Читать книгу Аэропорт / Аirport онлайн | страница 7
He could understand Libby’s enthusiasm. To her, almost everything was exciting and good, and the few things which were not were brushed aside and speedily forgotten.
“That’s nice,” Mel said.
“Daddy! Will you help me? I want a map of February.”
Mel smiled. Libby had a verbal shorthand of her own which sometimes seemed more expressive than conventional words.
“There’s a calendar in my desk.” Mel told her where to find it and heard her small feet running from the room, the telephone forgotten.
3
There was a knock at the outer door of Tanya Livingston’s office, and Mel Bakersfeld leaned in. “I can drop back later, if you like.”
“Please stay.” She smiled. “We’ve almost finished.”
He saw her fill in a voucher for a young girl, and hand it to her. “Give this to the taxi dispatcher, Patsy, and he’ll send you home. Have a good night’s rest, and we’ll expect you back tomorrow.”
When the girl left, Tanya turned to Mel. She said brightly, “Hullo. You got my note?”
“Hi! What was that about? Battle fatigue? I’m tired, too. How about sending me off in a taxi?”
She looked at him, inquiringly. Her eyes—a bright, clear blue—had a quality of directness. She had a slim figure, yet with a fullness which the trim airline uniform heightened… Mel was conscious of her desirability and warmth.
“Only if the taxi goes to my place, and you let me cook you dinner.”
He hesitated, then reluctantly shook his head. “I wish I could. But we’ve some trouble here, and afterward I have to be downtown.” He got up. “Let’s have coffee, anyway.”
The sudden invitation from Tanya had surprised him. They had had several dates together, but until now she had not suggested visiting her apartment.
Lately, Mel had sensed that if their meetings away from the airport continued, there could be a natural and obvious progression. But he had moved cautiously, instinct warning him that an affair with Tanya would be no casual romance but a deeply emotional involvement for them both.
In the coffee shop, Mel glanced around. He nodded toward the outer door through which they could both see a moving, surging swarm of people.