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?“You should be more careful.”
?“Look, Ms. Homes,” he said with that tone of voice you use when talking to a child, “we are only here for a long weekend. It would seem we are of two different minds. Perhaps it would be b
est if we just avoided each other.”
?He grabbed his ice bucket and began to go. Suddenly, I felt like a heel.
?“Wait,” I said and gently caught his arm. “I’m…sorry about…about what I did during your speech.”
?He turned to face me. His eyes met mine, and I was surprised. There was something about his eyes that made me feel like he was caressing me.
?I went on, but my mouth felt clumsy. “I really just wanted to ask some questions, and then it escalated. I behaved badly. It was a good speech and I had no right…”
?I trailed off and released his arm; my eyes moved to the floor. What could I tell him? That I’d acted like an ass? That seeing him with that blonde bimbo made me want blood?
?“That’s nice of you to say,” he replied, and I could hear actual compassion in his voice.
?“I mean it.” I lowered my head to gaze at him.
?He looked at me with a combination of understanding and acceptance, and I had a feeling I’d not had for over a year. I felt warm. Worse, I felt all gooey inside. I wanted to pull him into a hug.
?“Well, we’re both on a panel tomorrow,” he stated and smiled at me. “Perhaps we can try again.”
?“That’s a good idea.” I felt like I was grinning like an idiot.
?“Good night, Homes,” he added with a nod.
?“Good night, Watson,” I said. Then, realizing my mistake, I slapped my hand to my head. “Wat-kins. I meant Wat-kins.”
?“It’s fine,” he chuckled and walked past me. I found I watched his rear end and had to admit, for a middle-aged guy, he still had a damn fine butt.
?I was about to get my ice when Mark stopped and knocked on 1230.
?Candy opened the door.
?I slipped into the doorway of the alcove, but I could still see Candy at the door. She was wearing a negligee that wasn’t completely transparent, but mostly, all red silk and short to show off her legs and taut little body. Behind her, I could see flickering yellow candlelight, casting shadows of the furniture in the dark room.
?Mark went in, as my blood ran cold. I put my bucket under the chute and yanked it down to get ice. In my vehemence, the bucket filled instantly and excess ice fell out and around the room as I cursed under my breath.
?I went back to my room, and instead of my planned water, I pulled a bottle from the minibar and gulped down an airplane-sized bottle of tequila.
?The bastard made me like him, possibly even made we want him! How dare he do that when he was about to go bang that homewrecking hellion.
?I cursed and vented until I wore myself out, then I undressed and went to bed, hating Mark Watkins the entire time.
9. Galleys
Mark Watkins
?My room was spinning as consciousness returned. I tried to sit up, which made me incredibly nauseous, so I lay back again.
?“Candy?” I moaned and lifted my head just enough to peer around the room.
?The drapes were open a crack and sunlight poured in to illuminate my computer bag on the desk. I lay back and tried to figure out just how my bag ended up on Candy’s desk.
?I fought the vertigo, slowly rose and glanced about, taking in the whole room. I could see my small overnight bag next to the television.
?My body did not quite follow the directions from my brain, but I got myself to stand and moved slowly into the bathroom, where I found my toiletries laid out on the sink.
