Date Night; Part 2

It was the quiet weeks that the office started to enjoy. It had been pandemonium with the announcement of The Puppet Master's return. It was a constant fight to try and get information for the international investigation but locally, it was easy. There was nothing. He had gone back into hiding after his reveal as though he didn't want to play anymore. There was a time and place to worry about it.

Hanson had kept to himself for most of the week. He was busy catching up on reports from the field teams and getting them in a presentable fashion to submit for their contract payment. Hunter was in his office most of the time. He could be found wandering around the break room now and again refreshing his cup. Adam was doing his own thing in the new network room. He was playing around with the equipment since it wasn't hooked up to the outside world trying new things and expanding his own knowledge of technology. He was on course for a few high-level certificates.

Juliet played errand girl. She would get the team things that they needed, place orders for equipment, and make sure that Hanson's filings were in the right spot. She kept her nose to her work for a while until cabin fever started to get to her. The quiet was nice but she felt like she needed to do something else. She took a moment to sit in one of the empty conference rooms for her lunch. It was some time away from everyone where she could think. Or so she thought.

The door swung open with no warning as Hunter peeked his head in. He seemed surprised to find her, "There you are! May I join you for a moment?" She waved him in with a mouth full of sandwich. She tried to finish the bite while covering her face, "I must look so good right now."

"The sandwich sure must be."

He took a seat two spots away so he could look at her. He gave her the time to finish her bite before asking, "How is the new collar treating you?" She brushed her fingers over it to remind herself it was there, "It's a lot less bulky. More flexible. I like it. Why did you let me keep it?"

"You've shown that you can be trusted so some restrictions have been lifted."

She noticed that after the last job. She was able to change her form at will without the bite. She could change her height, hairstyle, color, body type, shape, features, skin color, and blemishes. She was almost a full succubus again. "Is the association or whatever okay with it?"

"They don't care as long as you are behaving and under some type of control."

The wording was a bit rough on that. Under control felt like she was an animal that needed to be handled all the time. Her track record was astonishing though. She had proven to be a major asset. Hunter leaned back in the chair thinking about what he just said. He could see it in her face that it struck a bit of a nerve. He backtracked as best he could, "I'm glad that you like it though. I think it fits you a lot better." It fell back into the awkward silence before Hunter took a deep breath, "Well, before I shoved my foot in my mouth I was going to ask you something. You have some PTO that you've accrued that's about to drop off. I wanted to know if you wanted the payout for it or if you wanted to use it?"

Oh! Now that was a subject she could get behind. Some time off would do her some good. But what would she do with it? "How long do I have to decide?"

"You have about a month to decide but as long as you put in for it, it won't fall off. You have two weeks pending."

Two whole weeks off. She could actually go somewhere and have some proper time to relax. She's got enough saved up that she could easily go somewhere luxurious too. A hot spring hotel in Japan? She could go on a tour around Europe. Visit Cancun and live the high life for a while. She kept rolling over the possibilities in her mind as she rolled over them. Then it hit her.

"OK, time off sounds like a good idea. It'll get me out of the office and help me relax. I'll submit my time but I have someone I have to talk to first." Hunter just nodded and let it be. She knew what she needed to do to submit time. There was no reason for him to go any further with it. She had her decision.

But it turned on him at the end of the day. She approached his office as he was finishing up, "Hey, can I bother you for a ride home?" He looked at his watch, "You could still catch the bus if you need to leave now."

"No, I'll leave with you today."

He looked around, "I'm about to wrap up and head out but I can give you a ride."

She was being rather strange. Her demeanor was much more pushy than normal. It was strange but not unheard of. She had fits of weirdness like many people in the office. One employee had a sign in his office that read "You don't have to be weird to work here, but it helps." Sometimes it was a bit too on the nose.

But at the end of the day, it was just that, time to go home and return to some normalcy. Juliet followed on his heels to the garage. It was odd to not be leaving as the last few. There were other cars and you could hear people walking, talking, and getting into their vehicles. Hunter took his exit from the garage taking the turn to take Juliet home. She sat in her seat waiting patiently until the spot where Hunter would always start talking. "I felt it would be rude to tell you as my boss that the person I needed to talk to was my boyfriend."

Hunter's head did a double take, "For what?"

"For my time off. I wanted to talk to him about it and see if we could coordinate some time off together. But I don't know how his structure works."

She had teased enough. Hunter got the hint, "My structure works like this. I can take time off as I want. I own the business. I just prefer a very active role in what goes on." He took a turn to get onto the interstate, "So, we should coordinate some time off? Where would you like to go? What would you like to do?" She sighed as she sunk into her seat, "Be pampered. The vacation to that hotel where you had your memory therapy was just what I needed."

"We can go there again."

"But I'm thinking we've already been there. I wouldn't mind seeing somewhere new. Somewhere really out there."

Hunter pondered, going through all the places he had visited in his life. "If you want to see sights, Europe is the place to go. If you want to be tropical, Bora Bora isn't bad and Maui is good if you want to stay domestic."

"Oh! Bora Bora! Sandy beaches! Peaceful lagoons! I know they have a world-class spa as well."

"I can make that happen."

"No!" She barked rather hard, "We! We! We will make it happen. You're not going to pay for everything like a sugar daddy."

That was a new title. He had never been called a sugar daddy before. He knew he had money and could easily spoil someone but it never really crossed his mind. She was determined to not let him pay for everything. They worked out a 50/50 split so it was even. Juliet was adamant about it. Hunter had the logistical hookups to make it happen so he was in charge of flight and hotel. Beyond that, it would be "pay for your own services". Juliet could get pampered on her own dime while Hunter could… do whatever he does.

The two had a simple plan in place. Hunter said he would price flights. Since it wasn't a business trip, the use of the company jet was not allowed. The Balton Cabin trip was a business excursion so it was exempt, but he couldn't pull it this time. He got a few flights, room rates, and any package deals they might have had, and forwarded them along to Juliet a few days later. He was thorough and with plenty of options. They ranged from the two weeks she had planned to six weeks and a few extra travel destinations around the area. It seemed rather excessive. Two weeks was plenty.

The two worked out a plan for their trip where they would have activities together and a few activities on their own to do a few things they wanted to do. Hunter was solidifying the reservations as they went. It didn't take them long before they had everything set. They pushed out from the original two weeks to three to make sure they got everything they wanted in. Everything In the office was coordinated to allow for the time off. Hunter kept his a little bit more secret. He worked with Hanson to make sure that there were no important jobs coming in during that time.

Hanson would take the helm while coordinating the office and covering Juliet's position while they were gone. Everything began to fall into place. Hunter got everything booked and paid for. Juliet got him her share of the initial expenses. Everything was ready. Nothing could stop them now. They had a date to leave and a date they would return plus a few days to recuperate from being gone.

Wheels took off from the airport as the two headed towards their destination. The one layover they had went smoothly. They got to their next flight and were on their way to their destination. Hunter spent his time like he always did, either taking a nap or reading up on what they would be doing. Juliet joined him with the reading. They were both looking for more activities they wanted to try. 

Their plane landed smoothly. After all the flying she had done with their private jet, it was rather weird to just not have everything they needed with them already. They got their stuff from baggage claim in record time. The next step was to catch the shuttle to their hotel. It was packed. There were a lot of people who clearly believed that this was a good time to get out on vacation. Juliet was squished against a bar but Hunter took the brunt of another person pushing against them.

The full day of traveling was enough. The luxury of the private jet was missed. But once the two made it to their room, everything seemed to change. They had made it away from the world they knew and it was just the two of them for a while. The main part of the day had passed but they still had the evening. They didn't have anything planned until tomorrow so tonight was all about them.

There was no hot tub on the outside porch in this room but there were a few chairs that were pointed out towards where the sun sets. This was it though. They had time together as a couple. No work, no disturbances. Just time.

That evening was spent going over a few housekeeping things though. They went over what they called a schedule for the next few days just to know what the plan was. It didn't take long and gave them plenty of time to relax from the flight. The chairs kicked back with a small table between the two of them. In a rare sight, Hunter bought and brought beer for the two of them. He picked something that could only be described as tasty hoppy. He got Juliet something a lot more pleasing to the taste buds. Something with a hint of fruit that would be a pleasant compliment to the tropical feeling. The two just talked. They took the chance to just talk about whatever they wanted to. They asked questions about one another, goals, plans, and just any odd thing that crossed their minds.

Night fell upon the island. There was nightlife to be enjoyed but that was planned for another time. For now, a good night's rest was almost required. With the alcohol coursing through them, it didn't take long for both of them to find that comfortable spot in the bed. Hunter slept on his back while Juliet seemed to curl herself into a ball next to him. His arm rested on her while she slept.

The morning light was their alarm clock. They made sure that nothing was planned before 11 a.m. to make sure that no matter what they did the night before, they would be rested enough to recover from whatever adventure they had had the night before. Waking up naturally was for the best as well. This was a vacation. No need to alarm themselves with something.

Breakfast was provided. While the pickings were a little slim, they were able to find something good and have it delivered to the room. Hunter really must have found or worked out a deal. He made sure that three squares were included for every day that they stayed. There were still plans to head out and have a fancy dinner a few nights they were there to enjoy the local cuisine. Those were picked by both of them to ensure that they tried something new and something they knew that they would like.

Today was an exploration day. Nothing major was planned other than to walk around the resort and see what was available. They offered a lot. There was a small outlet mall that offered a wide array of odds and ends. Souvenirs and other touristy take homes. A few food places had some local food from the area including a shop that cooked and sold fish that they caught throughout the day. The beaches were a big draw. There were all kinds of people out there enjoying the warm sand. Juliet knew that she would find herself out there one of these days. She did a little of her own shopping before the trip and picked out something new just for her. Hunter would just have to see it later.

Their day was spent exploring what they were offered at the resort. As the sun began to set it was decided that now would be the time to enjoy each other's company. The room was perfect for watching the sky turn from warm red into a dark night. The lights on the island were turned low to allow for the stars to come through and really shine. The sounds of the water echoed up to their balcony as the two chatted the night away emptying their stash of beer for the evening. Sleep came naturally when they eventually made their way to bed.

The morning light was a great way to wake up. There was never anything blaring about it. The sand reflected enough light to wake them up quietly. Naturally, Hunter was the first one up. He moved around as quietly as he could to not disturb her. It never failed. The scent of coffee is what woke her up. There was nothing he could do about that. He always made it strong. It would become intrusive if he made it any stronger.

She strained as she stretched out in bed taking it over in Hunter's absence. His return was met with a warm smile, "Good morning." She laid out taking up as much room as she could. He still managed to find enough space that he could sit next to her. His cup was still steaming as he took that first sip. The aroma quickly filled the area bringing Juliet to a slightly more awake state. "What's the plan for today, boss?"

He had to think about it. "I think today is a couples massage then dinner on the scenic veranda by the beach."

"Ooh, that sounds lovely."

This is what she was really looking forward to. Her entire goal was to escape from the office and spend some quality time, just the two of them. But until then, the day was theirs! Hunter was going to spend his day doing what he does. He would disappear for a while and then show up somewhere when he was needed. Juliet was thinking of what she should do. This would be a good chance for her to get some quality time in the sun. Maybe tan herself for a bit before they were rubbed down by a stranger. That was her plan now.

She waited until Hunter left before she changed. She still wanted to keep it a secret for now. Her swimsuit was to be a treat for him. She quickly changed to make sure that if she needed to change herself to fit it better that she could. She picked just what she wanted though. The top was a simple piece that held across the back. In the center of the front was a twist to give some flavor to the plain sky-blue color she had chosen. The bottoms matched in color but came with a veil that could come off. The veil was thin enough to be see-through but solid enough that it could be used to cover one's self.

While it was nothing too extravagant, it was something that she felt would be special. Her normal swimsuit was limited to a one-piece because of Hunter's rules. The little extra freedom she was awarded let her be a little bit more free. There were a lot of choices that would have been a lot more revealing but decided against it. For now anyway. That may be for another trip where there is a hot tub in the room again.

The beaches started to get crowded around midday. Juliet had staked her claim early enough that there wasn't going to be an issue with space. She did a lot more people-watching than working on herself.

Hunter wandered off around the island looking for his own source of entertainment. His vacations were typically spent gambling back the price he paid for it. This was a bit different as his options were limited. Instead, he took the time to work on himself. He found a bookstore that struck him as strange. The books were rather old and musty either from age or the sea air. Nothing really caught his eye but he gave them a good look over.

Time just faded away. Juliet was enjoying the sun while Hunter was enjoying the sights. It got close to that time for their scheduled massage. Juliet was watching the clock as it started to get closer. She refused to miss it. Hunter just had this sense of time that was just impeccable. Juliet was the first to return to the room. Hunter must have just been behind her as he walked in not more than a minute later. She didn't have time to change so her surprise was busted.

She got the reaction she wanted though. He walked in doing a double take once his brain caught what he had seen. She played it though. She rolled her hips to keep his attention on her, "Well, do you like it?" He wasn't speechless but his eyes were wandering trying not to stare. "I think it's very you. It looks nice."

She took her chance walking up to him, "Then don't be afraid to look." Her hand moved his head towards her. Her face was different. She looked focused with an expression of wanting. The two never had much time together. This was an even rarer treat as they were miles away from anyone that they knew. She could read his face. She knew just what was going through his mind, "No, no tricks. No succubus magic. Those thoughts are all yours."

The moment was perfect until the disturbance happened. A heavy knock at the door followed by a voice, "Pardon the disturbance! But your appointment for the couple's massage is coming up. I am here to escort you there." Hunter's arms dropped to his side as his head dropped back. Juliet's eyes started to water as the frustration welled up.

She was so close! They had a moment to themselves and it was ripped from her grasp by the random luck of the universe. Well, it wasn't all bad. The couple's massage was one of the larger things she was looking forward to. It would be the two of them in a quiet room, with quiet music, relaxing together as some trained professional worked the kinks out of their muscles.

Their private moment may have been ruined but Juliet was able to save it. She nudged herself up to Hunter taking his hand as the two walked down to their private room. The lights were low, the music was soft, and the two were given a few minutes to get comfortable on the tables. Hunter had no issue getting himself onto the table leaving his clothes on the chair. Juliet… struggled. Being a succubus, nudity wasn't a problem. She would use her body to entice her prey if it came to that but this was different. This was personal.

She fought through it finding her place on the table. She covered herself with a towel and waited with Hunter. The door opened as two people walked in. No one really said anything. The music played and other than the occasional grunt from Juliet or Hunter from the pressure, it was an enjoyable session. Included with this session, was a hot bath to help the muscles recover from the beating they took. This is where it really becomes a couples event.

Their clothes are left in the room and they are given one hour in a hot medicine bath. The room was very secluded from the rest of the resort. The bamboo walls echo the sound of the water back to the tub. Juliet's nose started burning when they entered from the strong medicinal smell being given off. She adjusted quickly but it looked like Hunter also had the same issue. It quickly became noticeable as eucalyptus.

Juliet's modesty got the best of her. She kept herself as covered as she could while avoiding looking at Hunter. The sound of the water shifting caught her attention to look. He had moved and sunk himself into the murky water. He stayed polite as he waved his hand for her to join him. He kept his eyes looking away until she was submerged in the water next to him.

The temperature of the water was perfect. The steam rose up fogging their view. Juliet was too tense to say anything. All that work on her body was about to be for nothing. If she didn't relax, She was going to be more tense than when she walked in here. Something touched her back causing her to jump forward. Whatever it was recoiled until Hunter laughed, "Nervous?"

It was his hand. He had placed it between her shoulder blades to try and calm her down but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Once she realized what was going on it was easier for her. He placed his hand back on her. He could feel her muscles start to relax a bit more sinking into the warmth of the bath. "There you go, much better. What's got you on edge?" Her answer was obvious, "Being naked together." This was a new situation for them. They had shared a room before but there were rules and it was almost always on a job.

"Juliet, are you nervous to be around me?" Hunter asked an odd question. His motive behind it was pure. He just wanted to know what was going on inside her head. Getting her to talk started to get her relaxed though, "I am but I'm not. I'm most relaxed around you but this situation is unfamiliar to me."

"Have you dated someone before?"

"Before I became what I am I did but it was never serious. My lustful and 'needing' nature doomed many of my relationships to fail. That's why it's rather hard for succubus to date outside of our species. Others don't really understand our need to feed and view it as cheating. It's possible to be monogamous to a human but it has a toll on the partner's well-being to drain the same person over and over, even in little bits."

For knowing so much about monsters, Hunter really didn't know how their lives were lived. They all have needs and requirements. That's partially why a lot of laws were put in place. But that's put a lot of creatures into some rather harsh conditions where it became much more of a fight to survive. Juliet must have been having a hard time with it as well. Probably harder since she wasn't born as a succubus.

This was partially why when Hunter came across a problem he would try for the most civil. Many contracts called for elimination but to take a life was not the goal. Of course, there were situations when it needed to be done. Monsters, true monsters, would not benefit or be accepted. The Wendigo was a prime example. Something like that could not function outside of its murderous intent.

Back to reality, Hunter still took the initiative to try and get Juliet to relax. He moved himself next to her making skin-on-skin contact. She still jumped but not forward. His arm wrapped around her to keep her close. She sunk into the water and into his side with a hefty sigh. "I'm OK with this. I like this." She muttered to herself as she sank into the water. It was murky enough with the additives that it was impossible to see anything beyond the surface allowing her to keep her modesty.

Everything was right in the world. It was just the two of them at this moment. That gave Hunter a little bit more time to mess with Juliet, "You seemed a bit disappointed as we left the room." It didn't seem to bother her. Maybe the relaxation effects of the bath kicked in, "Yeah, we don't often get time together. The mood seemed to be right. Then it just fell apart. Contrary to popular belief, succubus aren't all sex energy all the time. I am a lady and…" She trailed off. It was hard to admit that she had picked out that swimsuit to show herself off to Hunter. Showing it to him was hard enough as it was, even if it was by accident.

Hunter's smart though. He figured it out. Something like that was pricey, not something one would normally wear. For her, it didn't fit her normal style of clothing. She didn't need to say anything more. He just had to let her nod to relay that he understood.

He appreciated the sentiment. He didn't see it as necessary but he got it. He lived his life as simply as he could. That meant that if he needed something, he asked. If he wanted something, he worked towards it. If someone needed something from him, he expected to be asked but kept a watchful eye out for the signs of needing help. There was no way that her actions towards him would go unnoticed. That doesn't mean that he would acknowledge them. Sometimes the words need to be said. They need to be brought forward into verbal communication and not just left as a non-verbal presentation.

But he also knew when the non-verbal action was important and needed to be seen or acknowledged. He leaned over kissing Juliet on the temple before whispering in her ear, "Thank you." He sunk his body further into the water taking his hand from her back to her opposite hip to hold her in the bath. The goosebumps on her body were enough of a sign that he had gotten across to her. But more importantly, her message did get to him. She scooted herself closer to him fighting the embarrassment to just enjoy the moment. The nerves passed allowing the two to enjoy the moment in a wholly organic style. They could talk, chat, and flirt enjoying their time together.

Their time was up! They were alerted to the fact and allowed to come back into the massage room to get dressed and continue about their day. They had a few hours to kill before dinner. With nothing planned from now until then, Hunter gave Juliet her time to show off that swimsuit of hers with a quiet walk down the beach.

The timing was perfect. The sun had just started to set, showering everything in a red glow. They shared stories for a while just to talk. The time came for dinner. It was something special.

There were little sandbars off the beach that were decorated with a simple light and a table set for two. Food was brought to them on a somewhat set schedule. They didn't need to order anything. Hunter had already taken care of that with a preset meal plan. This just gave them time to focus on one another. The only decision that they had to make was what to drink. Hunter went with his usual high-price bottle while Juliet took a more sensible approach. A bottle of wine recommended to accompany their food to, supposedly, enhance the flavor. She didn't believe any of that. To her, wine was wine. Unless it was specifically flavored to something it was just fermented grapes.

It got dark as the night went on. The flames from the light kept their space bright enough to see. The small break in between allowed them to stretch before dessert showed up. With that last bit devoured, they were freed from their private island to wander around once again.

Juliet stretched as they stepped out of the water back to the main beach, "Now that was a meal. You have good taste."

"I based it on what I've seen you eat. I wanted to make sure that you enjoyed it."

"I'll eat just about anything! You should have picked something you wanted."

"I did. I found a good middle ground of a selection that included items we both enjoy."

His foreplanning was on point, as per his usual. Thinking well ahead of anyone else to get the drop. But, that worked for him. He could live in the moment, adapt to changes, but still keep an end goal in mind. Juliet, more or less, did well in the moment and did great with direction. Until she found something that she wanted she would float around for a bit. She could still have fun and adapt but they two were on different levels. Even so, they found themselves equal in their dating life. Hunter didn't show superiority in any fashion. He also didn't bring himself down to what would be considered her level to relate to her.

Their work relationship didn't have an effect on their personal relationship. That was the biggest worry. If they would be unable to have the separation from professional to personal life. The two just worked well.

Their aimless wandering paid off. They circled back around to where they were staying about the time that they were both feeling ready to call it a night. Hunter swiped the key card back into their room holding the door for Juliet. She seemed to float in with a smile on her face at the prospect of being able to relax. "I think I am going to shower. The sea air is nice but it bothers my skin."

She took her leave to clean herself up. Hunter took the chance to sit down and look over some of the materials in the room. They covered a lot of the offers that he had previously seen with activities in the local area that he had not. He noted a few of them that might be enjoyable as a couple. Even a few he might enjoy. "Sure, I would love to learn to surf."

The water in the bathroom shut off with Juliet releasing a deep exhale. Hunter heard the door open as she stepped out. He kept his focus forward on the pamphlet. He could hear the wet footsteps approaching him from behind. They weren't trying to be subtle.

Before he could look back he was grabbed. Juliet's wet hair stuck to his neck as she hugged him from behind. She whispered, "Close your eyes for a moment."

He did as he was told. He moved his head back making sure he couldn't see anything. The pamphlet in his hands was taken to free them up. Something landed in his lap with some weight behind it. "OK, open your eyes."

Juliet was face to face with him. Her piercing green eyes were all he could see. "I change myself so often to meet the wants of others that I don't often show myself. I want you to see me." A lock of her hair fell in front of her face. It was a dark brown color with a light hint of red in the light. This was very different from what she normally looks like. "Hunter, I want to make sure that if we are going to pursue this you know me as me and this…"

She leaned herself back showing her true self to him. Some dew still sticking to her skin, fresh from the shower. "This is me. Just me." She brushed her hair from her face as she looked away. She waited for anything from him. "I haven't aged since my affliction so I feel like I'm a bit young. I think I stopped aging around 19 years old." She messed with her hair some more as she settled herself on his lap. "I'll always look good for my age though."

She did what she could to play off her situation. Despite the situation he was in, Hunter kept his focus on her and what she was saying. She said was in her 60's, being a long-lived creature. But the naked woman before him looked as though she was still in her early life heading into her 20s. But this was her. All of her!

Her self-consciousness started getting to her. Any doubt was quickly thrown aside when Hunter made contact with her lower back. He pulled her towards him, throwing her off balance enough to bring her face to his. They had snuck a tender moment once and a while. This was a first. This was a new moment in their relationship.

Juliet's hopes were allowed to grow, finally, even after a brief moment where it was shot down. Hunter got a moment to be honest with himself when presented with an opportunity to do so. This is what they needed. An opportunity to break their exterior shell. A trapped succubus and a broken workaholic finally giving himself a second chance. But most of all, the tension that had built up finally broke. The two gave in to one another allowing them to finally enjoy themselves and their company!

The rest of the trip didn't matter anymore. They did their activities, they had fine dining almost every night, and they went swimming in the ocean and in the pool. What mattered was at the end of the day, they came back to one another and used that time to grow that relationship they had begun to foster. Chatting over drinks was the best. The topics would go deeper into one another the deeper the two of them got into their drink of choice. The time began to fly by.

With two days left in their vacation, the pair decided that they should start getting a few of their things together for the trip home. Extra clothes, souvenirs that they bought, and nonessentials were stored away. It was a peaceful night until the wee hours of the morning when an unfamiliar noise woke them up. A vibration from the nightstand beside Hunter's head. Hunter rolled enough that it moved Juliet who had fallen asleep on his arm. This jostled her awake enough to hear it. "You promised no work while we were out here."

The blinding light of the screenshot into Hunter's eyes, "I made Hanson promise to not call me unless it was an absolute emergency. He would have to call me three times in two minutes for it to ring through." He grunted as he fell back into the bed, phone to his ear, "What's going on Hanson?"

He was quiet for a moment. The only words Juliet heard were "I apologize for disturbing you and your miss" before she started nodding back off. Hunter's replies were short.

"Who issued it?"

"What's the timeline?"

"I'll trust prep work to you."

"Goodnight."

The phone was dropped back on the nightstand. Hunter found his spot back where he was moving Juliet back to where she was. She clung back to him, "So what was it?"

"Office was assigned a high-priority job. We'll deal with it when we get back. Not a big deal."

"Good…"

The two of them fell back asleep as though nothing had happened. It was a problem for when they returned. Their vacation did come to a close sooner than they expected. Their last night there was spent drinking on the balcony watching the lights of the island. They would have to go back to hiding their relationship around the office once again but the progress they made here would not be for nothing.