“If it’s not too much trouble.”
Ash Williamson entered, carrying two cups of coffee. He’d recently joined Stone’s team as an associate attorney.
“Now that’s what I call service,” Stone said.
Ash stopped short at the sight of him. “You’re back.”
“I’m glad to see your observation skills have not suffered in my absence.” Stone held out his hand for one of the cups.
“Umm…”
Instead of handing a coffee to Stone, Ash awkwardly scooted past him and placed a cup on Joan’s desk. “Did you want me to get you one, too?” he asked Stone.
“Ash, don’t you dare!” Joan admonished. “That’s not part of your job description.”
“He broughtyoua coffee,” Stone said.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“If you can’t figure that out, I’m not going to tell you.”
Ten minutes later, Stone was ensconced at this desk, the coffee he had retrieved himself half empty.
Though Joan had been monitoring his email while he’d been out, there were still a few dozen messages that needed his attention. He was slowly making his way through them when his phone rang.
“Tamlyn on one,” Joan said.
“Thanks.” He switched lines. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” she said. “How’s the first day back at work?”
“Too early to tell. Are you back?”
She’d left on a business trip the day before he was released from the hospital and had been gone since.
“Landed at six a.m.,” she said.
“Welcome home. When can I see you?”
“Are you free for dinner?”
“I’m having dinner with Dino at P. J. Clarke’s. I could cancel.”
“How about I join you?”
“Even better. We’ll be there at seven.”
“Perfect.”
“See you then.”
As soon as he hung up, Joan called again. “Dino on two.”
Stone selected line two. “You’re not calling to cancel dinner, are you?”
“I would never cancel a free meal.”
