had to admit that since the Expo Incident, Gage seemed different to her. Taller, broader and more muscular. That erection had been…impressive. If only she’d ripped his clothes off to get the whole effect. That had been her last chance. They’d agreed—no sex. Still, she remembered Gage sucking on her nipple, stroking her beneath her panties and she felt all shivery and woozy.
She was off-kilter. Plus the flight home had worn her out and she’d slept poorly last night. Whatever. She had to forget the Expo Incident and focus on what a terrific team they made. Gage was smart and savvy and sensible. A great partner.
Well, except for that damn smug smile he wore at the moment. Which was worse—the smug smile or the moony daze? They both irritated the hell out of her. “Quit grinning like you won something, Gage,” she muttered.
“What? I’m just happy to be here with you, partner.” He patted her back. Could a pat be smug?
“So how was the convention?” Brittany asked eagerly, catching sight of them as they approached.
“Bring back anything good?” Luigi said, holding a hand over the phone. “Something new in condoms maybe?” Snap. Snap. The guy’s jaws worked over the inevitable piece of Juicy Fruit. That was one signature element they could leave out—gum-popping receptionists.
“I got a few samples you can have. I’ll bring them into the meeting,” Sugar said. “Some joke items—condom lollipops, key chain penises, tropical-flavored lubricants. Nothing revolutionary.”
“Oh, give the lollipop to Oliver,” Brittany said. “He has a great blush.” Brittany had a crush on their operations manager, Oliver Noble, who was a no-nonsense guy—single, but ten years older than Brittany, and easy to embarrass. To counteract that problem, Oliver blustered at her, which seemed to accelerate the fire, not retard it.
“Jeez. You’re so predictable, Brit,” Luigi said. Snap, snap.
“So, what’s up?” Brittany asked. “Why are you two on that side of the desk?”
“We’re checking in,” Gage said.
Luigi’s jaw froze midchew and he joined Brittany in staring at them.
“It’s for new marketing materials,” Sugar added. “Gage and I are test guests so we can sample the experience. We need a room and an orientation.”
“You’re checking in? The two of you? As a couple?” Brittany’s eyes went wider. “Wow. That’s great! Really great.”
Luigi resumed chewing, but very, very slowly.
“Strictly for research, right, Gage?” Sugar jabbed him with an elbow.
“Ouch.” Gage nodded.
“Sure. I get it.” Brittany winked.
Luigi double-popped his gum.
“Really,” Sugar said wearily. She noticed that Clarice, the Pleasure Concierge and the resort’s biggest gossip, had stopped working and was watching intently. If her ears had been antennae, they’d have been twitching.
“Wait,” Luigi said suspiciously. “Is this, like, going to show up in my performance review?”
“Not at all.”
But he wadded his gum into a pink message slip and tossed it into the trash, stood very tall and smiled a fake smile as he clicked into the system. “So, how long will you be staying with us, Mr. and, uh, Mrs. Maguire?”
“Don’t you have reservations to confirm?” Brittany said, bumping Luigi out of the way to take over the task. She was always eager for extra responsibility.
Luigi shrugged and moved to the second terminal.
“It’s Mr. Maguire and Ms. Thompson,” Sugar said firmly to Brittany. “And it will be for one day.”
“Two, don’t you think?” Gage added mildly. “We’ll need the overnight in case we work late.”
There was a thud, then a swishing sound, as the rack of brochures Clarice had been pretending to neaten tipped over, spraying pamphlets across the glossy marble floor.
“We won’t be sleeping there, so no need for maid service,” Sugar said to be absolutely clear. She shot a frown at Gage.
“But, otherwise, we’d like the full guest treatment,” Gage said. “As you can see, my partner is reluctant about our stay. Wouldn’t you say so, sweetheart?”
Brittany just blinked at them.
“She doesn’t see how a vacation can fix our, uh, problem.” Gage seemed to be taking on a guest persona. “I imagine you’ve heard that before from guests checking in, Brittany?”
Brittany seemed frozen.
“He wants you to say what you say when couples seem torn about being here,” Sugar said. “When one thinks it’s a waste of time or a pricey experiment. I’m the reluctant mate, Brittany, get it?”
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