by Pepper Pace
Feeling violated, she left the dance floor with a sour expression. It was another drawback of being single—men thought it was okay to just touch her because there was no one with her to punch his lights out.
She was getting hot and decided on another tall fruity iced drink before heading up to her spa visit. This time she got one made with strawberries and vodka. She downed it within ten minutes and then found a small private corner to do a little two-step dance when a song she liked began to play.
By the time she made it up to the spa she was feeling good again, most likely because she was slightly buzzed. Two black men even stopped in their tracks to check her out.
The masseuse tried to give her a tour of the multitude of accommodations, but she was not having it.
“Just give me a massage,” she announced. “I don’t care what kind.” The masseuse led her to a shower and after she had washed away her sweat the woman had the nerves to guide her to a sauna.
“Uh…no. My hair will explode like a lion’s mane if I step foot in there!” she said. The young woman apologized and then gave her the hot stone treatment.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Sidney murmured as she lay face down with the masseuse’s hands expertly working out kinks from months of stress. She didn’t even know when she drifted off to sleep.
I am already loving this vacation, she thought before her light snores invade the peaceful space.
She must have really had fun at the sail-away party, Gio thought as he dried the last dish. It was close to eleven o’clock and he had long ago put away his guest’s dinner. He hoped she wouldn’t phone him at one in the morning to come heat it up for her. It had been done before. Well…he probably wouldn’t truly mind although he was tired.
He was just heading for the door when it opened and his guest hurried in. “Gio! I’m so sorry!” She exclaimed when she saw him. “I fell asleep at the spa.” The music was soft and soothing, and the light aroma of candles and oils had relaxed her too much. The masseuse had placed a towel over her and left her alone and she had slept for over an hour!
Gio looked amused. “What are you apologizing for?”
“Well I missed dinner after I gave you a request for a full four-course meal.”
“Madam,” he said, amused at her anxiousness. “I am here for you, so there is no need to apologize. I placed your dinner in the refrigerator. Would you like me to heat it up for you?”
Her stomach growled loudly. “No,” she said sheepishly. She would not put this guy out. The second he left, though, she was going to dig into the fridge and smash that food.
Gio glanced down at her belly with a raised brow? “Which one should I listen to, you or the grumbling of your stomach?”
Her eyes got so big that for a second he worried if she was going to smack him, but instead she burst out in gut-busting laughter.
Her honest amusement was contagious, and he was soon chuckling along with her. She even snorted which only caused her to laugh even harder.
“Gio,” she said after catching her breath. “I’m so hungry right now that I could eat a horse. But it’s late! Don’t you sleep?”
“Yes, butler’s sleep, Miss. But I am not just a butler. I am a Super G and we are at your service twenty-four seven. I am at your service twenty-four seven.”
“Super G…”
“Superior Genies.”
“So, the Super G doesn’t stand for Super Gio?” She asked while staring at him with a slight smile. She was flirting a little—but also safely so that if it turned out badly, she could quickly retreat.
His eyes locked onto hers as if he had picked up what she was throwing down.
“I’ve been called Super G…but that is outside of my professional duties. Now,” he slapped his hands together until they made a soft clap. “I am going to heat up your dinner. Please feel free to change into something comfortable. Will you prefer to be served on the terrace or in the dining room? Or, is your preference to be served in the bedroom?”
Wetness seemed to rush to Sidney’s nether regions. She stared into his unflinching amber eyes but then slowly looked down. She was too much of a novice to play this game with someone like him. His innocent, yet sexy double entendre could have several meanings, but the question is could she really take him up on it if he was actually offering her an invitation?
Yes. Yes, she would but she wasn’t truly a rich girl and she would not be able to afford the…other services that he might offer.
“The terrace sounds nice.”
He nodded innocently and then turned and disappeared as she stared after him. Why did his butt look even better? Dayum, that was one fine man. She had never entertained the thought of paying someone for sex…until now. She went upstairs to change.
Gio’s dick was so hard that he needed the time in the kitchen to calm down. What in the hell had he been thinking? He had never in his life come on to a guest like that before. She just did not know how sexy she looked rushing into the suite with her hair mussed and her make-up gone. She was just as beautiful, if not more than when she was perfectly made up.
He wanted to fuck her right then and there—tired as he was, he no longer wanted to leave. He wanted to look at the way her hips swayed when she walked and to stare at the way the many levels of browns and blacks colored her deep dark skin. He wanted to inhale the fragrance of her day; the sweat from dancing, the scent of the massage oils used by the masseuse, the hint of alcohol that she might have drank.
He turned on the stove in order to heat up her meal because his dick was not going down. He retrieved the fanciest dishes and carried them to the balcony.
“Assistant, turn on soft lights.” He spoke to the virtual speaker system. “Softer,” he commanded. Once the area was lit to his satisfaction, he expertly laid out a formal place setting, beginning with the appetizer course.
“Assistant, play soft, contemporary guitar music. No vocals.”
“Shuffling, soft contemporary music with no vocals,” the gentle, female, synthesized voice replied.
Gio returned to the kitchen to plate the salad and place the warm bread into a basket. The butter was perfect as he had left it sitting on the counter. By this time his dick was at half-mast. He was in his element. He liked making things perfect.
Sidney had slipped on a silk kimono robe and fur slippers. When she checked herself in the mirror she nearly screeched. Her make-up was a mess! She didn’t have time to do a full make-up job but she at leased applied some powder and touched up her lip-gloss. She pulled her loose curls back with a clip and then hurried down the stairs, feeling a bit giddy even though she knew she shouldn’t. Gio was the butler, not her man. And yet, she couldn’t help anticipating the looks he gave her, the way his amber eyes swept her body or face in approval.
Once outside she was met by the soft sounds of guitar. The balcony was lined with small, soft lights. It was like the rooftop of an exclusive New York apartment in some romance movie. She had to stop in her tracks just so that she could absorb all that she saw.
Gio stood by a table that was covered by a pristine white tablecloth. His posture was straight and formal, but once she stepped onto the balcony she saw that his eyes were locked onto her.
“Oh my God…this is simply beautiful,” she said softly. She moved to sit down and Gio quickly moved her chair for her to sit.
“Wine, madam?”
“Sparkling water, please.” She replied and he moved to a nearby pushcart and retrieved a bottle of sparkling water sitting in a container of ice. He poured it into the wine glass and then placed a perfectly decorated salad in front of her along with a selection of small covered crystal containers containing dressing, each of which he named in his low accented English.
When she selected the ranch dressing he moved to lift the serving spoon before she could and then drizzled the dressing on the salad.
“Enough?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s good.”
She was happy that he didn
’t stay to watch her eat. She finished her salad with gusto while enjoying the ocean breeze and the darkened ripples of the ocean.
Gio returned and whisked away her salad plate. He placed before her a dish covered by a metal dome. With an expert flourish, he removed the dome to reveal two small grilled fish, risotto and roasted vegetables in a balsamic vinegar reduction.
“Enjoy.”
She thanked him and the moment he left she picked up her fork and dug in. Surprisingly it wasn’t ruined due to being reheated. Before she was finished Gio returned and refreshed her water.
“Is everything to your liking?” he asked.
All she could do was nod happily. He retreated and when he returned he carried a covered dish. After straightening up her place setting and brushing away any crumbs, he presented her with a fruit tart.
“Coffee, madam?” He asked.
“No, I’ll be awake all night. What time do we reach Palma de...?”
“Palma de Mallorca. We will dock at approximately nine a.m. Your excursion is scheduled shortly before noon.”
“And, uh…you’re going to be there?” She asked trying to sound casual while cutting her fork into the pastry.
“I’m not scheduled on this one.”
“Oh. Okay,” she smiled. “I should get some sleep then.” She pushed back her unfinished desert. “I’m full, but everything was so good.”
“I’m happy you enjoyed it. I’ll be sure to notify the chef.” He began to remove the dishes. “What time would you like to have breakfast?”
“I think I’ll have breakfast at nine. That way I’ll have time to get in the Jacuzzi.”
“Excellent,” he said. “Have a good night, madam. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She stood knowing that she was being dismissed so that he could complete his clean up, and she certainly didn’t like knowing that she had added to his work.
“Good night, Gio. See you in the morning.” She went inside and got ready for bed. She heard the door close at close to midnight and decided that even though Gio did this for a living, she would always be conscious of what he did for her.
Chapter Six
There was a six am morning huddle with the other Genies to discuss any issues they may have come upon.
Gio refused to grumble. He had never needed much sleep, but it was pushing it to schedule a huddle so soon after the busiest day of a tour. It was even more evident that it was pointless when no one reported any issues or complaints and Nicco kept trying to find something to talk about.
“And Mr. Anello, how is your American? You weren’t at yesterday’s muster drill.”
He raised a brow. “I informed Matthew that my guest would be attending the fairground muster. We didn’t ditch it.”
“Why couldn’t she muster with everyone else? Is she that much of a prima donna?”
“Not at all,” he replied trying not to show his annoyance. “Not all guests want to spend over an hour taking a tour of something that doesn’t interest them.”
Nicco was quiet for a moment. “Well she also didn’t attend dinner last night.”
“Neither did my guests,” Carlos said in exasperation. “So what? My guests flew in from Calcutta and were tired. They ate at the buffet. Guest’s do it all the time.”
“Of course, I know that!” Nicco snapped. “She just seems to be a problem.”
You’re too stupid to respond to, Gio thought while ignoring him.
Nicco continued to stare at him. “If you want to switch back, I’ll allow it.” He said. “I’ll take my original guest back and you can take yours back.”
Gio grinned at him. “So, your guests aren’t to your liking, huh?”
“It’s not that,” Nicco said too quickly.
“How many times did your guests send you to fetch ice cream for the kid and drinks for the husband and wife?” Paolo asked while hiding his grin. “I saw you at the bar four different times.
Nicco inhaled. “Dismissed.”
It was almost eight am when Sidney was finally able to pull herself out of a comfortable sleep. She lay there for a few minutes enjoying the luxurious feel of the bed, stretching her limbs to each of it’s four corners.
When she was finally able to get out of its cloud-like comfort, Sidney slipped on her Kimono and opened the curtains and then walked out onto the upper level balcony.
She stood on the balcony for a few minutes just enjoying the sight of the endless miles of water. Anxious to start her day, she showered, dressed and placed the remainder of the articles from her carry-on bag on either the dressing table or in the lingerie drawer.
She could hear soft music from the speakers on the lower level and went downstairs curious as to what other surprises Gio might have waiting for her. There was a bowl of fresh fruit on the dining room table to let her know that besides turning on the music, he had already been there.
There was also a menu on the table, and she carried it into the kitchen so that she could get a drink in order to take her morning vitamins. She was hit with the delicious aroma of coffee and then the equally delicious sight of Gio cooking at the stove.
“Good morning, madam,” he said while flashing her a smile. “Did you sleep well?” He pushed back a small skillet from the burner, and she saw a plate of crepes that he had already prepared.
“I had the best sleep ever,” she replied. Today he was dressed in slacks that fit him perfectly without being overly tight—although she would not have complained if they were tighter. He also wore a light blue polo shirt with a gold watch around his wrist. Instead of the hard-bottomed dress shoes of yesterday he wore black loafers, which seemed good for walking.
She was wearing white beachcombers and a white shirt that showed a brightly colored picture of a black woman wearing a colorful headscarf.
“Coffee or tea? Or would you prefer juice?” He asked.
“Juice for starters. I need to take these vitamins. Orange juice is fine but if you have peach juice that would be even better.” She’d had it for the first time at the hotel and it had been amazing.
“We do not have peach,” he had the refrigerator door opened, “but there is pink grapefruit, cranberry, orange juice and milk.
She took a seat at the breakfast bar. “OJ is fine.” He poured her a small glass of the juice. “I see that you have the breakfast menu. What may I serve you for breakfast?”
“I didn’t know you were a cook.” She said.
He shook his head and returned to the stove. “Your kitchen is not stocked for me to prepare elaborate meals. I will give your food order to the chef downstairs. But crepes are simple and nice for traveling, so I shall send these with you. They can be spread with preserves made fresh by our chefs, or cheese and meat.”
The crepes smelled good, but she liked his idea of having them later. She also liked watching him cook.
Sidney spied a platter of croissants, rolls, Danishes and other bread with several whipped butters.
“Can you make me an omelet?” She asked? “And then I’ll have that with a croissant.”
“I can prepare a delicious omelet for you.” He removed the last crepe and turned to her. “What kind would you like?”
“Gio, I’m a foodie. I would eat the eyeball from a wildebeest if it smells good enough.”
He gave her a surprised look and then threw his head back and laughed. “Gotcha,” he said with a smile.
Sidney felt butterflies in her stomach at the sight of his amusement. She liked it so much better than his stiff propriety. But it was his job to be stiff and proper, although, she couldn’t help remembering last night and their subtle flirtation.
“Is it okay if I watch you cook?” She asked, not wanting to be invasive but also interested in watching him cook.
“No at all, madam. I welcome it.” He retrieved eggs from the refrigerator along with a tomato and various fresh herbs.
“Cheese?” He asked while staring into the refrigerator’s contents.
“If you we
re making it for yourself would you want cheese?” She asked.
“No.” He closed the refrigerator decisively. “For me, simple is best. Salt, pepper, tomato and fresh herbs.”
“Sounds good to me.”
While he cracked the eggs into a bowl, Sidney got up to pour herself some of the coffee and Gio’s head swung in her direction, one brow up and the other dipped. That was the look of disapproval.
“Allow me.” He stopped what he was doing to retrieve a coffee mug from the cabinet and to pour her a cup of the freshly brewed coffee. Sidney took her seat again, mentally kicking herself for forgetting. “Cream or sugar?” he asked.
“Both.”
Instead of putting the cream and sugar into her coffee he placed a small serving set containing the cream and sugar before her.
“Thank you.” She said.
“My pleasure madam.”
She cleared her throat and inhaled but then bit her tongue. He gave her a curious look.
“Madam? Is there anything more?”
She opened her mouth, paused and then smiled. “No. Thank you Gio.”
His expression subtly changed. He didn’t give her the displeased look, exactly, but he was dissatisfied. “Let me know if you change your mind,” he said simply.
And she realized that the expressions that he wore were orchestrated to teach her without him having to be overt. Let him do his job. Let him serve.
“Gio,” she said quickly. “I don’t like when you call me madam or miss. Can you just call me Sidney?” Her face burned at the way he looked at her without responding. She should just go out to the balcony and sit her ass down.
“Okay, Sidney,” he finally said while turning back to the counter to finish prepping her breakfast.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Gio finally spoke. “You are not the first person to make this request.” He glanced at her from over his shoulder. Okay, he didn’t appear annoyed by her. “It is the nature of my job to maintain some distance and we do this in many ways. But I prefer first names as well.” And then he smiled at her before returning his attention to the omelet.
