“Not enough." Margo rose and tucked the towel in place. " Come on, let's go stuff her in a locker. For old time's sake.”

“Come on,let's go stuff her in a locker. For old time's sake.”

“Imagine my surprise, my ditress, when one of our regular patrons raced screaming into camera range,her Templeton Spa robe flapping open, her eyes wild as she sputtered accusations about being attacked-bodily attacked-by Laura Templeton Ridgeway and her cohorts.""Oh,Josh,I'm so sorry." Laura turned her head away, hoping he'd take it for shame.It would never,never do to laugh. He showed his teeth. "One snicker,Laura. Just one.""I'm not snickering." Composed,she turned back."I'm terribly sorry.It must have been very embarrassing for you.""And don't it just be a laugh riot when they run that little scene?Of course, they'll beep out most of the dialogue to conform to Standards and Practices, but I think the viewing audience, the millions of people who tune into Informed each week will get the gist.""She started it," Kate said,then winced when he turned flinty eyes on her. "Well,she did.""I'm sure Mom and Dad will understand that completely." Even the stalwart Kate could be cowed."It was Margo's idea."Margo hissed through her teeth. "Traitor.She called Kate a lesbian."Shaking his head,Josh covered his face with his hands and rubbed hard."Oh, well,then, get the rope.""I suppose you'd have let her get away with it.She's been trying to damage the shop.She said nasty things to Laura," Margo went on,heating up. "And just the other day she came into the shop and called me a slut. A second-class slut.""And your answer was to gang up on her, three to one,smack her around, strip her naked,and shove her into a locker?""We never smacked her.Not once." Not, Margo thought,that she wouldn't have liked to. "As for the locker business, it was a matter of tradition.We did nothing more than embarrass her, which is no more than she deserved after the way she insulted us.And anyway, a real man would applaud our actions.”

“How are you holding up?""I'm good.And still untouched," she added. "Are you alone in that bed?""Except for the six members of the all-girl Swedish volleyball team.Helga's got a hell of a spike.Aren't you going to ask what I'm wearing?""Black Speedos,sweat,and a big smile.""How'd you guess?So,what are you wearing?"Slowly,she ran a tongue around her teeth. "Oh,just this little..very little..white lace teddy.""And stiletto heels.""Naturally.With a pair of sheer hose.They have little pink roses around the tops. It matches the one I'm tucking between my breasts right now. I should add I've just gotten out of the tub.I'm still a little..wet.""Jesus.You're too good at this.I'm hanging up."Her response was a long, throaty laugh."I'm going to love driving the Jag.let me know when to expect the shipment."When the phone clicked in her ear,she laughed again,turned, and found herself nearly face to face wth Kate. "how long have you been standing there?""Long enough to be confused.Were you just having [hone sex with Josh? Our Josh?"Carelessly,Margo brushed her hair behind her ear. "It was more foreplay really.”

“Now if you tell me there were six other naked women and three attendants hanging around who saw you shove her into the locker,i'll have to kill you.""There was nobody else there.We're not idiots."she grimaced. "I know you think we are, but we're not stupid enough to have done it in front of witnesses. Actually, we timed it that way so she'd be stuck in there longer." she smiled weakly. "it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“You've never been a whiner, Margo.""I could give lessons.It's time for me to grow up, take responsibility,be sensible.""Talk to life insurance salesman," Josh said dryly. "Apply for a library card.Clip coupons."She looked down her nose. "Spoken like a man born with not only a silver spoon but the whole place setting stuck in his arrogant little mouth.""I happen to have several library cards," he muttered. "Somewhere.""Do you mind?”

“When something comes easy, you usually let it go the same way.”