A Fare To Remember_ Just Whistle_Driven - Vicki Lewis Thompson [4]
He waited until she’d served a couple who looked like they might be honeymooners judging from the way they held hands and couldn’t stop gazing at each other. Their obvious affection sent a pang of regret running through him. Adrienne had never looked at him that way, which should have given him a clue.
When the coast was clear, he wandered closer to the coffee stand. “I hope your tax guy advised you to take a deduction for your CD player and the music you buy,” he said. “That’s an integral part of your business.”
Iris nodded as she tucked money in her cash drawer. “I have many deductions, mijo.”
“That’s good. Keeping a business afloat isn’t easy these days. You need all the breaks you can get.”
Iris smiled. “Sì. I’m lucky that people like my coffee and my pastelitos so I won’t end up a beggar when I’m old.”
She said it with such confidence that Zach had to believe she was solvent. That left him still wondering why she’d urged him to spend more at her coffee stand this morning.
“Aha! Here’s Mario!” Iris sounded delighted, as usual. No doubt there was a romance blossoming there.
Zach was also happy to see the guy. A chance cab ride with Mario about a year ago had resulted in a growing friendship, and Zach considered Mario part of his New York family, too. Mario had introduced Zach to this little piece of espresso heaven, and Zach always enjoyed running into him here.
“Hey, Mario.” Zach brushed the crumbs from his fingers and held out his hand. “How’s it going?”
“Can’t complain.” Mario shook hands before glancing over at Iris. He touched the brim of his Giants cap in greeting. “Morning, Iris. That’s a good color on you.”
“Ai, this old thing?” Iris blushed like a teenager as she looked down at her red blouse. “Your eyes are tired from being up all night. You need coffee so you can see better.” She reached for the small porcelain espresso cup she kept especially for him.
“My eyesight’s fine, but I’ll need that coffee to go,” Mario said.
“Oh.” Iris’s smile faded.
“I’m giving Zach a ride to the office. I’ll be back.”
“Oh.” Iris’s smile returned.
“You don’t need to give me a ride.” Zach didn’t want to get in the way of this flirtation. “The bus is almost here. I’ll just—”
“Ah, get in the cab and pretend you’re a rich guy.” Mario picked up the foam cup Iris handed him and used it to gesture toward the curb where he’d parked. “I need to discuss a little matter with you.”
Zach shrugged. “If you insist.” He didn’t mind the expense once in a while, especially when the money went to a guy like Mario. Besides, riding in Mario’s cab was an experience. He drove the cab the way he’d probably driven the cruiser when he was a cop, except now he had to substitute the horn for the siren.
Because they were friends, Zach rode in the front, which gave him an excellent view of all the happy couples taped to Mario’s dash. Mario’s romantic streak was touching. Zach had asked him once why he wasn’t married, considering how much he supported the institution.
Turned out Mario had lost his wife some time ago, and still seemed to be hurting. But time had passed, and he definitely seemed interested in Iris. Zach thought the two of them would be good together.
Mario climbed behind the wheel and set his cup in a plastic holder before starting the engine. Then he turned off the meter.
“Hey, I want to pay,” Zach said.
“Nope. This one’s on the house.” Mario gunned the engine and tires screeched as he plunged into traffic.
Zach held on to the armrest for balance, but he wasn’t the least bit nervous. Mario drove fast, but he never wrecked. “If you want a hot stock tip,” Zach said, “you’ll have to wait until I get to the office. But as of last night, your portfolio was looking good. I wouldn’t change anything, but if you want to add, then—”
“This isn’t about the market.” Mario surged through a yellow light, honking the horn to warn off anyone who dared get in his way. “It’s about a woman I picked up at the airport.”
Suddenly Zach understood Iris’s strange behavior and Mario’s offer of a ride to work. “Oh, no.”
“What do you mean, oh,