Part 116 (1/2)

”Speaking of starving, have you eaten?”

”I had a hot dog at the airport while I was waiting for Emma's flight to

get in.” Marianne grinned. ”It wasn't enough.”

”I suppose we should eat then, before I call Brian.” Johnno came from

around the bar. ”It may be our last meal.”

”Hey, Johnno. Couldn't you sleep?” Both girls turned at the sound of

another male voice. They watched the man, the truly gorgeous man, come

down the curving stairs in nothing but a pair of jogging shorts. ”I

wondered where you'd gone off to. Oh.” He paused, combed his fingers

through dark, tousled hair, and smiled at the girls. ”h.e.l.lo. I didn't

know we had company.”

”Luke Caruthers, Emma McAvoy and Marianne Carter.” Johnno stuck his

hands in the pockets of his sweats. ”Luke writes for New York

magazine.” He hesitated, then shrugged. ”He lives here.”

”Oh,” was all Emma could think of to say. She'd seen enough of

intimacy, envied it enough, to recognize it. ”h.e.l.lo.”

”So you're Emma. I've heard so much about you.” He smiled, holding out

his hand. ”Somehow I expected a little girl.”

”Not anymore,” she managed.

”And you're the artist.” He offered his dazzling smile to Marianne.

”Nice work.”

”Thanks.” She tilted her head, smiled back, and hoped she looked

sophisticated.

”I was just offering the ladies a meal. They've been traveling.”

”A midnight snack sounds good to me. But let me whip it up.

Johnno's cooking is poison.”