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“You like?” she asked Loup.
“Are you kidding? You look gorgeous. ”
“I do, don’t I?” Pilar turned. “Okay, your turn. ”
She tried on the dress Pilar had picked out for her. It was orange and gauzy and looked like nothing on the hanger, but very good on Loup.
“Very nice,” Pilar purred. “Not at all vool-gar. ”
Loup laughed.
“Can I get you to wear heels?”
“No. ”
“Yeah, I figured. ” Pilar handed her a pair of flat, strappy gold sandals. “Try these. ” She nodded in approval. “Okay. Now we can go dancing. ”
“Pilar, I kind of think we need to meet with these people Christophe’s talking about and figure out what the fuck’s going on before we go dancing. ” The empty space in her heart yawned wider. “We need to find out what we can do to get everyone else out of Santa Olivia, you know?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I haven’t forgotten, baby. It’s just nice to play make-believe for a day, because thinking about what happens when it ends scares me. ” She wrapped her arms around Loup from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder, gazing at their combined reflections. “Hey, it’s kind of fun being taller than you. Wow. Look at us. We look good together. ”
“Yeah, we do. ”
“C’mon. ” Pilar kissed her cheek. “I think Christophe’s about dying of boredom. ”
They left the store laden with bags and an abundance of goodwill on the behalf of their helpful saleswoman.
“So,” Loup said. “What now?”
Christophe consulted his Dataphone. “With your permission, I will confirm a meeting for eleven a. m. tomorrow. ”
“With who?”
“Government officials,” he said guilelessly. “Ours and yours. Don’t worry, they are good people. ”
“And this third party?”
He nodded. “They will make contact with you at the federal building. ”
Loup sighed. “Okay, I guess. ”
“Dinner?” Christophe moved his hips suggestively. Unnatural muscles shifted beneath his skin. “Dancing?”
“Dinner. ”
“No dancing?”
“Dancing later. I want to meet with those guys first. ”
He shrugged. “As you like, prima. You are free now. You do not need to be so cautious all the time. ”
Loup shrugged, too. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather. ”
They ate at the hotel restaurant, seated at a candlelit table that looked out onto the courtyard, dressed in nice new clothes.
“Jesus. ” Pilar perused the menu. “I don’t even know what half of this stuff is. Balsamic? Prosciutto? Are you sure this is written in English?”
“Yes. ” Christophe smiled. “Balsamic is a kind of vinegar, but sweet. Prosciutto is a kind of very fine ham. ”
She eyed him. “Why don’t they just say so? How do you know all this stuff?”
His smile widened. “My mother is a manager at a hotel in Huatulco. Not so nice as this, but nice. She is hoping very much that you will come and visit us there. Would you like me to order for you?”
“Yeah, please. ”
He ordered a wide array of dishes: a salad of mixed greens, grilled asparagus, figs wrapped in prosciutto, saffron risotto, bouilabaisse, baked chicken with rosemary, beef tenderloin, herb-crusted salmon. They shared all the dishes, and all the dishes were delicious.
“Ohmigod. ” Pilar pushed her plate away. “I think I’m gonna burst. ”
“Dessert?” Christophe asked Loup.
“Sure. ”
Dessert was a crème brûlée flavored with a hint of lavender, the creamy custard and the brittle, caramelized top a revelation. “Wow. ” Loup licked her spoon. “I could get used to being rich. ”
“I’m guessing that’s the idea. ” Pilar surreptitiously loosened the belt on her sundress.
Loup thought about I-want-to-be-your-friend Derek, who’d tried to bribe her in prison with the promise of good food and nice hotels. “Yep. ”
“Enjoy it,” Christophe suggested. He grinned. “I am. So, no dancing tonight. Maybe a walk? We are very close to Chapultepec Park. ”
“Yeah, that sounds nice. ”
It was early yet, gilded light giving away to blue dusk as they strolled along the outer verges of the park. Christophe played tour guide, telling them about its attractions: museums, a zoo, an amusement park, and a genuine castle. He flirted with Pilar, who flirted happily back at him. Loup was quiet, thinking. In Outpost, such a vast, wonderful space would never have been open to civilians. Even if it had, the MPs would have been patrolling at this hour, making sure no one was breaking curfew without a permit.
“You okay, baby?” Pilar asked her.
“Yeah. ” She nodded. “It’s just so weird, us being here. All of this. What do you think Mack’s doing right this minute?”
“Mackie?” Pilar smiled. “Fixing something. You missing him?”
“All of them, yeah. ” Her heart contracted with a pang. “You think they know we’re safe?”
“That Johnson guy said someone would get word to Father Ramon once things cooled down. ” Pilar squeezed her hand. “Christophe’s right. It’s like I said before. There’s nothing we can do about it right this minute, so we might as well enjoy ourselves. But it’s kind of hard to do thinking of everyone at home, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess. ”
Another squeeze. “I miss them, too. ”
Dusk turned to twilight. Christophe escorted them back to the hotel. “Did you see how everyone looked at us in the lobby?” he asked in the elevator. “They think I am the luckiest man in the city. ” He looked at the way Pilar was regarding Loup and laughed. “I think they are very wrong, but I do not mind them thinking it. ”
“Sorry. ” Pilar sounded unrepentant.
“I’ll live. ”
The room was clean and immaculate; trays gone, towels replaced, magazines stacked neatly on the table. A dim light was on and music was playing. The bed was made and turned down, a pair of chocolates on the pillows. “Mmm. ” Pilar gazed around. “I really could get used to this. ”
“Yeah. ” Loup cocked her head. “Pilar, does Christophe make you feel the way I do?”
“You’d think, huh?” She gave Loup a wry look. “Given my history with guys. ”
“Well, yeah. ”
“No. It’s weird, but no. ” Pilar shrugged. “Baby, I told you. I don’t know why, but that whole cute and deadly thing just gets me. You. Everything about you. I can’t even explain it, and I’ve given up trying to figure it out. It’s just you. ” She put her arms around Loup’s neck, her expression turning serious. “I hurt you once because I was so fucking scared of losing you. And I swear to God, Loup, I will never, ever do it again. ”
“Okay. ”
“I’m serious. ”
“Okay, okay!”
“Good. ” Pilar kissed her, slid her hands down to Loup’s waist in a long, slow caress, savoring the feel of her. “Ah, you have zee toned phee-zeek. I think you are a dancer or a heem-nasta, yes?”
She shook her head, smiling. “Boxer. ”
“Oh, a box-air, is it?” Pilar blew softly in her ear. “I love you to pieces, my little boxer, my little Santa Olivia, my little hero. I would go to the ends of the earth to be with you. You want to see what else I bought today?”
Loup squirmed. “Uh-huh. ”
“Lingerie,” Pilar breathed, pulling off her sundress. “Very nice, sexy, and chic for young lovers. You like?”
“Oh, yeah. ”
THREE
In the morning Christophe drove them to the Palacio Nacional, a massive, impressive building located in front of the biggest town square anyone could imagine.
“Wow,” Pilar said, subdued. “It’s really… big. ”
“It’s okay,” Christophe said cheerfully. �
�We are expected. ”
A businesslike young man met them at the door and led them to a posh meeting room where two older men were waiting.
“Welcome. ” The shorter of the two came forward, smiling. He greeted Christophe familiarly and shook all their hands. “I am Esteban Sandoval from the Department of Foreign Relations. We are honored to have you here. ”
“Thank you, sir. Loup Garron. ” She glanced at Pilar, who was looking overwhelmed. “And Pilar Ecchevarria. ”
“Hi,” Pilar managed.
The other man joined them. “Let me add my welcome,” he said in a soft drawl. “Senator Timothy Ballantine from Virginia. And on behalf of my country, let me say I’m very sorry for the way you’ve been treated. ” He laid his hand on Loup’s shoulder and gave it a paternal squeeze. “Oh… my!” He snatched his hand back involuntarily, looking startled. “I beg your pardon. ”
“It’s okay,” Loup said with resignation. “I’m used to it. ”
“I didn’t expect…” He paused. “Truth be told, I didn’t know what to expect. You look surprisingly—” He cleared his throat. “Well, you’re both lovely young ladies. ”
“Thanks. ” Having found her voice, Pilar eyed him suspiciously. “How do we know we can trust you? How do we know you’re not from some other part of the government that wants to get its hands on Loup?”
Senator Ballantine considered her question solemnly. “I don’t suppose there’s any way I can prove it to you, but I give you my word as a Southern gentleman that my intentions are honorable. I’m putting my own career at risk in this venture. ” He cleared his throat again. “And if you have any desire to help the townsfolk you left behind, I do strongly urge you to cooperate with us. ”
Loup and Pilar exchanged a glance.
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