The Fiancée Fiasco by Alyssa Kress Page B

basics of the contract proposal Carruthers Engineering was preparing for the next day. His technical brilliance was matched by his ability to make the highly specialized scheme comprehensible—even clear—to Roseanne. She was further amazed he managed to accomplish this feat without making her feel stupid about her math/science ignorance.
    But as they walked back to his downtown office tower, she discounted this unexpected sensitivity on Winthrop's part and got back to business. She peered about her at the crowd streaming with them toward the building. How many of them, she wondered, were Winthrop's employees, or others who might recognize the star of the Houston aero-engineering world? Would anybody notice he had a woman on his arm—or make the leap to consider the two of them romantically involved? In any event, at least she and Win were creating an evidence trail. It was a start.
    "What about dinner?" Roseanne asked, considering what further evidence they might create.
    "Hm?" Winthrop looked up from his motion of leaning forward to open the glass door to the lobby.
    The faraway expression on his face was becoming familiar to Roseanne. It said he was there in body only, his mind already back in the world of computerized micro-mechanics.
    The guy was such a nerd. It made Roseanne smile. "Are we meeting for dinner tonight?" she asked patiently.
    "Oh. Dinner." He made a visible effort to return to the third dimension. Roseanne had to consider such effort—coming from Win—a compliment. "I've got to get this proposal finished tonight and ready to ship out first thing tomorrow morning. I don't suppose—?" He stopped and grimaced, as though afraid to finish his sentence.
    But Roseanne knew what was coming. With a wry smile, she came to his rescue. "I'm a professional myself, Carruthers— I mean, Win. I know how these things go. Managing a meal on my own is no big hardship."
    "Oh, great. Thanks." He looked vastly relieved, as well as surprised. It was apparent that in his experience women were rarely this flexible.
    "Just one thing." Roseanne stopped him as he moved toward the lobby door.
    "Hm?" He turned back with the distant look again threatening his features.
    Roseanne rolled her eyes heavenward. It seemed she was going to have to do all the plotting in this performance of theirs. "How about a friendly kiss goodbye—sweetheart?"
    It was a good idea, probably necessary, in fact. People were milling all around them, some of whom must know Winthrop. But Roseanne tensed even as she suggested the public display of affection. She hadn't yet forgotten her odd reaction to his mere touch on her back.
    Of course, it had been a ridiculous reaction. She shouldn't be affected in any way whatsoever by a man like this.
    "A...kiss?" Win's attention jumped fully back to the present moment. A light pink tinged his face. "Uh, do you really think that's...?" His voice trailed off as he caught her eye. She was giving him the warning glint she'd give an opposing counsel with a bum argument. Win cleared his throat. "Um, okay, then. Let's, uh—"
    He leaned forward to brush his lips across her cheek. It happened so quickly she wasn't sure those lips actually made a landing. The next instant he was making good on an escape.
    Looking after him, Roseanne couldn't help chuckling. That almost-nothing kiss hadn't been so bad. She'd barely even felt it. And to top it off, she'd gotten the man to cooperate. At the bare minimum possible, true, but it had still been cooperation.
    All in all, she was pleased with her accomplishments of the afternoon. She'd gotten Win out in public with her, convinced him to use her first name, and started the process of proposing another woman in his life.
    Everything was going according to plan.
    ~~~
    Roseanne's vaunted ability to make do on her own for dinner lasted as long as it took her to open Winthrop's pantry for the second time that day. She winced. No handy convenience foods were in sight. The freezer had