Operation Date Escape

your mom?”
    “Not yet. I wanted to listen to my messages first.”
    “I wouldn’t tell her that.”
    “I think she’s going to find out when I call to tell her my news.”
    “About grabbing life by the horns and riding the hell out of it?”
    Kelsie smiled. “That too, but I was referring to the book offer that was made on Operation: Date Escape .”
    “Must be the connection. I could’ve sworn you said something about a book offer.”
    “I did. A publisher wants to buy my book.”
    “No shit! Oh my God! No way!”
    Her friend ’s reaction had her laughing. “Way. The editor left her number. I’m supposed to call her for the details, but it’s really happening.”
    “I’m so excited for you. I can see it now, radio and television interviews, multi-city book tours, the works. Can I be your personal assistant?”
    “Let’s not get too carried away. It’s a date book, not a Stephenie Meyer novel. Although some of my blind dates could’ve been characters in her novels. Not the good ones.”
    “Wait until she hears your news! You’d better call her as soon as we hang up and get me off her shit-list.”
    “Wh y are you on her shit-list?”
    “ She wasn’t too happy with me for not telling her where you were when I called her last night. I really want back in her good graces.”
    Kelsie laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “When are you going to call Cole?”
    “What are you ? My mother?” she replied with a grin.
    “ Maybe you shouldn’t call him.”
    After she’d spent the last two days telling her to call him? “Why not?” Had Joe told her something to make her feel differently?
    “I’m thinking you should go see him in person. Talk, have sex, whatever comes to mind.”
    Why was n’t she surprised that having sex was included in Nanci’s list of possibilities? “I don’t think the sex thing’s going to be happening today.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because Cole’s on duty.”
    “That’s right. Damn. That means no sex for me and Joe either. At least, not in person.”
    “I think you’ll survive. Besides, you have an arsenal of back ups in your livingroom should the need arise.”
    A beep sounded on the line.
    “That’s Joe calling ,” Nanci announced. “Gotta go.”
    “ Nanci...”
    “Yeah?”
    “Please don’t tell Joe I’m back. I want to surprise Cole.”
    “I won’t. Call me later. I’ll want details.”
    She hurried to her room to unpack. “I will.”
    “ Love you!”
    “Love you, too.”
    “And call your mother!” Nanci said before hanging up.
    T en minutes later, the doorbell rang, sending Kelsie’s heart into a thudding frenzy. No, she told herself. It couldn’t be Cole. He didn’t even know she was home.
    The doorbell rang again, this time more insistently.
    It had to be Nanci. She was the only person who knew she was back. She went to answer the door, surprised to find her mother standing there.
    “Mom? ”
    “Ah, you do remember who I am,” her mother said, moving past her into the apartment.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “Making sure you’re alive with my own eyes,” she replied with a frown.
    Why had her leaving town made both her mother and Nanci worry she was in some sort of physical danger? “I’m fine. How did you know I was home?”
    “ I was in the neighborhood showing a house and saw your car in the parking lot. I’ve been worried sick about you.” Proof of that was in the lines of tension creasing her mother’s brows. “You might have called to let me know you were home.”
    “I intended to.”
    “When?”
    “As soon as I finished unpacking.”
    “But you had time to pick up the phone and call Nanci to let her know you were back,” she said, sounding hurt. “That’s okay. I see where I fit into your life.”
    “ I didn’t call Nanci. She called me.”
    “And you answered. I’ve been calling you for days and you never once picked up.”
    Now her mother was being dramatic. “I only answered because I turned the ringer on my cell back on when I got back home. If it would have been you I would have answered, too.”
    “I’m sorry, honey. It’s just that I’ve been going crazy for days, worrying about you.” Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around her in a warm embrace. “Are you alright?”
    “ I’m fine.”
    Her mother released her and stepped back, eyeing her skeptically. “You picked up and left town and didn’t answer any calls. That sort of behavior is not what I’d call ‘fine’ in my