Playing to Win

with. This was merely my way of assessing your treatment of women.”
    “Yeah? And how am I doing so far?”
    Her brow arched. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
    “No. Because this isn’t a real date. You and I went at it right away because we’re in business together. If this had been a date, I’d have treated you differently.”
    She clasped her hands together on the table. “Really.”
    “Yeah.”
    “And what if the next media personality who interviews you tough is a woman? Will you treat her the same way you treated me tonight?”
    “Did I treat you badly tonight?”
    “No, but that’s not my point. My point is you’re reactionary. Instead of calmly discussing an issue, you get angry and perceive an insult where there might not be one.”
    “And you accuse instead of asking for an explanation.”
    She turned her head in question. “Do I? How so?”
    “I felt dumb for not knowing anything about wines, but instead of asking me, you plowed ahead, assuming I was pissed off instead of embarrassed.”
    Now it was her turn to go quiet for a minute. “You may be right. I’m sorry. I would never intentionally make you feel stupid. Noteveryone is knowledgeable about wines. I’m certainly no wine connoisseur. I only know a few brands that I’ve tasted and like very much. I’ve been put to shame on vineyard tours by friends of mine who are experts in wine.”
    He nodded. “You also assume I treat all women badly just because I hang out in clubs. You never gave me a chance to show you how I could treat a woman I was taking out on a date. Instead, you blindsided me.”
    “All right. Show me.”
    “Now?”
    “Yes. We’ve only had dinner. The night is still young. Show me.”
    “And you’ll correct me if I do anything wrong.”
    “Not until the end of the evening.”
    He rolled his eyes. “So I can do anything I want with you.”
    She laughed. “Within reason.”
    “Okay.” He signaled for the waiter, who brought the check.
    Savannah reached for it.
    Cole gave her a look. “You’re kidding me, right?”
    “This night was my idea,” she said. “I’ll pay.”
    He pulled the check across the table and took out his credit card. “I don’t think so.”
    Savannah grinned. “Does the idea of a woman paying for dinner offend your masculinity?”
    “Hell, yes. Deal with it.”
    After he paid, he led her out to his car. The drive was short, since they were already downtown. When he parked across from the Arch, Savannah’s lips curved. He held the door for her and walked her toward the curved icon that symbolized the gateway to the west, the beautiful silver arch that had stood on the banks of the Mississippi River for as long as he remembered.
    “Ever been?”
    “Actually, no. I’ve always meant to go, but I’m always too busy.”
    He laid his hand at the small of her back and guided her inside, where he paid for them to take the tram up to the top of the Arch.
    “We have some time to kill before our scheduled trip up,” he said. “Care for a little history?”
    Her eyes gleamed with excitement. “Of course.”
    They wound their way through the exhibits from the 1800s. Cole had been here before when he was a kid, had remembered enjoying seeing all the stagecoaches and fur traders and guns and everything associated with the exhibit.
    It was even more fun looking through it as an adult, now that he had a more thorough knowledge of history. Plus, seeing it with Savannah was enjoyable. She made comments as they wound their way through each section, ending with a recap of the construction of the Arch.
    “So fascinating,” Savannah said as they got in line to take the elevator ride up.
    “Growing up here, I always take it for granted, but it’s a pretty unique piece of architecture. Wait till you see the top.”
    They rode up and Cole helped Savannah up the ramp toward the windows.
    She leaned forward to look out.
    “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe it took me so long to get here.”
    She moved between the east and west windows, wandering in between the tourists who’d accompanied them. Cole leaned against the carpeted sill so he could look out over the lighted city, never more glad to be back home. Seeing the river on one side and the city on the other relaxed him.
    This is where he belonged. This felt right to him. It was going to be a good season.
    They left the Arch and Cole drove them a few short blocks to one of his favorite places.
    The club was dark and had a moody