Honeymoon

Chapter 93

THE BOOK ON Jeffrey was closed. His numbered account was all but cleaned out, and there wasn’t a hint of suspicion from any of the authorities. The photographer from New York magazine never got his shots, and the interview itself was scrapped. All in all, Nora knew she should’ve been pleased with the way things had gone in Boston. But as she returned to New York, she knew that everything was wrong.

She was thinking about O’Hara.

She paused before reaching for her cell phone. She cautioned herself: she couldn’t let on what she knew.

Finally she dialed and hit SEND.

“Hello?” Well, well, it’s the bad boy himself.

“Is this my phone-sex partner?” Nora asked.

He let go with a chuckle. “Mom, is that you?”

In spite of everything, she laughed.

“Oh, that’s gross.”

“I was going for funny.”

“So, Mr. Craig Reynolds, why didn’t you call me from Chicago? Too busy?”

“I know. I’m sorry,” he said. “I got caught up with the seminar.”

“That must have been some seminar. You were good, huh? Showed your stuff?”

“You have no idea.”

Nora suppressed a snicker. I’ve got more of an idea than you think, John O’Hara.

“Listen,” he continued, “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Yes, you will. What are you doing tonight?”

“The same thing I was doing all afternoon. Work.”

“I thought that’s what your trip was for.”

“Believe it or not, I have to write a report on the seminar. I’m up to my ears in it as—”

“Bullshit!” Nora interrupted. “I can see you right now. You’re watching television. Looks like a baseball game, if I’m not mistaken.”

He was two words shy of speechless. “What the…”

“Look out your window, Craig. See the red Benz? See the beautiful girl in the front seat? She’s waving to you. Hi there, Craig.”

Nora watched as O’Hara appeared in the window, looking as stunned as he sounded. “How long have you been there?” he asked.

“Long enough to catch you in a lie. Baseball? You choose baseball over me?”

“I was taking a break from my report. That’s all.”

“Sure you were. So, can Craig come out and play, or what?”

“Why don’t you come inside?”

“I’d rather we go for a drive,” she said.

“Where to?”

“It’s a surprise. Now turn off your work.”

“Speaking of work…” He stopped her.

“What is it?”

“I’m afraid the circumstances of our relationship have been starting to get to me,” he said. “You’re technically a client, Nora.”

“It’s a little late for technicalities, don’t you think?”

He didn’t say anything, so Nora pressed on. “C’mon, Craig, you know you want to be with me—and I want to be with you. It’s really pretty simple.”

“I’ve just been thinking about it.”

“And I’ve been thinking about you. I don’t know what it is exactly, but you’re not like anyone I’ve ever met,” she said. “I feel like I can tell you anything.”

There was a pause on the line.

He sighed. “A drive, huh?”