He could see her warming up for a whole new argument. Well, he wasn’t buying into that at one in the morning.

“What I think is that Collin is on the case,” he stated with conviction. “By next week, it’ll be a footnote in my life. And you have much more important things to think about right now.”

“Like the catering menu?” she repeated.

“Exactly. And your basal body temperature.” He attempted to lighten the mood. “And that little red negligee.”

“I do have a brain, you know, Reed.”

It was his turn to draw back. Where the hell had that come from? “Have I ever suggested you don’t?”

“I can help you solve problems.”

“I pay professionals to help me solve problems.” That way, he and Elizabeth could lead a calm, uncluttered life.

“That’s your answer?”

“That’s my answer.”

Elizabeth waited for him to say more, but he was happy to end on that note.

Reed was the last to arrive at the lunch meeting in the Wellington International boardroom. Gage, Collin, media mogul Trent Tanford and private investigator Selina Marin were already sitting around the polished table when he walked in.

“Did you get hold of Kendrick?” Gage asked without preamble.

Reed shook his head, shutting the door behind him before taking his place at the head of the oblong table. Fresh-brewed coffee had been placed on the sideboard, and a bank of windows overlooked the fall colors of the park many stories below. “His secretary says he’s in meetings in Washington all week.”

“He doesn’t have a cell phone?” asked Collin.

“He can’t be disturbed,” Reed quoted, letting his expression tell the room the excuse rang hollow to him. He’d never had a problem getting hold of Kendrick before. In fact, it was usually Kendrick who called him.

“We need his denial,” said Trent. “At least, we need him to publicly deny having given you insider information. And I’d prefer to have it on videotape.”