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He frowned, destroying the effect.
“Smile,” she demanded.
He complied, then immediately lowered his gaze, and Hallie realized he was actually shy. He hid behind the questions and his ratings and obnoxious demeanor. Knowing this made her slightly more sympathetic toward him.
He helped her on with her coat and opened the car door for her. Hmm. Good manners were gentlemanly. Things seemed to be improving. They were on the freeway, with Marv driving at a predictably cautious speed, when she first heard the engine rattle.
“What was that?”
Marv scowled and pretended not to hear her or the noise.
“Sounds to me like there’s something wrong with your car,” Hallie pressed.
He took his eyes off the road long enough to glare at her. “My car is in perfect running order.”
Uh-oh, the date was going downhill again. “I’m sure you take good care of your car,” she said soothingly. “But I’m telling you I hear something that doesn’t sound right.” Whatever the problem, it didn’t delay them. They arrived five minutes ahead of their reservation time. Hallie figured that if Marv chose to ignore signs of engine trouble, there wasn’t anything she could do about it.
The Cliffhanger was perched on the side of a high bluff that overlooked Commencement Bay in Tacoma. Everything about the restaurant was first-class. Hallie smiled with pleasure.
Once they were seated, however, and the waiter had taken their order, Marv removed the pen and pad from his pocket again. He read over his notes, then said, “I have a few more questions for you.”
“More?” She didn’t bother to disguise her irritation.
“I’ll get through the questions as quickly as possible. I hope you don’t mind, but it’ll help me later when I make my decision.”
When he made his decision? Did he think she was applying for the opportunity to marry him? “Decision,” she repeated. “What decision?”
“Unlike others, I prefer to choose my wife based on facts rather than feelings, which I think are completely unreliable. Since marriage is a long-term contract, I believe it’s necessary to gather as much information as I can. I understand that you, too, are in marriage mode, so this evening can be beneficial to us both.” He held her gaze for a moment. “I have to tell you, Hallie, you’re getting good marks.” The tips of his ears turned red and he cleared his throat before saying, “You’re quite…attractive, you know.”
The compliment mollified her—although she had to admit she was a little shocked by his blatant approach to this date. And to the matter of marriage.
“It doesn’t hurt that you’re in a financially superior position,” he added, ruining any advantage he’d gained.
“Financially superior?” Her? Now that was a joke if ever she’d heard one.
“You own your own business. That puts you several points ahead of the others.”
“Exactly how many others are there?”
“That’s, uh, privileged information.” He smiled lamely, unfolding a computer printout. “We’ve finished with the preliminaries. Let’s get into your family background now.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Medical history, things like that.” He sounded impatient. “It’s important, Hallie.”
“All right, all right,” she muttered, resigned to the fact that their dinner was going to be one long interview. Thank goodness their appetizers had just arrived. While she had the waiter’s attention, she ordered a glass of wine. Marv frowned and wrote a lengthy note. “What do you want to know?”
They’d discussed heart disease, alcoholism and mental illness by the time their salads were served. Surely the entrées couldn’t be far behind! But before she tasted a single bite, he was making inquiries about STDs, fertility and childhood illnesses. Hallie had finally reached her limit. This guy wasn’t shy, nor was he hiding behind a pad and pen. He calculated everything down to the size of her panty hose.
“Any problems with—”
She held up both hands. “Stop!”
“Stop?”
“I’m finished answering your questions. You aren’t going to find a wife by interviewing for one. I thought this was a dinner date so we could get to know each another.”
“It is,” he argued. “I’m getting to know you by asking questions. What’s wrong with that?” He made another notation, writing furiously.
“What was that?” she demanded.
“Attitude. I’m beginning to have my doubts about you in that category.”
Hallie pushed aside her half-eaten salad. “You have your doubts. Listen, buster, I’m not answering another question. This is ridiculous—a woman wants to be wanted for who she is, not what she has to offer in the way of good genes!”
Her outburst appeared to unsettle him. “But you’ve rated the highest of anyone.”
It was a sad commentary on the state of her ego that she was flattered by this. “Thank you, I appreciate that, but I refuse to spend the entire evening talking about my grandmother’s arthritis.” Now was as good a time as any to break the news. “I’m sorry, Marv, but I don’t think this is going to work.”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to say that. Although your attitude is a bit problematic, I find myself liking you. Once we know each other better, you’ll value the effort I went through to gauge our compatibility.”
“I believe I’ve already gauged it. Unfortunately, we aren’t the least bit compatible.” She tried to be gentle, to tell him in a way that left him with his pride intact. “I have my own test, so to speak, and I can tell that a relationship between us simply isn’t going to work.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” For emphasis she nodded.
Marv didn’t blink, didn’t even put up a token resistance. Instead, he closed his pad, placing it inside his suit jacket, and refolded his printout. “Well, then,” he said, “I’m relieved you recognized it this soon. You’ve saved us both a considerable amount of time and effort.”
Hallie congratulated herself for not rolling her eyes.
Neither spoke, and before long Marv reached for his pad again. Now he seemed to be jotting down numbers—but Hallie didn’t ask.
Finally he glanced up. “You might be interested in knowing that out of a possible one hundred points, you scored a seventy-six for the opening interview.”
“Really?” She’d be sure and let her next date know that.
“But I have to agree—it wouldn’t work.”
Their dinner arrived, and Hallie savored the silence as much as she did the blackened salmon. Marv seemed equally engrossed in his meal; in a restaurant noted for its steak and seafood, he’d ordered liver and onions.
After declining dessert, Hallie decided to turn the conversational tables on him. “What about your family’s medical history?” she asked. It wouldn’t surprise her if there was a case or two of mental illness.
“Fit as a fiddle. I have one grandfather who lived to be ninety.”
“Longevity runs in the family, then?”
“On my maternal side. It’s difficult to say about the paternal.” The waiter brought the bill and Marvin grabbed it. “Unfortunately, very little is known about my father’s people.” He launched into a lengthy dissertation on what he’d managed to learn thus far. Ten minutes into it, Hallie yawned.
Marvin stopped midsentence and pulled out a pocket calculator. “Did you have three or four of the crab-stuffed mushrooms?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The appetizer,” he said, his finger poised above the calculator keypad.
“Three.”
“You’re sure?”
“Was I supposed to have counted?”
“Why, yes.” He appeared surprised that she’d ask.
Hallie stared in shock as he tallied the dinner bill and stated, “Your half comes to forty-five dollars and thirteen cents, including tip.”
“My half?”
“Why should I pay for your dinner?” he asked. “You said yourself that we’re incompatible.”
“Yes, but…you asked me out.”
“True. Nevertheless, it was with the unspoken agreement that this date was between two people interested in pursuing a relationship. You aren’t interested, therefore, your half of the dinner bill comes to…” He appeared to have forgotten and looked down at his calculator.
“Forty-five dollars and thirteen cents,” she supplied.
“That includes your portion of the tip.”
Disgusted, Hallie picked up her purse. It wouldn’t do any good to argue. Luckily she had two twenties and, yes, a five, which she kept hidden for emergencies. The thirteen cents practically wiped her out.
With nothing more to say, they left soon afterward.
Hallie heard the car well before the valet drove it into view. She glanced at Marv, wondering if he’d ignore the clanking sound this time. He did.
Rather than point it out again, Hallie climbed inside and steeled herself for a long uncomfortable ride home. She wasn’t far from wrong. When they reached the interstate the engine noise had intensified until even Marv couldn’t miss it.
“What was that?” he demanded, as if she was somehow responsible for the racket.
“Your car?” She was unable to avoid the sarcasm.
“I know it’s the car.”
“There’s no need to worry,” she said, parroting his words, “your vehicle’s in perfect running order, remember?”
“Correct. Nothing could possibly be wrong.” Then he cursed and pulled off to the side of the freeway. Smoke rose from underneath the hood, billowing into the night.
“Oh, dear,” Hallie murmured. This didn’t look good. The way things were going, he’d probably make her pay for half the tow truck, too.
Marv slammed his fist against the steering wheel. “Now look what you’ve done.”
“Me?” Of all the things he’d said, this was the limit. The final insult. “I have a few questions for you,” she snapped. “When was the last time this car had an oil change? A tune-up? Did you bother with antifreeze this winter?”
Marv leapt out of the car and slammed his door.
Hallie got out, too, shutting hers just as hard.
He glared at her over the top of the hood. “I don’t find your attempts at humor the least bit amusing.”
“The biggest joke of the night was my agreeing to go out with you!” The cold wind whipped past her and she tucked her hands into the pockets of her coat. Unfortunately, she’d worn a flimsy coat, more of a wrap, because its jade green went so well with her new dress. Her wool coat hung in the closet. The only thing she had to keep her warm was her anger—and so far, it was working.
“Until I met you, my vehicle was in perfect running order.”
“Are you suggesting I put a hex on it?”
“Maybe you did,” he growled.
Hallie seethed, crossing her arms. “You’re the rudest man I’ve ever met!”
His eyes narrowed and his mouth thinned. It wasn’t until then that she realized how deeply she’d insulted him. Marv obviously prided himself on his manners—opening the door, helping her on with her coat, those gestures so few men observed these days. Well, she’d take a normal man who let her open car doors over Marvin anytime!
“If that’s how you feel,” he said stiffly, “you can find your own way home.”
“Fine, I will.” She carelessly tossed out the words, slapped her silk scarf around her neck like Isadora Duncan and started walking, high heels and all.
This wasn’t the smart thing to do, Hallie soon realized. She was chilled to the bone, blinded by all the headlights flashing by and, dammit, one of her heels chose that moment to break off.
At least it wasn’t raining.
Six
The Loan Ranger
T he ringing woke Steve out of a sound sleep. He rolled over, thinking the incessant noise was his alarm. He hit the switch, but it did no good. Then he noticed the time. Eleven-thirty. What the hell?
He sat up and realized the irritating sound wasn’t his alarm clock but his doorbell. He grabbed his jeans and pulled them on as he hobbled into the living room. He had no idea who was calling on him so late at night—but the last person he expected was his next-door neighbor.
“I’m sorry to wake you,” Hallie said, her eyes desperate in the pale porch light. A scruffy-looking fellow hovered behind her, and a taxi stood parked in her driveway. “Could I borrow twenty dollars?” she pleaded. He stared at her. “Just until tomorrow afternoon,” she added.
“Sure,” he said, and reached in his hip pocket for his wallet, extracting a bill.
“Thank you,” she breathed, then whirled around to give the taxi driver his money. “I told you you’d get paid!” she said fiercely.
“You can’t blame a guy for doubting. You wouldn’t be the first lady who tried to stiff me.”
“Well…thanks for bringing me home.”
The cabbie handed her a business card. “Sure, lady. Listen, the next time some guy dumps you on the freeway, give me a call and I’ll make sure you get home.”
“Thanks,” she muttered, sending an embarrassed glance in Steve’s direction. She waited until the driver had left before explaining. “Really, it’s not as bad as it looks.” Nervously she pushed a trembling hand through her tangled hair. “I’ll get the twenty dollars to you after work tomorrow afternoon. I…I quit carrying my credit cards and didn’t have my ATM card with me,” she explained, rushing the words. “It took all my cash to pay for my half of dinner.”
