She was talking about “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers.
And just like that, my thoughts took over again, taking me back to Ben’s living room when I pulled that Righteous Brothers album off his shelf.
I could picture how sexy Ben looked on the love seat with Bob Barker on his lap.
The lyrics of the song mentioned hungering for a person’s touch.
I hungered for Ben’s touch.
How could a man capture my heart and soul so quickly?
It was like someone had flicked a switch.
Get your mind off him. You have to move on.
The song wasn’t helping at all.
I gestured to the radio. “Can you change the station?”
“Of course.”
Grandma Joyce stood and walked to the kitchen, reaching for the radio. “Let’s see what we can find for my granddaughter.” She glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Yes, he’s still on the radio, so please avoid Dr. Tough Stuff.”
Grandma Joyce pressed one of the preset stations on the radio. “I know what I’m doing.”
I gasped, my hand flying to my chest when I heard his voice.
“Welcome back to Dr. Tough Love, I’m here for you, whatever your woes may be.”
“Change the station!” I didn’t mean to yell but hearing Ben’s voice would make it worse.
“It seems to be stuck.” Grandma Joyce jabbed at one of the buttons. “Maybe this is destiny.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “This isn’t funny.”
Grandma Joyce nodded. “I never said it was.”
“Today I’m the one with woes, my friends,” Ben continued. “I’m going to be honest with you, my heart is broken into a thousand pieces. The woman you all know as my cohost, Lori Martin, the woman I love, has quit. She won’t be working with me any longer. I’m devastated, to say the least.”
I blinked. “Did Ben blame me for not working with him? Wait, did he also just say he loved me?”
A fluttery feeling hit my belly and tingles traveled right up my spine. I felt hope, maybe just a little, but it was better than nothing.
Grandma Joyce nodded. “Yes, he said he loved you, but we already knew that.”
We did? Why was I always the last one to know?
Grandma Joyce put her finger to her lips. “Now, be quiet because I don’t want to miss this.”
“I love so many things about Lori,” Ben continued. “The way she analyzes my words, her flirty nature, her magnificent smile, the way she cares so much about her listeners. And especially how she doesn’t take any crap from me. She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
My eyes filled and overflowed.
I could no longer see the room clearly.
“That man right there is a keeper!” Grandma Joyce snapped off a piece of bacon and ate it.
I pushed my plate to the center of the table and wiped the tears from my eyes. “None of this matters. He’s moving away, remember?”
“The thing is . . .” Ben said. “Lori quit working here with me because she thought I was moving to San Francisco to take a job at another radio station, but that’s not even close to the truth.”
I sat up and sniffled. “It’s not?”
“In fact, it was a complete misunderstanding. I accepted an offer for a consulting job there, but I never had any plans of leaving this radio station or leaving San Diego, for that matter. I was just offered a new two-year contract to stay on here and Lori was included in the contract.”
I stood. “I was?”
“She belongs here with me, attached at the hip, like a team. I just hope she didn’t sign a contract with the other radio station.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t and I’m not going to now.”
“Anyway, hopefully she’s listening right now,” Ben continued. “She’s supposed to be, if everything went according to my plan with her beautiful grandmother.”
My head whipped in my grandma’s direction. “What? This was a setup?”
“Gotcha!” Grandma Joyce put a finger to her lips to shush me. “Let me hear the rest of this wonderful love story.”
“Lori.” Ben sighed. “Lovely Lori. Please come back. I’m laying my heart on the line here for all the world to hear. I love you. You’re my fantasy. You’re my reality.”
I blinked twice.
Ben just quoted lyrics from “Every Woman in the World” by Air Supply.
My favorite band.
“Lori, you are every woman in the world to me. This song is for you.”
“No way,” I said, putting my hand on my chest. “Is he going to play the song?”
There’s no way. He hates silly—
I gasped again.
He was playing it.
Ben Baxter, aka Dr. Tough Love, was playing a silly love song on the radio.
For me.
Tears streamed down my face.
I felt a jolt of tranquility in my body, a sensation that was telling me everything was going to be just fine.
I swallowed hard and stood. “I need to go.”
“Of course you do,” Grandma Joyce said. “I’m actually surprised you’re still here.”
I hugged my grandma, grabbed my purse, and flew out the door.
I tried my best to drive the speed limit to the radio station. It would only take me about ten minutes to get there if I didn’t encounter any traffic.
Speak of the devil . . .
The traffic slowed, and then came to a screeching halt.
I banged on the steering wheel. “No! Not now!” I took the next exit, deciding the take the city streets before I had an ulcer or passed out from the stress.
From inside my car I called the radio station and tapped the speakerphone.
“Thanks for calling the Dr. Tough Love show. I’m the producer, Jim. What’s your question for Dr. Tough Love?”
“Hi, Jim. It’s Lori.”
“Lori! Ben is dying over here. Please put him out of his misery.”
“That’s why I’m calling. Can you put me on the air as his next caller?”
“Of course!”
“Good. Give me a fake name. I don’t want him to know it’s me. Whitney from La Jolla will work. Oh, and tell him I’m calling about an issue with a coworker.”
“You got it. Stand by.”
Jim stuck me on hold as I drove down Highway 52, waiting for Ben to put me on the air.
My heart was banging in my chest, aching to talk to him.
Dying to tell him the three most important words in the English language.
I love you.
Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to wait too long.
Pick up, pick up.
Finally it happened, six long minutes later.
“Whitney from La Jolla, you’re on the air with Dr. Tough Love.”
“Hi, Dr. Tough Stuff. How are you this morning?”
Silence.
“Hello?” I said. “Dead air is not good for the radio business. You should know that better than anyone.”
Ben hesitated. “I’m so glad you called.”
“I’m so glad you answered. I have this office romance going on, but there’s a serious problem with the guy and I was hoping you could help me.”
“I’ll do my best,” Ben said. “What’s the issue? Does he take your breath away with his alluring charm?”