Page 139 of Moonlighter

“I know, baby. Did you know him well?”

“Not at all. I met him exactly once before, in my office. But still…” I swallow.

Eric runs a comforting hand up my bare back. “It’s not your fault. You were just trying to pay him a lot of money.”

“I know that. It’s possible he was killed for reasons that have nothing to do with me.” Possible, but not likely. “And where do I go from here? I can’t just ring up the next manufacturer on my list and offer them the job. Too dangerous.”

Eric makes a disgruntled noise. “Max better punish this fucker, then. Xian Smith or whoever. He’s like a cloud over your life.”

I curl up a little closer to Eric. “Listen, can I take you out to lunch later?”

“In a restaurant?” he asks sleepily. “Really?”

“Yes, that’s the whole point. Maybe not the window seat. But life is short, and I’d like to spend more of mine sitting across from you.”

His eyes spring open. “Engels, are you asking me out on a date?”

“Yeah,” I say softly. “It’s going to be a long day. But it would be better if I could see you in the middle of it.”

Those gray eyes soften. “Now she gets it.”

Yep. I totally do.

Eric pulls me close and kisses my temple. Then his hand finds my bare belly, rubbing it sweetly. “I know we have to get up. But I sure as hell don’t want to.”

“You make me want to stay in bed too, sir.” His eyes flare as I run a hand down his muscular chest.

“Excuse me, queen,” Bingley says. “I have a message from Max.”

“I donotlike that guy,” Eric mumbles, kissing my shoulder.

“Which guy? Bingley or Max?” I tease.

“I’m afraid to answer that question,” Eric whispers. “I don’t want to turn the robot against me.”

“I can hear you perfectly well, sire,” Bingley says.

“Oh Engels,” Eric complains. “I thought you said your home speaker wasn’t creepy.”

“He will never share your data,” I assure him. “But that doesn’t mean he understands tact.”

“Tact!” Bingley announces. “A noun, meaning: a keen sense of how to deal with others. Would you like to hear the message from Max?”

“No,” Eric says at the same time I say “yes.”

“Dear me, that is confusing,” Bingley fusses. “But my queen is the admin, therefore I obey her wishes above all others. Ergo: Max would like you to know that he’s on his way over. He’ll escort you to the office, where police officers will interview you about last night’s events.”

Well, that’s a sobering start to my day.

“I’m going to physical therapy this morning,” Eric says. “And then we’ll see about lunch, okay? I’ll come back into Manhattan either way, to see how you’re doing.”

“It’s a date,” I promise him.

36

Eric

It’s another sweaty,painful morning with Chip the therapist. But I take my punishment like a man.