“I can’t wait to hear it,” she said.
“There is an exciting event this evening—a dinner for a couple dozen of America’s top journalists, and you and Stone are invited, if you don’t have other plans. If you do have other plans, kindly rearrange them.”
“We don’t have plans, do we, Stone?”
Stone shook his head.
“We’re available. Now can we go back to sleep?”
“Of course, my dear. Seven-thirty for eight at the United States ambassador’s residence. See you then!” Lance hung up.
“Did he say the ambassador’s residence?” Stone asked.
“I believe he did.”
“Been there, done that—don’t want to do it again.”
“I’m afraid we’ve already accepted, and it does sound exciting. I never get to meet journalists in my job. I wonder why Lance wants me there?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll go only if you stand between me and the ambassador at all times.”
“Didn’t you enjoy being felt up by the lady last time?”
“No, I did not. I want your solemn word.”
“Oh, all right, you have it. It’s a good thing you’re not a woman, you know.”
“Why is that?”
“Because women get groped all the time.”
“They do? I wasn’t aware of that.”
“That’s because you’re doing the groping. If you were the gropee, you’d be shocked.”
“I don’t grope unless invited.”
“You mean women walk up to you at dinner parties and say, ‘Grope me’?”
“Not exactly—it’s more subtle than that.”
“Enlighten me.”
“Well, do you remember the party at Dino’s apartment, when you backed into me and wiggled your ass against me? Like that.”
“Oh, my goodness, I did do that, didn’t I?”
“Yes, and it was an invitation to be groped.”
“And it worked, too!” She put her hand under the covers and drew her nails across his bare ass. “Consider that an invitation,” she said. “R.S.V.P.?”
—
STONE SAW TO IT that they arrived at the ambassador’s residence just a little late; he wanted a lot of people there when the ambassador greeted them, and his plan worked.
“Stone! Holly!” the ambassador crowed. “How nice to see you again.”
Stone reached around Holly and shook her hand. “Ambassador, you look lovely this evening.” She was wearing a clinging red dress that showed off her well-toned body.
“Why, thank you!”
Lance materialized beside her, and before Stone could warn him he saw the ambassador’s hand head for its target. Lance started only a bit. “Come,” he said, “there are people to meet.” He took Holly by the hand and led her away; Stone followed, firmly attached to her other hand.
In short order, they were introduced to Walter Grimes, a columnist for the Washington Post; Charles Danforth, an editor of the Boston Globe; Helen Frank, the NBC Nightly News anchorwoman; Carla Fontana, the Washington bureau chief for the New York Times; Paul Roberts, the editor of the International New York Times; Tim Bartlett, the Paris correspondent for the Associated Press; and Rod Halliburton, the White House correspondent for Politico.