Diet Another Day

count on any diet!"
    "Shh!"
    They giggled.
    * * *
    Jessica and Rosaleen slept soundly and woke up smiling as the piercing alarm opened their eyes to a new morning. They missed breakfast because the Belinda Phoon ladies sharing their bathroom hogged it. Pleading and pounding on the door didn't unseat them any sooner.
    Jessica took a record quick shower as she breathed through her mouth and swallowed shampoo suds. The stench was overpowering. A sign Rosaleen's gossip was true. The Belinda Phoon ladies had overloaded on the sugar free chocolate, inducing a laxative effect.
    Hmm…this might be their strategy though if they lose weight through dehydration. Oh, it can't be safe, though . Not with all the exertion in the heat. Jessica remembered her lovers' prediction and cringed. She said a small prayer for the ladies.
    Arriving on the sand promptly at 5:45 AM, they slipped into the back row and assumed the yoga position du jour . A beautiful pink sunrise materialized over the clear aquamarine water. Two dolphins frolicked in the backdrop of a cruise ship.
    Jessica enjoyed the power walking in the salt water pool, somehow akin to being in charge inside a mother's womb. She slipped out of the sauna on the pretext of potty business and winked at her roommate as she left. Rosaleen actually smiled.
    After hurriedly dressing, Jessica looked both ways in the corridor and slipped past the weight room without incident. Four minutes later she knocked on their door. Hunter greeted her with a telephone to his ear. He beckoned her in and motioned to a room service cart.
    Jessica heartily grabbed a white porcelain plate and piled it with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and French Toast. She drizzled it in syrup. Everything.
    Hunter concluded his call and poured orange juice. "What took you so long?"
    "We got off to a late start because the Belinda Phoon ladies who share our bathroom had diarrhea. They're gorging on sugar-free candy. The stretching felt so great—oh, I saw two dolphins! Have you seen any yet?"
    "Yes, I can see them from my balcony."
    "Really? Wow. Anyhow, I went ahead and did the power walking in the salt water pool and then the sauna. I didn't over do it, did I?"
    "How do you feel?"
    "Starving!"
    "You're fine then. Just think about what you're eating. If it's not delicious, don't finish it. If you feel full, stop. Don't clean your plate, young lady."
    "Yes, Mother."
    "I don't think you'll be calling me Mother after this evening."
    "Yum." She savored the French toast. "That's right. It's your turn to give me a treatment."
    "I'll treat you as the goddess you are." He massaged her shoulders.
    "Oh yeah. That feels super." She gulped a swig of orange juice and held in a small burp. She hoped he hadn't heard it. "You know what? I think I'm full. Really. Wow."
    "Fantastic. Put the fork down and step away from the room service table." He gallantly offered a hand and helped her up.
    Jessica noticed he had a tie on as he slipped his uniform jacket on. "Where're you off to?"
    "I'm attending a conference, remember? I've got a lecture to present in about six minutes." He pulled his sleeve over his watch.
    "Well, what am I supposed to do all day?"
    "Sleep. Bathe. Listen to music. Sit on the balcony and watch the dolphins. Smell the fresh roses in the boudoir."
    "Really?"
    "That's right. Order what you want for lunch. I might not make dinner, I need to debrief Damien before he leaves."
    "Leaves?"
    "He's being deployed tomorrow."
    "No. So we only have one more night together?"
    "You act like you're smitten with the guy or something." He seemed to study her response.
    Hunter thinks I like Damien better. Do I? "No. It's just I thought this was a team project."
    "Don't worry, goddess, I'm well equipped to see the mission through to its conclusion." He smiled as she smiled and looked him up and down.
    "Well, I do get to say goodbye to Damien, right?"
    "I'll ask him to stop by but he can't stay. He really does have to pack and ship out."
    "Where to?"
    "I can't tell you."
    * * *
    When Hunter returned that evening, it was well past nine. He smiled to see his research subject bottoms up on his bed, dressed in a black lace teddy. He leaned down and kissed each cheek where it peeked out of the soft fabric. As he plumped them up, she purred, "Hello, loverboy."
    "Hello, goddess."
    "I've been waiting for you." She rolled over and they kissed. As Hunter's lips parted, he circled them around her face, rubbing his stubbled whiskers to awaken her