The Love Wager by Lynn Painter

            “You ready?”

            Hallie turned to her right, and Jack was there, looking down at her with his eyebrows raised. “We have to go now, before—”

            She grabbed his arm and started for the door. “Let’s get out of here.”





Chapter

SEVEN





“The guy was lying.”

            “I don’t think so.” Hallie picked up her beer and said, “He didn’t talk about cars or houses or anything braggy that would score him lady points; he literally just said he doesn’t work because he doesn’t have to.”

            “I bet we see him drive away in a Kia,” Jack said. “With a taped-on bumper.”

            Hallie drained the rest of her beer and said, “I bet we see him drive away in a Kia with a taped-on bumper and a pile of diamonds in the trunk.”

            He gave her a look. “Diamonds, she says.”

            “Diamonds.” Hallie grinned at Jack and was shocked that she was having a great time. She’d assumed the night would be an awkward bust, but since they’d left the date-a-thon and snagged an outdoor table at Taco Hut, she was actually having fun.

            “Here you go.” The waiter set down Hallie’s taco basket and said, “Two chicken tacos with cheese on the bottom for you.”

            Jack looked at her and gave his head a slow shake, like she was ridiculous.

            “And four steak tacos with the works for you.”

            As soon as the waiter walked away, Jack said, “Seriously, Piper? Cheese on the bottom?”

            Hallie shrugged and picked up one of her tacos. “If it’s on top of the lettuce it doesn’t melt, and what is the point of cold, hard cheese?”

            He just looked at her for a long moment, and then he said, “I have no idea.”

            It was a gorgeous night, the downtown streets were buzzing with activity, and she herself was buzzing from the two quick beers. Jack had been wildly entertaining as he described in great detail the conversations he’d had with his candidates, and he’d thrown his head back and laughed his ass off when she told him about the TV-hater.

            “So speed dating sucks.” Jack drained the last of his tequila on the rocks and set the glass on the table dramatically. “Let’s never do that again.”

            “Agreed.”

            “Want another one?” he asked.

            She shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m going to have to go camp out at Starbucks for an hour as it is to get rid of this buzz.”

            “Pathetic. What happened to my Crown-guzzling buddy?”

            “She hit rock bottom when she found herself in a stranger’s hotel room.”

            “Whoa.” Jack looked offended. “You consider me your rock bottom?”

            “No,” she said, laughing, “but I consider the event my rock bottom.”

            “Well,” he said, looking amused, “I thought your rock bottom was an amazing fucking time.”

            Hallie laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Being with Jack was so different than being with Ben; it was so chill. Although it was ridiculous that she was even comparing the two, since she barely knew Jack Marshall.

            “Okay. Jack.” Hallie cleared her throat and looked straight into his devilish eyes. “I only know you in the context of rock-bottom night and the dating app. But we don’t really know each other, do we? Are you from here? How many siblings do you have? What does a landscaping architect do?”

            “You’re obviously stuck in the speed dating line of questioning,” he said. “Yes, I grew up here. I have a sister, Olivia—she was the bride on the rock-bottom night—and a brother, Will. I also have a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law who happens to be my best friend, and two nephews.”

            “And the job . . . ?” Hallie was picturing someone who did yard landscaping, which she knew wasn’t correct.

            “Um,” he said, grabbing a straw from the center of the table and unwrapping it. “The easy definition is that I design outdoor spaces. What about you? Is being a tax accountant as exciting as it sounds?”