A Fare To Remember

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  Zach took pictures of Hannah until she called out that they had enough and ran back over to him. He wouldn’t have minded taking a few more. Watching her perform for him as her personal photographer was more fun than he’d had in a long while.

  “I don’t want to overdo it.” She accepted the jacket he held out. This time she put her arms in the sleeves, which were too long and made her look adorable.

  “Why not overdo it?” He thought about the meager supply of pictures he sent home to Illinois. “My experience with families is that you can’t overdo the snapshots. You need some for Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles.”

  She gazed at him wistfully. “It must be nice, having all those people to give pictures to.”

  “You don’t?”

  She shook her head. “Just my brother and sister.” Then she smiled. “Don’t look like that, all pitying. It’s okay.”

  “I’ll accept that it’s okay. You’re living proof.” But his heart went out to her, anyway. “What happened?”

  She tucked the camera back in her purse. “I was thirteen when my mom died, which was lucky because I was old enough to help Dad with my brother and sister, who were only four. Poor Dad was never the same after Mom died, and I had the feeling he was hanging on until I was eighteen, so the twins wouldn’t end up in foster care. He died a month after my eighteenth birthday.”

  He was beginning to understand her need to take care of the whole world after conditioning like that. “But what about other relatives? Grandparents, aunts, uncles?”

  “Both my parents were only children, nerdy types who married late in life. I barely remember my grandparents. My mom had me at the age of forty-one, and then, because she was always ready to buck convention, decided to try having a second child at fifty. She ended up with the twins. Who are both brilliant, since you asked.”

  “I’m guessing you’re no slouch in the brains department, either.”

  “I do okay, but nothing like the twins. They kept me on my toes, but they’ve turned into adults who can actually take care of themselves now. It’s a miracle.”

  He thought she might be the miracle for weathering all those hard knocks and keeping her sunny disposition. “Did you feed them lots of tuna?”

  She laughed. “Good one. Yes, I did. Brain food.” She gazed around at the crowds milling through Times Square. “This place is amazing. I had great plans to stay up until midnight seeing more of the city at night, but I’m starting to fade.”

  “You mean after thirty-six hours with no sleep, you’re tired?” He grinned at her. “What a wimp.”

  “Embarrassing, isn’t it? But I think we’d better start making that trek back to my hotel or you might have to carry me.”

  That didn’t sound so bad, although from a practical standpoint he probably couldn’t make it, which wouldn’t play well.

  But he had a better idea. “Hang on a minute.” Unclipping his phone from his belt, he dialed Mario’s cell. “You available?” he asked. Having Mario drive them to the hotel would keep the lid on Zach’s libido.

  He also didn’t want to be accused of taking advantage of a jet-lagged woman. As an added advantage, after they dropped Hannah off at the Pearson, Zach could have a chat with Mario about Hannah’s views on his current job situation. Mario would understand that a guy couldn’t just up and quit a steady job, especially after being promoted to vice president.

  “Yeah, I’m available,” Mario said. “I just delivered Barbra Streisand to the Plaza.”

  “You did not.”

  “I did so. Ask anybody. She was supposed to meet James Brolin there for some shindig. You need a ride?”

  “Yep. I’m in Times Square.”

  “Alone?”

  Zach glanced over at Hannah. “Nope.”

  “Who?”

  “Mario, I’m gonna make you wait in suspense.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Zach clipped the phone to his belt. “Mario’s on his way.”

  “But that’ll cost money. I can walk.”

  “It’s not that much, and I’m sure Mario would love to hear how your first day went.”

  She relented with a smile. “It would be nice to see him again. I-” She was interrupted by an earsplitting whistle about ten feet away.

  A cab swung over to the curb and the whistler jumped in.

  Hannah watched the process and turned to Zach. “Can you whistle like that?”

  “If I need to.”

  “I would love to learn how. I don’t expect to be taking cabs much, but if I could whistle like that I’d feel like a real New Yorker.”

  “Then I’ll teach you. I don’t take cabs a lot, myself, but-”

  “Aha!” She pointed a finger at him. “Because they’re expensive, right?”

  “Because a bus or the subway can serve the same purpose and I’m promoting mass transit, okay?”

  She nodded. “I buy that argument, but I’ll also bet that once you live here full-time, you consider your pocketbook and learn to do without taxis except in emergencies.”

  “Which this is. You’re exhausted.”

  “A little.” In fact, her legs trembled from the effort of holding herself upright.

  “I don’t think you can be a little exhausted. It’s like saying you’re a little pregnant.”

  “Then I’m a lot exhausted.”

  He couldn’t help himself. He put his arm around her and tucked her against his side. “Lean on me.”

  “Okay.” She nestled close and laid her head on his shoulder. “This would be the cue for your boss to happen along.”

  “Not unless he’s stalking me. I’ve been eating on Restaurant Row for years and I’ve never once seen him there.”

  “I think it was meant to happen that way.”

  “Why is that?” He gazed into her tired but contented eyes and wondered if this was how she’d look after a round of excellent sex. Highly inappropriate thoughts. He was taking her home so she could get some sleep. He hoped to God they’d already switched her to a dry room.

  “I think I was supposed to meet your boss,” she said.

  Her reasoning was pretty transparent. “So that you could point out to me that he’s the devil incarnate and if I value my soul, I will leave that firm before I’m damned forever?”

  She gazed at him dreamily. “Something like that.”

  “I’m not quitting my job, Hannah.”

  “You should.” She covered a yawn. “You’re a fantastic kisser.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  HANNAH KNEW SHE NEEDED sleep when she started babbling things that were better left unsaid. Fortunately, before Zach could ask her what she meant about quitting his job because of the way he kissed, which must have made her sound like a lunatic, a horn bleated right beside them.

  “That would be Mario.” Zach kept his arm around her as he guided her over to the waiting cab. “Time to get you to bed.”

  “Sounds wonderful.” She was tired, but not that tired. She wanted a bed, all right, and Zach in the middle of it. It wasn’t going to happen, not tonight, at least. That was for the best. She intended to be in New York for the rest of her life. She didn’t have to have sex on her very first night. Their outstanding kiss was memorable enough.

  “Hi, Mario,” she said as Zach handed her elegantly into the backseat of the cab. “Thanks for picking us up.”

  “Glad to do it.” Mario’s wide grin was reflected in the rearview mirror. “Whatcha been up to?”

  “Zach took me for Thai food.”

  “Nice.”

  “It was nice.” Zach got in and closed the door. “But this woman’s exhausted.”

  Mario chuckled, obviously in a very good mood. “Tried to do everything in one day, did you, Hannah?”

  “Sort of. Zach’s going to teach me how to whistle for a taxi.” She settled back against the seat with gratitude.

  “You know, New York Survival Skills 101,” Zach said as he climbed i
n beside her. “But not tonight. She’s had enough for one day.”

  “Right.” Hannah had sort of hoped Zach would put his arm around her after he climbed in, but he didn’t. She could understand it, though. It wasn’t as if they were going to make out in the back of Mario’s cab.

  But then Mario took off with his usual speed, throwing her into Zach’s lap. “Whoops.” She reached for the armrest to steady herself, but Mario whipped around another corner and she was thrown against Zach again.

  This time Zach wrapped his arm around her and held on. “I’d forgotten that the ride is wilder in the backseat,” he murmured.

  “No problem.” She was grateful for Mario’s driving if it meant being close to Zach for the trip back to her hotel.

  “How’d the tuna go over?” Mario asked.

  “Some liked it and some didn’t.” Hannah paused to see if Zach would add anything, but he stayed silent, letting her control the conversation. She gave him points for that. “One guy said the can would make a good puck for street hockey,” she said.

  Mario laughed and shook his head. “It takes all kinds. And that doesn’t mean he won’t eat the stuff after he’s banged the can around for a while. You did a good deed, bringing the tuna.”

  “Most definitely,” Zach said.

  Life didn’t get much better than this, cruising through the heart of Manhattan, tucked against Zach Evans while both Zach and Mario agreed that her tuna was a good idea. She’d anticipated loving a lot of things in New York, but she’d never imagined a cab ride would be near the top of her list. Or that a kiss would rank higher than a view from the top of the Empire State Building.

  “Here we are.” Mario pulled up in front of the Pearson.

  “I’ll just see her to the door,” Zach said.

  Mario nodded. “I’ll wait.”

  Hannah considered protesting, but she really did want Zach to walk her to the door. Even with Mario there, Zach might give her a quick kiss. He might not, but unless he walked her to the door, there was no chance.

  “Thanks for a great evening,” she said.

  “It was fun. I just thought of something. Do you have an interview tomorrow morning?”

  “No, fortunately. The first one’s at two. I’ll have time to get some different clothes.”

  “I’ll only have about an hour at lunch, so-”

  She met his gaze. “You don’t have to do this. I can shop on my own.”

  “I want to. We can meet at a coffee stand run by a friend of mine.” He pulled out another business card from his wallet and scribbled an address on the back of it. “I’ll be there about noon.”

  “Then so will I.” She took the card and smiled at him. “Thank you, Zach. For everything.”

  “I had a great time.” He reached up and tucked a daisy more securely into her hair. “See you tomorrow.”

  “You bet. Bye, Zach.” It looked like he wouldn’t kiss her, after all. Well, she could live with that. She turned toward the door.

  “Hannah.” He caught her by the shoulders and spun her around. His kiss was softer and sweeter than the first one, but because it was unexpected, it still took her breath away.

  “Tomorrow,” he said with a tiny smile. Then he walked back to the cab and got into the front seat with Mario.

  Heart thudding, she watched the cab pull away and followed the zigzag path of its red taillights until she couldn’t distinguish them from the others going down the street. Finally, taking a deep breath, she pulled the lapels of Zach’s coat closer together and started toward the front door.

  Zach’s coat! She hadn’t thought to give it back to him. And being the considerate guy he was, he hadn’t asked. But that meant that he didn’t have her cell phone number if he should need to cancel tomorrow’s shopping trip.

  Then Hannah smiled to herself. After that quick kiss, she didn’t think he’d cancel. She thought he might be as eager to see her as she was to see him.

  What a coincidence that Mario’s networking contact had turned out to be a guy who seemed so right for her. That was amazing, considering the millions of people living here. Then again, what if it hadn’t been pure coincidence? She remembered the pictures on Mario’s dash. They’d all been couples. What if…no, that was too crazy, even for a place like New York City.

  MARIO ARCHED BOTH EYEBROWS as he glanced over at Zach. “Dinner, huh?”

  “Yeah, and I’d thank you not to gloat about it. This was a matchmaking deal from the beginning, wasn’t it?”

  Mario cut in front of a limo. “Maybe.”

  “Just as I thought. And you swore it wasn’t.” Considering how the evening had turned out, Zach couldn’t get very upset.

  “All’s fair in love and war.”

  Zach sighed. “Yeah, you win. She’s hot, and I’m…attracted to her. I won’t deny it. But she’s a dreamer. I don’t see her lasting more than a few days in this town.”

  “Really? How come?”

  “Here’s a prime example. After dinner we ran into my boss, and just like that, she thinks I should quit my job.”

  “So you can get another one that pays better? Because so help me, if this is yet another woman after money, then I’m hanging up my-”

  “No, she’s not another Adrienne. She’s the exact opposite of Adrienne, in fact. She wasn’t the least bit worried about the consequences if I quit. She just thinks I should get far away from Drake Medford. Never mind that I could end up on a street corner selling pencils.”

  “You wouldn’t do that, would you? Quit, I mean.” Mario sounded worried.

  “Not in a million years.”

  “That’s good. Quitting your job is not a wise move.”

  “I know that, but she doesn’t.”

  “Ah, she’s new in town. She doesn’t know how tough it is to make a living here. She’ll wise up.” Mario landed on the horn as someone dared to swing in front of him. “Were you able to help her get any interviews?”

  “We’ll see. The person with the best contact happens to be Ed.”

  “Ah. And you don’t want to ask him for help.”

  “Come on, Mario, would you?”

  “Probably not. Maybe she’ll do fine without that contact. I take it you’re going to see her again?”

  “We’re meeting at noon at Iris’s coffee stand.” Zach told Mario about the sage and the sprinkler incident. “I’m going to try to steer her toward more subdued stuff. I think she’ll interview better if her clothes aren’t so bright.”

  Mario smiled. “I kind of like that about her.”

  “Me, too. But I think she’ll have a better chance if she looks more like a New Yorker.” Zach pulled out money as they cruised to a stop in front of his apartment building.

  “Nope.” Mario held up his hand. “My treat.”

  “Hey, you have to stop doing this. You’ll go broke.”

  Mario adjusted his Giants cap. “Don’t worry about it. I could quit tomorrow and be fine.”

  “I suppose if you were careful, you could.” The thought had never occurred to Zach. “I figured you drove a cab because you wanted a bigger nest egg for retirement.”

  “Nah. I love the job.” His cell phone rang. “Gotta go. Keep me informed, okay?”

  “Sure, Mario. And if I didn’t, you’d probably find a way to tail me, knowing you.” With a grin, he climbed out of the cab.

  So Mario loved his job. Zach envied him. These days he dreaded going into the office, especially tomorrow, when he’d be moving into Ed’s spot. Maybe he should take Hannah’s advice and quit. Then he could follow Mario’s example and drive a cab.

  MARIO USED HIS HANDS-FREE device to answer his cell phone. He knew who it was. He’d called Iris on his way over to pick up Zach and Zach’s mysterious companion. She was probably dying to know who it had been.

  “So? Who was he with?” She spoke in her normal tone because she was using the phone in her apartment instead of her cell.

  “It was Hannah, the woman I’m trying to set him up with.�
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  “Bueno! But you don’t sound very happy, amigo.”

  “Well, I hope I didn’t make a serious mistake this time. I wanted her to slow him down some, get him to smell the roses, but instead this woman’s advising him to quit his job! I’d hoped he’d fall in love, not end up in the poorhouse.”

  “See what can happen when you go messing with people’s lives?” There was no bite to her comment, though.

  “Ah, it’ll probably be okay. Zach’s too sensible to do something so irresponsible.” Mario heard a whistle and eased over to the curb.

  “He is sensible, that one.”

  “You’ll get a look at the two of them together tomorrow. They’re coming by the coffee stand at noon.”

  “Will you be there?” Iris sounded as if she’d like that.

  “Not right then. I have to sleep sometime. But I’ll see you early, like usual.”

  “Bueno.”

  Mario savored the wealth of enthusiasm in that two-syllable answer. One of these nights he should just take the evening off and ask her out. But he hadn’t dated in a while. A long while. He was chicken. “Got a fare. See you later.”

  HANNAH HAD TAKEN THE TIME to wash out her yellow sundress and hang it to dry before going to bed. She’d originally liked the dress and it was collecting some amazing memories, but she was the kind of girl who enjoyed changing her look. She could hardly wait to get some new duds. At least the warm sunshine felt great on her bare arms and shoulders.

  Carrying Zach’s coat over her arm, she stepped off the bus within half a block from the address Zach had given her. The sound of Latina music made her homesick for Arizona as she walked over to the source of the music, the coffee stand where Zach had promised to meet her. The olive-skinned woman running it was doing a brisk business.

  Whatever she was serving smelled delicious, and Hannah decided to buy something for both her and Zach, since she was a little early and he hadn’t arrived yet. They wouldn’t have time for a real meal, and she wanted to treat him to some food after all the help he’d been. She had another reward in mind for later on, if all went well. The hotel had decided to give her a suite, and she felt the urge to share it.