the color from her face. The flash from the camera made her eyes appear red. She looked like she was recovering from a serious ailment.
“This is one of the worst pictures ever taken of me,” she said impatiently. “The one of me at the bookstore is much better.”
Steve’s brow creased with a frown. “I see. You should’ve sent that one.”
Meg realized what she’d said too late. “You’re right, I should have …. How silly of me.”
The waitress came and they placed their orders, both declining a drink, Meg to keep down the cost and Steve, no doubt, to hurry the meal along.
Once the server had left the table, Meg carefully smoothed the napkin across her lap. “Listen, Steve … “
“Meg … “
They both stopped.
“You go first,” he said, gesturing toward her.
“All right.” She cocked her head to one side and then the other, going over the words in her mind. “This isn’t easy ….”
Steve frowned. “It’s been a pleasure to meet me, but the chemistry just isn’t there and you’d like to let me down gently and be done with it.”
“No!” she hurried to assure him.
“Oh.”
The disappointment in his tone came as a mild shock. Then she understood. “You … expected a different kind of woman and—”
“Not in the least. If the truth be known, I’m pleasantly surprised.”
She swallowed. “I wish you hadn’t said that.”
“Why not?”
“Because …” She dragged in a deep breath. “Because I’m not the person you think I am. I mean …” This was proving even more difficult than it should have. “I didn’t write those letters.”
Steve’s eyes narrowed. “Then who did?”
“My daughter and her friend.”
“I … see.”
Meg’s fingers crushed the linen napkin in her lap. “You have every reason to be upset. It was an underhanded thing to do to us both.”
“You didn’t know anything about this?”
“I swear I didn’t. I would’ve put a stop to it immediately if I had.”
Steve reached for his water and drank thirstily. “I would have, too.”
“I want you to know I intend to discipline Lindsey for this. I can only apologize …” She stopped midsentence when she saw his shoulders moving with suppressed laughter. “Steve?”
“I didn’t write those letters, either. The ones from me.”
“What?” Disbelief settled over Meg. “You mean to say you didn’t respond to the ad in Dateline?”
“Nope. My romantic little sister did. Nancy’s on this kick about seeing me married. I don’t understand it, but—”
“Just a minute,” Meg said, raising her hand. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You didn’t place the ad in Dateline.”
“You’ve got it.”
“Then why are you here?”
He shrugged. “Probably for the same reason you are. I figured you were some lonely heart seeking companionship and frankly I felt bad that Nancy had led you on like this. It isn’t your fault my crazy sister thinks it’s time I got married.”
He paused when their meals were delivered.
Meg dug into her chicken with gusto. Irritation usually made her hungry. She stabbed a carrot slice with her fork.
“So you felt sorry for me?” she said, chewing the carrot vigorously.
He looked up, apparently sensing her irritation. “No sorrier than you felt for me.”
He had her there.
“It’s the reason you showed up, isn’t it?” he pressed.
She agreed with a nod. “When did you find out about this dinner date?”
“This morning. You?”
She glanced at her watch. “About two hours ago.”
Steve chuckled. “They didn’t give you much opportunity to object, did they?”
“Actually they got the days mixed up and went into a panic. I don’t suppose you happened to read any of the letters or e-mails they wrote?”
“As a matter of fact I did. Interesting stuff.”
“I’ll bet.” She stabbed one of the potato pieces with her fork. “You should know that not everything they said was the truth.” She put the potato in her mouth and chewed.
“So you don’t actually run an eight-minute mile.”
“No … “
“Nine minutes?”
“I don’t exactly run, and before you ask me about carbs and fat grams, you can forget everything Lindsey told you about those, too. And for the record, my appendix is in great shape.”
Steve chuckled. “What did Nancy tell you about me?”
“Since I’ve only read tidbits of your letters and e-mails, I can’t really say.”
“Oh?” His voice fell noticeably.
“As I recall, your sister did suggest that your life’s quite empty and you’re looking for something to fill your lonely nights—” she paused for effect “—until you realized it wasn’t something you were searching for but someone.”
His jaw tightened. “She said that?”
“Yup.” Meg took some pleasure in telling him that.
“Well, that’s a crock of bull. I certainly hope you didn’t believe it.”
Meg smiled. “Not really. Lindsey didn’t mean any harm, you know.”
“Nancy, either, although I’d like to throttle her. The kid’s nineteen and she’s got romance and marriage on her mind. Unfortunately, it’s me she’s trying to marry off.”
“Lindsey thinks I’m lost and lonely, but I’m perfectly content with my life.”
“Me, too.”
“Why ruin everything now?”
“Exactly,” Steve agreed with conviction. “A woman would want to change everything about me.”
“A man would string me along until he found someone prettier and sexier. Besides,” Meg added, “I have no intention of becoming a pawn in some ploy of my daughter’s.”
“Nancy can take a flying leap into Green Lake before I’ll let her arrange my love life,” Steve told her adamantly. “I certainly intend to marry, but on my time—not when my kid sister ropes me into a lonely-hearts-club relationship.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Great.” Steve grinned at her, and Meg had to admit he had a wonderful smile. It lit up his eyes and softened his features. “Shall we drink to our agreement?”
“Definitely.”
Steve attracted the waitress’s attention and ordered a bottle of wine.
Meg was astonished by the ease with which they could talk, once all the pretense between them had been resolved. She told him about her bookstore and liked hearing about his body shop. They lingered over coffee and dessert, and not until it became