Laura stepped out of a cab, and climbed up the front steps of the hotel, suitcases in hand. She spotted the front desk, and walked over to the woman waiting behind it.
"Good morning!", she said, smiling. "Welcome to Crowe's Hotel. I'm the owner, Peaches. What can I do for you?"
"I'd like to check in please. I'm Laura -- I think you've been expecting me."
"Oh, yes, of course! Your room is all ready -- I put you across the hall from your friend Tina."
"That's great; thank you!" She looked around the room. "Nice place you have here. The drive up was lovely."
"Thanks! It's great to have you here. Now let me have someone help you up with your luggage." Peaches rang the little bell on the desk. "Max!"
A few moments later, there were footsteps from down the hall, and Laura turned to find the handsome, well-muscled form of Maximus walking towards her. Her breath caught in her throat, and she had to consciously stop herself from gawking at him. Wearing the uniform of a Roman soldier, he had a heavy cloak with fur trim set about his broad shoulders. He came up to the desk and leaned against it, smiling at Laura. "Someone need some help?"
The warm blue-green eyes staring at her made it hard to think for a minute. "Uh... yeah."
Peaches smiled, chuckling. "Don't mind him -- He has that effect on everybody... including me," she sighed, then introduced them to each other, adding, "Max, be a dear and show Laura up to her room." Peaches handed him a key. "You know which one, right? Up the stairs, near the end of the hall." Max nodded, and she turned to Laura. "You'll love the view of the beach."
"I'm sure I will, thank you," Laura said as Max picked up her suitcases and headed for the staircase. She followed.
"Staying with us long?", Maximus asked.
"I certainly plan to, yes."
"Where are you from?"
"Chicago."
"Never been there... How did you hear about the hotel?"
"A friend of mine recommended it -- Tina. Have you met her?"
Maximus nodded, smiling as he stepped off the stairs and walked down a short hallway. "Yes, I have. We don't see her very often -- she's a very busy lady -- but what little time she has here she spends with John... and me," he added with a quick grin.
Laura looked at him, whispering to herself, "I can see I'm going to like this place..." Maximus overheard her, and flashed her a dazzling white-toothed smile. Her heart fluttered and she thought to herself, //Oh, my god...! Oh, yes, I'm *definitely* going to like this place...!//
They reached her room, and he set the bags down, fumbling with the key. She looked at him, realizing for the first time how over-dressed he was. She pointed to the fur-trimmed cloak. "Aren't you hot in that?"
"Now that you mention it, yes... It was a bit chilly and wet this morning, but I suppose I really don't need it anymore." His hands went to his collar, undoing the light chain which held the cloak in place. He swept it off his back, draping it over his forearm. "I'm not sure what to do with it right now, though. I won't be going back to my room for a while -- It's in the Tavern."
"Oh, I could keep it for you," Laura volunteered.
Maximus looked at her seriously for a moment, then grinned softly. "Can I trust you?"
"Absolutely. I'll guard it with my life, I promise."
Maximus chuckled, grinning broadly again, and Laura thought she was going to faint. "I don't think you have to go that far..." He handed her the cloak, and she reverently draped it over her arm.
He picked up her bags and brought them into the room. Moving around the large, cozy sitting room, he turned on the lights for her, opened the closets, and opened up the doors to the bathroom and the bedroom. Out of the corner of his eye he caught her holding the cloak up to her face, inhaling deeply, smelling his scent and rubbing the soft fur. Smiling to himself, Maximus opened the curtains and pushed open the windows to let fresh air in. "Well, if you need anything, let one of us know. Or ask Peaches at the desk." He took a few steps towards the door. "When you're settled, why don't you stop by the Tavern and say hello? Everyone will be anxious to meet you."
"Who's everyone?"
"Myself, Bud, Cort, Sid, Jeffrey, John, Colin, Lachlan and a few others, plus the other hotel guests. The place is really starting to fill up -- I think there's 25 of you now."
"Is that Bud White?" Laura asked, and he nodded. "Well, I've heard of him, but we've never met. As for the rest of guys -- I'm afraid I have no idea who they are."
"There's plenty of time to get acquainted. Just watch out for Sid, though. He's not the -- " He paused briefly. " -- sanest person you'll ever meet -- not by a longshot."
"I'll keep that in mind... Do you think you could introduce me around to everyone later?" She lowered her eyes, blushing a little. "I'm kinda shy about meeting new people..."
"No problem -- I'd be happy to. Just drop by whenever you like."
"Thanks, I will."
He couldn't help but notice she was still holding on tightly to his cloak. He took another step closer to her, staring down at her, smiling with warm eyes. The volume of his voice dropped. "Enjoying my cologne?"
"Huh?" she stammered, blushing furiously at being 'caught'.
When he grinned again, Laura thought she was going to melt into a puddle at his feet. "You can keep the cloak for me," Maximus said. "Summer's coming, and I won't need it again for a while. Besides, Sid hates it, and I don't want anything to happen to it."
"It's safe with me, Maximus."
He put his hand on the wall beside her, leaning in on her. "Question is, Laura... Am *I* safe with you...?"
Her eyes widened. "Me...?" she squeaked, flustered, at a loss for words -- as usual.
"Well, you know what they say -- it's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for..." He stared into her eyes with an intense gaze.
Her face was a definite shade of crimson now, but then she started to smile. "Yeah, you're probably right..." She chuckled, putting a hand on his chest. "Maximus... You don't know the half of it..." Her hand moved across his chest to his arm, tracing upwards until it reached his face. She stroked his soft beard, stepping closer.
He reached over and swung the door shut. Then he took the cloak from her, laying it on a nearby chair. "Then why don't you enlighten me...?" Max leaned in, drawing her into an embrace...
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