“Webster, here,” was the curt answer.
She hesitated, then ventured cautiously, “Web?”
He paused, then let out a smiling sigh. “Marni. How are you, sunshine?”
“I’m okay…. Am I disturbing you?”
“Not on your life.”
“You sounded distracted.”
“I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself. Just about to drag out the old morgue book.”
“Why feeling sorry for yourself?”
“Because I’m here and you’re there, and because my hand hurts and I’m wondering how in hell I’m going to manage tomorrow.”
“It’s still really bad?”
“Nah. It’s a little sore, but self-pity always makes things seem worse.”
She grinned. “Then, by all means, drag out the old morgue book.”
“I won’t have to, now that you’ve called…. I tried you last night.”
She’d been wondering about that, worrying … hoping. “I had to go to a cocktail party. It was a business thing. Pretty dry.” In hindsight that was exactly what it had been, though she’d convinced herself otherwise at the time. No, not really dry, but certainly not as exciting as it might have been had Web been there.
“I sat here alone all night thinking of you,” he said without remorse.
“That’s not fair.”
“I’ll say it’s not. You’re out there munching on scrumptious little hors d’oeuvres while I dig into the peanut butter jar—”
“It’s not fair that you’re making me feel guilty,” she corrected him, but she was grinning. If he’d spent last night with a gorgeous model, she’d have been jealous as hell.
He feigned resignation with an exaggerated sigh. “No need to feel guilty. I’m used to peanut butter—”
“Web …” she warned teasingly.
“Okay. But I really did miss you. I do miss you. Yesterday at this time we were having breakfast together.”
“I know.” There was a wistfulness to her tone.
“Hey, I could pick you up in an hour and we could go for brunch.”
“No, Web. I have work to do. I promised myself I’d stay in all day and get it done.”
“Work? On the weekend?”
She knew he was mocking her, but she didn’t mind. “I always bring a briefcase home with me. Things get so hectic at the office sometimes that I need quiet time to reread proposals and reports.”
“I wouldn’t keep you more than an hour, hour and a half at most.”
“I … I’d better not.”
“You still need time to think.”
“Yes.”
