Realizing she'd left everything in the suite, Grace paced the lobby of the hotel. She hadn't changed her clothes and wanted nothing more than a shower at the moment, but all of that would just have to wait for now.
The nerve of that guy! Thinking he can just manipulate me like that… Who the hell does he think he is? You know, not having eyes is a turn off…for most women and…Christ! What am I thinking? I need to stop thinking about him, period! O.K., not thinking…not thinking...I bet they were a really deep brown…Ah, Grace, knock it off!
She looked around and realized that she couldn't go anywhere looking how she did, or without any money – thank goodness for the included bar and food service at the hotel – so she spent some time down by the shore. As she let her feet dig into the sand, she had a thought – one she was more than eager to share with the horny agent upstairs. She rushed up through the lobby, then up to her floor…only then realizing that she hadn't taken her key with her.
"Shit," she mumbled. She could have, and probably should have, gone downstairs and explained her situation, but she was tired and feeling a bit lazy…and didn't want to forget what she had to say to Sands. She knocked and heard him groan. "Sands, let me in."
"Use your fucking key!" His tone was not what she had expected.
"I don't have it – it's in there with you."
"Well, I can't see the fucking door, so go and get another one!"
"You know what, Sands, you are positively annoying! I'm starting to wonder if Sands is really your last name or if you picked it! And you wanna know why? Because, when you go to the beach, sand can be really irritating, you know? It sticks into places that just drive you nuts and you just never seem to get rid of all of it until you're back at home and…" The door opened. Sands had hoped she'd rant enough to be able to follow her voice to the door.
It took you that long to think up some sort of retaliation?" Sands asked.
Grace was speechless – not because of what he'd said, but because of what he was wearing. "Pink is…a good color on you, Sands." He was standing before her in her knee-length, pink, satin robe.
Sands reached for Grace, pulled her into the room, and shut the door before anyone else could see him. "I couldn't find my stuff and…well, you just had to go and leave instead of admitting…"
Grace put her finger to his lips. "O.K., I'm sorry that I left you totally helpless…" I am? "…but you really crossed the line."
"Yeah well…how long were you gone?"
"About two hours."
"In that time, I realized that I shouldn't piss you off again – for a little while at least. I have to learn the layout of this place and…find clothes that aren't so feminine."
"So you're through with being a pig?"
"I will be," he smiled.
"Will be?"
Sands reached into the pocket of Grace's robe and pulled out a red, silk thong. "I don't have to see to figure out what this is."
Grace smiled. "And you'll never see me in it – live with that."
"True, but I know a bit more about you now. Tiny little silk panties…I bet you are an absolute tigress."
She rolled her eyes. "I just have to live with this for a week, don't I?"
"'Fraid so, Gracie."
"O.K., you know what? I will. I will put up with every remark, every innuendo, and every other little annoying thing you do…"
"You will? Uh, why?"
Grace's answer was simple. "To be better than you."
"Oo…ouch." He smiled. "Do you think you could find something a little more mine for me to put on?"
"Hmm…well, let me take a shower and we'll s…I'll help you."
Though he wouldn't admit it, Sands was so glad that she didn't finish saying "we'll see." "Not before?"
"You can wait." She took Sands' hand and guided him to the couch. She sat him down and put the T.V. remote in his hand. "Listen to something until I'm done, all right?"
Sands smiled. "You really are starting to care."
Grace shook her head. "Only as much as I have to."
"How 'bout a sponge bath when you're done?"
"And suddenly I care less." She left the room, a smile on her face. She turned on the shower and shed the skirt and top she had been wearing since early yesterday morning. She was more than glad when she stepped under the steaming stream of water. He has to be uncomfortable. He was out in that heat yesterday, then the hospital…Maybe I should…Helping him feel better isn't anything bad. I mean, I don't want to do it for the sake of doing it…I think…I hope. She finished her shower and – seeing as Sands was in her robe – she wrapped a towel around her body. She combed her hair, then went back out into the living room area. "Sands?"
He turned in the direction of her voice. "Yeah?"
"Um…" She sighed. "Are you feeling a bit…less than fresh?"
He laughed. He wanted to say, "Want to see me naked, huh?" but he bit it back…for now. "You're caring again."
"Just a little. Try not to get used to it."
Sands stood, his muscles very obviously aching. "So," he said, tugging at the belt of the robe, "should I drop this?"
"Um, no. Where exactly are your stitches?"
Sands took a minute to answer. "My left arm and both of my upper thighs. Being shot doesn't seem so bad considering…"
Grace interrupted him. "If I get some plastic to wrap around your thighs, we can get you in the tub."
"Oh, could we?"
"You'll be wearing trunks," Grace informed him.
"Don't have any."
"Convenient gift shop in the lobby."
"Damn." A thought then struck him and he smiled. "What are you wearing?"
She smiled back. "A towel." Realizing that it didn't much matter what she was wearing, she let the towel drop to the floor – knowing he'd hear it. "At least I was." She watched as Sands inhaled rather deeply.
His voice was breathy. "I was right about you."
"Are you sure I'm telling the truth?" He nodded. "Curious?"
"You have no idea."
She bit her lower lip. "Well, I'll just leave you alone with that thought while I get dressed and go back downstairs." She picked up her suitcase, went into the bedroom she chose as hers and got dressed. When she reemerged, she found Sands right where she had left him. "You all right?"
"Are you dressed?"
"Mm hm."
"Then I'm fine."
She walked over to him and touched his shoulder. "I will miss this on you."
Sands smiled. "You've only been around me for a day…and you're playing the game so well."
"I'm a quick study, Agent. Now, be a good boy and I'll be back in a few minutes."
"And if I'm bad?" he asked, suggestively.
"Then you keep that 'less than fresh' feeling for the week." She picked up her room key and left.
Sands stayed where he was, a smile plastered to his face. "Wicked woman…God, I love it."
***
Author's Note: So, how do you guys like it? I'm having a blast with this and I hope you're all enjoying it! Thanks for the reviews! Keep 'em coming, please!