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Book Excerpt:
A Fare to Remember
Hannah practiced her whistle on the walk back to the Pearson, but she
had trouble concentrating as they drew closer. Now that the moment
was almost here, she was nervous. Something seemed to be going on
with Zach, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.
Partway through dinner his mood had changed. Until that moment
she'd been sure that he was thinking the same way she was-that they
should enjoy that suite together tonight. Now she wasn't so sure.
But if she didn't ask him to come up, she'd always wonder if
they could have spent the night wrapped in each other's arms. She
hadn't made it to New York by being a coward, so there was no point
in starting to act like one now. She would ask him, and if he said
no, she'd ... well, she'd probably be devastated.
No, damn it, she wouldn't be devastated! She would take it
with a smile, figuring he was the one losing out. But if he said
yes ... oh, the glory of that! They would set the night on fire.
She didn't want to have this scene right outside the front
door of the hotel, so about half a block away she stopped walking
and turned to him. Her heart was beating so fast that she was
breathless. She paused to gulp some air. This was silly, being so
nervous over such a simple thing. She wasn't a virgin, for heaven's
sake.
Except this wasn't a simple thing. She couldn't shake the
feeling that having sex with Zach would have vast repercussions.
And although she wasn't a virgin, she didn't have a lot of
experience with asking a man to share her bed. Usually the guy had
been the one asking her.
Maybe Zach would still do that. She hesitated a moment to give
him that chance. He must know she wanted him to.
He cleared his throat. "Hannah, I-"
"Of course. Of course you can come up."
He looked stricken. "It would be better if I didn't."
Icy disappointment and humiliation slid over her. She wanted
to and he didn't. How awkward. "Of course. I...didn't mean to. .." She
had no clue how to smooth this over.
And she wanted to know why he was rejecting her. Was it
something stupid, like she'd accidentally chewed with her mouth
open at dinner, or something important, like he'd discovered he
couldn't stand the sound of her voice?
"I know you must be confused," he said gently.
She swallowed and made herself look into his eyes. "A little."
He seemed miserable. "It's not that I don't want to."
"Then why not?" She sounded desperate, and she hated that, but
the words were out.
"Because...because I can't be the man you need."
She stared at him. "Then I need an overhaul on my 'gaydar,'
because I've felt heterosexual vibes coming from you from the very
start."
"I'm not gay. Or impotent, or married, which might be the
other conclusions you could draw from what I said. I just-God, this
is complicated." He blew out a breath and stared up at the lighted
buildings surrounding them.
She launched into self-preservation mode. "Look, if there's
something about me you don't like, that's okay. You don't have to
explain. In fact, my ego would appreciate it if you'd keep that
particular truth to yourself. I shouldn't have asked for reasons.
We're not going to continue this little interlude, and that's fine.
Good night, Zach. Dinner was great."
He caught her arm before she'd gone more than three feet.
"Wait."
She glanced back at him. "Let's not make this any more awkward
than it has to be, okay?"
"I don't want you to leave thinking it has something to do
with you." He released his grip. "Hannah, you're terrific. You're
gorgeous and sexy, and I would love to go to bed with you."
"Then what's the problem?" she said softly.
"It wouldn't be right."
"You have religious scruples?"
"No! I-you know what? You're right. I'm only making this more
awkward. Just believe me when I say I'd love to, but I can't."
"Okay." She was still confused, but not quite so humiliated.
She could see that he was tortured and thoroughly believed he
wanted to come upstairs but couldn't for some mysterious reason.
"Well, if you should change your mind ... just whistle." Then she
turned and headed for the Pearson's front entrance.
She shouldn't be surprised that she'd misread the situation
with Zach. She'd landed in a new town, where there could be new
rules, and she'd met the guy only yesterday. It seemed as if they'd
known each other longer, but that was an illusion. Yes, they'd
appeared to click, but something was gumming up the works.
Well, she'd enjoy that suite all by herself again tonight.
She'd soak in the Jacuzzi and read one of the paperback thrillers
she'd picked up on the way home from her interviews. Then she'd get
a good night's sleep with plenty of room to spread out in that big
bed. She didn't need a guy to complete her, or make her happy, or
any of that junk. In fact, she...hold on.
What was that noise? She strained to hear. Sure enough,
interspersed with the sounds of traffic, came the unmistakable
sound of a soft, low whistle.
She turned to find Zach walking toward her.
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