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Technologies is based in Seattle.
    It's a privately held firm that has something to do with computers," Abby
    explained carelessly. "My cousin holds the largest portion of the shares.
    The rest are scattered around the family. I own about twenty percent, one
    of the bigger chunks. The only reason I got any at all was because my
    father loaned my uncle the money to get started. My father told him to pay
    off the loan in shares of stock held in trust for me. I received them a few
    years ago when Uncle Bert died. The company has done nothing but lose
    money for the past five years, though, so the stock isn't worth anything.
    The hope is that my cousin's husband—he's the president—will be able to
    salvage things." Abby reached for her wine and took a fair-size swallow.
    She didn't want to discuss the subject any further. Thoughts of her cousin
    Cynthia brought thoughts of Cynthia's husband, Ward Tyson, to mind.
    And those thoughts led uneasily to the brochure for the Misty Inn resort.
    "Your cousin's husband is a good businessman?"
    "Supposedly he is," she said with dismissal in her voice as she picked up
    the menu. "Let's see. Since you've committed us to the smoked salmon, I
    think I might have something along the lines of the veal with morels. And
    perhaps a nice romaine lettuce salad," she went on industriously, studying
    the list of elegant food.
    "You can forget the veal and salad," Torr said simply, plucking the
    menu out of her hands. "We're having squid."
    "Squid!" She stared at him.
    "In an herbed wine sauce," he continued. "You'll love it."
    "How do you know?" she demanded through clenched teeth.
    "Because squid is loaded with vitamins and minerals." He pulled the
    wine bottle out of the ice bucket and poured some more of the sauvignon
    blanc into her glass.
    Abby leveled a long, considering stare at him as he went through the
    action of pouring the wine. She found herself aware of something besides
    the basic, solid strength in him; she also recognized an intrinsic,
    masculine grace. And that made her remember the elegantly restrained
    flower designs he had created in class. Her copper-red nails beat a tiny
    tattoo on the white tablecloth and her contemplative expression became a
    frown.
    "Anything wrong?" Torr asked politely.
    "Do you mind telling me why?" she demanded coolly.
    "Of course not, but you'll have to clarify the question. Why what?"
    "Why, for a man who can create an impression of an entire spring
    garden with just a few leaves and a daffodil or two, you are being so
    heavy-handed tonight?"
    "Ah, the squid." He nodded complacently.
    "Actually, I meant the arrogance, not the squid in particular," she said
    sweetly. "You seem to forget that I've seen just how subtle you can be in
    class. I know you're quite capable of elegance and finesse and that means
    you're probably quite capable of politeness on a date. So why are you
    playing the overbearing, domineering male who won't even allow his
    companion to select her own meal?"
    He thought about that for a moment, as if deciding how to explain
    himself. A tiny smile edged the line of his mouth and the amber eyes were
    unreadable. But he didn't pretend to misunderstand.
    "Because a bit of arrogance with regard to something as mundane as
    the food provides you with a convenient target A focal point, I suppose,"
    he finally said. "It gives you something to complain about and criticize
    and rail against without giving you something to really worry over. Doing
    things like choosing food for you without consultation is annoying, but it
    doesn't frighten you. And it absorbs your attention so you don't have time
    to worry about what's going to happen when I take you home later."
    Abby sat very still, taking in the full implications of his words. "My
    God," she breathed eventually and not without genuine admiration, "a red
    herring."
    "Squid," he corrected indulgently, eyes gleaming.
    She shook her head. "That was very clever of you."
    "Not so clever. You realized