love. They had spent an incredible month together on the business trip to the coast. Wendy had teasingly called it their honeymoon.
“Well, Avery, what's up? You haven't answered my question.” But now there was a small smile playing around Mike's mouth. He already knew.
“I feel like a jerk for not telling you sooner. But the answer is yes. Does it bother you, Mike?”
“Why should it? I'm embarrassed to admit that I … well, I haven't exactly kept up with things. I'm sure Wendy told you how wonderfully attentive I was.” He sounded bitter at the last words, but Ben's tone was gentle in reply.
“She never said anything, except that she thought you weren't a very happy man. That doesn't exactly come as a shock to either of us, pal, does it?” Mike nodded silently. “I didn't move in on your scene with her, Mike. I want you to know that You two had stopped going out for a while. And to tell you the truth, I always did have kind of a soft spot for her.”
“I suspected that when you hired her. She's a hell of a nice girl. Better than I deserved.” And then he smiled again. “And probably better than you deserve too. Hey, wait a minute.” There was pure mischief in his eyes now. “Is this serious by any chance?”
Ben grinned at his friend and then nodded. “I think so.”
“Jesus. You mean it? You're thinking of getting married?” He was stunned. Where had he been? Why hadn't he noticed? Of course, Ben had been away for a month, but still … he hadn't paid attention to things like that in two years. “I'll be goddamned. Married, Avery. Jesus. Are you sure?”
“I didn't say that. But we're thinking about it. I'd say the odds are all for it. Do you have any objections?” But they both knew he was only teasing. The awkward moment was already past.
“No objections whatsoever.” He sat there shaking his head, with a grin on his face. “I feel like I missed a page here and there. Or have you been particularly discreet?”
“No, not at all. You've just been particularly busy. All work and no play. It will make you rich and celebrated in your field, but totally out of touch with office gossip.” Ben was only half teasing, and Mike knew it.
“You could have told me, you jerk.”
“You're right and I'm sorry, and when there's big news to report, I will. Speaking of which, will you be my—” And then he could have bitten off his tongue for what he had started to ask. He had been acting as Mike's best man the night of the accident, and now he had almost asked Mike to be his. “Never mind. There's plenty of time.” Mike stood up, nodded, and went to shake hands with his friend, but there was something dark and hidden in his eyes again. He knew only too well what Ben had been about to say.
“Congratulations, old man.” The smile was genuine, but so was the pain. “And don't worry about the photographer in San Francisco. If she's really as good as you say we'll hit her with a fat contract and a good deal, and she'll give in. She's just playing games.”
“I hope you're right.”
“Trust me. I am.” Mike saluted smartly and then disappeared as Ben mused over what they had said. He felt better now that Mike knew. He was only sorry for his own stupid tactlessness. Even after all this time, any reference to Nancy caused explosions of agony in his friend's eyes. He hated himself for bringing it up, but it had seemed a natural question to ask and he hadn't thought first. He shook his head with regret and then went back to the work on his desk. He had barely an hour before the big meeting with Marion. And it seemed like only moments later when Wendy knocked on the open door and beckoned him with a smile.
“Come on, Ben. We have to be in Marion's office in five minutes.”
“Already?” He looked up nervously from his desk, and then smiled as he looked at her. She was just exactly what he had always wanted. “By the way, I told Mike this morning.” He looked pleased with himself.
“Told him what?” Her mind was on the medical center in San Francisco and the meeting with Marion. Meetings with the great white goddess of architecture always scared the hell out of her.
“I told him about us, silly. I