He looked around as though checking for spies, then spoke loudly. “Amazon never does anything wrong.” He lowered his voice. “While you were with the boyfriend, I had a call with my agent. For the last two years, I’ve been in the running to be the host of a TV travel show. I would explore hidden places, that sort of thing. I was one of the top three contenders. But tonight he told me that Amazon says there are too many travel shows with a single man traipsing through the jungles. They decided they want a Chip and Joanna. I have no idea who they are. Do you?”

“Sure. They’re a married couple who remodel and decorate houses.”

He looked confused. “What do they have to do with jungles?”

“Nothing so far but give them time. Chip would probably love swinging a machete. I guess this means you won’t get the job.”

“I, uh...” He took a long drink. “I told my agent about you.”

“Me? What do I have to do with this?”

“I said I knew a woman who would be perfect for the show. You’re well traveled and the daughter of a veterinarian. He could be on it. Your mother is the great Vera Exton. And your father is a well-known photographer. He could help.”

“So both my fathers would be on TV? That would require some explaining.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You and I are not a couple. We hardly know each other.”

“That was part of my pitch. You and I bicker. We compete. The audience could take sides.”

She ate a popper. “It would be sort of a Tarzan Bachelor show. Do you give out roses or coral snakes to the winners?”

“You’re not taking this seriously. It’s a job, not romance. I’m not offering you love and marriage. I’m not even offering sex. Just a job. I doubt if there’s any female on earth more qualified to do this than you. I bet you aren’t even afraid of snakes.”

“Of corals, I am. They’re deadly.”

“See what I mean? You’re perfect.” He paused. “It would be six months traveling and filming. Then we’d separate. You can come back here and I’ll go...wherever. We’d have the other six months to prepare for the next trip. That’s when I’ll work on the bio of Vera. You and I can correspond while you run the businesses of everybody here in Mason. Not your own, but theirs. Sorry. I didn’t mean that to be nasty. But to be fair, people sure do seem to dump a lot onto you.”

“Yes, they do.” Their nachos arrived.

Griff took some from the platter. “It’s the boyfriend, isn’t it? You two had a spat and you’re using me to get back with him.”