Free The Price of Fame - KJ1 by Lynn Ames

location, she noted that Jay remained where she had been when she had fallen asleep, tucked tightly against her body. Kate’s arms were wrapped securely around her, and the blonde’s arms were resting on top of her stitched and bandaged ones. The pressure accounted for some of the injured woman’s pain, but she had no intention of letting that dampen her enjoyment of her position in proximity to her friend.
    It occurred to Kate that Jay would soon awaken and she probably should move before that happened; in considering her options, however, it quickly became clear that to do so would mean either propping the writer against the seat or letting her fall to the floor. Since she found both of those possibilities unacceptable, she settled for owing her an explanation when she regained consciousness, which, as it turned out, didn’t take long.
    Feeling Jay stir and her breathing pattern change, Kate lifted her cheek from the blonde head below hers. “Hi,” she began. Jay made no effort to move. “Um, I hope you don’t mind too much. You see, you fell asleep in an awkward position and I didn’t want you to be stiff and sore when you woke up, I figured I would be a decent pillow, and...” She 52

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    stopped and released a breath. She was babbling uncharacteristically and she knew it. “Anyway,” she finished weakly, not knowing what else to say.
    She couldn’t see her friend’s smile. “That’s okay, you make a great pillow and that’s the best rest I’ve had in a long time. Thanks.”
    Kate let out a relieved breath and released Jay from her grasp. Only then did the writer realize where her arms had been. “Oh my God, Kate, did I hurt you?” Moving away, she sat up so that she could see her friend’s face.
    Seeing her companion’s distress, Kate hastened to assure her that she was fine, even as her arms were throbbing.
    At that moment, the limousine pulled to a stop. Kate looked out the window at the lightening sky and the NBC peacock logo, then back at Jay. “First stop, are you ready for the circus?”
    The door swung open on the curbside and the driver helped the smaller passenger from the car. Following behind, the anchorwoman grabbed Jay’s jacket and her own garment bag. Addressing the driver, she said, “Are you going to wait for us?”
    “Yes, ma’am, my instructions are to take you to each network, and then anywhere else you have to go today until such time as I drop you at the airport. By the way, I was told to tell you that you are booked on a 2:30 p.m. commuter plane out of LaGuardia.”
    “Okay, thank you. I’m going to leave the lady’s garment bag and briefcase in the car. Is that all right?”
    “Yes, ma’am, that’s just fine.”
    “Good; see you in a bit, then.” Moving to the curb, Kate helped her friend into her suit jacket and grasped her gently by the elbow, escorting her into the Rockefeller Center studios of NBC’s Today Show .
    They were met at the reception desk by a harried-looking producer.
    Barely glancing at Jay, the woman gave Kate’s outfit a disgusted look and grabbed at her arm to hustle her away. She was surprised when the tall, clearly underdressed woman didn’t move. She looked up at her impatiently. “I’m Katherine Kyle,” the raven-haired woman said with a barely disguised sneer; already she didn’t like the producer. “And this is Ms. Jamison Parker.”
    “I know who ya are, lady, that’s why I’m hea.”
    Kate ignored both the woman’s interruption and her grating accent.
    “Ms. Parker is with me. Would you please make sure that she is made comfortable and given something to eat and some coffee while I’m getting ready?” It was more a command than a request, and the producer knew it.
    “Yea, yea, I’ll take care a’ it, okay, now let’s go. They’re waitin’ on ya in makeup.” When Kate still didn’t budge, the woman sighed in 53

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    exasperation and turned to Jay with a plastic smile. “Um, would you