Collateral Damage (Stone Barrington 25)

“As well as can be expected,” Stone said.

Holly laughed. “If you can scrape up the energy, I have two invitations for you.”

“I’ll manage.”

“The first: you’re invited to take me to dinner tonight, then do terrible things to me in bed.”

“I can handle that.”

“The second: please call Dino and Mike Freeman and ask them to be at the East Side Heliport tomorrow morning for a ten A.M. departure for Washington. There will be lunch at the White House, followed by a briefing.”

“What sort of briefing?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Oh, that kind of briefing.”

“Right. And don’t tell, either. Make sure that Dino and Mike know that. Top secret. They’ll be back for dinner.”

“You intrigue me.”

“Of course I do, silly, why else would you want to do terrible things to me in bed?”

“When are you coming?”

“I’m already in town, but I have some calls to make. I’ll be at your place around seven.”

“Use your key. I’ll be upstairs.”

Stone called Dino and Mike; the mention of the White House got their attention and their consent to travel and their promise to shut up about it.

—

Holly let herself into Stone’s house a little after seven and took the elevator up to the master suite. “Hello? Anybody there?”

“I’m in the shower,” Stone yelled back. “Join me or make yourself at home.”

Holly stripped off her clothes, threw them on a chair, and joined him. Big hug, big kiss.

“What brings you to town?” Stone asked, scrubbing her back with a soft brush.

“You do. You and Kelli Keane.”

“Are you sleeping with her, too?”

“Nope, just you. She and I had a chat.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Exactly.”

“I had that chat with her in L.A.”

“The director was anxious that your suggestions to her be underlined in a memorable way.”

“Did you slap her around?”

“It didn’t come to that—she got the message.”