"I'll get my lunch table and you can leave when you have to." She took his arm and led him to the dining room. More opulence that almost made his teeth ache. A smooth waiter led her to her reserved table,by the elbow, successfully leaving the other one to Gordon.

"I've seen the prices here and frankly I didn't picture you, as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, in this league. I mean considering your associates on the board."

"Clifford is filthy rich. He could probably buy this place out of his golf bets."

Gordon blinked. Rumours of Whyst's wealth had sounded like urban myths.

"Is he joining you?"

"God no. He's somewhere out there with the 'Guys', whacking his balls around some course or other."

Two coffees arrived magically and they avoided one another's eyes as they fixed them. Gordon took a deep breath and raised his cup. "To business."

"What kind?" She sipped her coffee and looked at him over the rim.

Don't, for God's sake say, monkey. "Did uh- did you send a letter to the Chicago couple?"

"Roger drafted some bafflegab that should see an end to it." Her eyes twinkled at his discomfort.

"Good. I wouldn't have given the jerk the time of day."

"Is that how you compete for free spending guests? Was that in your proposals to the Chamber?"

"One has to cull the wheat from the chaff."

"I see. So I can consider my Friday bookings as wheat?"

"Whole wheat. Nine grain." He grinned stupidly and drank his coffee. "Gotta go. Deb. Appointment." He started to rise and paused. "Oh- how much . . .?" he waved his hand over the coffee cup.

"On me. I'll get it back another time- another coffee." Her face pinked and they both stumbled with social inanities over his leaving.

Gordon sent showers of pink stone all over the green lawns as he rocketed down the long drive to the highway. Nine grain? What the hell was that? He swung onto the highway and raced back to his hotel just in time to change Deb's expression from grim annoyance to grim satisfaction.

"Did you get the pump?"

"Oh shit. I forgot."

"Forgot! That's what you went out for. What were you doing?"

"I dropped it off at Ryan's. It's probably ready now."

"Yeah, and?"

"And I drove out to check out the Palm. You should see this pl—"

"I have. I had lunch there with the girls."

"Lunch! At the Palm?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Did you rob a bank first?"

"They had an introductory special for the local business people. They wanted them to tout the place to all their customers."

"How come I didn't get to go?"

"It was through Grace's business, Gordon; she invited me along." A bothersome wave of her hand. "You must have been interested to stay so long and forget the pool pump."

"I had a coffee there with- and- and--"

"With whom?"

"Uh- I met Jean . . ."

Her face changed to a dark stormy grey and she slowly picked up her purse and left the office with a calm but very, very determined stride.

Gordon banged the side of his head with the heel of his hand. He swore at himself and then went out to see if Nita was still around. He found her in one of the rooms sitting on a bed watching a soap opera.

"Is this what I pay you for, Nita? C'mon, these rooms have to be ready for business."

She shut off the TV and started back to work, looking like a beaten slave.

"Listen for the phone for fifteen minutes will you, I have to go down town and pick up the pool pump. I don't want it on auto answer."

"You don't pay me to answer phones." Pout supreme.

"Oh for God's sake. I will today, okay? I'll give you- five bucks extra. Just answer the phone if it rings, I won't be long."

One gasket and a new housing later, Gordon was back at the hotel and down in the pool pump working when the phone rang. He stopped and listened as it kept ringing and then, swearing and promising devastation on his maid, he climbed out of the pit and ran to the office.

"Posada de Jardines."

"Hi, I just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed our coffee this morning."

He stared at the floor. What? "Oh. Okay. Me too."

"Yes. I was wondering if perhaps you could send me some photos of the rooms I booked. I'd like to show some other friends of mine. Who knows, I might be able to direct a few free spending clients your way."

"Uh sure. Sure. I can- do you have a computer I can e-mail them to you?"

"I do." She gave him her address, thanked him again, and then rang off.

He looked out the window and saw Nita chatting with one of the guests and he rapped on the glass several times before they told her someone wanted her.

"I thought you were going to get the phone."

"You came back. You said while you was out."

"Is the laundry done?"

"I'm just gonna start. It's a lotta work cleanin' all these rooms alone you know."

"Nita we only have two extra rooms rented. The long termers just get bedding and bathrooms done daily. Vacuuming is once a week for them. Before I hired you I did it all myself." Her face closed and she shot a hip as if to say, 'are you finished?' "Okay, I'm finished. Go and do the laundry, please."