Night Of The Blackbird Read Online Free PDF Page A

having studied what tapes he could find before applying for the job. She was good on tape. She was even better in person. He hadn’t been ready for the excitement she could create or the emotion she could invoke. He wished she were there right now. Amazing what the sound of her voice could do to a man.
    â€œI should have called you— could have called you—hours ago,” she went on, then halted suddenly. “You haven’t heard from Josh already, have you?”
    â€œNo.”
    He heard her sigh. “Yeah, he would make me do this one myself. And it’s so late because I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to call you.”
    He was about to assure her that she never needed nerve to call him when she rushed on.
    â€œI know how much work you’ve already done—”
    â€œYou are the boss, you know.”
    â€œNot really. Josh and I have always made decisions together, and since you’ve been with us, well, you’ve just been the perfect addition to the show…. Oh, Lord, Michael, I’m so sorry to be doing this, but…we’re making a sudden switch in plans.”
    He’d been expecting this; still, he felt every muscle in his body tense. He knew what she was about to say.
    â€œI know that you and Josh have made an incredible effort on the Orlando angle, that acquiring permits to tape has been a bitch…but we’re switching locations for Saint Patrick’s Day. I’m so sorry. I know—”
    â€œFamily pressure, eh?” he asked quietly.
    â€œMy father has to go in for tests next week. Nothing serious, Mum assures me, but I’m willing to bet he’s still working the pub himself until all hours of the night. Anyway, she made it sound as if I were punching the Easter Bunny or something, and I…I caved in.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” he told her. “I’ve already looked into the Boston situation.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œJosh and I both kind of expected this,” he said.
    She was silent.
    â€œMoira, it’s all right. Hey, I’m going to love meeting your family. I’ll get to feel important, right? The man in your life, someone who means everything in the world to you, right?”
    â€œYou’re incredible, you know that?”
    â€œWell, of course, you’d have nothing less, right?” he said.
    â€œYou know what?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou sound so good.”
    Her voice was almost like silk.
    â€œI was just thinking the same about you.”
    â€œThey’re crazy, you know.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œMy folks.”
    â€œMoira, you’ve hit the right guy here. My family is Irish, too. Okay, we don’t own a pub and no one runs around whistling ‘Danny Boy’ all day, but I can deal with the leprechaun and banshee stories. Don’t be so worried.”
    She was still silent. Then she said, “Mine do.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThey run around whistling ‘Danny Boy’ all the time.”
    He laughed. “I’ve got nothing against the song. Hey, Josh and I had a wager going, you know.”
    â€œWho bet that I wouldn’t cave in to family pressure?”
    â€œNeither of us. The wager was on the date you’d finally do it.”
    â€œI can’t wait to see you,” she said. Once again, he pictured her. Not the woman on television. The one who should be here with him now. Softly scented, sleek and smooth, hair down and wild, naked as the day she was born. Maybe that was part of her allure. She could be so elegant and almost aloof in public, and so incredibly sensual and volatile in private.
    â€œI don’t think there are any planes at this time of night,” he said regretfully. “Can’t even hop a train. I could rent a car…if you’re really needy.”
    â€œYou’re good. Very good.”
    â€œNo, what I am is—”
    â€œNever mind,” she said, laughing again.