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“You don’t have to use big words to prove you’re intelligent.”
She leaned forward. “I don’t have to avoid them, either. Strobe lights, cameras and makeup don’t progressively leach a model’s brain into nonexistence. Or do you actually believe that people go into modeling because they lack the smarts or ability to do anything else?”
“Don’t put words into my mouth,” he protested. “Let’s drop it and talk more about the poor kid with stage parents who pushed her into a career she didn’t want, so when she grew up, she pushed back and left modeling behind forever.”
Nicole tried to stay calm. “That’s far too simplistic. Besides, I told you, I don’t want anything about my parents in this article. They’re decent people. Except for expenses associated with my modeling, they never touched a penny of the money I earned. It went into a trust fund.”
“But didn’t their pushing have something to do with your decision to change careers now?”
She stared out the window at the people coming and going from the nearby ice cream parlor and deli. Jordan might not be a full-time reporter any longer, but he still could ask questions that dug into a person’s private thoughts and emotions.
“Well?” he prompted.
“Obviously I didn’t choose my first career, it was chosen for me. That doesn’t mean I hated it, and it doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the advantages I have now because of it.”
“You didn’t give a real answer.”
She sipped her tea. “It’s the only one you’re going to get at the moment.”
“Then you’re saying you might consider rephrasing your answer in the future?”
“Possibly. No guarantees.” Nicole set her cup aside. “Shall we go?”
“I’m ready if you are.”
They got up and he held the door open for two customers coming into the café. One, a dark-haired woman about thirty, stopped midstep and smiled at Jordan with a flirtatious air.
Interesting. He was an attractive, unattached man and Nicole wondered if he would have tried to get the woman’s phone number if he was alone. It must be putting a crimp in his social life to work on a Friday evening.
* * *
JORDAN STUDIED THE dark-haired woman, who smiled back at him with an inviting air. She glanced at his ring finger, then at Nicole, and back at him with another smile. Apparently his being accompanied by a gorgeous blonde didn’t faze her.
“Shall we go, Nicole?” he prompted.
“Sure.”
Outside she got into the car and fastened her seat belt. “It’s too bad we didn’t drive separately. You might have had company tonight if you hadn’t needed to take me home. At least you could have gotten her number.”
“I don’t hook up that casually.”
It was true. Even in Fiji, he’d taken the time to get to know his partner.
“If you say so.”
“I do say so. I may not be interested in marriage or family, but I prefer knowing a woman at least a little while before sleeping with her.”
“That one seemed both knowable and likable.”
Jordan wasn’t convinced about the likable part. “It’s a moot point, regardless. Besides, wasn’t she ‘betraying the sisterhood’ by coming on to me while you were standing there? We were obviously together.”
“I suppose, but—oh, turn right,” Nicole said urgently.
“What?”
“Do it.”
He turned, drove straight a while, then made several more turns by her directions until they entered an open area and she told him to stop.
“Turn off the headlights and look,” she breathed.
Lights were playing against the sky, as if invisible hoses were spraying liquid color far and wide. They got out and watched in silence, Nicole quietly drinking it in at his side. He looked at her. Even in the darkness he could see her rapt pleasure.
Finally, she sighed. “Have you ever seen the northern lights before?”
“Once, in Alaska. I’m more interested in visiting warm climates, than cold ones.”
“When I learned they can sometimes be seen in the Seattle area, I figured out where this park was and I’ve been hoping. So I was awfully excited when I spotted them tonight. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
