Silver Linings

Mattie agreed. She turned back to Hugh as the waitress disappeared. “So tell me more about this charter business,” she said in a deliberately provocative tone. “I want to hear every little detail about it. I'm just fascinated by that sort of thing. I'll bet you're a big honcho in the air charter business out here in the islands, aren't you?”
    “This lady who put you in that dress give you lessons in how to talk to a client or something?”
    “How can you say that?” Mattie looked hurt. “I'm serious, Hugh. I want to know everything. I've just realized there is a great deal I don't know about you.”
    The beer arrived. Hugh hadn't really wanted one, but he knew the bottle would be useful if things turned rowdy before dinner was over. He looked speculatively down at Mattie. “Are you trying to flirt with me?”
    “What if I am?” She hunched her shoulders and the neckline of the red dress dipped so low for a second or two that it revealed the dusky curve surrounding one nipple.
    Hugh realized he was staring. Already half aroused, he could feel himself getting very hard, very fast. He took a quick swallow of beer. “I'm not complaining. I just want to be sure you know what you're doing.”
    “I'm just trying to learn a little more about you, Hugh Abbott. Do you realize I know almost nothing of your past?”
    With great effort he managed to lift his gaze back to her eyes. “You're not missing much. Sit up straight, will you?” She really was flirting with him. Damn . He just wished they didn't have an audience. Every man in the room must be aware of the look she was giving him. He was torn between his own roaring desire and a need to protect his newfound treasure from the lustful gazes of other males.
    “What did you do before you went to work for my aunt?”
    “This and that. Odd jobs. Mattie, you'd better sit a little straighter. I mean it. That dress is about to fall off.”
    “Evangeline designed it to look that way. She's very talented when it comes to dress design. I think she may have missed her calling.”
    “Yeah. Maybe.” Hugh moved slightly, trying to ease the tightness of his jeans. “What did you say her name was?”
    “Evangeline Dangerfield.”
    “Hell of a name. Wonder where she picked that up.”
    “She says it's not her original name. It's sort of a nom de mattress , I believe. She suggested I think of something a little more interesting than Mattie Sharpe, myself. What do you think?”
    Hugh's mouth curved briefly. “I think Mattie Sharpe is just fine.”
    She frowned slightly. “But do you think it's sexy enough? Does it have romantic allure? Does it promise passion and excitement and fulfillment?”
    “Yeah,” said Hugh. “It does.”
    “Advertising and image are so important, you know.”
    “I'll keep that in mind as I build up Abbott Charters.”
    Mattie leaned closer, her eyes smoky. “Tell me more about Abbott Charters.”
    And then, to his own astonishment, Hugh found himself doing just that. He could not resist. She was hanging on every word as if nothing in the world were more important than his hopes and plans and dreams for the future.
    Nobody had ever listened to him with such intensity, he realized vaguely at one point. He rambled on about his goal for getting some contracts with the United States government and some with local businesses. He talked about the difficulties of getting aircraft serviced out here in the islands. He explained how St. Gabe was starting to become more popular with tourists and how he planned to encourage them to use Abbott Charters. He talked about organizing scuba diving tours at nearby islands. On and on he talked.
    Mattie was obviously enthralled. She prompted him with questions now and again, but mostly Hugh just talked.
    And talked.
    The food arrived and Hugh kept talking as he ate. He described his plans to become the most reliable charter operator in that section of the Pacific. He detailed his goal to provide a first-class professional operation that would supply everything from fishing boats for tourists to freight service for business.
    “I'm thinking about a franchise operation eventually,” he said. “For example, the guy who's going to take us off the island in the morning is running a shoestring operation with one plane. If he bought an Abbott Charter franchise he'd instantly look bigger and more successful than he is. He'd get more business, and I'd have another base of operations.”
    Hugh discovered he was