Red Lily

wouldn’t mind.” Holding the robe up like a cape, she swirled once more. “I think it’d be sexy if we took naked pictures of each other. Then when I’m old, and all brittle and wrinkled up, I’d look at myself and remember being young.”
    She bounced onto the bed. “You got any naked pictures of yourself?”
    “Not so far.”
    “Look at you.” She tickled his knee. “You’re embarrassed.”

    “Not entirely.” Oh yeah, he thought, she was fascinating. “You got any?”
    “Never trusted anybody enough before. And I’ve got this bony build. But you didn’t seem to mind it.”
    “I think you’re beautiful.”
    He meant it, and wasn’t that a miracle? She could see it in his eyes. She’d felt it in his touch. “I feel beautiful tonight.” She rose, wrapping the white robe around her. “All plush and lush and decadent.”
    “Let’s order dessert.”
    She stopped twirling. “Dessert? But it’s almost two in the morning.”
    “They have this amazing invention called twenty-four-hour room service.”
    “All night? I’m such a rube. But I don’t care.” She plopped back down on the bed. “Can we eat it up here? In bed?”
    “The rules attached to twenty-four-hour room service are if you order after midnight, you’re required to eat in bed. Naked.”
    She grinned wickedly. “Rules are rules.”
    They lay belly-down, facing each other, with a plate of chocolate-soaked cake between them.
    “Probably going to be sick,” she said as she ate another mouthful. “But it’s so good.”
    “Here.” He stretched out an arm, managed to grab one of the glasses on the floor. “Wash it down.”
    “I can’t believe you ordered another bottle of champagne.”
    “You can’t do naked chocolate cake without champagne. It’s declassé.”
    “If you say so.” She drank, then forked up more cake and held it out for him. “You know . . .” She wagged the fork at him. “On the date-o-meter you’re going to have to go a ways to top this one. I don’t think I can settle foranything less than, oh, a wild weekend in Paris or maybe a quick jet to Tuscany to make love in a vineyard.”
    “How about a sun-and-sex-soaked sojourn to Bimini.”
    “Sex-soaked sojourn.” She gave a tipsy giggle. “Say that five times fast.” On a moan, she rolled over to her back. “If I eat another bite, I believe I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
    “Can’t have that.” He set the plate aside. Then easing forward, closed his mouth over hers in a lingering upside-down kiss.
    “Mmm.” She rubbed her lips together when he lifted his head. “You taste very potent.”
    “Got a nice chocolate high going here.”
    She smiled as he slid down to her, as his hands trailed over her breasts, her torso, her belly. Then gasped when his lips nibbled away.
    “Oh my God, Harper.”
    “I forgot to mention this part of late-night dessert.” He shifted, reached out. Swirling a finger through cream and chocolate, he smeared it lightly onto her breast. “Oops. I’d better get that off.”
    S HE FELT SO smug and cosmopolitan, stepping out of the elevator into the lobby with her overnight bag. It was nearly noon, and she was just wandering into the day. She’d had breakfast in bed. The fact was, she thought, she’d had about everything in bed that was available in the State of Tennessee.
    She imagined even her toenails were glowing as a result.
    “I’m going to check out.” He nipped a little kiss on her lips. “Why don’t you sit down?”
    “I’m going to walk around. Look at everything. And I want to pick up a few things in the gift shop.”

    “Be right back.”
    She let out a happy sigh. She wanted to remember everything. The people, the fountain, the tidy bellmen, the shiny displays of art and jewelry.
    She bought a little quacking duck for Lily, and a silver frame as a thank-you gift for Roz. Then there were the sweet duck-shaped soaps, and the pretty yellow cap that would look so cute on Lily. And . . .
    “No man in his right mind turns his back on a woman in a gift shop,” Harper said from behind her.
    “I can’t help it. Everything’s so pretty. No,” she said when she saw him reach for his wallet. “I’m getting these.” She set all her items on the counter, then picked up a canister once it was rung up. “This is for you.”
    “Duck soap?”
    She inclined her head. “To commemorate our stay. We had the best time,” she told the clerk.
    “I’m glad you enjoyed the hotel. Are