“Dino . . .”
Gianni put some menus on the table.
“We’ll be two more,” Stone said. “And we’ll order when the ladies arrive.”
Gianni brought two more menus and a basket of hot bread. Stone tore into a slab of sourdough.
“Carbing up for later?” Dino asked.
“Get off it. I just want to get something in my stomach with the bourbon.”
“Mary Ann and I worry about you, you know.”
“Mary Ann has enough to worry about with you on her hands.”
“We want to see you settled with some nice, plain girl.”
“You just want to drag everybody down with you,” Stone said. “And what do you mean, ‘plain’?”
“A beautiful woman demands too much of a man.”
“You’re married to a beautiful woman.”
“I speak from experience. Their care and feeding is a full-time job.”
“Mary Ann cares for and feeds both of you, and without the slightest help from you, as I recall.”
“She’s an exceptional woman,” Dino said. “You’ll never do that well.”
“Thanks a lot.”
They finished their drinks and had just ordered another round, when Dino nodded toward the front door. “I’ll bet that’s your lady cop,” he said.
Stone looked up to see a tall woman, more striking than he remembered, striding toward them, smiling.
“Hey, there,” Holly said, offering her hand.
Stone and Dino were on their feet, getting her chair.
“This is my friend Dino Bacchetti, my old partner. He runs the detective squad at the Nineteenth Precinct.”
“Hey, Dino.”
“Hey, Holly.”
“Where’s your friend?” Stone asked.
“Oh, Daisy’s exhausted,” Holly replied. “I put her to bed.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Stone asked.
“What are you drinking?”
“Bourbon.”
“That will do nicely,” she said.
Gianni brought her the drink.