“You’re... housesitting?”
“I’m just using their place while I’m in town.”
“Wait, the guards. Are they Secret Service?”
“Now you’re getting it.”
“You actually know Kate and Will Lee.”
“More than know. They are dear friends.”
She looked at him for a moment longer, then walked deeper into the house.
“Wow. This place is beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me? You said it wasn’t your place.”
“It was once. I traded it with Will and Kate for their townhouse in D.C.”
“Traded houses. With the Lees.” She shook her head, as if she couldn’t fully comprehend the words. “Next you’re going to tell me you know Holly Barker, too.”
Deciding it best not to completely overwhelm her, he said, “I may have met her a few times.”
“I could use that nightcap now.”
“How does a nice port sound?”
“At this point, peppermint schnapps would be fine.”
Stone poured two glasses of Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, gave one to Monica, then sat with her on one of the couches.
She took a fortifying sip, then cocked her head. “Who are you?”
“Exactly who I said I was.”
“A New York lawyer who happens to know two presidents.”
Stone held up three fingers.
“Right. Three presidents.”
He shrugged, conceding the point.
“My friends back home will never believe this.”
“In Fillmore?”
“Them, too. But I was thinking of the ones in New York. I live there, too, almost two years now. How long have you been there?”
“My entire life.”
“And how long has that been?”
“I still have a few good years left in me, if that’s what you’re asking.”
She looked him up and down. “You definitely do.”
He nodded at her empty glass. “Another?”
“Please.”
As he refilled their glasses, she said, “I’ve been wondering something.”
“How I know three presidents?”
“That, too, but we can get to that later. In the car earlier, what would you have said if I had told you the person who called me was a boyfriend or husband?”
“It’s not so much what I would have said, as what I would have done.”
“Which would have been...?”
“To politely escort you home and tell you I had a wonderful evening.”
She considered this for a moment, then said, “And now that we’ve almost finished our nightcap? Are you still planning on escorting me home?”
“I am. But not until after breakfast.”
Chapter 17
Stone woke to the brush of Monica’s lips traveling down his chest.
“Good morning,” he said.
She moved her lips several inches south. “Only good?”
“Is that what I said? I meant great.”
He drifted into a half-dream state as she worked him to the edge of endurance, then backed off to prolong his agony. Finally, she rolled onto her back and pulled him on top of her, then gently guided him home.
She held him close as his rhythm rocked her into the mattress. With one hand, she guided his pace, sometimes urging him faster and other times slower, teasing the most out of every moment.
Sensing he could hold out no longer, she clutched him even tighter, and as he finished, she shuddered below him. When the world finally came back into focus, they kissed soft and deep and long.
Stone had been with more physical lovers, but seldom had there been one so sensuous. She was, in a word, intoxicating.
While Monica showered, Stone found Martha in the kitchen and discussed breakfast. After he was clean and dressed, they ate eggs, chorizo, and skillet-fried potatoes poolside.
“I could get used to this,” Monica said.
“Then what do you say to breakfast again tomorrow?”
“Just breakfast?”
“Naturally, we’ll have dinner together this evening first. Unless you have other plans.”
“I do have some work to do today, but I could make myself available later.”
“Pick you up at seven?”
“You haven’t even dropped me off yet.”
“Technicalities.”
She smirked. “Seven is perfect.”
After they finished, Stone drove her to her cousin’s house, then headed to the airport.
Having arrived a bit early, he stopped by to check on his G-500 and found Faith there.
“Morning. Didn’t expect to see you here. Everything all right?”
“One of the tires needed changing. Had the FBO do it this morning. Just checking their work.” FBO was short for fixed-base operator, companies that provide aviation services to private and chartered aircraft, among others.
“All good now?”
“Aces,” she said. “I was thinking about taking a road trip to Roswell. My boyfriend’s son is into UFOs lately, and I’d like to get him a few souvenirs.”
“Boyfriend?”
This was news to Stone. He and Faith had had a short-lived relationship before she had started working for him, which was when he learned about her rule of never sleeping with anyone more than three times. Not wanting to be controlled by what he considered a random number, he had ended things after two.
“I know, I know,” she said. “I’m just as surprised as you.”
“Is he good to you?”
“Very.”
“Then I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. And my side trip?”
“Go. I’ll call you if I need you to come back.”
The rumble of an approaching jet drew their attention to the sky.
“Another G-500,” Faith said. She squinted. “Is that the Strategic Services jet?”
Stone checked his watch. “I believe it is.”
The plane landed without issue and taxied to the area in front of the hanger Stone’s plane was using.
“Try not to get abducted by aliens,” Stone said to Faith, then walked over to the newly arrived jet.
Mike exited first, followed by Herb Fisher, and three people Stone didn’t know.
“Good flight?” Stone asked.
“Textbook,” Mike said.
He introduced the rest of the team. Architect Eliza Dinh and project manager Cory Aldridge were representing the architectural firm Athey & Li, and engineer Ellen Herlin, Black/Ross Engineering.
Mike and Herb rode with Stone, while the others took a rental van.
As they neared the site Herb said, “This place is gorgeous.”
“I second that,” Mike said.
“Hold your reviews until you see the actual site,” Stone told them.
They soon arrived and made their way to the same vista point Ed had taken Stone.
“The property goes to just beyond those trees,” Stone said, pointing across the shallow valley. “And spreads in both directions about the same distance.”
The others took in the view, no one saying a word.
Finally, Mike asked, “Is this ridge part of the property?”
“It is. The property line abuts the road we came in on.”
“And is that the only access?” Eliza asked.
“Yes, but Ed Eagle said there’s a good place on the west side for a road that could connect to the main highway.”
She made a note on her tablet computer. After a few more questions were asked and answered, the three experts hiked farther along the ridge, leaving Stone, Mike, and Herb behind.
“What do you think?” Stone asked.
“I think I’m glad Phoenix fell through. Barring technical issues, this place is perfect.”
“I agree.” Stone turned to Herb. “Meet with Ed Eagle and work up a purchase agreement. Make sure he understands it’s contingent on our final decision.”
“You got it,” Herb said.