Read Someone Else's War: A Novel of Russia and America Page 93

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  Three hours later, CC Cooper watched with satisfaction as Rebecca Taylor hit the Send button and her op-ed made its instant journey back to DC, copies to Maxwell Fajans and Irina Borisovna Suslova.

  “Nice job, Miss Rebecca.”

  “Thanks, CC. Couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “I know.”

  “Conceited bastard, aren’t you?”

  “Nope. Just respectful of my own abilities. You going home?”

  “No. I’ll be here all night, in case the editors need me. Won’t be the first time I’ve slept here.”

  “Should I stay?”

  “No reason. You’ve got classes tomorrow. Also, Voroshilov’s a good place to be for keeping your ear to the ground purposes.”

  “I know. I’m outa here. Say, Rebecca, honey…”

  “I know what you’re going to ask.”

  “What?”

  “Did I mean it when I said you were my zakuska?”

  “You see through me like a piece of glass.”

  “I’ll answer, but first you have to explain what you mean.”

  Cooper explained. Rebecca Taylor looked down, then up, and smiled wryly. “Sure, I’ll be your zakuska.”

  “You will? Honest?”

  “Absolutely. But you’ll have to get the rest of your dinner somewhere else.”