Grace pushed away her empty bowl. Well, youre blunt. Is that what your employer believes? That Id let a little wine and a meal convince me to quit? Just like that? She set down her fork and snapped her fingers. I dont happen to consider my mission frivolous.
Zekes irritation showed for a moment in his tightly pressed lips. He blotted away the bad taste with his napkin; as he crumpled it in his right hand, he muttered, Frivolous is your term. Youre jumping to conclusions, Ms. Stafford.
Grace. And no, I dont think I am. Whats this about if not to buy me off?
Grace, my boss asked me to try and negotiate an amicable agreement for us both. Pace Kemper is a reasonable man who happens to believe its more conducive to talk business over a nice meal.
As if on cue, the waiter appeared and began to slide a variety of steaming, aromatic dishes between Zeke and Grace. Zeke grabbed up the permits moments before a plate of ravioli would have landed on top of them.
May I bring you anything else? the waiter asked, efficiently removing their salad plates as he topped up their barely touched wineglasses. Is the wine to your liking, sir?
What? Zeke tore his eyes from Grace. Oh, its great. He took a healthy swig.
Grace could only gape at the amount of food. Zeke was the one to ask belatedly for grated Parmesan on the spaghetti and the lasagna. This all looks so fantastic. I hope you have a big family, Zeke. I doubt well make much of a dent. I foresee most of this going home with you. She dished up generous servings to her plate from each platter. Yes, she acknowledged, she was fishing as to who this handsome man had waiting for him at home. Grace told herself it was mere curiosity and a way to steer him off business talk for a while. She so rarely went out to dinner with someone else picking up the tab, and Grace wanted to relax and enjoy tonights experience.
She was a teacher in an elementary school where most of her co-workers were also female, so eating out was always Dutch treat. At one time shed begun dating a science teacher shed met on a district project; later shed discovered that he had lied and was married. Deception hurt. She hadnt recovered from it yet.
Zeke avoided her bait. He didnt respond and made no apology for it. But it pleased him immensely to see her tuck into her food. Eating kept them both occupied for a while. Until Zeke glanced across the table and said, Based on your setup, I take it salvage isnt what you do for a living.
Grace shook her head. Im a first-grade teacher. In San Antonio. Thats how I could take on this project. Its summer break. I dont need to be back in school until the day after Labor Day.
A teacher? That jolted Zeke. He took another swig of wine. So, whats your experience with undersea salvage? It can be dangerous, you know.
This bay isnt all that deep. And I happen to believe a person can learn any skill through reading up on it. Libraries are a great source for how-to books, Zeke. I bought used but serviceable equipment. I know what Im doing.
That damned boat is a piece of junk.
Well Grace turned her eyes away. I didnt get realistic figures on boat rentals in this area. It seems the costs I was given pertain to out of season boatswhen the shrimp arent running. But Jorge is confident his boat will suffice for my needs.
Zeke rolled his eyes.
Worried about my welfare? she asked with a hint of challenge.
Nope. Im calculating the added cost to Kemper if Jorges damned boat sinks over where we have to dig our well. I didnt factor in clearing the bay of debris.
Youre all heart, Rossetti. Grace reached for the tortellini plate to take a second helping, but Zeke shot out a hand. They both pulled back fast, as though shocked by the brush of callused palm against soft flesh.
Oh, she exclaimed, her hand hovering above the table. Am I being piggish? I told you I had a big appetite.
Nothing close to that. Eat all you want. I just wanted to mention that they serve homemade spumoni ice cream for dessert here. I always save room for a dishful with my coffee.
Grace gazed longingly at the tortellini, but she sat back. In case you cant tell, Im torn. Ive never tasted homemade spumoni ice cream. I cant pass up trying something new.
Are you a runner?
Me? Grace laughed. Im the least athletic person I know. I swim and scuba dive because I grew up outside Corpus and there wasnt much else to do for entertainment when I was a kid. What made you think I run?
Because you eat hearty and youre no bigger than a minute, Zeke blurted. Then he promptly shuffled in his seat, clearly discomfited.
I told you about my metabolism? Well, according to Grandmother, speedy metabolism runs in my grandfathers family. I think my mom passed it to me.
You think? It sounds as if you arent sure. Is your mom skinny or not?
It was Graces turn to fidget. Hey, no fair. Discussing your background is off limits, but suddenly mines a hot topic?
Excuse me, Zeke said stiffly. Straightening, he signaled their waiter whod just served drinks to another table.
Grace wished she hadnt sounded so snappish. Being virtually abandoned by her mother was still a touchy issue, even though shed had a lifetime to get used to the idea and get over it. If shed opened up, maybe Zeke Rossetti wouldve lightened up.
The waiter veered toward their table.
We decided to have spumoni and coffee, Zeke said. Unless Grace wants to keep the tortellini, in case the ice cream doesnt fill her up. You can box the rest.
Dessert will be more than enough for me. She pushed away the tortellini.
Shall I make that regular coffee for both? the waiter inquired as he cleared their dishes.
Id better pass on regular, Grace lamented. Diving exacts a toll. I need to get a full eight hours sleep. So decaf for me.
I run on high octane, Zeke admitted. He figured itd be another sleepless night, even though his mother had said Matt was pulling at his ears less, so the medicine must be working. The pediatrician had scolded Zeke for staying up nights to rock his son, especially once Matt started antibiotics for his frequent ear infections. Zeke tended to pay little attention to the advice. The doctor had never experienced pain in a dark and silent world as Matt did. If Zekes sleeping in a chair, holding the boy against his chest, gave his son a measure of comfort, then no matter how exhausted Zeke felt the next day he wasnt going to deprive his child.
Youve got that closed, forbidding look again, Grace said after the waiter had scurried off with their order. Are you plotting new ways to shut down my operation?
Zeke emerged from his private thoughts. Its not up to me. Its up to Pace Kemper and his lawyers to find loopholes in your paperwork. I cant force you to leave the bay.
But youd like to.
Of course. I wont lie. My team has everything in place to start moving in a well undercarriage. You represent one damned headache after another. Ill have to dicker with a hostile barge company, a disgruntled pipefitters union, to say nothing of listening to my crew bellyache over lost time.
So, go farther out in the bay. Jorge said he heard in town that Kempers planned a whole string of wells.