Chapter Thirteen #2
The concierge, waddled up – a very short, plump man that reminded me of a garden Nome – holding his arms wide, tan suit straining, and smiling great big, his rosy cheeks almost pinching his eyes closed.
He stated to Cole and Brent, “Congratulations! I had no idea! We would have sent up a complimentary bottle of Champaign if we would have known earlier, but we only found out late last night.” He stuck out his bottom lip.
Ew. “But we’ll make up for it tonight with a romantic dinner for two in our restaurant and a special turn down service. ” He winked.
Again, ew.
Cole and Brent stared at him blankly.
Not. Good.
Zane had walked out through the glass doors by now, and we could hear his laughter from all the way back here. Everyone else was mute. Good employees. We didn’t want to tick off the angry wolves any more than necessary.
This so wasn’t good after the semi-truce we’d had last night. Now, they were going to be at each other’s throats again until I decided, instead of calm and patient. Actually, throttling Stash was looking better and better. I was game, and so were Brent and Cole.
The concierge looked over his shoulder where he could hear Zane, a look of irritation on his chubby face. Cole’s hand started creeping up toward, what had to be, the man’s neck. Brent literally growled. Uh-oh.
I jumped in front of them and grabbed Nome by the shoulders and dragged him away, sputtering and…
spitting. Gross. It took two slow attempts to explain that it had been a horrible practical joke.
Once he got it, boy howdy, I will never again say my face blushes red.
Now, this man’s face turns red. I think it was safe to assume that it would all be cleaned up by the time we got back and dinner would be free for… oh, the entire stay.
Possibly anytime they stayed here.
***
I sat by Cole on the way to Cape Canaveral, where we were going to Sensations port.
I touched him lots and generally tried to calm him down.
Didn’t work so much. Other than to tell me he was “going to toss me on the car floor and have his way with me if I kept touching him”, that was the only thing he said.
I didn’t think that was a great idea with so many witnesses, so I turned my attentions to Brent, who drove.
He ignored me better than Cole did, but then again, I was in the backseat and couldn’t actually get in his face.
Stash had been nowhere to be found, so we had left without him. Chloe had whispered that he probably took a cab to the port. Or ran far, far away…for a very long time.
When we pulled into a parking spot in Sensations parking lot, our silent group got out.
Mr. Fresby was standing at the front doors looking tickled, along with a furious Miranda.
Once everyone had their bags, we started walking toward them, only to hear Zane mutter a quiet curse.
I looked at him and followed his gaze. Stash was exiting a cab.
We had actually beat him thanks to Brent’s berserk, er, skilled driving.
Cole and Brent noticed and let the cab – Stash’s getaway – leave before stopping and putting their laptop bags down. They took their jackets off in silence, placing them over their bags. Where they going to fight in the parking lot? I wasn’t sure that was the wisest decision.
I started to argue, and two sets of eyes landed on me. Oh. Never mind.
Mr. Fresby rested against the wall, a small smile on his face, crossing his ankles and enjoying the show.
Miranda’s furious gaze was starting to change to perplexed.
Ah, sweetie. You gotta play catch up faster than that.
The hotel had obviously called them to report the “engagement”.
They’re the company footing the bill, after all.
VIP’s receive a whole different level of service.
Mr. Fresby knew they wouldn’t be engaged, but Miranda seemed to be… well, confused.
Stash took off when Brent and Cole rushed him.
And, my-my-my-my-my-my. He hadn’t been fibbing.
He really was F-A-S-T. He would have been a lot better off if he had gone in a straight line, though.
But instead, he zigzagged through cars to begin with.
And, with two against one, it was like cats playing with a mouse.
I didn’t feel bad for him at all. In fact, I was wondering if they would let me get in a few good licks.
In the end, it came down to Brent creeping up on him from behind as Cole distracted him from the front.
Brent tapped his shoulder. Stash jumped around just in time to be punched viciously in the face.
Stash stumbled back. Cole caught him and hoisted him up, holding him until he could stand on his own, and then decked him brutally.
Stash crumbled into Brent, out cold. Both lifted him and carried him some feet off. We followed.
They lay Stash down on the side of a concrete barrier.
Took his shoes off. Tapped his face a couple of times.
Stash came to in a hurry, sitting up and grabbing his head.
They lifted a kicking and shouting Stash.
And, promptly threw him over the barrier.
I ran over just in time to see Stash sink beneath the ocean. Darn. I hadn’t gotten to hit him once.
We all watched as Stash surfaced, sputtering and cursing. He was bleeding from his lip and nose, and complaining about the salt stinging his wounds. Aw, poor baby.
“I take it you’re not engaged?” Mr. Fresby asked, his lips twitching fiercely. “There were a few interesting photos faxed to me.”
Cole grunted and Brent ignored him, both watching Stash try to find a way to get out of the water. They wore the most evil grins on their faces. This was a side I had never seen from both of them. It was…chilling. I shivered.
“Well, I believe you have properly intimidated the people you’ll be questioning today.
They’ll probably be worried that if they answer a question wrong, this will be the end result.
” Mr. Fresby motioned with his head, laughing a little evilly himself.
“I think it’ll work to your advantage. Especially, since I didn’t stop you with Mr. Bailey. ”
We all glanced up where he had indicated and saw employees staring out of their widows, faces and palms planted against the windowpanes. Huh. I wasn’t sure what to think of that, other than it may actually hinder what I was supposed to be here for. Maybe, not. I guess I would see.
Miranda chose that moment to distract Cole from his moment of vengeance.
I scowled.
She started asking him quiet questions. Her hands landed on his chest. And stayed there. Cole didn’t push her away.
My scowl turned downright scary. Naughty and imaginative designs flew through my mind and my fists clenched as I took in her position.
Standing next to me, Zane stated, “Ember, she’s our client.”
I cocked my head. “Think she can swim?”
He sighed. “Dunno.”
“Wouldn’t really matter. Stash’s still down there. He would save her.”
“Again. She’s our client.”
I stepped forward, plan firm. It was a full go inside my head.
Zane grabbed my wrist and threw me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry, turned and walked away from everyone. He wasn’t any fun.
***
Brent shouted at Zane when we were about twenty feet from the building, me bouncing over Zane’s shoulder and very grateful that I hadn’t eaten all my breakfast. Cole yelled next, but Zane kept on walking.
I lifted my head and saw them rushing after us.
I let myself fall back over him since my back muscles groaned in protest at the lifted position.
I really needed to start working out. Being tiny doesn’t mean I’m in shape. It just means I’m tiny.
Zane stepped inside the building with everyone following at varying times.
Brent and Cole were obviously the first to arrive.
They slid to a stop next to us as Zane set me down.
They each grabbed one of my arms and yanked me back against them, checking me over.
Now, I may be tiny and out of shape, but I’m not frail. Plus, I was ticked off at Cole.
I pushed him away, glaring.
“What happened?” Cole asked, glancing back and forth between Zane and me.
Zane stated, sounding bored with the whole affair, “The next time you let a woman flirt with you, I suggest you don’t do it in front of Cujo here.” He lifted a thumb in my direction.
I bared my teeth. I could sure give him Cujo if he ever called me that again.
“What?” Cole asked, his eyes dancing over my face and his forehead crinkled.
Zane’s eyes lifted to the Heavens. I was right there with him. He sighed and thumped Cole on the forehead. “Miranda, you twit.”
Zane left us then, strolling over to speak/intercept said Miranda, who was just walking in and staring at Cole with a tiny pucker between her eyebrows. The poor dear really was quite slow for such a ball breaker. The man had just chased off after another woman. Get with the program, sweetie.
Brent was chuckling behind me and I shook him off. I was so glad he found this amusing. I glared at him and he walked off, hands in the air, to help Chloe with the bags as she pushed through the doors. Before leaving, I think he almost gave Cole a sympathetic glance.
It turned into a smirk.
Cole was watching me and rubbing his chin. “You’re jealous.”
Finally, he got it.
I didn’t say anything, but scowled harder.
His lips twitched, but he stayed serious. “She wasn’t flirting with me, Ember. She’s just the touchy feely sort.” He shrugged. “When she flirts it more blatant.”
And this is one prime example why I’m bi.