“A professional job,” he said, giving her a kiss.

“If she does it again, I’m going to do a professional job on her,” Callie said.

“Say, have you, by any chance, seen a tall man hanging around the house or the neighborhood?”

“No, but . . .”

“But what?”

“There was a tall man at the party I didn’t know and didn’t invite.”

“How tall?”

“Real tall; taller than you.”

“Hair color?”

“Dark, going gray.”

“Nose?”

“Straight. Rather nice-looking man. I started to work my way over to him to find out if he was a crasher, but at that moment you arrived with Liz, which distracted me, and when I looked for him again, he was gone.”

“Would you recognize him if you saw him again?”

“Yes.”

“If you see him again—anywhere—I want to know about it.”

“Okay,” she said. “But why?”

“Let’s just say that I’d like to speak with him.”

Chapter 18

18

CALLIE COOKED DINNER FOR THE THREE OF THEM, TAKING her time about it, and it was nearly ten when they sat down.

“You’re a superb cook, Callie,” Liz said, tasting her sweetbreads.

“Thank you, Liz,” Callie replied. She turned to Stone. “Compliments, please.”

“Wonderful,” Stone said. “Everything is wonderful.”

“A little quicker about it next time, if you want to continue to dine so well.”

“I could not be more grateful,” Stone said, tugging an imaginary forelock.

“Praise accepted,” Callie replied.

They ate in silence for a while, not even bothering with desultory conversation. Callie finished, got up and went for dessert.

“Callie is very attractive,” Liz said.

“Yes, she is.”

“I think I’m a little jealous. I had an awfully good time in your bed—or rather, in mine—and I haven’t forgotten a moment of it.”

“Neither have I,” Stone said, “but if quoted, I’ll deny I said that.”

“She’s very attractive,” Liz said, looking across the room at Callie.

“You said that before.”

“Why don’t we try . . .” She stopped.

“Try what?”

“Oh, what the hell—why don’t we try a threesome?”

Stone nearly choked on his wine.

“What, do you find the idea so repulsive?”

“Hardly,” Stone said, recovering himself. “It might just be too much of a good thing.”

“Are you afraid she won’t?”

“I’ve no idea how she would react, and I’m not going to find out.”

“I’ll feel her out,” Liz said. “So to speak. Don’t worry. I’ll be subtle.”

“Now listen,” Stone said, but then he looked up to see Callie returning with dessert. He shot Liz a glance and turned to receive a warm crème brûlée. “Looks wonderful,” Stone said.

Callie sat down. “So what have you two been talking about?” she asked, looking at Liz, then at Stone.

“Sex,” Liz said.

Stone gulped.

“What about sex?”

“Are you for it, or agin’ it?”

Callie laughed. “I’m all for it,” she said.