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herself and Nick lying naked side by side on the massage tables while the masseurs worked their magic.
    Penny kept looking at her watch. It was almost noon. Nicolas said he would meet her in the lobby, but what if he didn’t show up? Should she return to her bungalow or wait here and risk embarrassing rejection? She was still debating with herself when Nick came up behind her, covered her eyes, and whispered, “Guess who?” in her ear.
    Penny smiled. “The man I’ve been waiting for?”
    “ That remains to be seen,” said the voice from behind.
    Nick and Penny took the ferry to downtown Malé and walked to a sidewalk café he knew well. The waiter led them to a table and laid menus down in front of them. Nick wasted no time looking over the lunch selections. “We’re ready to order now. We’ll have the lobster,” he informed the waiter, turning to Penny. “You really can’t go wrong with that.”
    “ So, you’ve been here before?”
    “ Whenever I get to town I make a point of dining here.”
    “ How long are you staying at the resort?” Penny asked.
    “ I’m not. I have other accommodations,” he replied cryptically. It was their first date and Penny didn’t want to seem nosey so she decided not to press him on the subject. Nick was a well-traveled man of the world whereas she had never really been anywhere before.
    Nick lustfully eyed her perfectly shaped small breasts and slender, lithe body as he mentally undressed her. She didn’t notice the inspection: she was far too busy examining her surroundings and taking mental notes for her report. The waiter brought their coffee. It was served in charming demitasse cups and was strong, sweet, and Turkish. As they sipped, they flirted with their eyes.
    What should have been an ideal moment was shattered by the untimely chiming of his cell phone. His demeanor changed as he glanced down to read the text message. After texting his reply, he set the phone back down on the table without saying a word.
    “ Business partner,” he responded to Penny, who was looking inquisitively at him.
    “ Oh, so you’re here on business too?” Penny asked innocently.
    “ Yes. I’m a…salesman.”
    Then, it happened again. Another interruption. The cell phone rang this time. Nick stood up and stepped a few feet away from the table before answering. All Penny heard from his side of the conversation was, “Then, we have to make the sale tonight!”
    Nick hung up the phone and said, “I am sorry. I have to go.”
    “ You’re leaving now? What about lunch?” she asked.
    “ I want you to enjoy it,” he replied, laying 1000 rufiyaa, the local currency, down on the table.
    “ Will I see you again?” she asked, but Nick was already out of sight before she could finish her sentence.
    Penny looked down on the table and stared angrily at the money, as if she had just won the consolation prize at the county fair. The irony was almost more than she could handle. She had wasted the morning worrying over whether or not to let him kiss her, and he didn’t even want to stay for lunch. Not the perfect end! Not the perfect day!
     

Chapter 4
     
    After struggling that evening to get through a planned event at the resort with a smile on her face, Penny went back to her bungalow. She got ready for bed, thinking to herself, I wonder what it would be like to be undressed by a man? If only Nick hadn’t deserted me in the middle of our date.
    She had only been asleep for a short while when she was awakened by the sound of “ pop, pop, pop.” She wasn’t an expert on the subject, but if she had to make a guess, it sure sounded like gunfire! All at once, she heard someone pounding furiously on her door.
    Frightened, Penny leaped from her bed and grabbed her robe. Who the hell would be pounding on her door so late at night? Wait! She recognized that voice.
    “ Penelope, it’s Nick. Open up!”
    “ Just go away!” she replied, through the closed door.
    A few hours ago, Penny might