Grand Passion

that right?”
    Quinton rose to his feet. He held the drum discreetly in front of himself. “Don't let her intimidate you,” he said to Max. “You are a man. It's time to get in touch with your own maleness. You must reach down inside yourself and discover the strength of the warrior who resides within you.”
    Cleo swung around once more and confronted her unwanted guest. “I do not want to hear another word out of you, Mr. Quinton. I took you in tonight out of the goodness of my heart when you and your group showed up on my doorstep. You begged me for shelter, and this is the thanks I get.”
    “We were not begging for shelter,” one of the seated men said in a disgruntled tone. “We could have spent the night on the beach.”
    “Then why didn't you?” Cleo demanded.
    “Because we didn't feel like it,” one of the other men declared.
    “No kidding? What's the matter?” Cleo asked. “Were all you macho, manly warriors afraid of a little rain?”
    Max's hands descended firmly on Cleo's shoulders. “I think this is degenerating into a farce.” He turned her around and marched her out of the door. “Take yourself off, boss. I'll handle this.”
    “You do that. I'll go make sure we've got all their credit card numbers before they leave tonight. We're billing them for a full night's lodging. And breakfast, too, even though they won't be here to eat it.”
    Max smiled. “Good night, Cleo.”
    Cleo ground her teeth and started back down the hall. Behind her Quinton began to beat his drum. She could not recall when she had been so incensed. She rounded the corner and stormed into the lobby. She was just in the mood to chew George out for dereliction of duty.
    A familiar figure came out of the office. He had a key in his hand.
    “Hi, Cleo,” Ben said sheepishly. He held up the key. “George was asleep, so I helped myself. I was going to go on upstairs to my room. What are you doing up?”
    Cleo instantly forgot about Tobias Quinton and the nude warriors in the solarium. She stared at Ben in delight.
    “Benjy—I mean, Ben —you're home!”
    “Yeah.”
    “It's so good to see you again.” Cleo ran forward and hugged him. “We've been so worried about you.”
    “Sorry for getting in so late. I just sort of decided to get into my car and start driving.” Ben hugged her back a little awkwardly. “I probably should have waited until morning, huh?”
    “Absolutely not.” Cleo released him and stepped back. “This is your home. You were right to come straight here. Wait until Trisha finds out you're back.”
    “Yeah.” Ben looked down at the key in his hand. “You think she'll be mad at me? I didn't mean to hurt her. I just needed to think things over, you know?”
    Cleo smiled. “She's going to be very happy to see you, Ben. She knows that you got scared when she told you about the baby.”
    Ben flushed. “Yeah. Well, I guess she was probably even more scared. Max said that it was easier to be scared together than alone.”
    Cleo tilted her head slightly to one side. “Max said that?”
    Ben nodded. “He said Trisha needs me. He said the baby is going to need me, too, even though I don't know nothin' about being a father.”
    “He's right. Ben, I'm so glad you came home.”
    “Is that you, Ben?” Max called impatiently from the hallway behind Cleo.
    “Yes, sir.” Ben's voice held an unmistakable edge of respect. He glanced past Cleo to where Max was standing in the shadows. “I'm back.”
    “So I see.” Max's eyes gleamed with silent approval. “Good timing. I was about to wake George and ask him to give me a hand, but something tells me you'll be more useful than George.”
    Ben straightened his shoulders. “What do you want me to do?”
    “Cover my back while a guy named Tobias Quinton and I play a couple of hands of poker. I don't think there will be any cheating, but you can never tell.”
    Cleo snapped out of her short-lived good mood. “Poker? What are you talking about?”
    “Relax, Cleo.” Max smiled blandly. “Quinton and I have reached an agreement. We're going to settle this matter in a manly fashion. If I win, the warriors will go peacefully upstairs to bed.”
    Cleo was outraged. “What happens if you lose?”
    “Then they get to drum and chant until dawn.”
    Cleo was flabbergasted. “This is insane. You might lose.”
    “Don't worry.” Max winked solemnly. “I won't lose. Trust me.”
    Cleo wanted to scream. “Who came up with this stupid idea?”
    “I