Calculated Risk Read Online Free Page B

glad to have the heads-up on these names. Any others?”
    He updated her. “My dad, grandfather, and Aunt Sandy are also actuaries. That about sums it up.”
    “Can you tell me something that none of your family or your actuarial colleagues knows?”
    “Hmm.”
    She glanced at the time and pressed her lips together. Just over one minute. Had he entered one of his long thinks? If his pondering lasted more than a minute, she’d have to restart the session. Come on, Risk Man. You can do it.
    “I keep my kitchen garbage can under my sink.”
    “Ha! Smarty-pants, you—”
    He chuckled, producing the dimple.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “My mother calls me that all the time. Smarty-pants.”
    “In the children’s thesaurus, smarty-pants is a synonym for arrogant.”
    He grinned. “Probably.”
    “What I was about to say, is, you told me something personal about yourself. I know you don’t have a relationship with anyone in your department. If you did, she’d know where you keep your kitchen trash can.”
    He cocked his eyebrow at her. “Oh, you’re good.” His words dripped sarcasm.
    She’d hit a nerve. Dare she push it? “Are you dating someone, and she doesn’t know the location of your kitchen trash can?”
    “My love life is off limits.”
    She’d pushed too hard. Yet, he didn’t have to be so harsh. “But my love life’s within limits?”
    “I don’t remember introducing that topic.”
    Heat flared up her neck to her face. He was right. Why hadn’t she excused herself from her office last week, instead of sobbing her woes to Nick after Jason crashed her world? If she had, she’d be with her fun friends now, instead of embarrassing herself with Mr. Smug.
    She reached over and snapped on the radio. “Listen to your doo-wops.”
     
    ****
     
    Nick glanced at Cisney. Didn’t she know doo-wops were more of a fifties or sixties thing? These tunes were classic seventies.
    Her eyes were shut, but he’d bet she wasn’t sleeping. Did she think she was the only one who’d been dumped? He didn’t want to talk about Dana any more than she wanted to bring up Jason.
    He flicked another glance her way. Had he hurt her? That wasn’t his intention. Maybe he should apologize, even though he hadn’t been the one to pry.
    She sat erect. “Oh-oh-oh.”
    He looked in all mirrors in quick succession. “What?”
    She pointed at the time on the GPS screen. “We hit the midway mark for the trip five minutes ago. It’s milkshake time. My family always stops for milkshakes when we’re halfway to our destination. It’s Daddy’s tradition.”
    He drew his brows together. “We’re running late as it is. Don’t you still have some of your soft drink left?”
    She picked up her cup and sucked on the straw until the loud slurping sound screeched, empty!
    Shakes would put them behind at least another fifteen minutes. “Are you really thirsty?”
    “No.” She sighed theatrically. “It’s just a very special tradition I’ve never broken…until this trip.”
    So, if he didn’t stop, he’d look like the bad guy again. What would two more hours on the road being judged an ogre feel like?
    They approached an off ramp, and he looked for the sign announcing the food choices. “This exit has a couple of fast food options. Can you tolerate a shake from a fast food joint?”
    “Sure.”
    He took the exit.
     
    ****
     
    Cisney scooted through the door Nick held for her. Wouldn’t shakes lift both their spirits? Heal the rift over her insensitivity to his love life? She gave him her cheeriest smile. “This ice cream shop is better than a fast food place. Look. They have peppermint shakes. Usually peppermint ice cream doesn’t come out until after Thanksgiving.”
    He stood with his hands in his pockets studying the menu above the service bar. His demeanor seemed neutral. That was good. Right?
    A young woman with a voluminous ponytail approached the order station. “What can I get you?”
    Cisney pointed at the