A full smile tugged at Jordan’s mouth.“Is any romantic dinner complete without music?”He quirked a brow in question.
“Jordan Kiley, I don’t think I’ve met anyone like you in my entire life,” she managed, shaking her head at him.“You’re hopeless.”But she didn’t question why he’d gone to such lengths to create a romantic atmosphere for her.
The chicken was succulent and tender, and as long as Skye concentrated on the meal the intimacy was held to a minimum.
“Do you know all the volunteers on the children’s ward?”Jordan inquired lazily as the waiter replenished his glass of wine.
“Of course; I’ve been a volunteer for several years,” she replied.
“Who plays the piano and sings?”His dark eyes watched her closely.
Skye was mildly surprised Sally and Billy hadn’t supplied him with the information.She felt strangely reluctant to reveal herself.She hesitated momentarily.She didn’t want the evening to center on her, nor did she wish to answer the inevitable question:Why don’t you turn professional?
“That’s Jane.”It wasn’t a lie.Jane was her name; she had been dubbed Skye after a growth spurt in the sixth grade had shot her head and shoulders above every boy in class.The name had stuck and now most people knew her by her nickname.
Skye was certain Jordan wished to question her further, but she hurriedly stood, asking to be excused.The ladies’ room offered a quiet moment so she could compose herself.She couldn’t deny her attraction to Jordan, but at the same time she realized how pointless and dangerous the attraction was.He obviously felt he owed her a dinner and had very possibly delayed his return to LA to settle his debt.Now she must be gracious enough to allow him to satisfy his sense of obligation.
When she returned to their table, Jordan had ordered coffee.
“Have you ridden the cable cars yet?”she asked before he could pursue his questions.
Jordan glanced at her a bit suspiciously.“Not yet.”
“You really should,” Skye insisted.“You haven’t truly savored San Francisco’s uniqueness until you ride the cable cars.”
“Oh?”Jordan’s smile was mocking, and, swinging his broken arm outward, he added, “I think I’ve had enough of a taste of San Francisco.”
Skye loved her city and was undeterred by his lack of enthusiasm.“I bet you didn’t know that the cable cars were invented by a horse lover.”
“No, I didn’t.”His gaze lifted from his coffee to study her.
“It’s true.A man by the name of Andrew Hallidie felt sorry for the horses, who sometimes slipped on the steep hills and were badly injured.So Hallidie invented the cable car.By 1890 San Francisco had eight major systems operating within the city limits.The idea caught on elsewhere, too.I bet you didn’t know that Los Angeles also used cable cars for a while.”
“When was that?”
Skye realized she must sound very much like the teacher she was, but his eyes expressed interest.“Back in 1887.Now are you ready to ride a cable car?”
“After a history lesson like that, I dare not refuse.”His returning smile was full and warm and had a crazy effect upon Skye.
Friday evenings were always a busy traffic night for the cable cars, and Jordan and Skye were forced to wait a few minutes before boarding.
“Where are we headed?”Jordan asked indulgently as they stepped aboard.
“Fisherman’s Wharf.”Skye laughed, her smiling features profiled in the moonlight.“You really must see the wharf before you leave.”
“You’ve missed your calling.”Jordan’s eyes also smiled.“You should have been a tour guide.”
The ride was exhilarating.Jordan’s good arm cradled her around the waist and gripped the wooden column behind her.Skye didn’t object to the intimate hold; she felt warm and secure with the strength of his arm around her.
Colorful and amusing, the cable car operator chatted loudlywith his customers, calling out the street names and interesting bits of information.
“These boys seem to be a unique breed,” Jordan said with a throaty chuckle, watching the gripman push and pull the long lever that connected to the cable running underground, towing the car.
“We’re unique all right,” the cable man replied.“You have to be to take a job like this one.”
All too soon the invigorating ride had ended.Crowds were thick on the wharf’s wide sidewalks, even though it was well into the evening.The permeating aroma of salt water and fish drifted pleasingly to their senses.Hundreds of vessels making up the fishing fleet were docked at the pier.
They strolled hand in hand, not speaking until Skye pointed to the boats.“Over three million pounds of fish are caught every year by our industrious fleet.Sardines account for most of that, with crabs running a close second.”
