Sweet Fortune

meaningful discussion.”
    Ignoring the flare of surprise in Hatch's eyes, she grabbed hold of the end of his boring tie and hauled him forcibly into the apartment.
    Hatch did not put up much resistance.

CHAPTER FOUR

    A hissing noise from the kitchen made Jessie release her grip on Hatch's tie. “Oh, my God, the boiling water.” She whirled and rushed back into the kitchen.
    Hatch followed more slowly.
    “There's bottle of wine on the counter,” Jessie said over her shoulder as she picked up the package of ravioli. “Go ahead and open it. And then start talking.”
    “About what?” Hatch tossed his jacket down and picked up the wine.
    “About following the money, of course.”
    “Were you planning to eat that entire package of ravioli all by yourself?” He went to work on the cork, his hands working in a smooth and controlled fashion.
    “Yeah, but now that you're here, I'm feeling generous. I'll let you have some.” She dumped the cheese ravioli into the boiling water. “I've got some sourdough bread and enough salad to fill in the gaps. Now, what about following the money?”
    “If you're not a little more subtle, I'll get the impression you only invited me to stay for dinner because you're planning to use me.” The cork came out of the bottle with a small, polite pop. “Where do you keep the glasses?”
    “To the right of the sink.” Jessie concentrated on gently stirring the boiling ravioli. The kitchen was suddenly feeling very warm. Hatch seemed to be taking up all the available space. Predictably, she could feel a wave of klutziness coming on. She reminded herself to be careful. “And you're right. I am using you. Start talking.”
    “Always nice to feel wanted. Mind if I sit down first?” Hatch took one of the counter stools without waiting for permission. “Damn, I'm really beat tonight. Hell of a day.” He loosened his tie a little more and took a swallow of his wine.
    Jessie risked a sidelong glance and realized he was telling the truth. Hatch had definitely had a long, hard day. She firmly suppressed the little flicker of guilt that immediately assailed her. “Your own fault, Hatch. You shouldn't spend so much time at the office. You're as bad as my—”
    He cut her off with an upraised palm. “Don't say it. I'm not in the mood for another comparison between me and your father. You know, this is the first time I've had a chance to see your domestic side.”
    “Don't blink or you'll miss it.”
    “I'll keep that in mind. Still, there's something appealing about seeing you standing there at the stove.”
    “Is that the way you like your women? Chained to the kitchen?”
    “I think I'll avoid that question. Aren't you going to ask me about my hard day at the office?”
    She shot him a suspicious glance, uncertain, as usual, whether or not he was trying to joke with her. He looked perfectly serious sitting there, leaning against the counter. She decided to humor him. “Did you have a hard day at the office, Hatch?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Must have been a real pain having to stop by here and put in some additional overtime working on the big courtship, hmmm?”
    “You're determined to make this as difficult as possible, aren't you?”
    “I'm trying to stop it before it gets going,” Jessie said bluntly. “There's no future in it.” She picked up her own glass of wine and took a sip. “For either of us. We'd frustrate, irritate, and generally annoy each other to death.”
    “You're wrong, Jessie. I think we have got a future. And I think we can learn to coexist, provided you make some effort. Be careful with that glass. It's going to fall off the counter if you don't watch out. I don't have the energy to go over there and rescue it.”
    She glanced down to see that she had set the wineglass right on the edge of the white tile. Cautiously she moved it to safety. “Whew. Another disaster narrowly averted. Let's hope I don't accidentally set fire to the apartment or something equally dramatic while you're here.”
    “I told your father that the fact that I make you nervous is a good sign.”
    “Is that right? I consider it a sure indicator that we weren't meant for each other.” She picked up the pot of boiling ravioli and started to dump it into a colander that was sitting in the sink. Steam gushed upward toward the ceiling. Jessie yelped as she suddenly realized just how warm the handles of the pot had gotten. “ Damn .”
    “Here. Let me take that.” Hatch was there