expected. I’m so proud of the show and what we’ve accomplished over the past year.”
Caitlin settled her petite frame in a chair in front of Noelle’s desk. “As you should be.”
“Thanks, but to think it can all be taken away in the blink of an eye is scary.”
“That’s how radio is. Stations change formats and on-air talent all the time.”
Noelle’s eyes went wide, her stomach bottoming out.
“But that won’t happen to you,” Caitlin hastily added. “The show is great. Deb just wants to make the station look better for the sale. Besides, you’re going to be a famous author soon. You won’t need this job.”
Noelle sent her a wry smile. “First of all, I haven’t sold my book yet. More importantly, I love this job. Well, I did. Now I have to work with that man.”
Caitlin’s forehead creased. “Speaking of Tate, what possessed you to call his show?”
Noelle dropped her head in her hand and groaned. “I don’t know. I was mad at him for interrupting my show. It was an impulse.”
“That’s so unlike you.” Confusion laced Caitlin’s tone.
“I know, and it bit me in the butt, which is why I always think things through before I act. I hope he doesn’t try to sabotage this.” She raised her head. “But, hey, it’s only two, no, two and a half weeks. How bad can it be?”
Caitlin laughed. “Maybe you and Tate will get a reality TV show out of it.”
Noelle smiled, her spirits lifting. “Yeah, who needs The Real Housewives when you can watch The Real Radio Show Hosts of Dallas, instead ? Must-see TV.”
…
“I didn’t know someone could get under your skin like that,” Bobby said from the door to Tate’s office.
Tate looked up from his computer. “What are you talking about?”
Bobby took a seat across from Tate. “Usually nothing bothers you, but I thought you and Noelle were going to throw down.”
“Give me a break. I’d never hit a woman. Even one as annoying and stuck-up as Noelle.”
Bobby wiggled his blond eyebrows. “You mean as sexy as Noelle.”
Tate jerked back in his chair. “Are you smoking something?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed the sexy-librarian thing she has going on.”
“If you mean her boring clothes, then yeah. Skirts down to her knees, and she must own stock in oxford shirts. Don’t see how that can be construed as sexy.” He liked his women a lot less uptight and a lot less dressed.
Bobby crossed his arms over his burly chest. “You mean oxford shirts with all those buttons begging to be unbuttoned. Dude, come on. I can’t believe you haven’t noticed.”
Yes, he’d noticed. Not only the shirts, which contoured to full breasts, but also the skirts that skimmed curvaceous hips and a full, round ass. Not that he’d admit it to Bobby or even wanted to admit to himself. She drove him insane. And not in the good way. In the year she’d worked at the station, he’d yet to detect a sense of humor in Noelle, probably because she was too busy sending him disapproving frowns every time he tried to lighten the mood at staff meetings. “Shocking as it may seem, I’m not interested in your horndog state of mind right now. I need to make sure she doesn’t ruin my show.”
“She’s not as bad as you think.”
“How do you figure that?” Had his show’s producer gotten chummy with the good doctor without his knowledge? And why did that send a note of disquiet through him?
“She’s joined at the hip with Caitlin. Caitlin’s not going to hang out with people she can’t force to be happy. Plus, I’ve listened to her show. She gives good advice while still being relatable.”
Tate wasn’t convinced.
“ Noelle Knows starts in ten minutes,” Bobby continued. “Why don’t you listen—really listen? Maybe she’ll surprise you. You might find y’all aren’t as different as you think.”
“Me? Listen to a love-advice show for three hours?” He’d be bored in five minutes.
Bobby shook his head. “Dude, you