Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels by Mindy Starns Clark

Author:Mindy Starns Clark [Clark, Mindy Starns]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Adult, Romance
ISBN: 9780736940641
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2003-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Six

The uncomfortable silence between us lasted almost all the way to Osprey Cove. But as we neared the bypass, Kirby turned to me and finally spoke.

“I’m a jerk,” he said. “Can I take you to dinner by way of apology?”

“What’s to apologize for?” I asked. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No, but for the last hour I’ve been acting like a petulant child. All you did was turn me down. It’s not like you deserve the silent treatment.”

“That’s all right, Kirby. I’m not exactly swift at these male-female things anyway.”

“So, dinner? My treat, but friend to friend, of course.”

I chewed my lip.

“Sure. Why not?” I said finally. “I…I’m starving, actually.”

He took the road for Osprey Cove and steered through the congested streets toward the Harbor View Manor, a gorgeous, expensive restaurant situated on pilings out over the water. I had never eaten there, but I’d heard the food was the best in town.

“Shouldn’t we go somewhere a little more casual?” I asked. “We’re dressed for trooping around in the woods, not dining at the Harbor View Manor.”

Kirby laughed and continued up the ramp toward valet parking.

“I’ll give you a hint about how the very rich operate around here,” he said. “In Osprey Cove, the only people who get dressed up are the tourists.”

He came to a stop at the door of the restaurant and a red-jacketed young man appeared at my side almost instantly. We got out, and I noticed Kirby slipped the kid a twenty in exchange for his claim ticket.

“Evening, Tommy,” Kirby said.

“How are you tonight, Mr. Collins?”

“Fine, just fine.”

Kirby took my elbow and steered me into the restaurant. Despite a queue of people waiting in the lobby, we were whisked past all of them almost instantly and taken to a beautiful table for two right next to the window. As I sat and oriented myself with the restaurant and the gorgeous view of the harbor, Kirby chatted amiably with the maître d’. It was apparent to me that he must come here all of the time, a thought I found disturbing when I saw the prices on the menu. The least expensive entrée, a scallops-pasta dish, was $75! Prices went up from there, with several items costing in the three-figure range. Unbelievable.

“I hate to sound arrogant,” Kirby said after the waiter had taken our order and removed the menus, “but women do not often turn me down. That’s why I reacted like I did. I think mostly I was just surprised.”

I took a sip of water and looked out at the white twinkly lights sparkling in the trees along the water.

“That’s not arrogance, just realism. You’re handsome, rich, and charming,” I said. “I’m sure you can take your pick of women.”

“But not you.”

I met his eyes.

“It has nothing to do with you, Kirby,” I said. “It’s me. I don’t date. Ever.”

“Isn’t that lonely for you?”

I thought about that. His question wasn’t rude, just honest. I smiled, wondering how to explain.

“I have my faith to sustain me,” I said.

“That’s a crock.

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