Dance Around - Susi Hawke Page 0,9

business-appropriate blazer, complete with a button-up white shirt and tie. But from the bottom down? One hundred percent goat. "Are we going to completely ignore the special staff at this location? Hilton is more inclusive than I realized."

Nash snorted softly. "If you think about it, fauns are the mullet of living creatures. They're business on top and party down below."

Dear gave us both a dirty look. "Handle yourselves, please. At least pretend to be adults? I don't care if you embarrass me, but if you offend one of these gentle creatures, then I will have to kick your ass. Look at them. I've never met anyone more eager to please than the staff we've encountered so far. I guarantee you this Hilton branch has the best customer service with these guys running the place."

Isaac wrapped his arms around Nash, burying his face against his side as if to muffle his words. "It would be a lot easier to pretend to be an adult if their junk wasn’t swinging with every step they take."

I bit back a laugh. He wasn't wrong. Ignoring a girthy, furry cock and big swinging balls was mighty disconcerting. Especially when they drew the eye with their hypnotic sway. "It's called local color, Isaac. I'm guessing we'll get used to it right about the time we're boarding the plane to head home again."

The faun we’d been watching arrived, interrupting our conversation. After casting an irritated glance at his watch, he looked around with an apologetic smile. "Dagnabbit, I do so hate being tardy. My name is Gary, and I'm your concierge. Forgive me for not being here to greet you upon arrival. I was detained by a small issue with a staff member, though it doesn’t excuse my absence. Let's get you checked in and see what your new best friend Gary can do to smooth this over."

Damn, Dear wasn’t wrong. Were all fauns so eager to please? As if doing a mental headcount, Gary looked around our group and then turned to Gil. "Mr. Blythe, I presume? I was given to understand you're the man in charge? I ask so I know who to update on any schedule changes the Council might have before tomorrow's meeting. And believe me, there will be changes." Gary sighed dramatically. "There always are. If they could learn to get along better, our lives would run so much smoother."

Irritated, I started to ask who had told him Gil was the point person, but Gil surprised me by shaking his head. "I'm not sure who misled you, Gary. I'm only in charge of the people named Blythe. The Moreno group are traveling with us, but they can speak for themselves."

Gibby, normally one to stay quiet and let the rest of us do the talking, shocked me by walking over and looping his arm through Gil's. "Don't sweat it, Gil. I think having a single point person will make things easier for Gary. And let's face it, you're so organized you probably have a spreadsheet for your itineraries and to-do lists. I can't think of anyone better to keep track of a large group like this one."

Gary took his comments at face value, probably happy to have just one person to keep in touch with. "Excellent. But let's get you settled. Your luggage has already been taken upstairs, and I took the liberty of having room keys made in advance. Your friend Mortimer was quite thorough with a list of names and space requirements. I think you'll be happy with the accommodations. Unfortunately, I couldn’t put you on the penthouse floor. Those suites are permanently reserved for council members. The next floor down is all yours, though. The people sharing rooms are those who requested it. The rest of you should be satisfied with your privacy suites."

I tuned Gary out and rolled with it while we got checked in and led to our rooms. Sadly, it was a standard suite, identical to any other Hilton room I had ever stayed in. Nice and all, but I guess I’d expected a touch of the magical because of the staff. Or because it was literally a secret location on a private island in the one spot on earth where even satellites couldn't penetrate. The folks at Google Earth would die if they knew this place existed, completely uncharted and out of their reach.

For the rest of the evening, I left everyone to their own devices and stayed in my room. A hot bath, room service,