Page 79 of A Matter of Time

“He wouldn’t care.”

“No?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“He knows you’re my boss. He knows I’d be safe with you.”

“Does he?”

I looked at him hard. “Yeah. Course.”

“All right. I’ll go next Friday.”

“You mean we.”

“I mean I.”

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s no one’s business but mine.”

“I thought I would go with you,” I said quickly, trying to not let him hear the disappointment.

He smiled as he surveyed the restaurant. “Absolutely not.”

“Why not?”

“There’s no reason for it.”

“No?”

“No.” He turned to look at me.

“You don’t need me to go?” I asked hopefully.

“No,” he said sternly, trying to force me with his tone to quit.

“You’re sure?”

“Very sure. Now drop it.”

I sighed heavily. “I’ll call Mr. Reid.”

“I will call Mr. Reid. You’re done with it.”

I was about to savor my negotiation skills when I suddenly turned and looked at him. The grin was obvious, and his eyes were twinkling. “You played me. You were already going to go.”

“I was mulling it over.”

“But?”

“But now when it’s a horror, I have you to blame.” He grinned evilly.