Page 46 of Sunset Serenade
Why did people think that was a generous offer?
She forced a smile, then turned to her computer and pulled up the questionnaire anyway. It would give her starting point, and something to return to when he derailed her thoughts.
Brett sighed and made a face. “Do we have to hang around this stuffy office? Aren’t you hungry?”
She’d forgotten to eat lunch again, but she’d never admit to it. “Oh no, I’m fine. I can get through this quickly if you need to go.”
“Let me take you to dinner. Everything is better over a bit of food, isn’t it?”
She looked around, trying to think of an excuse. She had nothing. “No, I think—”
He stood and waved a hand. “Aw, come on. I know a place. You’re going to love the lobster.”
Rose hated lobster. “It’s really okay,” she said weakly.
“You’re not gonna pull that with me. Come on. We gotta get some meat on you.”
There was nothing Rose liked less than people commenting on her weight, but this comment at least made him seem a bit grandpa-ish.
She could humor a grandpa. “Let me get my purse.”
Brett chattered the entire walk out of the office and didn’t stop through the elevator ride or as they walked into the garage, where a fancy-looking SUV was waiting.
They sat in the back, and Rose wasted no time. She pulled out her laptop and started going through the questions.
“Since I don’t have any of your demographic information, how old are you?”
“That’s a funny question, young lady. How old are you?”
“Old enough to know better than to answer that,” she said with a smile, mostly because she was unsure how old she’d have to be to pass as the actual Dr. Rose Woodson. “I’m going to put you down for…sixty.”
He pondered this for a moment, then nodded. “Deal.”
“Any previous marriages?” she asked.
“Next question.”
He’d been bulldozing her from the moment he’d walked into the office. She needed to take control of the conversation. “There’s no skipping questions.”
“I saidnext!” He laughed and poured himself a drink from the side console.
“No answers, no match,” she said firmly.
He took a swig of his drink. “All right, all right. I’ve been divorced, but just the one time.”
“Any kids?” She asked, hoping he’d say something like, “I’ve got a daughter your age.”
Instead, he said, “Not yet, but here’s to hoping.”
Rose typed that exact quote.
He was more compliant with the rest of the questions, though he tended to veer into long, rambling stories which Rose found difficult to rein in.
They got to the restaurant and she pressed on, desperate to look like a professional. By the time the appetizers arrived, she’d managed to get through all the questions.
“Those were the standard questions, but I also have my own.” She paused. “Though I’m not sure I should share my trade secrets so easily.”
He laughed, and a bit of bread shot out of his mouth and landed on the white tablecloth. “You’re a smart one. I like that.”
