Page 2 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“Don’t forget dinner at P. J. Clarke’s tonight, seven-thirty,” Stone said.

Carly grimaced. “Better make it eight-thirty.”

“That’s going to be one long meeting.”

“Two meetings, back-to-back. Invite Dino. He can keep you company until I arrive. See you later.” She hurried off.

“Why do I have the feeling she’s going to be running this place someday?” Herb asked.

“By someday, I assume you mean next week.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”

They clinked glasses.

—

That evening at P. J. Clarke’s, Stone checked his watch, then signaled the waiter for another round.

“That’s not going to make her show up any sooner,” Dino said. Dino was Stone’s best friend and the police commissioner for New York City.

“Carly’s never late.”

“She said she’d be here at eight-thirty, right?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s eight-twenty-six. She’s not late yet.”

Fresh drinks arrived, Knob Creek for Stone and Johnnie Walker for Dino. Stone took a hardy sip.

“Okay, spill it,” Dino said.

“Spill what?”

“Whatever’s bothering you.”

“Nothing’s bothering me.”

“Says the man who keeps checking his watch.”

“Fine. I just have this strange feeling something’s up.”

“Like what?”

“If I knew that I would tell you.”

Dino started to respond, but then stopped, his gaze drawn to something beyond Stone. “Uh-oh.”

“Uh-oh, what?”

“You can stop looking at your watch now.”

Stone glanced over his shoulder and spotted Carly walking toward them in the company of Lance Cabot.

“I thought you told him to stay away from her,” Dino whispered.

“I did.”

---