Bess flinched at the sharp click of the receiver in her ear, and slowly hung up the phone. She glanced over at her cousin, and actually jumped when she heard the door open in her half of the suite.

Joe.

Bess scrambled to her feet and went through the connecting door, ignoring the little flutter her heart gave when she saw her cover husband, who was talking to his brother. "Darling," she said urgently. "Susannah's here to talk to Becca. Are you two all right?"

"None the worse for wear," Joe assured her. "So Becca is still on the case?"

Bess rolled her eyes. "Well, either that or her husband." She dropped her voice, glancing between Joe and Frank. "Someone just called, asked if I was either Bess or Nancy, and said we need to get on the next plane out of here."

"For a lead or because we're in danger?" Frank asked quietly.

"Because we're in danger."

Joe smiled. "Good."

"Good? How can you...?"

Bess, Joe, and Frank were just walking through the connecting doors when Nancy and Ned came out of the bedroom. Nancy's hair was rumpled and Ned had a slight smear of her lipstick against his cheek. "Who was on the phone?"

"Wrong number," Bess said, one eyebrow up, and Nancy raised her own in return.

Susannah stood up. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt—I know it's your honeymoon—"

Ned waved a hand in a familiar expression of resignation and dismissal. His hair was rumpled, too. "It's all right."

Susannah nodded. "I'm going to call Darius's best friend back home and see if he's heard from him, but we'll just meet in the restaurant in the morning, right? And head over to the television studio?"

"Definitely," Nancy nodded.

"Maybe eight a.m.? I don't want Bishara to have time to put us off again," Susannah said timidly.

"Sure," Nancy agreed, elbowing Ned in the ribs when he let out a soft moan of protest. "And, since Cole here was just saying how sad he was that he hadn't gone with us..."

Ned recomposed his features and smiled. "At your service, milady."

Nancy flashed him a dazzling grin.

Susannah smiled back at them, then glanced from Ned to Frank. "Wow. You two really favor each other," she giggled.

"Oh," Bess said. "No. This is Cooper. That's Frank, his assistant."

Susannah studied Joe, then Ned. "Wow."

"You have no idea," Bess said, sliding her arm around Joe's waist. He returned the gesture.

"Well," Susannah said, glancing at her watch, "I'd better get back to my phone if I'm going to get anything done. I'll see you at eight?"

"Sure thing," Nancy said, sliding her arm around Ned's waist too. Once Susannah was gone, Bess and Joe slipped apart; Ned just put his arm around Nancy's waist and pulled her closer to him.

George muted the television. "Okay," she said, once they were pretty sure Susannah wasn't likely to return to the room for any last-minute change in plans, "who was on the phone?"

"A man, saying that we need to leave at once unless we want to get hurt. And he knew that I was either myself or Nancy." Bess shivered and sat down on the couch.

Ned sat down in an armchair, and Nancy perched on one of the arms, her leg against Ned's. "Did he have an accent? Like he was from here?"

"N—no, I don't think so," Bess said slowly. "But I don't know, honestly. He just sounded gruff and irritated more than anything."

"And are you doing okay?" George asked Frank, crossing her arms. "I'm really sorry I had to run back there."

Frank shrugged. "At least that way you didn't lose half the day getting yelled at by cops. The nurse at the hospital said I should be fine. It doesn't even hurt anymore. Well, not that much."

Bess cast a sympathetic glance at him. "You think you can dance?"

Frank rolled his eyes. "Can we talk about the case, please? Ugh."

"Please, go ahead," Bess said with sarcastic solicitude, folding her own arms.

"Yeah. We took the cufflink to three stores, and the guy at the last one obviously recognized it and demanded that we give it to him."

"But you still have it, right?" Nancy asked, her blue eyes sharp.

"Of course," Frank said, and Bess saw Ned's jaw tighten a little. "We're going to go over it very carefully tonight, and tomorrow, we'll need to run surveillance when we return the cufflink. Kimball or one of his men will come by for it, or he'll take it to someone, and that'll give us a lead."

"Well, Ned and I will be with Susannah," Nancy shrugged.

"Bess and I could come with you two," George said, glancing at her cousin.

"Four people for a stakeout?" Bess glanced over at Joe, and reconsidered. "Well, especially if we had to pair up or whatever..."

"The shop has two entrances," Joe pointed out. "It's not a bad idea to keep an eye on both."

Frank nodded. "Okay. So we have a game plan. Breakfast at eight—" Bess shuddered. "And then we split up. There are apparently some areas of Cairo that aren't exactly great for cell reception, though, so let's be smart about this."

George nodded. "Sounds good."

"And now!" Bess announced, standing up. "Now we get ready for tonight! You have no idea how much I need this."

"Me either," Ned murmured, drawing Nancy into his lap, and she giggled when he nuzzled against her neck.

Frank wasn't quite sure how it happened, but George ended up in Bess's suite across the hall, getting ready for their outing. It suited Frank just as well; he and Joe were studying the cufflink, searching for any other clues it might be able to provide. Frank half-wished he had brought along a gas chromatograph, but considering how ballistic the cops had gone over the far more commonplace explosive in his luggage, they would have been positively beside themselves with malicious glee over finding that kind of equipment accompanying two couples on their honeymoon.

The door to Frank's suite had just swung shut behind Joe when he was shouldering his way back in with his toiletries bag and one of his suits. "George shooed me out," he explained, tossing them onto the couch. "Bess is running around in her underwear waving curling irons. Okay. Microdot?"

Frank studied the cufflink closely, scraping the short thin edge of his nail over any irregularities he found. He shook his head. "It seemed like a good lead," he said, and sighed. "Here, take a look at it." He glanced at his watch. "I need to make a call."

While Joe would surely ignore him anyway, Frank shut himself out on the balcony to make the call. He heard several soft clicks in his ear before even the first distant ring. "Hello?"

"Hey gorgeous," Frank said, closing his eyes.

"Well hello, handsome," Callie replied with a little chuckle. "Is this the call I've been waiting for?"

"Not quite yet," Frank admitted. "We're still looking. Even got in a fight earlier, so I'll have a fun new scar when I get back if I'm not lucky."

"Oh, Frank," Callie sighed. "I hate it when you say things like that. Tell Joe he's supposed to be keeping a better eye on you."

"Oh, he was in the fight too," Frank said. "Anyway, we're going dancing tonight. And I just want you to know that every single second of it, I'll be wishing you were here."

"Mmm," Callie replied. "How about we plan to go dancing when you get back, so you'll have something to look forward to."

"Sounds great." Frank thought of Nancy and Ned the way they had been when he had glanced back on the way out, her arms around his neck, snuggled on his lap. "I'll probably need it, because whatever this guy is planning, I'm sure it won't be good."

"Tell him that you have to make it back for Thanksgiving," Callie suggested. "Maybe he'll be patriotic and tell you."

"Yeah, they don't exactly celebrate Thanksgiving over here."

"Their loss. You should see the menu I'm planning."

Frank groaned and patted his stomach. "I'm starving. Thanks for reminding me."

"Sorry." Callie chuckled. "You take care of yourself, okay? I want you back in one piece."

"Yes ma'am," Frank replied. "Love you, babe."

"Love you too."

Frank walked back in and saw Ned just walking into the suite. His face was freshly shaved and he wore a classic tux, along with one of the ostentatious watches provided for their cover.

Ned's eyes met Frank's, and Ned shrugged. "The girls are running around half-naked."

Frank was surprised that anything had induced Ned to leave that sight, but he gestured to Joe. "No luck finding any secret compartment or anything in the cufflink."

Ned sat down on the couch. "Maybe it's a sign to someone. If Kimball and his conspirators don't know each other by sight, maybe this is how they show they're in on it."

Joe and Frank exchanged a glance. "Good point," Joe said, and glanced at his watch. "Shit. I'd better get ready."

"Let me get the first shower," Frank said. "Be out in a second."

Ned took the remote and navigated immediately to the sports channel, and Joe settled down on the other end of the couch. "Shit, they lost again?" he groaned, when he read the crawl at the bottom of the screen.

Ned chuckled. "Guess so."

Joe glanced over at the guy who was pretending to be his brother. Ned looked completely at ease, but of course he would be. The prospect of dancing with his longtime girlfriend wasn't daunting at all.

If they came back to the hotel and Joe didn't go to Bess's room with her, she would be mad. If he did, though...

Ned glanced over at Joe. "Excited about tonight?"

Joe laughed. "How could I not be, the way Bess keeps going on about it."

Ned nodded, smiling. "Yeah. She's... like that."

During the next commercial break, Ned turned back to Joe. "Look, Bess... I don't quite know what happened last night, but she... fuck, there's no easy way to say it. She likes you a lot."

Joe rubbed a hand over his face. "I like her too. She's hot, and she's just fun to be around... and I don't want to fuck things up with her, you know? Because half the time, when Nancy and Frank are working together, Bess is with her, and I'd hate to make things awkward."

Ned nodded. "So don't," he suggested. "Tell her that. And if she still wants to go for it—and she will, trust me—then just make the best of it. Besides..."

"Besides, what?" Joe asked, despite his better judgement.

Ned was quiet for another moment. "Besides," he said quietly, nodding at the bathroom, where the sound of the shower had gone quiet, "it sounds like whatever happened between the two of them hasn't made things too awkward."

Joe was quiet, too. "So... you know."

Ned snorted. "It's obvious," he said.

Joe sighed. "Look, I don't know... everything that went on between them, but I can tell you that she never looked at Frank the way she's been looking at you on this trip."

The keycard reader made a quiet noise and George walked in wearing a deep blue-green halter gown. Ned let out a low whistle. "I sense Bess's handiwork."

George gave Joe and Ned a sarcastic curtsy. Her hair was shining and she wore a nice smoky eyeshadow and matte lipstick. Her legs were shown to advantage by a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals. "With any luck Bess'll be ready before midnight," she sighed, sitting down at the table and pulling her laptop toward her. "Any luck with the cufflink?"

"We can't find anything different about it specifically," Joe said. "Maybe it's a marker so the conspirators know each other, though," he added, nodding at Ned.

"Mmm," George said neutrally, then glanced up. "Could be."

Frank stepped out of the bathroom in a towel. "All yours," he told Joe, not noticing George. When she giggled, Frank flipped her off, then went back to his bedroom.

"Hey, Hardy," Ned said softly, as Joe stood up.

"Yeah?"

"I've known her almost as long as I've known Nancy, and... if you hurt her?" Ned's dark eyes were steady, serious.

"I get it," Joe said hurriedly. "I won't."

George kept her gaze on her laptop, and Joe had thought she wasn't even listening until she said, "He'll have to get in line behind me, hon." She glanced up too and gave Joe a dangerous smile.

Joe swallowed. "Okay," he said. "I won't. I promise I won't."

Nancy knocked at the door to the suite and stepped back. Bess smoothed her dress over her hips nervously. Nancy shot her a reassuring smile.

"You look great, Bess."

Bess's answering smile was still nervous, and her blue eyes went immediately to the door when it was opened for them. Frank smiled when he saw them.

"You two look great."

Bess giggled as Nancy said, "You don't look so bad yourself, Hardy." He wore the standard tux, and looked like he was about to play James Bond.

They stepped into the room and Ned was already on his feet. When he saw Nancy, he smiled. "You look amazing, Nan."

Nancy glanced down at her black satin cocktail dress and sequined high heels. Her dress was fitted tight from the strapless top to her waist, and then flared a little at her hips. She flashed him a wide grin. "Thanks."

But she was really waiting to see Joe's reaction to Bess's dress. Bess's gown was a rich, flamboyant red, one-shoulder, that emphasized her curvy figure. She had spent twice as long as Nancy on her makeup, but she looked sophisticated instead of overdone.

Joe had to swallow before he could speak. "You look—Wow, Bess."

Bess grinned. "Thanks."

The Oasis Club was all gleaming marble and tile, and featured a stage, a dance floor, and a twelve-piece live band. The six of them were escorted to their table, and Nancy had just glanced at her menu, then up at Ned, when she saw that his gaze was elsewhere.

Namely on the stage, where a set of belly dancers were performing. Their diaphanous costumes moved like colored smoke against their lithe frames, and Ned wasn't the only member of their party who was enraptured. Joe and Frank were spellbound as well.

Nancy exchanged a disgusted glance with George. Bess clapped. "Ooh! I've heard belly-dancing classes can really keep weight off."

Ned cleared his throat when Nancy nudged him in the ribs. "Well... I mean, not that any of you need to lose any weight, at all, but I definitely wouldn't mind... watching that class."

Nancy chuckled. "Smooth, Nickerson."

He leaned over and put his mouth against her ear. "Babe, you would look so fucking hot in one of those outfits."

"Don't you mean that it'd look good on your bedroom floor," she whispered back, and let out a wicked giggle.

Ned patted Nancy's knee. "The only thing I like better than seeing you dressed up," he said.

Bess opened her menu. "Wow."

Joe did the same and clutched at his chest. "Holy shit. Do these prices include the floor show or something?"

"Millionaires would laugh at these prices," George reminded him. "Which, shit. I want to see a damn wine menu."

"Grilled prawns, or the fruit and cheese course to start?" Bess mused aloud. "Or both."

George, Frank, and Ned split the first bottle of wine, which meant it went quickly. Joe took a glass of the second bottle. Nancy and Bess stuck to water, although Nancy did steal a sip of Ned's wine. When Joe offered to fill Bess's glass, she told him she didn't want the terrible hangover again. Nancy saw the spark of interest in Joe's eyes.

The meal was delicious, and even though Nancy did enjoy sampling a few dishes she had never tasted before, Bess was definitely happier tucking into grilled prawns and fillet mignon. Once they were all stuffed, and half of them were happily buzzed, the waiter brought coffee. Nancy noticed that Ned's gaze was lingering on her, even though the belly dancers had returned to the stage.

Joe's gaze was drawn to the sinuous movement before them. "Hey," he said in some surprise, looking at the gathered crowd in front of the stage, "that looks like Dominique."

Even though she tried not to, Nancy glanced immediately at Bess, who was fighting to keep her face impassive. Joe glanced over at Bess too, almost like an afterthought, but even the fact that he did so made Nancy feel a little better.

Frank nudged his brother's arm. "And I think she's talking to Kimball," Frank said, and started to stand up.

Joe shook his head. "Like she would be talking to that jackass."

"No, really."

They stood up, and Nancy glanced over at Ned. "So why don't we get out there," she said, nodding to the dance floor. At least if they were dancing, they wouldn't be making a beeline for the suspect. She glanced over at Bess and George, who pushed their chairs back.

"I thought you'd never ask," Ned teased her.

The dance floor in front of the stage was crowded, and it took Joe and Frank a lot of maneuvering to get over to Dominique. Nancy kept an eye on their progress as Ned took her into his arms.

Although as soon as she was wrapped in his embrace, it was hard to remember anything else.

"I think they've got it under control," Ned murmured, and Nancy gazed up at him. When their gazes met, she felt her heart rise a little. When they were dancing, when they were like this, it was hard to remember anything else, even her cases.

His hands were still in entirely respectable position, as they moved together. "Yeah," she murmured. She glanced over at Bess and George, who were dancing together. "Bess was really hoping that Joe wouldn't be able to take his eyes off her," Nancy said quietly, a little sadly. "And then he runs over there at the first sight of Dominique."

Ned rubbed his palm in a reassuring circle on her back. "I told him what'd happen if he hurts her," Ned said. "So did George."

Nancy gaped for a second. "You did not."

"I did so."

She looked up at him. "You're really great, you know that?"

Ned pulled her a little closer to him, and she came willingly. Their bodies were pressed tight, and her lashes lowered a little.

"Mmm," Ned murmured. "You look like I could take you behind one of those big potted plants over there and find out what you're wearing under that dress."

"It's not much," she told him point-blank, gazing at him through her lashes, and Ned's grip on her tightened a little. Her heels put their hips almost on level, and when she deliberately brushed her hips against his, he shivered.

Then he sighed. "If we keep... doing this, I'm not going to last at all."

"Well, we can't have that," Nancy sighed back, but she was smiling.

By the time Joe reached Dominique, Kimball—if it had been Kimball at all—had disappeared. Joe made a subtle hand gesture to his brother, and Frank faded into the crowd.

Joe didn't find it at all difficult to give Dominique a warm smile. "It's definitely nice to see you here," he said.

She returned his smile, but he still saw that faint watchfulness in her eyes. "Same to you. Here with your wife?"

Joe glanced over his shoulder at Bess, although he didn't need the reminder of what this conversation was probably costing him, as far as she was concerned. "Yes," he said. "And you? I think I recognized your date—?"

"Oh, he was not my date. Just a fellow tourist asking for directions."

"Really," Joe said, keeping the smile in place, but letting it fade from his eyes.

"Yes," she said. Then she appeared to make up her mind about something. "And since I am... unencumbered, would you care to dance?"

Joe fought the urge to glance over his shoulder at Bess again. "Not sure my wife would like that much," he said, with genuine apology in his voice.

"One dance," she coaxed him, touching his shoulder.

Joe knew he was fucking weak. He had barely given her a half-nod of acceptance when the two of them were moving with easy grace into the crowd.

Dominique drew close to him, her face near his ear. "I believe someone we both know is responsible for my being here," she said very quietly, all trace of an accent gone.

Joe moved so he could glance into her eyes, giving her another faint nod.

"Just don't blow my cover. We don't know how many eyes he has here, so act natural. Any leads?"

Joe barely moved his lips as he murmured, "I don't suppose you had any space to stow an ID in that dress."

Much less a gun, Joe thought. She wore a skintight yellow gown that set off her complexion perfectly, and made her hair and eyes stand out all the more.

Dominique sighed. "I suppose we should all be cautious."

Joe nodded. "No real leads yet, but I might have something tomorrow," he told her. "Exchange numbers?"

She shook her head. "Too dangerous. I'll be in contact with you if we find out anything, but for now, let's just..."

"Keep doing what we're doing," he nodded.

Dominique nodded in Bess's direction. "So you must have some connections, to dig up a fake wife at a moment's notice."

"Who said she's fake?" Joe said lightly. "She's a good friend."

"But she's not a spy."

"Not really," Joe admitted. "Why?"

"Because from the look on her face," Dominique said, gazing over Joe's shoulder, "she's very into her cover identity. I would go clear the air, but that'd mean jeopardizing my own. So, until we meet again... Cooper."

Joe nodded to her as the music ended and she left his arms. He had to take a long breath and square his shoulders before he headed over to Bess, who was dancing with Ned. Joe raised his eyebrows, glancing over at Nancy—and, yes. Frank was dancing with her. Joe could feel how tense Ned was when he gently tapped him on the shoulder, asking to cut in.

"So you decided to start without me?" Joe asked once Ned relinquished his grip on Bess, flashing her a grin.

Her answering grin was brief. "You looked busy."

He offered his arms and she stepped into them. "Let's head over that way," he said, nodding in Frank and Nancy's direction. "You okay?"

Bess nodded slowly, twice. "Just being stupid," she muttered.

"Speaking of," Joe said, shrugging in Nancy and Frank's direction. Bess snickered.

"He said he wanted to talk about the case."

"Sure," Joe drawled, just to see Bess's eyes glimmer in amusement. "Which, by the way, is all I was just doing with Dominique."

"Oh." Bess looked up at him.

As soon as they were close enough, Joe got Nancy and Frank's attention and filled them in. "So she's working with us... or at least on our side."

Frank nodded. "You trust her?"

Joe thought about it. "I think if she was lying and just trying to find out what we know, she would have jumped at the chance to compare notes and plant some false leads."

"Unless she's being smart."

Ned, who had George in his arms, came close to the group. "Anything earth-shattering?"

Frank shrugged. "Doesn't sound like it."

George glanced between Ned and Frank, letting her arms fall from around her best friend's boyfriend. "Okay, so, let's let these lovebirds get back to whatever they were doing," she said, casting a significant gaze at Frank.

Nancy smiled at Frank. "Thanks for the dance," she said. When Ned's arm slipped around her waist, she moved to him as though it was the most natural thing in the world, and in the space of a moment their bodies were pressed tight together, her arms up around his neck, her head on his shoulder. No one would ever question that they were totally in love.

Frank and George moved off together, Frank laughing at something George was saying, and Joe put a few steps between himself and Bess, and Nancy and Ned. Joe tightened his arms around Bess's waist, and while Bess didn't melt against him the way Nancy was draped against Ned, she did slide her arms up around Joe's neck.

"Seriously. You okay?"

She nodded a few times, then tipped her head back, her blue-eyed gaze meeting his. "You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Sorry you didn't get to dance with her as long as you wanted?"

Joe made a face. Even though Bess's voice was neutral, he could tell she was tense. "I did," he told her, and very gently trailed his fingertips a few inches up and down her spine. "And now I want to dance with you."

Her lashes lowered for a moment, and she was so close he could feel the warmth of her through her dress. "Look, I don't know if I... if I've been misreading signals or reading more into what's going on... seeing the way they," she tipped her head in Nancy and Ned's direction, "have been is maybe giving me the wrong idea. I know you said you didn't... want to..."

Joe waited for her to trail off, then brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek. "I've had a few bad experiences," he said quietly. "A few nights I can't remember. I didn't want that for you."

"Mmm." She nodded. "Well, I'm really sober tonight. Like, incredibly sober."

"I noticed," Joe said, his gaze steady on hers.

Bess waited a beat. Then her lips curved up into a very sexy smile.

George smiled up at Frank. "We're breaking the trend," she told him.

Frank glanced over at his brother and Bess, then at Nancy and Ned. The couples were definitely selling the hell out of their cover marriages. Nancy and Ned moved with the familiarity of the thousand other dances they'd shared, and Bess and Joe were gazing intently into each other's eyes.

The sight put a little twist into George's belly. She didn't really judge Joe for his hit-it-and-quit-it philosophy; as long as the girl was aware of it going in, whatever worked between them was their business.

But she knew Bess, had known Bess their entire lives, and Bess fell hard. Soon—maybe already—nothing she or Nancy or Ned said would divert Bess from this. Especially if she and Joe took the step they hadn't the night before.

A glance up at Frank told George that even if he wasn't sharing her train of thought, he was aware of it.

"Joe's a good guy."

Frank responded to the slight question at the end of George's voice. "He is," Frank confirmed. His hand was warm at George's hip, and oh, it had been too long since she had gone out to dance like this. It wasn't Frank specifically; it was the fact that he was a guy, and being so close to Nancy and Ned when they were like this was putting a faint buzz of something like desire under her skin.

George sighed. "I hope so."

Frank chuckled. "He can be an idiot sometimes, but his heart's in the right place."

"Under his ribcage?" George retorted, raising an eyebrow.

The band kicked into a faster song and Frank stepped back, waving his fists in the air in time with the beat. It was one of the most ridiculous things George had ever seen, and she had to smother a cackle of glee under her palm. "Come on!" Frank beckoned her, and she threw herself into it, playfully bumping her hip against his.

George had to admit that she could see what Nancy had seen in Frank, what she probably still did see. He was quick, intelligent, and he could be intense, but he had a great sense of humor. And he was easy on the eyes. If George wasn't aching for someone else's arms, she would probably be all sweaty palms and nervous giggling right now. By the end of the dance Frank had her breathless with laughter, and her dark eyes shone as they met his.

"You're not half bad—Carter."

"Not half bad yourself," he said with an easy grin.

Her smile faded, but only a little. "Missing Callie?" she said, very quietly.

Frank's grin became a smaller smile. "Yeah," he admitted. "So much. You?"

"Yeah, I miss Callie so much too," George said teasingly. "No... but yeah, there is someone back home. Oh, the things I do for her," she sighed, shrugging in Nancy's direction. "I could be in front of a roaring fire in Colorado right now, snuggled up tight with him while the snow falls outside. Instead? Here we are, dancing while some crazy guy makes plans."

"Hey. It's up to you to cross—Nikki. When she gets that look in her eye..." Frank chuckled. "And besides, did I say how awesome you've been over the past couple of days? You have some mad skills—Elizabeth."

George gave him a little mock bow. "Still feeling okay?"

"Yeah," he said, trying to sound nonchalant, but at the reminder of his wound she saw him cringe a little. "But I'd love some water. I think I might sit this one out, unless you'll be crushed."

George tilted her head. "I'll just have to sob quietly to myself," she told him. "But I think I'll manage."

Frank headed back to the table and George walked over to Joe and Bess. "Hey," she said, and Bess glanced over at her, her blue eyes low-lidded, her body pressed up against Joe's. "I have to go powder my nose or whatever."

Joe chuckled as Bess shot him an apologetic glance, and the cousins maneuvered through the crowd toward the bathroom. In front of the mirror Bess took a paper towel and blotted her glowing face.

"How are you two doing?" George asked, pretending to check her mascara.

"Good," Bess said, grinning. "Really good."

George sighed inside. "Definitely looks like it. ...So you, you feel good about this."

"Good about putting this lingerie to good use?" Bess's eyes sparkled wickedly.

George patted her cousin's shoulder. "Okay," she said warily.

Bess's smile faltered as her gaze met George's in the mirror. "Are you... what? What's wrong?"

George put a reassuring smile on her face. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong. I just... want you to know that if he hurts you, you come tell me."

Bess shook her head. "Oh, he's not going to hurt me. He isn't."

"We've both seen the way he is," George said, and didn't elaborate. Because they had, so many times.

Bess shrugged a little. "Yeah. I... I know. But it's not going to be like that."

"What if he thinks it is," George said quietly.

"He doesn't." Bess shot a sideways glance at her. "But if it'll make you feel better, I'll get him to sign something before we rip each other's clothes off."

"A preconjugal contract."

Bess giggled. "No looking at other girls or I have the right to scratch his eyes out."

"No Facebook stalking allowed."

"Speak for yourself," Bess said, and snorted. "Speaking of, how is... how's he doing?"

"Good," George said neutrally. "Well, I mean, not as good as you two, of course, but he's good."

Bess put her arm around George's waist and gave her a squeeze. "You know what you are due for tonight?" she asked, and when George shook her head, she continued. "Getting that guy out there drunk and screwing his brains out."

"Well, A, no, and B, can you imagine how fucking awkward it would be at breakfast tomorrow?"

"The fact that you're even thinking about B," Bess said, her eyes sparkling, "means you've thought about it."

"It's all these damn cooties the four of you are putting all over everything," George replied with a growl. "You're unattached. I don't like having 'Guess what happened when I was overseas' talks when I get back to the States. Unlike you two."

Bess stuck out her tongue. "Spoilsport."

George made a choked noise of disbelief. "Look," she said, sticking out her own tongue in return. "Let's make a deal. You stop playing Barbie with my life and you can pick out my lingerie when I get home."

Bess clapped. "Anything?"

"Almost anything," George told her. "I don't want Jon screaming in horror when he sees it."

"No," Bess agreed soberly. "You want him trying to rip it off you. With his teeth."

"Yeah," George sighed in agreement, although she felt a little internal shiver at the thought. She didn't really mind that idea at all.