Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 51803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
“See any dealing going on, partner?” Valenti asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He was half amused and half dismayed to see the slow, red flush creeping into his partner’s throat and cheeks. When was the last time anything had made O’Brian blush? Valenti couldn’t remember.
“Not ... ah ... not the kind of deals I was lookin’ for,” his partner admitted, scowling. “Just ...” He cleared his throat. “Just a bunch of guys doin’ ... a bunch of stuff.”
“Doing each other” is probably more like it. But Valenti didn’t say it out loud. He sighed and went over to sit on the bed. “Well, did you find anything out at all before those lugs caught you wandering around ‘without a sponsor’?”
“I cased the joint pretty well, actually.” O’Brian grinned at him and sauntered over to lean against one of the elaborately carved bedposts, crossing his arms over his chest. “As Turk would say, it’s op-u-lent. They got an Olympic-sized swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, dining hall, pool room, library, and several lounges -- don’t think I saw all of them. It’s like a regular city in here -- completely self contained. But, Valenti, you know the weirdest thing?”
“What’s that?”
“No women anywhere.” O’Brian shook his head at the abysmal lack. “I didn’t even see any in the kitchen or dining area. This whole resort is male only -- even the maids are guys. I tell ya, it’s weird.”
“Weird ...” Valenti echoed. He wasn’t surprised that O’Brian had an eye out for girls and was disappointed at not finding any. His partner had always been a ladies’ man. “It’s probably a good thing,” he pointed out. “You start putting the make on some hottie, even if she was just the help, it would blow a big hole in our cover.”
O’Brian looked offended. “Hey, give me some credit, Nick; I know what we’re here for.” O'Brian sidled over to the side of the bed and sat by his partner, brushing Valenti’s thigh with his own. “I know I’m supposed to be your exclusive property.” His hand drifted to Valenti’s knee and gave it a provocative squeeze. The warmth of his palm seemed to go straight to Valenti’s groin.
“Cut it out.” Valenti pushed his partner’s hand off his knee impatiently, angry at O’Brian’s use of his own hasty words and his body’s reaction to the other man’s touch. “Quit clowning around, would you? This is serious business.”
“Hey, I am being serious,” his partner protested, getting angry in turn. “I’m tryin’ to keep in character here, Valenti. Remember what Twonnie said -- if they don’t buy our act, then we’re screwed. Maybe literally. And I don’t think either one of us was doing a very good job selling to thing one and thing two at the door there.” He nodded at the solid oak door and frowned.
“I know I wasn’t very smooth back there.” Valenti shook his head, feeling defeated. “It’s this whole situation, Sean -- it’s just got me rattled. I hardly know how to act ...”
“Don’t worry about it, partner. Just follow my lead.” O’Brian patted him on the knee again, and this time Valenti didn’t push his partner’s hand away. He wondered why O’Brian felt so damn confident acting like they were in a gay relationship, while he himself could barely manage. He was basically being given a chance to act exactly the way he wished he could toward his partner, and he was blowing it big time; whereas O’Brian was coming across as the perfect gay twinkie. Probably because Valenti was too emotionally invested, and to O’Brian, it was all just an act. Just another undercover assignment.
“I don’t know, O’Brian. What if we have to ... do things?” It was something he had avoided talking about in the week preceding the assignment, but now Valenti felt it couldn’t be ignored any longer. Despite Twonnie’s warning, he had managed to make himself believe that he and O’Brian would be able to get away with just standing close to each other and looking possessive. Now that they were actually inside the RamJack, behind its forbidding black doors, he found that he couldn’t so easily fool himself.
“What if we have to ... I don’t know ... kiss each other?” he asked, feeling as awkward as a teenager on his first date. Surely his partner would deny the likelihood of such a scenario and tell him not to be silly. But O’Brian surprised him again.
“We’ll do it,” O’Brian said calmly. “We’ll do whatever it takes to nail this bastard Conrad.” He turned and gave his partner a quick kiss on the cheek as if to prove his point. “See, that’s not so bad, is it?”
“That’s not the kind of kiss I’m worried about,” Valenti muttered, reaching up to touch the place on his cheek O’Brian had kissed. It tingled, and his whole face felt hot, as though he’d been branded. He reflected that maybe he should get over his shock at O’Brian’s apparent change of heart and just accept his partner’s willingness to do anything it took to get this particular job done.