It wasn’t that he’d purposely been dateless for the last month. Holly Barker, the woman for whom he’d drop everything, was occupied campaigning for her second term as president. And Monica Reyes, the last woman he’d been spending time with, had taken a job in San Francisco, leaving him at loose ends. With a busy month at work and the grand opening of the Arrington Vineyard, he hadn’t had time to rectify the situation.
“Let me guess. Dino?” Mike asked.
“One and the same. We’re having dinner at Liesel’s. Marcel, I know you’re heading back to Paris, but, Mike, you’re welcome to join us.”
“I appreciate the invite,” Mike said, “but I’ll be in the middle of a video conference call with Singapore.”
“The entire country?”
“Selected representatives.”
“Then I guess I’m stuck with Dino. And Viv, if she’s not on your conference call.” Dino’s wife, Viv, was COO at Strategic Services.
“She is not, but if she does show up, she won’t be alone.”
“Oh?”
“She’s helping our new chief technology officer get settled.”
“New to the city?”
“Brand spanking. Arrived yesterday.”
“I look forward to meeting him.”
Mike smirked.
Stone was sitting at thebar at Liesel’s, awaiting Dino and Viv’s arrival, when the man next to him pulled out a phone, glanced at the screen, then let out a derisive huff.
When he noticed Stone, he said, “Evening.”
“Good evening,” Stone said.
“I’m Paul. Paul Weston.”
“Stone Barrington.”
“Cool name.”
“I owe it all to my parents.”
“Heh. That’s funny. Tell me, Stone, what is it with women?”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Stone said.
“My date was supposed to be here by six-forty-five. It’s almost six-fifty, and not a peep.”
“That doesn’t seem that egregious.”
“Maybe you’re used to being stood up, bud. Not me.” He huffed again. “She should have at least texted me, right?”
“Have you tried contacting her?”
“Why should I? She’s the one who’s late. She should be the one contactingme.”
“I see.” Stone turned back to his Knob Creek, hoping that would end their conversation.
Weston tapped his arm. “Am I wrong?”
