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That iot Shirley’s interest "How?"

"The friend I ht"

Shirley pressed her hand to her heart "The Larry Knight?"

"Yes He’s froether on a charity function soh the years" Actually, Georgia, his ex, had done a lot of the work, heading up the volunteer coht, unlike Will, who enjoyed being the center of attention So she’d asked him to handle the public functions

"You ht--one of the best-known artists in the country--is the one who looked at Shaork?"

"Yes"

"Oh, ht ask another favor of Larry," he said Picking up hisShirley a chance to consider his words

"What kind of favor?" Her voice was guarded

Will glanced over the top of his menu "As you know, Larry has a…certain amount of influence with art schools around the country"

"Yes…I iine he would," she said breathlessly

Will was determined not to offer; he wanted Shirley to ask, wanted her to understand that she was in his debt He’d had plenty of experience at cajoling and persuading wo how those skills, for lack of a better word, kicked in so automatically

"You…said he was ian

"Larry had quite a bit to say about Shaw" Will set his menu aside "I believe I’ll have the fried oysters This says they’re from the Shelton area"

She nodded absently

"Have you decided?" he asked

"Decided?" Her eyes met his; ato her dinner order "Oh, sorry, I haven’t looked" She scanned the list "Their crab Louie’s always been one ofdifferent"

Her brow creased in a frown "Why?"

"Be…cause," he said, dragging out the word, "if you’re anything like me, you tend to order the same dishes from the same restaurants Before you know it, you’re in a rut"

The lines on her forehead gradually relaxed "You’re right That’s exactly what I do I order chili rellenos when I’ Mexican and the chicken hot-sauce noodles when I order Chinese"

"Consistency is coood to venture out, try so new Take a risk" He hoped she understood that he was talking aboutto their relationship, too

He guessed she’d been with onewith another intimidated her Will hoped his advice would expand her view of ain and studied it carefully

"I recommend the fried oysters," he told her "I had therin "I tried so new and I liked it"

She shook her head "I already know I don’t like oysters"

Not easily discouraged, Will asked, "When’s the last time you ate them?"

"I don’t reain "I could order the seafood sampler--it includes oysters and shrimp and cod"

"Excellent"

"But all that fried food…" She frowned

Will listened to her go through practically the entireone after the other The waitress returned three times before Shirley was finally ready to order

She looked at Will and grinned sheepishly "I’ll have the--"

"Oysters," he said, cutting her off "The lady will try the oysters"

"Actually, I won’t," Shirley said "I’d like the crab Louie" She threw Will an apologetic glance "I’d rather stick to soe to hiive you one of my oysters and you can try it" That seemed a fair compromise