Night Whispers by Leslie Kelly Page A

stopped fantasizing about Mitch years ago. It had been bad enough when she was fifteen and he was off at college and she’d imagined him putting his arm around her, or, heavens above, actually kissing her! Now that she was an adult, she knewexactly why her body tingled and ached and why she felt warm in her most feminine places. She couldn’t allow herself to have those types of dreams about Mitch. Because if she did, she might never be able to stop.
    As she lay in the huge bubble-filled tub, Kelsey tried hard to shake off the erotic images dancing around her brain. When she closed her eyes, she could practically see Mitch’s hands reaching to stroke her beneath the silky water. She could nearly feel his lips trailing kisses on her throat. She could imagine her fingers dancing over his supple chest, curling in the dark crisp hairs, teasing him and urging him on.
    She tried naming the fifty states, tried reciting the Gettysburg Address, but nothing would drive Mitch out of her head.
    Finally, she just stopped trying and gave in to an absolutely delicious fantasy. By the time she got out of the tub it was very late, her body was all pruney and the water was chilled. But when she caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror, Kelsey wasn’t a bit surprised to see the smile lingering on her lips.

4
    “T O M ITCH W YMORE , who’s successfully escaped a nine-to-five job. It’s good to have you back, buddy.”
    Mitch smiled at his old college friend, Paul, who’d just made the toast, and raised his own glass. “Thanks, man,” he said, then sipped his beer.
    They sat in a crowded, trendy little bar near the harbor. It was a yuppie place, with lots of ferns, round unscarred tables and varnished floors. Jazz from the radio provided a little background noise, but mostly he heard laughter, clinking glasses and buoyant conversation. Spending an evening shooting darts, ogling women, eating pretzels and drinking beer seemed just the cure for what ailed him…
    Kelsey.
    Mitch hadn’t seen her since her grand entrance into his apartment over the weekend. He’d had a hard time kicking the image of those long legs and sultry comments.
    “Have you seen Amanda since you got back?” Paul asked.
    Mitch grabbed a handful of pretzels. “She came by the other night.”
    “And? Details, details…come on, buddy.”
    “And nothing. We talked. She left. Period.”
    “You’re kidding,” Paul said in disbelief. “I ran into her a few weeks ago, and she started pumping me for information about when you were getting back. I got the impression she was going to give you a tremendous welcome home.”
    She probably had been planning exactly that when she came by the other night. But since Mitch hadn’t even been able to pretend interest, especially after Kelsey’s visit, a highly offended Amanda had stormed out.
    “It’s not that I’d tell you anything, anyway,” Mitch said, “but in this case, let me assure you, there’s nothing to tell.”
    His friend didn’t look as though he believed him, but Mitch didn’t bother to elaborate.
    “Quiet down,” someone yelled. “It’s time for Night Whispers! ”
    Mitch glanced around and saw the bartender reach up to the sound system to crank up the volume on the stereo.
    “Oh, buddy, you’ve got to check this out,” Paul said.
    “What?”
    “This new radio show. Everybody’s talking about it.”
    Around the room, conversations quieted. Mitch saw people shushing others, demanding they listen. He’d never heard of Night Whispers , and couldn’t believe there was this much of a stir over some radio show.
    “What’s it all about?” he asked Paul.
    “It’s a sex show,” Paul said with a grin. “Well, not really sex, I guess women call it romance, or passion, but let me tell you, I hear Lady Love’s voice and I just ache.”
    Ache? Paul ached? Mitch nearly laughed aloud at his friend’s exaggeration until he noticed the man was dead serious.
    “Laugh if you want, but I’m telling