Sally finally looked up at him for more than a heartbeat, but her expression screamed that she didn't believe him. A guy like that pass up sex purposefully? Doubtful. "I'm very busy today," she informed him curtly. "The market crashed. I lost a ton of money this morning, and so did F.O.W.L. The bosses are in an absolute snit."

Well, that would certainly explain things. Steelbeak was startled in himself that he'd had no idea any such event had occurred. Where was his brain that morning?

Oh, yes. It was still wrapped fiercely around the previous night. He would permit himself to bang his head against a wall later for not catching up with the news before meeting with High Command; a trick he'd taught himself as a rookie to the organization, and a proven invaluable one at that.

"I'm real sorry," Steelbeak said.

The receptionist-slash-doer-of-everything put her attention back to the computer. "I'll find some way to get my small fortune back. Maybe invest in McDuck Industries. That man's commodities are unbelievable. His stock was one of very few that didn't bottom out."

"Which will make it even harder fer ya ta get in on it right now unless ya've got a lot saved up elsewhere."

Steelbeak thought she may have actually scowled at him for making such an astute observation.

"Anyway," he told her, "while I am sorry fer dat, I was apologizin' fer last night. If I really thought it was gonna go even remotely well, I'd never have left ya hangin'. I like ta keep de promises I make my lady-friends. I'm sorry, Sally."

Her gaze casually drifted back to him. Against her will, she smiled. "That apology was the first thing to go right for me today. Thanks, and. . . I accept." Sally put her hands daintily on her lap, giving him all her attention. "So you really must have wined-and-dined this woman!"

He laughed. "Would ya expect anyt'in' less of me?"

"Truthfully? No. But. . ." Sally's gaze swept him. She could tell he'd neither changed his clothing nor slept and still, he looked good. "I don't think you really need to try so hard."

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