"Esther M. Friesner - At These Prices" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friesner Esther M)

prices you charge, youтАЩd be trying to help me get it locked instead of standing there,
making vile accusations!тАЭ
тАЬEr, IтАЩll do my best, maтАЩam.тАЭ Bixby motioned for her to descend from the
valise so that he might take a stab at shutting it. She clambered off slowly, her hands
exerting constant pressure on the lid. He tried to work around her, but it proved
impossible. At last he said, тАЬMaтАЩam, why donтАЩt you step back and let me do this?тАЭ
BellaтАЩs face hardened. тАЬItтАЩs my suitcase.тАЭ
тАЬMaтАЩam, IтАЩm not arguing the point. I only mean that it would be easier to
close if youтАЩd let meтАФтАЭ
тАЬI didnтАЩt ask for your help,тАЭ Bella said stiffly.
тАЬMaтАЩam, you did.тАЭ
It was the truth, but that didnтАЩt stop her from snorting it to scorn. тАЬI didnтАЩt
send for you. IтАЩm checking out this morning. I was trying to pack while waiting for
my coffee to brew.тАЭ She didnтАЩt dare remove her hands from the suitcase, so a nod
of the head was all she could manage to direct his attention toward the little in-room
coffee maker, merrily burbling away on the dresser.
тАЬCoffee?тАЭ BixbyтАЩs gaze sought out the coffee maker and clamped onto the
miniature glass carafe. A disquieting look of yearning crept into his eyes. He licked
his lips and inhaled the scent of brewing beans as though he meant to draw the rich
aroma into the depths of his soul. тАЬAhhhh.... тАЬHis voice quivered. тАЬYes. Yes, of
course. Very efficient of you, IтАЩm sure.тАЭ
тАЬIt was, until you showed up and started making trouble.тАЭ Bella was too busy
keeping her righteous indignation at full throttle to give BixbyтАЩs odd behavior more
than passing notice. тАЬIf I werenтАЩt here for the Speranza Storm Cosmetics
convention, IтАЩd never stay in this exorbitant excuse for a hotel. A midtown
Manhattan location is not a license for price gouging! Even your so-called group
rates are ridiculous. The rooms are tiny, the amenities are pathetic, and the only time
anyone takes an interest in a guestтАЩs needs is when the guest has absolutely no need
ofтАФтАЭ
That was when the suitcase exploded. Despite BellaтАЩs unfailing pressure on
the lid, the unhappy bit of baggage abruptly succumbed to the even greater pressure
from within. It shot out from under her hands, skidded across the bed, and hit the
nearest wall, bursting open like a giant milkweed pod and spraying its contents all
over the room. The recoil catapulted Bella to the floor.
Bixby regarded the aftermath of the eruption with a look that was equal parts
astonishment and begrudging admiration. His unsettling fascination with the coffee
maker was gone, blasted to oblivion by the spectacle of what BellaтАЩs burst suitcase
had unleashed. The first thing he picked up was the hair dryer.
тАЬThatтАЩs mine!тАЭ Bella croaked. Though she was still a little groggy from her
recent tumble, her eyes were two slits of steely purpose, focused on the appliance
dangling in BixbyтАЩs grasp.
тАЬMaтАЩam, you must be mistaken.тАЭ He spoke calmly but firmly. тАЬAs you can
see, this one has the hotel name clearly marked on the handle. Now, as for the soap
dishтАФтАЭ He poked the toe of his perfectly shined Oxford at the aforementioned
bathroom accessory where it lay half-hidden under a flutter of hotel stationery.
тАЬDonтАЩt you dare go through my personal belongings!тАЭ Bella clawed her way
up the side of the bed. As she gained the summit, her fingers closed upon a little
bottle of shampoo, one of about three dozen scattered over the sheets of the
unmade bed. (It would stay unmade, in its present condition: The blanket and duvet
were across the room, spilling out of the suitcase.) тАЬI suppose now youтАЩre going to