“It's a little tight...no?” I said, smoothing out the backside of the short jade dress with a corset like boning, which I had just squeezed into.

  “Looks perfect to me,” Jack said, glancing up and down my body, surreptitiously, while polishing some seersucker boating shoes, underneath a loud floral patterned button up, with his sleeves rolled to his toned forearms, and sporting a pair of casual golf shorts. He pulled it off for sure.

  I couldn't help but beam at his words, even if they did get me to sweat a little bit, hopefully not enough to run my makeup. Shrugging, I turned from the mirror and pouted at Jack, trying to draw his attention. “I don't know how to do this.”

  “How to do what exactly?

  “This,” I huffed, motioning to my dress...to everything around me. “I don't know how to be a spy. I barely know how to flirt with other humans.”

  “Just do what you usually do,” Jack said, slapping on an expensive looking leather watch.

  “Be awkward?” I joked.

  “See, you do know how to do this.”

  “Hey!” I cried, laughing.

  “Whatever you're doing...it works...trust me.” Jack smiled to himself.

  He wasn't the only one smiling, as I tucked a long strand of unruly hair behind my ear.

  A knock came at the door, breaking the tender silence. Elliott waltzed into the sleek room of the luxurious Santa Caterina Hotel , after the briefest of courtesy knocks, a laptop tucked firmly under his arm. “Are you both set then?”

  “We didn't need a chaperone,” Jack groaned.

  “Everyone always needs an eye in the sky,” Elliott championed himself and found a desk to sit at. “It sounds like you just don't want to be caught doing some hanky panky.”

  I audibly gasped at the implication. Though I was beginning to like them. He could certainly keep them coming.

  “Armando has already arrived on the Pequod. I'll provide support from here.” Elliott retrieved small black cases from his pocket and motioned for us to take them.

  I clicked the case open to find a tiny ear piece, before looking to Jack for help on affixing it properly, which he readily did, his hot breath tickling the nape of my neck as he did so.

  “These don't have a huge radius,” Elliott warned. “So don't stray too far from poolside...or dockside...or I might lose you.”

  “Got it,” I nodded, as Jack left my side, begrudgingly. The intoxicating scent of his sandalwood cologne almost drew me along with him.

  “Have fun,” Elliott cheered, as we set out.

  Hopefully those aren't famous last words before our demise, I thought ominously.

  Jack and I wandered down the expansive halls, gazing upon the romantic overview of the coastline from the hotel's many open air windows. It was nothing like I'd ever experienced before. The ideal of romanticism. Unfortunately for me, my romantic partner for the day, was a rotund and sweaty man, in a light linen short sleeve shirt and shorts, whose gaudy fake jewelry, and glossy bald headed sheen drew our attention from a distance, as we descended to the pool.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Armando was surrounded by beautiful women, and attendants bringing top of the line bottles and accouterments. The man laughed loudly, exuberantly, overcompensating in all manners.

  “I don't think I have to tell you which one he is,” Elliott chimed in over the mic.

  “Top notch spy work as always, Elliott,” Jack whispered cheekily.

  “I try,” Elliott's voice buzzed back.

  “So,” I said, looking to Jack, “what's the game plan?”

  “Just like I said earlier,” a gleam in his eye, “do your thing.”

  I could get lost in those eyes forever. In fact, I did, as I suddenly tumbled down the steps in front of us. The worst entrance possible. I dusted myself off and made sure everything was back in their right places.

  “Miss, miss!” A gravely voice sounded from a distance. Don Armando was waddling his way over to us.

  “See,” Jack bent down and offered a hand.

  “Shut it,” I fired back, as he helped me up.

  Don Armando arrived just after the nick of time to assist me, as I had already made a semi-triumphant rise back up. “Are you okay, miss?” He seized the opportunity, offering a hairy gold watched bearing palm onto my forearm.

  “Uh yeah,” I spoke up, adjusting sunglasses over my eyes. “Just clumsy old me. Thank you though...Mr...?”

  “The people call me Don,” he said, turning my hand and kissing it deftly, his beady eyes watching me intently as he did so.

  “Thank you Mr. Don,” I said, trying not to be sarcastic, but seizing my own moment.

  “No, uh,” The Don fumbled his words a bit, before shaking the thought from his mind. “Never mind. Would you care to join me and some of my friends?” he asked, pointing to the rollicking group behind him.

  “Uh,” I hesitated, and then felt Jack's elbow nudge my side. “That sounds lovely!” I popped. “Would it be alright if I brought a friend of mine?” I added, looking at Jack, who beamed confidence.

  “Sure, uh, yeah,” The Don said.

  Jack reached out a hand to introduce himself, but was spurned as The Don wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to the group.

  “Great going, Ari,” Elliott cut in, bringing a smile to my lips. “Jack, not so much,” bringing a frown to his, surely.

  “What's a beautiful specimen like yourself doing here?” The Don flirted, shamelessly at that.

  “What about those...specimens over there?” I looked straight ahead at his flock of scantily clad amazons.

  “Eh, you know what I mean,” The Don smiled.

  I did. Despite his poor efforts in the art of charm. I guess the millions made up for his shortcomings. “You don't prefer them?” I asked, forcing a smile to my own lips.

  “You could lay a busty blonde anywhere...and I have,” The Don wiled at his conquests in an open boast, before noticing his mistake and assumed the thought process of trying to rectify it.

  “I know what you mean,” I cut in.

  “You're...different...I can sense it. I know these things.” His hand pressed mine firmly.

  “That she is,” Jack piped up.

  “Who's this guy again?” The Don spat contemptuously, forgetting his manners and attempts to keep a cool demeanor.

  “It's my friend...Matt.” Jack and I exchanged a glance. Real smooth, his droll expression told me.

  “Does he, uh...” The Don leaned in, “does he play for the other team or something?”

  Jack's eyebrows splintered.

  “To be honest,” I squeaked, “I think he might.”

  Jack's jaw hit the floor, while I winked playfully at him, under the top of my shades, before a slight smile washed over his face.

  “So, Don,” I asked, “What brings you here?”

  “Work,” he said, snatching a tall martini off a nearby serving tray.

  “What do you do?”

  “A little bit of this, a little bit of that.”

  “Sounds interesting. Mysterious”

  “You like a little bit of mystery?” He grinned.

  “I...love...a good mystery.”

  “Maybe we can...open up this mystery...tonight?” His hand ran up my thigh. Jack grimaced. I hoped I didn't share his expression.

  “Tonight?” I coughed.

  Jack spoke up. “We got that...thing tonight?”

  I glared at Jack. Was he ruining the mission out of jealousy!? Can't say I didn't enjoy it a little bit.

  "Jack!" Elliott cut in.

  “Oh,” I said, “I think that thing's tomorrow night actually.” I turned back to The Don and twirled my hair. “I'm free tonight.”

  "Good save again, Ari," Elliott breathed.

  “Excellent,” The Don grinned, a gold tooth shining as brightly as some of his cavities. “We'll ship off now if we want to catch the sunset.”

  “Now?” I said, flustered, and unprepared for this turn of events.

  “Uh,” I stuttered, looking to Jack, “what about Matt?”

  “This is a single invitation,” The Don affirmed. “He ain't gonna find what he's looking for on my boat anyways...unfortunately for him,” he added with a laugh.

  I looked back at Jack, who shrugged, and nodded.

  “I'll lose you on that boat,” Elliott popped back in our ears. “Any ideas, Jack?”

  Jack held silent for a moment, seemingly battling internally over the mission...and me. “Well...have fun...babe!” He winked.

  “Wait, what?!”