The Adventurer

"Perfect."
    "You think so?"
    "Definitely. Have you ever been married, Gideon?"
    "You get real personal, real quick, don't you?"
    "Not normally but I feel like we've known each other for four whole months."
    "Funny. I feel like I just met you today."
    "I'm going too fast for you, aren't I?"
    "That's one way of looking at it. What is all this personal stuff leading up to? You planning to propose marriage to me?"
    Sarah cleared her throat delicately and studied her menu. "Don't be ridiculous. It's much too soon for that."
    Gideon stared at her, his head reeling. "Maybe we'd better take this one step at a time."
    "My thoughts exactly. We don't want to terrorize you."
    "I'm beyond terror. I'm in the Twilight Zone. I feel the way Machu Picchu did the day Ellora arrived on the doorstep."
    Sarah laughed and closed her menu with a snap. Her eyes sparkled as she studied him across the table. "What did Ellora do first?"
    "Moved right in on Machu's feed bowl. Normally, Machu would have bitten off the head of any intruder who got within twenty yards of his food."
    "But not Ellora."
    "No. That's when I knew we were done for. I think she baffled him at first. By the time he figured out what was going on, it was too late. She was a permanent resident. You ever been married?"
    That caught her off guard. Gideon experienced a definite twinge of satisfaction at having finally achieved the near impossible. He had a feeling Sarah was almost never caught flat-footed. She was too quick, too animated, always one step ahead. A sideways thinker. He watched as she played with a fork for a minute.
    "I was almost married once," she said finally. "About four years ago."
    "What happened?"
    "Got stood up at the altar."
    He was astounded. "Literally?"
    "Literally. Very embarrassing, to be honest. Church full of people. Spectacular dress. Reception waiting. And no groom. It was all very dramatic, I assure you. Enough to put a woman off marriage for life. But nothing is ever wasted for a writer. One of these days, I'm going to do a romance that starts out with the heroine being left at the altar. Snappy beginning, don't you think?"
    "How's it going to end?"
    "At the altar, of course. With the right man this time."
    "But you're not ready to write that story yet?" he asked on a hunch.
    "No. The whole experience left me feeling a little raw, if you want to know the truth. Even if it was all my own fault."
    Gideon scowled. "What do you mean, your own fault?"
    "You're suddenly full of questions. Does this mean you're not bored?"
    "You might be a pain in the neck at times, Sarah, but I seriously doubt you could ever manage to be boring."
    "I'll take that as a compliment."
    "You didn't answer my question."
    She sighed and appeared to be marshaling her thoughts. Gideon got the feeling she was just about to open her mouth when Bernice Sawyer, the waitress, arrived to take their order. He swore silently.
    "I'll have the linguine and clams," Sarah announced. "And please tell Mort I was thrilled to see it on the menu. I love linguine and clams."
    Bernice blinked. "Uh, sure, I'll tell him. How about you, Gideon?"
    "The salmon," he told her dourly, wishing she would go away so he could get the answer to his question.
    "Right. Salmon. As usual." Bernice smiled, undaunted by his obvious irritation. "Glass of wine?"
    "Yes, please," said Sarah instantly.
    "Why not?" Gideon thrust the menu at Bernice, hoping she'd take the hint and leave quickly.
    "Be right back," she promised and sauntered off in the direction of the kitchen.
    "Really, Gideon, there's no need to be rude," Sarah murmured in a low, chiding tone.
    "Was I?"
    "Yes, you were."
    Bernice materialized again with the wine. Gideon possessed himself in patience until Sarah had taken a sip. When her gaze went toward the view of rocks and crashing surf, he tried again. "So why was it all your fault?"
    "I beg your pardon?" She looked politely blank, as if she hadn't followed his train of thought.
    Gideon knew instantly she was faking it. "Getting left at the altar. Why was it your fault?"
    "Umm. Well, I should have seen it coming." She took another sip of wine.
    "You've already told me you're not exactly psychic. How could you have seen it coming?"
    "For a man who thought I was coming on a little too strong a while ago, you're awfully interested in my private life all of a sudden."
    "Think of this as an interview. I'm still trying to make up my mind about whether or not to accept your offer of a job."
    Sarah smiled.