"What happened? Or is it any of my business?"

"I don't know. What ever happens between people? I think most of it was that he was too self-conscious about his weight. Now it's me that's self-conscious all the time."

"You shouldn't be, you know. You look great. You could have any man you wanted."

"You don't have to flirt with me. I mean, you have all this sexual power and charisma and everything, but I don't like the idea of your using it on me. Manipulating me."

"I'm not trying to manipulate you," Fortuanto said. "If it looks like I'm interested in you, it's because I'm interested in you."

"Are you always this intense?"

"Yeah. I guess I am. I look over at you and you're smiling all the time. It drives me crazy."

"I'll try to stop."

"Don't."

He'd come on too strong, he realized. She set her silverware neatly on her plate and dropped her folded napkin next to it. Fortuanto pushed the rest of his salad away. Suddenly something bubbled up in his mind.

"What did you say the name of the journal was? Where Balsam was publishing?"

She got a folded scrap of paper out of her purse. "Nectanebus. Why?"

Fortunato signaled for the check. "Listen. Can you come back to my apartment? No funny business. This is important."

"I suppose."

The waiter bowed and looked at Eileen. "Mr. Worchester is… unavoidably detained. But he asked me to tell you that your lunch is compliments of the house."

"Thank him for me," Eileen said. "Tell him… just tell him thank you."

Caroline was still asleep when they got to the apartment. She made a point of leaving the bedroom door open while she walked naked to the bathroom, then sat on the edge of the bed and slowly put her clothes on, starting with stockings and a garter belt.