“I didn’t say that.”
“You sort of did, Quinn.”
“Aha!”He thought he had her this time.His name had popped right out of that luscious red mouth of hers.“How do you explain the fact that you know my name?Wiggle out of that little slip, if you can.”He liked the mental picture of Jo wiggling.At least Murray had provided a beautiful woman as part of the joke.Quinn wondered if she was dating anybody.
“You told me your name.”
“Did not.”
“Did, too.You said, ‘just trying to throw old Quinn a curve.’“
“Oh.”
“Anyway, I loved Brian Hastings inThe Drifter.Did you see that?”
“Nope.I pretty much don’t go to his movies.I pretty much boycott them, as a matter of fact.”Two kids in purple hair jaywalked in front of him, and he gave them the horn.Except for the box of snakes, he’d had fun today.More fun than he’d been having recently planning investment strategies, to be honest.
“But why don’t you go to Hastings’ movies?”Jo asked.“He’s a good actor, and now he’s into directing.I think he’s very talented.”
Quinn recognized that tone of adulation.“Meaning you think he’s sexy.”
“Well, yes, I do.What, are you jealous because women find him sexy?Is that why you don’t go to his movies?”
“No, I’m not jealous.”It was more as if the guy had usurped his identity.
“Then why boycott his movies?”
“Think about it.I show up at a Brian Hastings movie looking like Brian Hastings.I’ve had women throw themselves into my arms, rip off pieces of my clothing, follow me for blocks.”
“Poor baby.”
“You think it would be fun, don’t you?”He pulled over to let a fire engine roar past, siren screaming.“It’s not fun.And besides that, they’re not after me, Quinn Monroe, investment banker.They’re after Brian Hastings, Hollywood star.So it means nothing.”
“Investment banker?You must not be very good at it if you have to drive cab on the side.”
Quinn glanced at her.She acted as if she had no idea he’d agreed to drive cab for one day on a dare.She just sat there gazing at him with an innocent look in those big brown eyes that would be hard to fake.For the first time he wondered if she was legit.“Either you’re an incredible actress or you’re telling the truth about this ranch in Montana.”
“I can’t act my way out of a paper bag.”
“Would you be willing to show me your driver’s license?”
“No, I would not.”
He nodded, smiling.“Just as I thought.Your driver’s license isn’t from Montana, is it?I’ll bet your name isn’t even Josephine Fletcher.”
“All right!I’ll show you the damned license.”She unzipped her purse and pulled out her wallet.“But you have to promise not to laugh at my picture.I look like an escaped convict.”She flipped the wallet open and held it up.
He stopped at a red light and glanced at the license.Josephine Fletcher stared at him from the picture, unsmiling, grim even, but still beautiful.The license had been issued by the Montana Department of Transportation.
ChapterTwo
Jo watched amazement spread over Quinn’s face as he glanced from her to the license and back again.He really was a cutie, with his laser-blue eyes and movie-star looks.
She flipped the wallet closed and stuffed it in her purse.“Is that proof enough, or would you like to see my maxed-out Visa card, too?”
“If you’re really Jo Fletcher, then I guess you have horse sperm in that cooler.”
“Of course I do!Do you think I’d make up a thing like that?”
