Chapter 41

Sunday, April 11, 2004

1300 EST

Suite 1493

Ritz Carlton Hotel

Pensacola, Florida

They had just returned from the Sunday brunch buffet, and Mac was looking over the stack of books that AJ had bought for his namesake. She got to the last book in the pile and started laughing.

"What's so funny, Sarah?"

"You just bought every book you could find with Pooh in the title, didn't you?"

"Yes, something wrong with that?"

"Well, I somehow think this one might not be quite right for Little AJ," she handed him a thin book called the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.

He took it from her and read the description on the back cover, and began to chuckle too. "You're right! It sounds more like something I would enjoy."

"Really?" she asked a bit startled.

"You don't see me as the Taoist type?" he asked with a smile.

"Well, I have often wondered how you could remain so calm during some of the things that have gone on at work."

"You mean, in dealing with Harm?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Since I had thought of finding something for us to read together tonight, anyway, I think this will do. So do you want to eat out or order in before our foray into Pooh corner?" he asked with a smile.

"Lets order in, that way we won't have to dress up. Would you like to swim this afternoon?"

"Sure…Let you work up a REAL appetite!" AJ laughed, and ducked as she threw the pillow off the bed at him. "I think I will give Webb a call and see if he can arrange another meeting with Lore and see what is keeping our baby, darling," he told her.

"AJ, he said that we would hear when the girl went into labor. Are you getting restless here with me?"

"No," he lied. Well, it wasn't really a lie he wasn't restless. He was horny as hell! After making arrangements to meet Webb at the pool in an hour, AJ informed Mac that they would need to make sure they were alone before talking to him.

"I know, basic spook class 101!" she laughed.

They put on their suits and robes and then headed for the pool to meet Webb. Once there, they swam a few laps before the spy arrived, looking much better than the last time they had seen him. After making sure that no one else was around, the three of them sat on the edge of the pool to talk.

"Boy, Clay, you look one hundred percent better!" Mac told him.

"Yeah, whatever that stuff was that you gave me was amazing! It took the heat out the burn right away-and by the next morning the red was gone. I'm not even peeling like I usually do with a burn like that!"

"Great! Glad to hear it," she replied.

"What was that stuff? I would really like to get some more to have it on hand for the next time I get a sunburn."

"I have no idea what it was, but we got it at this little out of the way shop called Rose's Aromatherapy," and Mac explained how to get there. "Tell Ms. Bea hi for us!"

"Yeah, and Dora too!" AJ grinned evilly at Clay. He was hoping that the cat would bite him too! Then he explained to Webb that he wanted him to set up another meeting with Lore to find out how things were going and if they had a little more definite idea on when the Bayers might be able to have their baby. Clay agreed to try and set up the meeting and then left them to do some more swimming before heading back to the room and dinner followed by a night of reading to each other.

Mac was still not sure that she would like that, but AJ had won the bet and she had agreed to his terms. She was just waiting for her next win before telling him what she had in mind for her prize! She had always wanted to try parasailing and had seen a brochure for it at the hotel info counter. AJ was sure to love that! NOT! She giggled at just the thought.

To be continued….