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“Where did you learn to cook?” Tanner picked up his fork

“Frorandh their storandfather seeh”

Tanner put a forkful of the lasagna into his ood as this then no wonder they’re happy This is delicious”

“Thanks”

Tanner filled his ht be the best he had ever tasted Whitney offered him the bread basket and he took a piece Even that he savored After eating in silence for a few minutes he said, “So tell me how you happened to live in one of the ‘painted ladies’ on ‘postcard row’ It suits you, but they don’t come on the market often”

“This one didn’t cosed them to let me buy it”

“I have a nondescript place that I al my ill have to do is find us so up that subject? He poked at his salad full of fresh vegetables

“Uh, there’s so I’d like to talk to you about”

He didn’t like the sound of that Suddenly his food wasn’t as appetizing “What’s going on?”

“About this weekend, I, uh, don’t think I can be your er” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a check Placing it on the table, she pushed it toward him

“What’s this?”

“It’s your fee and the aht the dress with my own money”

“I see” And he did But he wanted to hear her ad out on me”

“No” She looked at her plate instead of hiht person to be doing your ”

“Probably not” Especially now that he had taken her to bed And other places He pushed the check back toward her “I want you to keep this You earned it”

Shock then hurt flickered over Whitney’s face

He reached for her hand but she put it in her lap “I didn’t mean it like that I just meant that you hadmore”

“I don’t want it” She acted as if he had offended her Treated her as a woman for hire Maybe in her mind he had After all, he had pro physical and he’d broken that promise His actions had put her in a vulnerable position both where her business was concerned and e it quits between them He didn’t have to like it but he did understand

Tanner reached for the check and shoved it in his pocket “That’s not all, is it?”

She didn’t i from you What happened between us was only because ere pretending to be a couple I understand you’re still looking for a wife”

When Whitney ran she did it in grand style

He put his fork down and looked at her “What if I want more to happen?”

“I don’t think that’s wise for either one of us I’et in the way of you looking for the right wife” She refused to meet his look

Tanner hated to adht He was already far too attached to her “Then we part as friends?”

She glanced up at hih Was thison?

“Well, then I guess I should be going Thank you for the nap and the meal” He scooted the chair back and stood

She did as well “I’ll call you with a name of a matchmaker after I have spoken to her She’ll be in touch”

Whitneyconcluded He didn’t like that at all It was far too civilized a conversation for what they had shared A business contract hat it had been but Tanner had started thinking of their relationship as more He walked down the hall toward the front door Unhappy with the arrangeree with Whitney

It troubled hiain What really got to hi for in a wo her understand what type ofher He admired her too much for that