Songbird by Syrie James

again.
    “ It’s getting late.” She tried to pull free of his embrace but his arms tightened around her.
    “ Is it?”
    “ I have to be at the station early tomorrow. And you must have a long drive back to your hotel.”
    His body moved against her as he shrugged. “That depends on where I stay.”
    “ What do you mean?” She wrenched herself out of his arms and stepped back in sudden alarm. Did he think she’d let him stay here?
    “ I had reservations at a hotel in L.A. and was on my way there from my meeting when I heard you on the radio. I got kind of sidetracked.”
    “ Oh. I’m sure the hotel held your reservation,” she said quickly. “You can call them to see. And if not, there are plenty of other—”
    “ Relax.” His eyes narrowed as he watched her. “I’ll find a room somewhere.”
    She let out a relieved breath. “Okay. Do you want to use my phone?”
    “ No. Don’t worry about it.” He made no move to leave.
    “ How long did you say you’re here for?”
    “ I go back tomorrow afternoon.”
    “ Oh,” she said again.
    “ Can I call you sometime? After I get back to Seattle?”
    “ Sure,” she said, knowing he wouldn’t.
    “ Good.”
    She climbed the step and unlocked the front door, her heart still pumping erratically. This is what she wanted, wasn’t it? A quick and final goodbye?
    She turned back to face him, one hand on the doorknob. “Thank you for dinner.”
    “ Nothing to thank me for. Your dinner was free.” He smiled.
    “ The lobster was a real treat.”
    “ I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for going out with me. It’s been a wonderful evening.”
    “ Yes. It has.” She wanted to tell him how much she’d enjoyed his company, that she’d like to see him again, even though she knew it would never happen and would be hopeless even if it did. All she said was: “Good night.”
    “ Good night,” he replied.
    Goodbye, she amended silently.
    He turned on his heel and was gone.

Four

    Desiree slept badly. What little sleep she did manage to catch was filled with dreams of Kyle. She went for her morning jog and then fixed her usual breakfast—half a grapefruit, a poached egg, a cup of black coffee—but she couldn’t seem to get him out of her mind.
    One date, that’s all it was, she reminded herself. That’s the only reason you went. No danger of involvement. No strings attached.
    Hah, she thought as she rinsed off yesterday’s dishes and slid them into the dishwasher. So much for not getting involved. So much for no strings attached. From the moment they met she’d felt a wild attraction to the man, and she couldn’t do a thing about it.
    Activity, she told herself. That’s what you need. Anything to get your mind off Kyle. All at once the clutter in her house seemed a welcome challenge. She spent the better part of the morning clearing away the scattered books and clothes in the living room, vacuuming and dusting, and scrubbing the kitchen floor. The bedroom was still a mess, but it would have to wait. Shortly before noon, pleased with her accomplishments, she locked up and left for work.
    She slipped through the side door at the station, hoping Barbara was too busy to bother her. No such luck. Desiree had just begun taping a routine for her Comedy Corner series when Barbara strode through the recording-studio door.
    “ Des! There you are. I’ve been dying to hear—” Barbara stopped short at the sight of Desiree’s grim expression. “What happened? Didn’t you go out with him?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ And?”
    “ Leave me alone.”
    “ What do you mean, leave me alone? I have to know! What happened?”
    “ We went out to dinner. Then he took me home.”
    “ That’s it?”
    “ That’s it.”
    “ Was he a creep or something?”
    “ No,” Desiree snapped. “He wasn’t a creep.”
    “ Then why...? You’re going to see him again, aren’t you?”
    Desiree let out a long sigh. “How do you suggest I do that? He lives in Seattle.”
    “ So what?