No, she had to stop thinking he’d call and want anything more than what they’d had. She’d go out to dinner with Danny and figure out later how she was going to face him over his mother’s dinner table the next time she was in Philly.
When she looked up she saw that her wandering had brought her back to the Bellevue. She took that as a sign she should ditch the last afternoon of the conference and headed for her room. She’d soak in the tub. Maybe have a massage. Read a book. But before she could do any of those things she had to see why the light on her phone was flashing. The desk clerk told her she had a hand-delivered message waiting for her.
It was from Tony apologizing for missing breakfast. He’d gotten called out and by the time he’d had a chance to let her know he wouldn’t make it, it was too late to leave a message at the hotel and he didn’t have her cell phone number. He asked her to call to confirm seven that night for the dinner he’d promised.
He picked up on the first ring and didn’t bother with hello. “Am I forgiven?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. It was work. You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Yes, I do. I stood you up for breakfast. So I’ll make it up with dinner tonight. We didn’t get around to setting a time, did we? Does seven work?” He sounded like he usually did, warm, friendly, good-guy Tony.
“Since we hadn’t made definite plans I said I’d have dinner with Danny.”
“You can see her when you’re back in Portland. Tell her there’s a change of plans.”
“I hate women who break dates with their female friends as soon as the first man comes along and asks them out.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t call me ‘the first man who comes along’ and remind you that we had a date before you made plans with her.” His voice softened. “Please, Margo. We need to talk.”
Her stomach lurched. We need to talk? Oh, God, when was that sentence ever good? Tony wouldn’t do that, would he? Or would he? What had she been telling herself all day? “Yeah, I guess we should talk.”
“So, you’ll come for dinner?”
“How about drinks here at the hotel. Wouldn’t that be better?”
He was silent for a few moments. “No, but if that’s the best I can get, it’ll do. What time?”
“Six-thirty?”
“I’ll be at your suite at six-thirty.”
“No, not here.” She couldn’t bear to have him back in her room again. The space was already too full of him, his cologne, their lovemaking. “The bar downstairs.”
“The bar.” Another silence. “Okay, if that’s what you want. See you then.”
Margo called Danny and begged her forgiveness for what she was doing, explaining that she had to get something straightened out with Tony. Danny laughed and said she would run over her own mother to get something straight with Tall, Dark and Sexy.
Getting ready for their drink, she tried on every combination of clothes she had with her. Nothing seemed right. But then, she wasn’t exactly sure what the appropriate dress was for meeting a man who was about to let you down gently after sleeping with you. At least she hoped it would be gently.