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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

"Boo!"

Fancy sprang out from behind the door as soon as Eddy entered his hotel room. He didn't even flinch. "How'd you get in here?"

"I bribed a maid."

''With what?''

"Uncle Tate's jockstrap."

"You're sick."

"Don't ya love it?"

"What's that?" He pointed to a table in front of the large window. It was draped with a white cloth and had two place settings laid out on it.

"Lunch. Crab salad in cute little avocado halves."

"You should have asked me first, Fancy."

"Aren't you hungry?"

"It wouldn't matter if I were. I've only got a minute."

He sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up the telephone. After consulting the piece of scrap paper in his shirt pocket, he punched out the number. ''Mr. George Malone, please."

Fancy stood on her knees behind him and ground her pelvis against his spine. "Mr. Malone? This is Eddy Paschal, with the Rutledge campaign. You called?" Eddy ducked his head when she leaned over his shoulder and bit his earlobe.

"Mr. Rutledge's schedule is tight, I'm afraid. What did you have in mind? How many people? Uh-huh."

She kissed his neck, lightly sucking the skin up against her teeth. He covered the mouthpiece with his hand. "Cut it out, Fancy. I'm busy."

Pouting, she flounced off the bed. Moving to the bureau mirror, she paused to plump her hair. Bending at the waist, she flung the thick mane upside down. When she straightened up, she was encouraged to notice that Eddy had been looking at her ass. Facing him with her feet widely spaced, she gathered up her short skirt, flirtatiously raising it an inch at a time.

"How soon do you have to know?"

As Eddy continued to speak smoothly into the telephone, she ran her splayed hands up the fronts of her thighs. Her thumbs met at the red satin triangle covering her pubis. She stroked it once, twice, then peeled the panties off and dangled them in front of his nose.

''I'll speak with Mr. Rutledge and get back to you as soon as possible. In any event, we appreciate your interest. Thank you for the invitation."

He hung up. To Fancy's dismay he brushed past her and went to the bathroom, where he combed his hair and washed his hands.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" she demanded when she joined him.

"Nothing. I'm in a hurry, that's all."

"You're mad because Uncle Tate had you fire those assholes, aren't you?"

"Not mad. I just disagree, that's all."

"Well, don't take it out on me."

 "I'm not." He straightened his tie and checked his cufflinks.

"Quite a scene this morning, wasn't it? I've never seen Uncle Tate so hot. He's kinda cute when he's in that mood. I love it when a man is on the verge of losing his temper.'' She slipped her arms beneath Eddy's, reached around him, and pressed her handsagainst his fly. ''That potential violence is so sexy."

"I haven't got time for you now, Fancy." He removed her hands and stepped back into the bedroom.

She flopped down on the bed and watched as he sorted through the papers in his briefcase. He looked so handsome when his brow was furrowed with concentration.