“Would you like to meet my parents?”

Ms. Harshwhinny asks me suddenly. Meet her parents? Me? I don’t know what to say. I was just walking into the room to give her last minute details about this weekend’s Equestria Games Gala event. What the finalized food menu looks like, the guest list, and that her dress is ready for pick up. Asking if I would like to meet her parents is throwing me off guard in the worst way.

“Umm….when?” I finally respond after what felt like over a minute of silence.

“Tonight. This will be the only chance we’ll have for a while.” Right, since we’re leaving Manehattan the day after tomorrow, that does make sense.

“Do they…you know…do they know that we’re…”

“No. I admit to mentioning you a couple times. Maybe if they meet you, and if they like you…perhaps I could tell them about us.”

“Are you…”

“Yes, I’m sure I can trust them.” she interrupts in a stern tone “I trust them with my life. They will never endanger my career or yours.”

“Actually, I was going to ask if you’re okay. Your muzzle is a bit red.”

“Huh?” Ms. Harshwhinny crosses her eyes to see that her muzzle is indeed red. On cue, she lets out a loud sneeze. Not one to leave her hanging, I produce a handkerchief from my pocket in case of handkerchief emergencies. “Thank you.” she nods, blowing her nose into than handkerchief. She can keep it. “Yes, I’ll be fine. It’s just a minor cold. I broke the fever last night, so it should be on its way out.”

“Okay.” I smile and nod. “All that aside, I’d be honored to meet your parents.”

“Good. When it’s time to leave, we can head out.” Finally, she notices the stack of papers in my hand. “What is that?”

“It’s the final details for the Equestria Games Gala.”

“Ah, give them here.” I hand them to her. “Appreciated. You may go now.”

“Ma’am.” I say, taking my leave from the office. So, I’m going to meet her parents tonight. I can only imagine what they are like. Are they like Ms. Harshwhinny? Are they stern but caring? What if they’re the exact opposite? What if they’re bouncy and crazy? That would be weird. Actually, the weirdest thing would be if they were completely normal. I guess I’m going to find out in a few hours.

Clouds form in the sky as Ms. Harshwhinny drives into a neighborhood a few miles outside of Manehattan. It’s a nice and peaceful neighborhood, that is a pretty sizable contrast to the city that’s miles away. Flowing trees and clean streets illuminated by lamps for anyone out for a nightly walk, it reminds me of my old home back on Earth. The ride over here was fairly quiet; I can tell that Ms. Harshwhinny is nervous about the meeting. Her palms have gripped the steering wheel ever since we left, and I can see a trace of sweat on it. My instincts are telling me to place my hand on her lap, but she seems simultaneously focused yet lost in thought, that I don’t want to startle her.

We get to the end of the street, where Ms. Harshwhinny parks in the driveway of a brown, two story house, with an olive tree in the front, and a small flower garden by the porch. We get out of the car, and go up the steps to the front door. I look at Ms. Harshwhinny, and see her palms shake; hesitating to knock on the door. I’m knocking on it.

KNOCK KNOCK

Ms. Harshwhinny looks sharply at me, not out of annoyance, but of surprise.

“Sorry.” I say sheepishly.

“It’s fine. I’m…”

“I know. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“I hope they like you.”

“Me too.”

Within moments, the door swings open, revealing a rugged looking stallion with a brown coat of fur, bright green eyes, and such an intimidatingly built figure, that I’m certain that he lifts eighteen wheeler trucks every morning. However, his face doesn’t resemble that of someone looking to chew on cans of spinach, but of a happy and enthusiastic father. He pulls in Ms. Harshwhinny for a hug, and that nervousness from her drifts away into an amused smile.

“Violet! It’s so nice to see you, honey!”

Wait a second…Violet? Her first name is Violet? Damn, just hearing her first name so off handedly makes me feel stupider than I already do. How could I have not asked for her first name for the entire time I have been her assistant, and especially when we’ve been seeing each other? What’s even more amazing is that none of the documents that she signed or were addressed to her, nor the various clients, ever referred to her by her first name.

Documents sent to her. Ms. Harshwhinny. Her signature. Ms. Harshwhinny. What her clients call her. Ms. Harshwhinny. I always figured that she had a first name, but she has been known as Ms. Harshwhinny for some time, that I even briefly thought her name was just Ms.

Violet, huh? It’s a nice name. Makes sense, too, since her outfit color of choice is violet.

“And this is the assistant I’ve heard so much about?” the stallion lets go of Ms. Harshwhinny, and looks to me. He stretches out a hand for a shake. I shake his hand. He has a strong grip. “Slewhoof, nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” I smile.

“Where are my manners? Come in, the both of you. Your Mom’s making dinner.” Slewhoof points at me “You like cobb salad?”

“Yeah. It’s good.” I nod.

“Good. That’s what we’re having. No olives, though. Nasty taste. No matter how much I try it, I can’t stand it.”

Ms. Harshwhinny and I walk into the house. It looks even nicer than the outside. Superbly made carpets, a tranquil fire place, paintings of lush scenery, and that’s just the living room. We get to the dining room, where there’s a spacious wooden table; wonderfully crafted and smooth, with four plates ready for us. I can’t help but feel a little touched. The last time we went to someone’s house, I didn’t have a plate setting waiting for me.

“Sit, sit.” Slewhoof motions for us to sit down. We do. “Good, I’ll go get your Mother.” he smiles and heads to the kitchen.

I run my hand on the table, feeling its smooth surface. It’s also nice and shiny, with the reflection of the fan light above us giving off a heavenly gleam.

“This is nice.” I say. I see Ms. Harshwhinny’s hands clenching in nervousness. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.”

“I hope so.” she looks down at her hands “Why am I the one being nervous? You should be more nervous than me.”

“I am, but I’m more surprised that your name is Violet.”

“I…” she blushes, then smiles “…I should have told you myself. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s a pretty name. It suits you.”

“Because you think I’m pretty?” she teasingly asks.

“That, and you always wear violet.”

“Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Well, if you decide to use my name, it will only be for personal use. Don’t use it when we’re in public. Don’t even think about my true name when we’re at work.”

“Of course, Violet.”

“Shush, it’s Ms. Harshwhinny still.”

Just then, Slewhoof comes out, with a mare close behind him, carrying a massive bowl full of cobb salad. It looks delicious. It’s got chopped hard boiled eggs, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, corn and tofu. It makes sense that there’s no chicken or bacon. The stallions and mares of this world rarely eat the stuff. I’ve seen them eat chicken sometimes, but I’m told that it holds no nutritional value for them.

Even though humans in Equestria still eat meat, they leave the livestock of this realm alone, and import what they have from Earth, with the exception being cows. Since there are cows in Equestria that talk, Humans are not allowed to eat cow. I’ve eaten chicken or pork on some occasion, but since it’s imported, it costs more, so I’ve stuck to vegetables, falafel, and tofu.

The mare holding the bowl and currently setting it down is quite easy on the eyes. She’s an Earth Pony, with a long blonde mane, a light orange coat, and a slender figure. I can see where Ms. Harshwhinny gets her looks from. She looks up at me with a smile. “Hello.” she says. Her accent is familiar. It sounds French. “I’m Metier, Violet’s mother.” Well, French accent, French name. There’s a France equivalent in Equestria. What’s it called? Oh, wait, Metier is reaching her hand out for a shake. I shake it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Metier. Am I saying it right?”

“Yes, thank you.” she chuckles “Sorry if my accent is a bit thick. I’m from Prance.”

“No need to apologize, I can hear you clearly.” I smile. Prance. That’s kind of clever. I look down at the food. “This looks delicious.”

“No need for flattery, it’s just salad.” Metier waves me off.

“I’m serious. Salad looks so plain most of the time, but this looks fantastic.”

“Oh, my.” Metier blushes, looking to Ms. Harshwhinny. “Where did you find this gentleman?”

“At my company.” Ms. Harshwhinny chuckles, taking a scoop of salad to put on her plate. The rest of us follow suit and fill our plates up. I take a bite into the salad, making sure to get some egg and tomato on there. I was right, it tastes as delicious as it looks.

“So…” Slewhoof addresses me, “What did you do, before you became Violet’s assistant?”

“You mean, when I was working at the company, or back on Earth?”

“You can start with Earth, if you’d like.”

“On Earth, I was a copy guy working for a news publication. It wasn’t very extravagant, but it paid well. Working here, I had the same job title, but it was an internship at first, and then I started getting paid again after a month.”

“What made you want to be Violet’s assistant?”

“Being able to go to the Equestria Games for free was a pretty good perk.” I chortle, and the others chuckle alongside me. “But, I also wanted to try something new. I’m pretty good with handling schedules and memorization, so I thought that it would be a good opportunity for me.”

“Considering how much Violet talks about you, I’d say you’re doing a good job.” Metier nods her head.

“How…” I look at Ms. Harshwhinny, who is trying to hide her blush, “How often do you talk about me?”

“Frequently.” Slewhoof answers for her with a laugh, “To be fair, we ask about you frequently, after she praised you so heavily the first time around. Every time she came here, one of the big things we were wondering was ‘how’s Ms. Harshwhinny’s faithful assistant doing.’”

“It felt less like questioning, and more like interrogations, Dad.” Ms. Harshwhinny replies with snark “I’m not one of your perps.”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic sweetie.” he looks back at me “I used to be a Detective for the Manehattan Police Department. If you feel that I’m getting too personal, feel free to let me know.” I answer him with a nod, as I have a mouth full of salad. “So, tell me, how is the fearsome Ms. Harshwhinny as a boss?”

“Dad…” Ms. Harshwhinny protests, “Can we talk about this later?”

“No, it’s fine.” I assure her. I’m not going to slip up and hint about our true relationship. “Ms. Harshwhinny is probably the most demanding boss I’ve every had.” Both Slewhoof and Metier lean in. “She’s strict and stern…but that’s a good thing.”

“Oh, really?” Metier asks with interest.

“Yeah. She’s always demanding for perfection, and wants nothing more than everyone to act with a degree of professionalism, but I understand that. Being part of such a big event as the Equestria games, everything has to be nothing short of perfect. However, as tough as she is, it never comes off as unwarranted, and she praises those around her that do a great job. I’ve seen it happen with others, along with myself, of course. I think that she’s tough…but fair.”

Slewhoof and Metier sit back, taking in what I said. Slewhoof looks serious, glancing back and forth at me and Ms. Harshwhinny. Moments pass, and Slewhoof lets out an amused chuckle, and a wide smile.

“Can’t ask for anything better than that.” he says “You got a good catch, Violet.”

“That’s why I brought him here. I finally got a good assistant.” Ms. Harshwhinny laughs with such cuteness, that I’m just about close to grabbing her and kissing her. Keep control of yourself, man!

We all chat amongst ourselves for what feels like hours, even though in actuality, only one hour passes by. By the end of our conversations, the bowl of salad is completely empty, and we all feel full. Not bloated, mind you, that’s a terrible feeling, but a feeling of satisfaction. Slewhoof breaks our relaxed quiet with a burp, which causes Ms. Harshwhinny to glow red with embarrassment, but a smile forms on her face soon after.

“I suppose I’ll clean up the dishes.” Metier says, picking up our plates. “Violet, can you bring the bowl to the kitchen?”

“Of course.” Ms. Harshwhinny nods, taking the bowl. She follows Metier into the kitchen, and the door closes, blocking me from seeing what’s going on on the other side.

Slewhoof stands up, walking towards the living room. He turns around, and looks to me with a grin.

“Come on, I want to show you something.”

“Really? What?”

“Something I think you’ll like.”

Well, if it’s something I’ll like, I can’t possibly refuse. I get up and follow Slewhoof into the living room. We walk past the well decorated area, and to the stairs, where we climb upwards. On the walls are pictures of Ms. Harshwhinny and her parents at different points in time. I see her as a little filly, which is extremely adorable, and her as a teenager, where she begins to obtain her good looks of today. I spot a photo of her at her high school graduation, where she has the widest smile I’ve ever seen from her. It’s such a stunning and disarming smile, that I’m surprised I haven’t seen it yet.

Slewhoof and I walk down the hall, where I see more pictures, which consists of Ms. Harshwhinny as a baby, and I can’t help but smile at the pictures. I notice that Slewhoof has been making glances at me. I’m sure he notices that I’m staring at the pictures. I wonder what he’s going to show me.

We finally make it to a brown door, which Slewhoof opens with little fanfare, revealing what I can only describe as some kind of Detective’s office. Newpaper articles of Slewhoof’s accomplishments decorate the walls, alongside various pictures he’s taken with political figures, including the Princesses! Wow, he must have been a big deal back when he was a detective if the Princesses wanted a picture with him. At the end of the room is a glass case, which houses his shiny and pristine badge. It doesn’t look much different than police badges on Earth, but very nice all the same.

“Wow…” I exhale.

“That’s not my actual badge. Just a gold replica as a retirement present. If I actually had that badge while walking around Manehattan, I’d have a few goons after me for some quick bucks.”

“They’d probably get a good beating, though.” I say “You look like you could have taken them.”

“Good point.” he chuckles. “Have a seat, son.” He points to one of the two chairs in the room. One is something befitting a king, while the other is a normal rolling black chair, with the two separated by a large desk. I naturally pick the rolling black chair, because not only does the kingly chair appear to be exclusive to Slewhoof, but rolling chairs are fun. Slewhoof sits in the kingly chair, naturally, and places his palms on the desk; patting the wood like a drum. “I’m happy that you’re doing well at Violet’s company. I’m not kidding when I say she speaks highly of you.”

“Thank you, sir.” I nod with appreciation.

“This is also the happiest I’ve seen my daughter in a long while. The last time I’ve seen her like this was when she became that head of the Equestria Games. Don’t let her age fool you, she’s actually been in her position for quite some time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. She was always a gifted student, from elementary school to college. Her knowledge and genius were something to be proud of. She did have a bit of trouble when it came to writing essays, though. The intellect was there, but when it came to coherence, we had to help out a little bit. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“I’ve had to proofread a few contracts and e-mails, I admit, but she has improved.”

“That’s good to hear, and it’s kind of you to help out. I’m sure you realize that with such intelligence, she got a lot of attention. Some less…desirable than others.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Was she bullied?” Picturing Ms. Harshwhinny being bullied makes me more than a little uncomfortable.

“Nothing like that, thankfully. Aside from a couple of jealous students, nothing escalated beyond that.” That’s good to hear. I calm down a bit. “No, I’m talking more about…relationships.”

“Oh…” This gets me interested, though I’m not sure why he’s bringing this up to me. “What happened?”

“During her college years, there was a colt that was interested in her. Violet assumed that he wanted to date her, and they went on a couple of get togethers. However, she soon found out that he was only dating her so she could do his work.”

“That’s pretty crappy of him to do.”

“Yeah. She found out rather quickly, and dumped him. However, when she became head of the Equestria Games, it got worse.”

“What happened then?”

“Ponies were hoping that if they were to, quote-on-quote, hook up with the powerful Ms. Harshwhinny, they would somehow get a boost in their careers. Promotions, letters of recommendations, and the like. It wasn't just stallions, it was mares too. Our Violet was too smart for that, and did away with them. However…there was one stallion. He was the worst of them all. He strung her along for over a year; acting like he loved her, and she loved him. She thought she found the one, but…”

“He was using her for his own gain…”

“Worse than that. She was what you’d call a notch under his belt. She found out he had other mares groveling at his feet. She was just one of many. Imagine that. My Violet, nothing but a plaything to this jerk.”

“I can think of stronger words to describe him, sir.” Hearing that is making my blood boil.

“I’m sure you can. You humans have quite the inventive vocabulary.” His eyes look me up and down. I think he realizes how agitated I was about that story. “From then on, she swore off love. It broke my heart to see her like that. When she was a filly, she would love those old school fairy tales with the handsome prince, happily ever after and all that. That stallion killed whatever romance she had in her heart.” Suddenly, his eyes narrow at me, staring into me like how a Father would stare at his Daughter's prom date. It’s a look I’ve seen before, and my stomach tightens in an instant. Oh, shit. Does he know? “Until you.”

Oh, shit! He knows!

“Sir, I…” I try to speak, but he raises his hand to stop me.

“How long has this been going on?” he asks in a calm manner, but his eyes still intimidate the hell out of me.

“About a month.” I admit to him. “We’ve been together since Hearts and Hooves Day.”

“Oh, I thought you’ve been together for longer than that. The way she talked about you, I assumed you’ve been dating for nearly a year.”

“No. I mean, I’ve had feelings for her for quite some time, but I didn’t get the courage to ask her out until…”

“So, your feelings are genuine.” There’s relief in his voice, but a twinge of doubt is still there.

“Sir, I’m not like those other ponies. I’ve never thought of her as a plaything or a conquest. She’s…she’s….” thinking about her makes me smile, making me say “…she’s wonderful.” like I’m exhaling it out. “When we’re at the office, she’s how you think she’d be. She’s tough, she’s uncompromising, a genius, but most of all, she’s a professional. When it’s just us, she’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. She’s kind, she’s loving, and she’s a huge dork like me sometimes. We went to see Wonder Mare a couple weeks ago, and she and I had on a T-Shirt with the logo on the front.”

“She did?” Slewhoof asks with a laugh, “She did like her comics when she was younger.”

“Believe me when I say that I have no intention of hurting your daughter. I…I don’t have any intention of letting her go, either. She’s…special.”

“Yes, she is.” Slewhoof nods in understanding. He stands from his chair, looking me dead in the eyes. “I can see you care for her. Your tone strikes me as the kind of man willing to do anything for her.”

“Yes, sir. Anything.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m glad she’s found somepony…or someone, in your case…to be happy with. I just have one small request.”

“Of course.”

“If…for whatever reason…this doesn’t work out…it has to be amicable. If you break her heart, I’ll break a chair over your head. Deal?”

He said that in such a cold tone, that I have no choice but to freeze up at his utterance. I’m no slouch, but he looks like the kind of stallion that could break my spine by just stepping on it with little force on his end. I don’t think this relationship will end, I sure hope it doesn’t. I can’t even think about what could happen if we are separated. However, one thing is for sure, whatever happens, it’ll be amicable.

“Deal.”

Now that we’re alone together, I suppose it’s appropriate to use Ms. Harshwhinny’s name. Violet and I are back on the road, heading to Manehattan. The clouds earlier have gotten darker, and little drops of rain splash on the car. Violet is quiet, and so am I. The rest of the visit went well, with all of use capping the evening off with some dessert. Apple pie a la mode. Delicious. We said our goodbyes, while Slewhoof and I shared one last knowing glance. He has his eyes on me, and I don’t blame him.

However, Violet is being awful quiet. From the look on her face, she appears to be as she was on our trip over; deep in thought. I’m tempted to break the silence, to ask what’s wrong and…

“So, Mom knows.” Violet breaks the silence before I could.

“So does your Dad.” I say right after.

“I never could keep anything from them, especially Dad." she scoffs "Silly of me to think I could hide something from a former detective.”

“What did your Mom say?”

“She was upfront. The moment we started washing dishes, she asked how long we were seeing each other. What did my Father say?”

“We made some small talk, and then he started talking about your past relationships.”

“Oh…” Violet says in a sad tone, “I…how much did he say?”

“He told me enough. Violet, I…”

“Don’t say you’re sorry. You don’t need to. They were my mistakes.”

“You know I can’t help it.”

“I know you can’t, but please. I should have told you about them.”

“No, I get it. They were jerks, and that’s me being nice.”

“Don’t be nice.”

“Okay, I think they were fucking assholes. To treat you like that. I hope you clocked them over the head with a paperweight.”

“That’s better.” she nods. “I didn’t, but I should have.” Violet glances at me with a smirk, “I never knew you have a vicious side. I like it.”

“I’m a master of the rifle. Just say the word, Violet, and I’ll get them.”

“There’s no need for that.” she chuckles, “But the sentiment is nice. Thank you.”

“I’ll never do that to you. I’m not with you for personal gain. I’m with you because I love you.”

“I…I know that.” she blushes “You don’t need to tell me. Just looking at you lets me know your intentions with me. Still, hearing you say that…It’s nice.” Violet sees that it’s raining a bit heavier as we get closer to Manehattan. “Hmmm, it’s starting to pour. May I make a request?”

“What’s that?”

“Your apartment is closer. Can I stay there for tonight?”

“Are you sure? It’s not as classy as yours.”

“That doesn’t matter to me. I’d like to see where you live. Truth be told, I’ve never been to a bachelor pad before.”

“Really? Well, in that case, make a…”

“Make a left at the first light. Yes.”

“Wait, do you know where I live?”

“Of course. You put your address in your resume.”

“Oh, right.”

The two of us step inside my apartment. The good news is that I always keep it clean. The bad news is that it’s a bit small compared to Violet’s place. Violet looks around the apartment, seeing that the bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room are not too far from one another. She’s not showing disgust, but a bit of confusion.

“Well…” she speaks “It sure is…something.”

“You hate it.”

“N-No! N-No!” she stammers a bit “I’m not saying that. It just…are you sure I pay you enough?”

“Violet, we’ve been over this.”

“I know, but I have to make sure. If you feel that I’m not paying you enough, just say the word. I’ll give you a raise. Twenty…thirty percent more. Tell me!”

“It’s okay!” I put my hands on her shoulders with a chuckle “I’m telling you the truth. I have enough bits in my account to buy an apartment like yours.”

“Are your sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Please, there’s no need for this.”

Violet takes a deep breath. Her panicked tone is both amusing, but also worrisome. Knowing that she cares about my well being is sweet, but I can see it has made her stressed. After a few deep breaths, she looks back at me, and then looks away again with a scoff and a blush.

“Look at me.” she silent says “I’m older than you, but here I am, acting like some kind of lovestruck filly.”

“You’re not that much older.”

“That’s not the point. I should be the more mature one. A mare in my position needs to handle situations with delicate care, but you…you’ve made me…” she’s struggling to get the next word out, until… “…unprofessional.” I try my hardest not to chuckle at the cuteness of what she said. “How did you do it? You’ve had feelings for me for a long time, but I never guessed it. How did you hide it for so long?”

“I was like you. I held it together for the most part. There was some unavoidable moments, like when I got…excited seeing you in Appleloosa, but I knew that the job had to come first.”

“That’s…admirable of you. Celestia only knows how I managed to keep it together until now.”

“Were your feelings really that strong?”

“Of course they were. Do you know how rare it is for me to see somepony or someone who wasn’t afraid of me? Everypony I’ve ever met was afraid of me in someway or another, and those who weren’t only used me for their own selfish needs. The only ponies who were never afraid of me until you were my own parents.”

“Ponies and people fear you?”

“You don’t need to act surprised. I’m aware of my reputation. Many respect me, but all fear me. I’ve always known. On a certain level, it felt good, but on others…it was like you said…it felt lonely.”

“Hey…” I bring her close for an embrace. “It’s okay now.”

“I know it’s okay, now. You’re holding me.” she smirks. “Do you know why I hired you?”

“Because I was the best person for the job?”

“Well…kind of. You did ‘um’ and ‘ahh’ your way through the interview, and I briefly thought you were going to be like that during meetings. Then again, it did turn out you actually were the best person for the job in the end.”

“Then, why did you hire me?”

“Because when I interviewed the others, I could tell they were afraid of me. They only told me what they thought I wanted to hear, but from their mannerisms and voice, I knew that deep down, they were terrified.”

“To be honest, I was a little scared.”

“Of me?”

“No, of screwing up the interview.”

“But not of me.”

“No. I wasn’t afraid of you. Sure, you struck me as the no nonsense professional type, but fear? No.”

“I hired you because despite your stuttering, you sounded genuine. You were friendly with me. You talked with a smile, and your seemed genuinely happy to be in my presence.”

“I was. Being in the presence of such a beautiful woman was a nice experience.”

“I’ll bet.” she smiles “It was because of your good nature, that I knew you were the one for me…in many ways.” her once sad and nervous tone has melted into a sweet and even seductive purr. “Here I go again. Acting like a young mare in love.”

“You are a young mare in love. Seriously, thirty-five years old is not old. You don’t need to be hung up on this.”

“Perhaps.” she shrugs "Being with you has certainly made me feel younger than ever. It's been a while since I've felt so...good."

"Well, I'm down for another session if you are." I smile and kiss her neck.

"Not tonight. But, I am in the mood for some cuddling."

"That's fine, too."

"Besides, we'll have plenty of alone time when we go to the Crystal Empire for the Equestria Games. I booked us two rooms with a connecting door. That way, if you're feeling needy, you can come see me whenever you'd like."

"I like the way you think. Then again, I do have to say I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Because my room will likely go unused during the night."

"Not using the room I paid for? Well, you must be punished." she says playfully.

"Oh no, what do you have planned?"

"That's for me to know, and you to find out." she teases, tracing a finger on my chest. "Enough talk, I am in the mood to hold you and sleep in each other's arms."

"There's nothing wrong with what you just said."

"You're damn right there isn't."