Author's Note: This story is the full-length version of a Hot Flash I wrote in August 2006. This story and the flash are copyrighted, in full and part, to Frustrated. If you would like to reproduce this story or COMMENT on it, please e-mail me. I'd love to hear from you. Many thanks to ghosthostblue and flibinite for their wonderful edits and comments.
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Barbara settled down behind her desk in the lobby of the McCallow Palm Tree Inn & Suites. The Inn was popular with businessmen, so the owner, Mr. Greenaugh, hired Barbara to be their eye candy out front. They hadn't, however, accounted for her tongue. She'd had many years of experience turning men down and she was lightning-quick at it, a reputation that had earned her the nickname "The Barb."
She yawned, dropping her bag next to her stool, and hunched herself over the soothing hot steam from her coffee.
Finally ready for work, Barbara stretched and checked the computer. Only a handful of reservations, and none scheduled to arrive during her shift. Work today was going to be slow and easy.
*Boop. Boop.*
The sleepy brunette extended her right arm. It landed on the phone.
*Boooop. Boo-*
"Hello you've reached the Palm Tree Inn and Suites my name is Barbara how may I help you," she rattled off, half-slumped over the reception desk.
There was no answer, just some tropical music. After ten seconds, a recorded voice clicked on.
"Thank you, and good-bye," it said in measured, dulcet tones. The line went dead.
"Hello? Hello?" The Barb hung up. "Pah," she spat, "stupid recordings."
She sat up straight and started to sort through the junk on her desk. Why did she have so many old receipts and things? And what was this, a picture of, James, her boyfriend? Why did she that at work? It wasn't like she wouldn't see him soon enough, probably right after her shift.
*Boop. Boop. Boooo-*
"Hello, welcome to the Palm Tree Inn and Suites. My name is Barbara how may I help you?" tripped lightly off her tongue.
There was no answer; just thirty seconds of classical music. A voice clicked on.
"Thank you and good-bye," it chirped. As before, the line went dead.
"Hrm, that silly recording again." Barbara hung up, looked around, and decided that it was all junk. She swept everything but the phone, the computer, and the registration book into the round file. Feeling inspired, she went through each drawer of the desk and her purse just as discriminatively. What were all of these lipsticks all in the same color? She only needed one of each color, some nice, dark, sexy ones to set off her luscious lips just right. Could she remember to get everything she needed the next time she went shopping? Barbara started a list, just to be sure she wouldn't forget.
There was just one more drawer to go when the phone rang again.
"Hello? This is the Palm Tree Inn and Suites. My name is Barbara, how may I help you?" slid from her mouth like a waterfall over a cliff, smooth and supple.
She nodded along to the two minutes of soft jazz that followed, staring intently at that last drawer. It was her boss's drawer, the one she had been ordered never to open. *Why?* she wondered. Why shouldn't she open it? She had the key, after all.
She didn't feel cross at the soft, warm voice that said good-bye to her from the handset.