Son of Stone (Stone Barrington 21)

“It’s not as big as your old one,” Stone said, “but it’s more, ah, tasteful.”

“It’s gorgeous,” she said. “When did you buy this?”

“Before our planned trip to the islands,” he replied. “I had planned to give it to you when we were in St. Marks, but we didn’t quite make it there, at least, not together. It’s been in my safe ever since.”

Arrington slipped it on. “It’s perfect. What is it, six carats?”

“Five and a bit, nearly flawless.”

“You couldn’t afford this in those days.”

“I managed. Now it seems like a good investment; it would cost five times as much now.”

She sat up in bed next to him, naked, looking nymph-like, looking at her ring on her finger. “We have some things to work out.”

“Yes, we do. Before we start, remember that I have a career in New York, more than ever.”

“I am cognizant of that,” she said. “But you have to remember that I’m building a new house, and that it’s almost finished. I have work to do there, and I’ll want to spend a lot of time there. I admit, I’m enjoying New York more than I did when I last lived here, and I love your house, too.”

“You have a fast airplane,” he said. “You can come and go as you wish. I hope you’ll miss me, though.”

She sighed. “I’m sure I will. And I think we should go ahead with the hotel project in Los Angeles.”

“All right.” Arrington’s house in Bel-Air rested on eighteen acres, and Stone had put together a plan to develop it as a hotel. “Do you think you’ll have to spend a lot of time there?”

“No, I don’t. I’ll make the architects and landscapers come to New York or Virginia with their plans, and I’ll try not to go until my house there is finished.” Part of the deal was that the developers would build her a house on the hotel grounds.

“Sounds good.”

“You and Woodman amp; Weld have done a superb job of putting my affairs in order. That’s why I think I can go ahead with the project.”

“On behalf of Woodman amp; Weld, I thank you. You have a lot to thank Mike Freeman for, too. He’s put together a great group of investors and brought in the hotel management group, too.”

“I’ll write him a note on my best stationery,” she said.

“Order some new stationery tomorrow,” Stone said.

“That brings up another problem, a very big one,” she said.

“Stationery?”

“Yes. I cannot be Arrington Barrington.”

Stone burst out laughing. “This could wreck the whole thing, couldn’t it?”

“It certainly could.”

“I have a solution.”

“I hope so. Tell me.”

“Your maiden name is Carter; call yourself Arrington Carter Barrington. You could even hyphenate it, if you’re feeling posh.”

“Arrington Carter Barrington. That makes all the difference, doesn’t it?”

“All you needed was a little air between the two names.”

“Lots of people use names like that these days,” she said, repeating it.