Chapter 42 Success!
“Did you know tater twisters originated in China?” Luke asked, twirling a dart in his hand.
“Yeah, I knew that. I had them at the Chinese market one time.”
Hallie looked around the office. Classic European paintings of mountainous landscapes hung on the walls, along with a couple of dart boards. Luke flung the dart, and it landed just a little off the bull’s eye.
“I’ve really got to invest in those things. They’re so tasty.”
“Are you just talking about tater twisters as a stalling tactic?” Hallie inquired.
“Stalling? Why would I be stalling?” His fingers drummed on the edge of his desk. Perhaps he was more nervous than he wanted to admit.
“Because you still haven’t apologized to me.”
“I also have a desk catapult,” he bragged. He put an eraser onto the small device, which looked like a miniature replica of a medieval catapult, and flung it across the room. “Do you want to try?”
Hallie just glared at him.
Finally, he took his feet off the desk and sat up straighter. “I’m sorry about what I said, okay? Maybe it’s because I was afraid of my feelings for you. I started to care about you too much. I wanted to push you away, to protect you from falling from a playboy like me.”
Hallie folded her arms, giving him a cynical look. “Really? You’re going to try that whole routine again?”
“Was it not convincing at all?” Luke slapped his hand down on the desk in frustration.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Okay, you ruthless hellion. I was on a lot of medication at the time, and I wasn’t censoring my naughty thoughts. Is that better?”
She scrunched up her face. “Hmm... a little. At least that sounded more like the real truth.”
“What will it take to prove to you that I’m hopelessly in love with you?” At least this time he didn’t try to pretend he was serious.
“I don’t know, but it’ll take more than buying me a dozen donuts.”
“A hundred donuts?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
Hallie turned away to admire a painting.
“Yeah,” she glanced back at him playfully, “and a free gym membership, which I’m going to need after I eat them all.”
“All right, let’s get down to business.” Luke beckoned her to take a seat. “I’m meeting a well-connected man tonight. He’s bringing his wife, so I’m going to need a date.”
“Now, wait a minute,” Hallie began, walking to the chair but leaning on its back instead of sitting down. “I thought you were offering a marketing job.”
“This man could put me in touch with several important people in the state. It could be great for our business!”
“I should have known there would be some kind of trickery,” Hallie complained.
“It’s not a trick. I just think you’d do well at this. I was going to bring some random woman I picked up, but now that you’re here, I think you’ll do really well. You’re a real salt-of-the-earth kind of Texan lady that will be sure to make me look like I’m connecting with the local people.”
“Ugh!”
“I don’t know why you’re complaining so much,” Luke exclaimed. “You’re the one who started this whole fake dating thing. But now that I need a date, you’re too good for me?”
“It’s just not the kind of work I envisioned doing.”
“If this dinner goes well, I’ll get you on to some real marketing work, I promise.”
“Fine, I’ll do the dinner.” Hallie grabbed a dart off the desk and threw it at the board. She got a bull’s eye.
She knew this was not going to be an easy gig, but at least the job was hers. And she reminded herself, it was worth it to get away from Terry’s smugness.
“You’ll need proper attire, of course,” Luke said, his eyes slightly misty as he gave her pantsuit-clad body a once-over. “I’ll get Miss Santer to help you pick out an evening gown.”
Hallie tilted her head to the side, as if appraising whether he was mentally fit. “The same Miss Santer who just tried to wrestle me away from your office?”
“I don’t have another Miss Santer,” he said coolly. “So you better get used to her. She gets things done, and I trust her in matters of taste and style.”
“She may have good taste, but I how do you know she won’t set me up with something hideous just to spite me?”
“Miss Santer is a consummate professional. Tell her to put the bill on the company’s account.”
“Why do I have to get a new gown anyway?” Hallie asked. “Why can’t I wear one of mine?”
“Please, I’ve seen what you wore to that dance,” he said with a world-weary sigh. “It’s fine for rural festivities, but an outfit like that is not going to cut it here.”
“I thought you said you wanted a salt-of-the-earth kind of person.”
“There’s a fine line between salt-of-the-earth and country bumpkin. Now, if you don’t mind,” he got up to collect his darts from the wall, “I’ve got a lot of pressing work to do.”