Quaint ... a rather innocuous word for the inn as he approached it. Desire waited inside one of the "quaint" rooms as he pulled into a parking place. He sat a moment, collecting his thoughts, trying to force the adrenalin rush from turning him into a schoolboy. Just wouldn't do to scamper out of the car and across the parking lot like a youngster on the first day of school. He smiled as he got out of the car. How did one look innocent when the reason for being there was anything but? He expected the two mini selves to pop up on opposite shoulders at any time ... one carping about the gamble, and what he was possibly throwing away; the other prodding with a pitchfork and yelling "batter up!"
He'd been in similar feeling situations before ... post-brief/pre-flight. That slight high right before climbing into the bird carrying live ordinance was like this. The need to jump in, crank, go down range, and let it go. He smiled. Just like then, caution and reason kicked in. One Big difference ... his focus wasn't on an enemy, nor even a target, but a woman. One Big similarity ... methodical planning, careful preparation, deliberate execution, and blatant audacity meant you got to do it again.
Check in had breezed by. With key in hand, he strolled back to the car. The short drive to a parking spot right in front of the room had passed quickly, and getting the bag in the room no problem. He checked the lot once more and smiled at the parking spot available next to his car. A shower seemed the right thing to do next. The phone ringing as he stepped out prompted a smile. Her voice on the other end turned it into a wicked grin. A quick exchange of information and dead air left him alone with his thoughts once more. A glance in the mirror made him smile. Older, wiser, but definitely not over the hill. He finished drying off, dressed and waited for her arrival.
A knock on the door broke him out of silent thought. The glide across the room took moments and forever. She stood at the doorway, smiling, dark glasses covering her sparkling eyes. No words exchanged ... a hand extended, hers slipped easily into his, a step or two dancing backwards together into the room ... and the door shut. He released her hand, raising both to her sunglasses, smiling as her head pulled away slightly, then carefully removed them and set them down on the table near the door.