Bed of Roses Page 0,94

the postcards and pictures, the funny e-mails from cyber cafes. We were going to do it, the four of us. But when the Browns died . . . It was too much, and so many things to deal with. And Parker channeled everything into putting together a business model for Vows. We just never got around to it."

She sat back. "I really can't eat another bite."

He signaled for the check. "Show me one of your pockets."

"My pockets?"

"One of those things I don't know about you."

"Oh." Laughing, she sipped her coffee. "Hmm, let's see. I know. You may not be aware that I was the Fairfield County Spelling Bee Champion."

"Get out. Really?"

"Yes, I was. In fact, I went all the way to the state competition, where I was this close . . ." She held up her thumb and finger, a fraction apart. "This close to winning, when I was eliminated."

"What was the word?"

"Autocephalous."

His eyes slitted. "Is that a real word?"

"From the Greek, meaning being independent of external authority, particularly patriarchal." She spelled it out. "Except under pressure, I spelled it with an e for the second a , and that was that. I remain, however, a killer at Scrabble."

"I'm better at math," he told her.

She leaned forward. "Now, let me see one of yours."

"It's pretty good." He tucked his credit card in the leather folder discreetly placed at his elbow. "Nearly up there with spelling bee champion."

"I'll be the judge."

"I was Curly in my high school's production of Oklahoma! "

"Seriously?" She pointed at him. "I've heard you sing. You're good. But I didn't know you had any interest in acting."

"None. I was interested in Zoe Malloy, who was up for the part of Laurey. Crazy about her. So I put it all out there for 'Surrey with the Fringe on Top,' and got the part."

"Did you get Zoe?"

"I did. For a few shining weeks. Then, unlike Curly and Laurey, we parted. And that was the end of my acting career."

"I bet you made a great cowboy."

He sent her a quick, teasing grin. "Well, Zoe certainly thought so."

With the bill addressed, he rose, held out a hand for hers.

"Let's walk the long way around." She laced her fingers with his. "I bet it's a beautiful night."

It was. Warm and sparkling so even the traffic jamming the streets glittered and gleamed. They strolled, winding their way around the blocks and back to the grand front entrance of the hotel. People swept in and out, in business suits, in jeans, in evening clothes. "Always busy," she said. "Like a movie where no one ever says 'cut.' "

"Do you want a drink before we go up?"

"Mmm, no." She tipped her head toward his shoulder as they walked to the elevators. "I've got everything I want."

In the elevator she turned into his arms, tipped her face up to his. Her pulse rate climbed as the car did, up and up, level by level.

When he opened the door, she stepped into candlelight. On the white-draped table a silver bucket held a bottle of champagne. A single red rose speared from a slim vase while around the room tea lights flickered in clear glass. Music drifted, whisper soft.

"Oh, Jack."

"How did this get here?"

Laughing, she took his face in her hands. "You've just bumped this up from great date to dream date. This is amazing. How did you manage it?"

"I arranged for the maitre d' to alert the hotel when they brought the check. Planning isn't just your business."

"Well, I like your plan." She kissed him, lingered for another. "A lot."

"I had a feeling. Should I open the bottle?"

"Absolutely." She wandered to the window. "Look at the view. Everything's still so bright and busy, and here we are."

The bottle opened with a sophisticated pop! When he'd poured the glasses and joined her, she tapped hers to his. "To excellent planning."

"Tell me something else." He touched her hair, just a skim of the fingers. "Something new."

"Another pocket?"

"I've discovered the spelling bee champ, the ace soccer player. These are interesting facets."

"I think we've covered all my hidden skills." She reached out, trailed a fingertip down his tie. "I wonder if you can handle the dark side."

"Try me."

"Sometimes when I'm alone at night, after a long day . . . especially if I'm feeling unsettled. Or on edge - " She broke off, lifted her glass for a sip. "I'm not sure if I should confess this one."

"You're among friends."

"True. Still, not many men really understand some of a woman's needs.