Otherwise Engaged

“Now,” he continued, “if it was a choice between a chili dog and the Yankees, that would be a different story. Here—” He offered her his chili dog. “You’re a big girl now. Live dangerously.”

She found it was impossible to resist the challenge in his eyes. Leaning forward, she took a bite and savored the explosion of flavors on her tongue. “Mmm. Wonderful.”

“There you go,” Nick said. “You’ve sampled the forbidden and you’re none the worse for it. I’d say you’re pretty mess proof. In fact, you remind me of one of Hitchcock’s heroines. Even when they were whipping around in convertibles, their hair never got windblown.”

Tyler gave him a level look. “That’s because those scenes were shot in a studio. The cars never moved.”

“Safer, I suppose, but not nearly as satisfying.” Reaching over, he fingered the gold loop on her ear. “Wouldn’t you rather take a real ride in a very fast car?”

“No.” Not until now. Tyler frowned as the thought moved through her mind. It was as traitorous as the feeling that had moved through her when he’d touched her earring. And it wasn’t even true. She had her life just the way she wanted it. She didn’t want rides in fast cars. And she didn’t want the feelings that Nick Romano could trigger in her. “That’s not who I am. That’s not how I’ve achieved what I have. I’ve worked very hard to get where I am at Sheridan Trust. It means everything to me.”

Nick studied her for a minute. “It’s got to be hard filling your grandmother’s shoes. Even if she thought you could do it, I imagine there are some who doubt her judgment.”

At the understanding she saw in his eyes, panic moved through her. “Maybe you are a good detective,” Tyler said.

Nick sighed and shook his head. “I can see it’s going to be an uphill battle trying to impress you.”

“Believe it,” she said as she bit into her hot dog. For a few minutes they ate in silence. Tyler tried to ignore that hers tasted bland. Over the years, she’d schooled herself not to notice that. Swallowing, she wrapped what remained in a napkin and took a sip of her bottled water. “Did you find out if Richard placed the want ad?”

“It’s hard to say,” Nick said around a mouthful of chili dog. “According to the records, Richard placed the earlier ads over the phone with a credit card. The man who placed the one in this issue came to the magazine’s offices in person and paid cash. The girl who took the ad couldn’t recall much about his appearance. Medium height, medium build, brown hair.”

“That could be Richard.”

“And about one-third of all the other men who live in Manhattan, not to mention the tourists. The thing she was most sure about was that she took the ad on Monday. That was the deadline for placing anything in this month’s issue. The arrangements with the messenger service were made yesterday. That’s when the magazine gets mailed to subscribers.”

Tyler frowned. “But if he placed the ad Monday, then he knew four days ago that he was going to disappear.”

“Yeah. If Richard was the one who placed it.” Balling up the remnants of their lunch, Nick took aim and tossed it into the trash container.

“I know that Richard placed that ad. He’s the only one who could have composed it,” Tyler said. “No one else would know about Scarlet and Annie.”

“I was going to ask you about that. Who are they?”

“Scarlet O’Hara and Little Orphan Annie. Gone with the Wind is his favorite movie and Annie is his favorite musical. It was something we had in common.”

“He really liked Gone with the Wind?”

“Yes. Didn’t you?”

Nick shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it all the way through. It certainly wouldn’t make my top-ten list.” He turned to her then to study her. “So, Scarlet and Annie are your favorites?” Reaching over, he again fingered the loop of gold at her ear.

Tyler drew in a deep breath and let it out, trying to ignore her racing heart. “I want you to stop that.”

Nick dropped his hand. “It bothers you?”

“No, of course not. It’s just…that is…I don’t like people to violate my personal space.”

“Really?”

She couldn’t for the life of her figure out how he could have such a sober expression on his face, such a serious tone to his voice, and at the same time be laughing at her with his eyes. But she was not going to give in to the urge to punch him. “Really. Are we clear on that?”

“Absolutely. Hands off.” He raised both of his. “And I do approve.”

“Of what?” she asked suspiciously.

“Your personal favorites. Scarlet and Annie. You’re a little like both of them. They’re determined and they are both full of surprises.”

Tyler gave him another level look. “So are Hitchcock heroines, in spite of their perfect hairdos. While the men in those movies, as I recall, are always a bit befuddled.”

Nick threw back his head and laughed. The sound was so rich and free that several heads turned their way, and Tyler found herself wanting to join him.

“Good one,” he finally said. “Do you deliver zingers like that in your board meetings?”

“No,” she said.

“Well, you should. They’d start to think twice before they crossed you. C’mon,” he said, rising from the bench. “Let’s take a walk. I think better when I’m on the move.” He led the way, cutting a path between two women pushing strollers. To their left, a group of children stared wide-eyed at penguins, and the penguins stared right back. Farther ahead, seals clapped and preened themselves in an enclosed fountain while water shot high into the air.

“So, how about telling me the long story about why your bridegroom used the personal ads to send you little messages.”

When Tyler didn’t immediately reply, he continued, “Look, if you want my help, I need to know everything. It won’t go any farther. I never rat out my clients. Besides, I’m dying to know why someone like you would have to place an ad in the Personals?”

“I did it because my college roommate dared me.”

Nick stared at her. “Would you jump off a cliff on a dare?”

“No, but you don’t know Stevie. She was always after me to date. So was my mother. I figured the responses to an ad in the Personals couldn’t be any worse than the men my mother was always inviting to dinner.”

“So under pressure from your college roommate and your mother, you took out an ad in the Personals.” He studied her for a moment. “I can understand maternal pressure. So far mine has stopped short of encouraging me to advertise.”

When they reached the guardrail surrounding the seals, Nick paused and leaned against it. One of the seals was cleverly balancing a ball on its nose. Nearby, a toddler laughed delightedly.

“He should take that act on the road,” Nick said, slanting her a grin.

“Speaking of being on the road—shouldn’t we be going somewhere or doing something besides wandering through the zoo?” Tyler asked.

“We are,” Nick said. “We’re waiting for reports. Ten percent of PI work is setting things in motion. Eighty percent is waiting for the results.”

“And the other ten?”

Nick grinned. “Catching the bad guys.”

“I’d prefer to do something besides wait. Shouldn’t you make a plan?”

“I can’t until I have more information. And then there might not be time for one. A good PI has to live in the now.”

Tyler’s brows rose. “Is that what we’re doing right now?”

“Yep.” He tapped his temple. “Plus, we’re theorizing. Any thoughts on why your bridegroom used a want ad for sending a Dear John letter?”