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“I have awith your boss”

“What happened to Mr Haggerty?”

“He couldn’t make it And before that female brain of yours leaps to any conclusions, no, I had no idea I’d end up stuck with you My appointment ith Dobbs The first I knew you were involved hen I spoke to hio, fro to be delayed”

Lara nodded There was no way out, not now Dobbs wasn’t here, which made Slade her responsibility—a responsibility she could certainly handle, now that their animosity for each other was in the open

“That’s right,” she said briskly “He’s going to join us at the restaurant” She glanced at her watch “I’ve arranged for a taxi It should be downstairs any minute”

“Fine” Slade gave her a long, cool look It took all her determination not to shuffle her feet

“What?”

“I was just thinking how remarkable it was That you look so businesslike, I ar? Demure That’s it You look demure” A smile curled over his mouth “That’s sure as hell not the way you look when I touch you You go all to pieces, in my arms”

“You’re flattering yourself, if you think you turn ive hi down “As you so cleverly pointed out, I’ame Why don’t you think about that, hmm?”

Her s equal of his Without another word, she strode past him to the door

The captain at The Flying Fish shtly when Lara asked to be shown to the Dobbs table

“Of course, madam Sir This way, please”

The table was outside, on a wide deck overlooking the harbor The sky was still light but candles already flickered in a silver holder centered on the pale pink tablecloth It was a ro, not businesslike at all, and Lara paused on the threshold between theroom and the deck

“Is there a problem, madam?”

“I just thought…Do you have a table inside? Where the lighting’s better?”

“I’m sorry, madam, but we don’t If you’d care to wait in the bar for half an hour or so, wefree…?”

“No” Lara shook her head and told herself to stop being a fool “No, this will be fine”

Once they were seated, their waiter offered menus but she declined

“We’ll wait for the third member of our party to join us,” she said

“Would you care to order drinks while you wait?”

She began to say no to that, too, and then she thought of what Edwin Dobbs would think about her efforts as hospitality, if she did

“White wine for me,” she said briskly “Slade?”

“A beer” Slade flashed the waiter a so with your recommendation”

They sat in silence for a moment or two Then Lara cleared her throat

“Hoas your flight?”

“Fine” His eyes met hers “No weather delays, no blizzards—”

“Very a It was just a polite question”

“Ah, I see We’re going to play this scene with sophistication”

“Only because we have to” Lara’s eyes flashed “Believe me, I’d much rather—I’d rather…”

“Shove rinned “Feed me to the fishes?”

“They’d probably spit you out” She folded her hands in her lap “What happened to Mr Haggerty?”

“Don’t you mean, what did I do to take his place? Shoot hieon floor? Bribe hiain?” He reached for a bread stick and took a bite “I hate to disappoint you, Sugar, but the si racquetball this ”

“How unfortunate”

“I’ll tell him you said so Your warmth and concern will touch him as much as deeply as they touch me”