Cold Paradise

“Just what is this new technology your company is going to make?” Stone asked.

“It consists of a circuit board that replaces the modem in a computer, plus some extraordinary software we’re developing for both e-companies and users that gives every customer what very nearly amounts to a T-l Internet co

Stone knew that a T-l was the fastest Internet co

“Don’t worry, I’ve already allocated your shares. Bill Eggers will buy them for you the day before the initial public offering.”

“Thank you, Thad. That’s very generous.”

“You’ll be tempted to sell them the first week, but don’t; hang on to them.”

“I’ll take your advice.”

Juanito appeared with two frosty gin and tonics. They touched glasses and drank.

“Now,” Shames said, “tell me about Liz Harding.”

“I had lunch with her yesterday,” Stone replied. “She was apologetic about rushing away from Easthampton, but she had to come back here.”

“She lives here?”

“Here and in Houston. She’s a widow, not a divorcee.”

“How long?”

“Last year sometime. She seems excited about seeing you again.”

Shames gri

“Thad, I have a lot else to tell you about Liz,” Stone said, adopting a serious mien. “That sounds bad.”

“It’s not, necessarily, but there are things that, since you’re my client, I have to tell you about her.”

“I’ll just shut up and listen,” Shames said.

Stone started at the begi

“That’s extraordinary,” Shames said. He got to his feet. “I think I’ll have a nap before di

Stone got up. “Of course. Thad, I want to be sure you understand about the husband, Paul Ma

“Ex-husband, isn’t he?”

“Ex-Paul Ma

“Well, if he’s legally dead, she’s twice-widowed, isn’t she?”

“In a ma

“She considers herself single?”

“Yes, she does.”

“Then as far as I’m concerned, she’s single, and that’s an end to it.”

“It is,” Stone said, “unless Paul Ma

“Well, he doesn’t sound stupid, so I don’t think he’s dangerous. He’s gotten away with a triple murder and major insurance fraud, so I think he has to count himself lucky, don’t you?”

“I suppose.”

“Don’t worry about Ma

“I hope you’re right,” Stone said.

“You will pick up Liz tomorrow night? I have a lot on my plate, what with all these guests coming.”

“Of course.”

“Thanks.” Shames disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Stone went back to his own cabin. Thad was right, of course. Paul Ma

Sometime after midnight, Stone was wakened from a deep sleep by someone crawling into bed with him. He had been dreaming, and what was happening seemed an extension of his dream.

“Arrington?” he said sleepily.

“Whoa!” Callie said, sitting up and crossing her legs.

Stone shook himself fully awake. “Callie? What’s happening?”

“You were about to get made love to,” she said, “but you spoke to the wrong girl.”

“I’m sorry. I was dreaming. I thought you were… somebody else at first.”

“Stone, I know very well that Arrington is Vance Calder’s wife- rather, widow. The whole world knows. Why would you be dreaming of her crawling into bed with you?”

“I don’t remember exactly what I was dreaming,” Stone said, sitting up in bed and dragging a couple of pillows behind him.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” she said. “But if it’s none of my business, tell me so, and I’ll get out of here.”

“No, no,” he said, stroking her hair. “Arrington and I were… close, before she married Vance. We don’t have a relationship now, at least not a very good one.”

“You’re sure about this? I don’t want to intrude where I’m not wanted.”

He pulled her head down onto his shoulder, and she stretched out beside him. “You’re wanted,” he said.

She ran a hand down his belly until it stopped at his penis. She held it in her hand. “Oh!” she exclaimed, “it’s alive!”

“Alive and well,” he replied.

She rolled on top of him, sat up and guided him inside her. She bent down and put her lips close to his ear. “You’d better be telling the truth about Arrington Calder,” she whispered, “or this will never happen again.”

12

Stone was awakened by conflicting smells-one chemical, one culinary. He sat up in bed in time to see Callie enter his cabin, bearing a covered tray, kicking the door shut behind her.

“Smells good,” he said. “But what’s the other odor?”

“Paint,” she replied. “The painters finished their work last night, and all the windows in the house are open. The decorators and moving people are in there now, working like beavers.” She set the tray on the bed between them and whipped off the cover. “Voila!” she said. “Brie omelettes!”

Stone picked up a plate and dug in. “Fantastic!” He sipped some orange juice.

“We’ve got the yacht to ourselves this morning,” she said. “Thad has already made a lot of phone calls and had a business breakfast aboard and has taken a party into town for some shopping.”

“I can’t believe he’s putting that house together in a day,” Stone said.

“Oh, he’s had the designers shopping for a year. They’ve pla

“It took me a year to get my house to that state.”

“You must not have been newly superrich,” she said.

“Good guess.”

“What are your plans for today?”

“Plans? Me? I never have plans. I just sit back and let you and Thad do it for me. I don’t think I’ve made a decision of any kind since I met the two of you. What do you have pla

“Absolutely nothing. I plan to get some sun, do some reading and rest up for tonight.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re going to be pretty busy, aren’t you?”

“Not if the caterers don’t want to get fired. They’re turning up at five, and I’ll show them the kitchens and where to set up. After that, they’d better not bother me because I’ll be partying.”

“Well, I think your plan for the day sounds good. I’ll join you, if that’s all right.”

“It’s all right,” she said. “By the way, do you need to rent a di

“Nope. I brought one, just in case.”

“Always prepared, aren’t you?” She finished off her omelette, took his plate, poured him a large mug of coffee and stood up. “I’ll get this stuff back to the galley, and I’ll see you on the afterdeck, later.”

“Okay.” Stone watched her go, then he got up, showered, put on a swimsuit, grabbed a terry robe from the closet and walked back to the fantail. Callie was already stretched out on a chaise, wearing only her bikini bottom, reading.

“Hi, want something good to read?”

“Sure.”

She tossed him a book. “I just finished it. It’s great.”