Page 3 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“Try saying it loud enough for him to hear next time.”

Lance had been eager to poach Carly for the CIA. Stone had disabused him of the idea. Or at least he thought he had.

As the pair reached the table, Dino checked his watch. “Look at that. Eight-thirty on the dot. You’re right on time.”

“Of course I am,” Carly said as she took a seat next to Stone. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No reason whatsoever.”

“Good evening, Dino, Stone,” Lance said. “I hope you don’t mind if I join you.”

“Would it matter if we did?” Stone asked.

“Probably not.” Lance pulled out the remaining empty chair and sat.

Their waiter appeared, and Carly said, “Could you give us a few minutes?”

“Of course.”

When the man left, Stone asked, “Why do I get the feeling you two didn’t just run into each other outside?”

“Our meeting ran long, so I asked Lance to join us for dinner,” Carly said.

“Your second meeting was with Lance?”

“It was,” she said, as if the answer should have been obvious.

Stone narrowed his eyes at the head of the CIA. “I distinctly recall a discussion in which you promised not to approach Carly until a later date.”

Lance held up his hands in mock surrender. “And I didn’t. She calledme.”

Stone turned to Carly, surprised.

“Guilty,” Carly said.

“Why would you do that?”

“Research.”

“Research?”

“You’re the one who told me that Lance was interested in recruiting me. I wanted to find out what that would entail.”

“By calling him.”

“We’ve already established that.” Carly studied him. “Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine. I mean, I’m notfine, but I’m—”

Carly opened her purse. “I have Advil. Will that help?”

“I don’t need Advil.”

“Is it your stomach? I might have—”

“Carly, I’m not ill.”

“You said you weren’t fine.”

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