Dates And Other Nuts by Lori Copeland Page A

to marry me, then we’ll talk. Otherwise, I’ll do my own PR, if you don’t mind.”
    His statement took her completely by surprise. The mere thought of her marrying him sent her pulse rate into double time. He was kidding, of course, but wow! Her fantasies could really take off on this one!
    â€œI’ll marry you,” she bantered. “I didn’t realized you’d asked.”
    For the briefest of moments, their gazes met. Holding her breath, she waited for him to retract the offer with some silly mock countersuggestion. But he didn’t.
    â€œMaybe you haven’t been listening,” be said quietly.
    â€œWhat?”
    His glance shifted away. “Go on with your plan. I’m listening.”
    Momentarily shaken, she had to reorganize her thoughts. “Your dates have been as insane as mine. I—I want you to meet someone who’ll make you happy—look after you.”
    Craig studied the bottom of his coffee cup as if considering her idea.
    â€œExactly what are you looking for in a man, Temple?”
    â€œWhat every woman looks for. Someone who’s kind, sensitive, caring, loves animals and small children.”
    Someone who talks normally and doesn’t like marine aquariums.
    â€œAll that and be a man, too? Wow.”
    â€œIt’s possible.”
    He leaned back in the booth and stretched his arms along the back of the bench. “Well, I’m not in the market for a screening program. I’m capable of finding a woman for myself.”
    Ignoring him, she sipped her coffee. “We’ll start with Gabrielle.”
    â€œNuh-uh. If I have to go along with this crazy idea, we’ll start with Bill.”
    â€œGabrielle. She’s perfect for you. Fun, outgoing—”
    â€œBill’s caring, sensitive—”
    â€œGabrielle Nielson. You remember her. She was one of my roomies in flight school?”
    She wouldn’t mention the other one—Nancy Johnson.
    â€œGabrielle’s nice, Craig. Laid-back, comfortable. Loves children and animals. You’ll like her.” She paused for a moment, then said, “Let me see what she’s doing Saturday night. You two have so much in common! She works for TWA. If she’s not working an overnighter, I know she’ll want to—”
    â€œNo,” Craig interrupted. “I want to know what I’m getting into before I ring that doorbell—”
    â€œOf course. I’ll phone her right now.”
    â€œTemple, if you want me to do something Saturday night, you come by the apartment and we’ll grill a couple of steaks, watch a movie, kick back and relax—”
    But Temple was already headed for the row of telephones lining the lobby wall. She was back in ten minutes, grinning from ear to ear.
    â€œTemple, I’m doing this, okay, but not because I want to meet this woman! Only to show you this idea won’t work.”
    She ignored his tone. “You’ll love her. Trust me!”
    Â 
    RETYING HIS TIE and adjusting it up close, Craig studied his reflection in the mirror. He didn’t feel good about this surefire plan of Temple’s. Why hadn’t he insisted that she come by instead? If she didn’t want to cook steaks, they could have ordered in Chinese. She’d said she wasn’t doing anything, and experience told him he would enjoy her company far more than Gabrielle’s even if the woman was gorgeous and charming. Truth was, Temple had spoiled him for any other woman, but she had no idea.
    Her blind spot about pilots kept her from recognizing how great they could be together. So, until she got over this notion about not mixing her private life with her career, he just had to take it easy and go along with this crazy idea of hers.
    Jerking the knot in the tie free, he tossed it onto the bed in frustration. When was he going to learn to say no? Such a simple word. Two letters, easy to say. No.
    N.O.
    No.
    NO. NO!
    So