I seem to remember seeing a biker outfit, lots of black leather and chains...”
”Oh, no, no leather.” Mitch held his hands up in protest. ”I am sure I'll be seeing colleagues and perhaps even former students at this party. Nothing too outrageous, please? Just traditional Halloween fare? A sheet with two holes might work.”
”Or it could be a sheet with twenty holes,” she replied, ”and you could go around saying, 'I got a rock.'”
Her reference came to mind instantly, and he laughed. ”That's me, Charlie Brown...and, hey, I see a definite resemblance between you and Lucy.”
”Ha, ha, very funny. I wasn't that bad, was I?”
”Kels, you want the truth, or you want me to lie?” he asked with mock sincerity.
”Maybe we'd better just forget I asked.”
”Good idea,” he said.
”Anyway, I thought maybe you saw me as the little red-haired girl.”
”You'd like that, wouldn't you? Me the big, goofy male pining away for the beautiful unattainable girl.”
”I'm not unattainable, Mitch,” she said softly.
She lowered her lashes, casting him a sultry glance, and Mitch took a step back. ”Knock it off.” He pointed a finger at her. ”Friends, remember?”
She gave a deep, exaggerated sigh and stretched like a cat. ”Oh, well, can't blame a girl for trying.”
Mitch watched the sinuous movement of her body, and was. .h.i.t in the stomach with another rush of excitement. ”What am I going to do with you?”
”Mitch, stop throwing out openings like that one if you don't want me to come back at you with some very specific suggestions.”
Her words brought lots of specific suggestions to his head, and he closed his eyes to picture them. Kelsey in a white negligee, Kelsey in the bath, Kelsey in his arms...Kelsey everywhere!
When he finally opened his eyes, he saw her staring at him intently. Their eyes locked for a moment, then she slowly smiled at him, challenging him to tell her what was on his mind.
”You really are very wicked, Kelsey Logan.”
”Maybe that's why you like me so much,” she retorted.
Kelsey broke the stare and walked toward the door. ”I really need to get out of here. If I've got two costumes to plan, I'd better get started.”
”I appreciate your help,” he said, following her to the door.
”Anytime, friend friend,” she said, ”anytime.”
7.
”SO, HAVE YOU GOT ANY IDEA what to dress up as?” what to dress up as?”
Kelsey glanced at Celia and then continued chopping vegetables. She'd invited the other woman over for dinner. Fred had been working so many hours that Celia hadn't been around the brownstone too much lately. Kelsey missed her.
Plus, she knew Celia was very skilled at sewing.
Celia tossed Kelsey a freshly washed cuc.u.mber and started rinsing some lettuce. The two had decided on big salads and worked a.s.sembly-line fas.h.i.+on in Kelsey's small kitchen.
”Not a clue,” Kelsey said, sighing. ”You're the one who can sew. What do you think?”
”I don't know,” Celia answered as she turned off the tap water. ”Depends on what you're after. Scary? Funny? Outrageous?”
”I suppose,” Kelsey responded, ”that Lady Love ought to show up in something a little outrageous, probably a little s.e.xy.”
”A little s.e.xy?”
”Okay, okay, a lot s.e.xy!”
Celia nodded. ”We can do that. What about Mitch?”
”I have no idea,” Kelsey said. ”He doesn't want anything too flamboyant, so I guess my Adam and Eve idea with suitably placed fig leaves is out.”
Kelsey loaded up two plates with salad and fresh vinaigrette, grated some Italian cheese and handed one plate to Celia. Pouring two gla.s.ses of Chablis, she offered one to her guest and sat down with her at the kitchen table.
Celia took a few bites of her salad. ”I can picture Adam and Eve. Hmm, do they make fig leaves big enough?”
Kelsey feigned indignation. ”Celia, I'm not that big!”