Dirt (Stone Barrington 2)

“No, thanks,” she said. “I’ve no intention of doing that. I dropped by last night to tell you.” She listened for a moment. “It’s over, Jonathan. I have no desire to see you again.”

He was obviously giving her an argument.

“Jonathan,” she broke in. “It’s over; accept the fact

and get on with your life.” She hung up and turned to Stone. “I’m sorry you had to hear that,” she said.

“I’m glad I heard it,” Stone said. He stood up and started clearing the table. Together, in silence, they put the dishes in the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen.

“He’s going to call back,” she said, but she was wrong. Instead, the house phone rang. She picked it up. “Yes? No, Jimmy, don’t send him up; put him on.” She waited a moment. “Listen to me very carefully,” she said. “I have company; I have no intention of seeing you, now or ever again. Please go away.” She hung up, seemingly on the verge of tears.

Stone took her shoulders and turned her toward him. “Are you all right?”

She buried her face in his chest. “I’m afraid of him,” she said. “When you leave, he’ll still be there.”

“Then I won’t leave.”

“I don’t want to stay here tonight,” she said. “Will you take me back to your house?”

“Of course. Is there a way out of the building, other than the front door?”

“Yes, we can take the elevator to the basement; there’s a door that opens onto the side street.”

“Get your coat and your toothbrush.”

She went into the bedroom, put some things into a duffel, got her coat, and came back, brushing away tears.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Stone said. “Come on, let’s go.”

She double-locked her door, and they took the elevator to the basement. She found a light switch, but it didn’t work. “Come on,” she said, “follow me. I have cat’s eyes.” A moment later they were at the side door of the building. “Will you look out and see if anyone is there? I don’t want him following us.”

“Sure.” Stone opened the door and stepped into the street while she hung back. A taxi came down the block and he whistled it to a halt. There was no one else visible in the street. “Come on, Arrington,” he called. They got into the cab, and Stone gave the driver the address. He watched out the back window, and he thought he saw someone, a man, come around the corner from Fifth Avenue, but in a moment they were gone.

For the second successive night, she slept in his bed, falling asleep immediately. Again, they did not make love.

Chapter 25

Stone was awakened by the smell of coffee brewing. He sat up in bed in time to watch Arrington, wearing his robe, come into the bedroom with a tray containing orange juice, coffee, and an English muffin.

“Good morning,” she said. “I hope you’re ready for breakfast.” She set the tray on his lap.

“Actually, I’m more ready for you,” he said, stroking her cheek.

She kissed him on the forehead. “That’s a sweet thought, but I have an early appointment with my agent. I’ve got to run.” She stood up and sloughed off the robe, standing naked at the foot of the bed.

Stone set the tray aside and started to get up.

“Oh, no,” she said, grabbing for her underwear, “you get right back into bed.”

Stone fell back onto the pillows, watching her. “It seems to be my lot in life to watch you walk naked around my bedroom while I do nothing about it.”

She smiled, hooking her bra. “Bad timing,” she said.

“You’ve spent the past two nights in my bed…”

“Sweetie…” she pulled her sweater over her head and brushed her hair back with her fingers. “You’ve just caught me at a bad time in my life, and I need some time to sort things out.”

“How can I help?”