Chapter 1

Mark pushed the door to the hotel room open and allowed Debbie Janicke to enter before him. While he personally had never stayed at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, he knew it to be the finest hotel, certainly in the city, and quite possibly in the South. This was the upscale of upscale facilities, and not surprising, the room that had been reserved for her was on the Concierge Floor, which meant treatment that is even more luxurious and more benefits for the guests. One of her collegiate sorority sisters had asked Debbie to be a gift table host prior to her friend's wedding reception. The bride's parents, among the wealthiest in the area, had graciously provided a room in the hotel for each member of the wedding party, including all of the peripheral members that assisted at the reception. Debbie had asked Mark to be her escort to the reception.

Debbie paused as she entered the room, just long enough for Mark to bump into her clumsily. "Are you sure that this is our room?"

"Room 824. That's the number on the key card."

"It's a suite, not just a room. It's beautiful.

"I think it is appropriate for you. How about that! They even provide a bottle of Champagne, on ice." Mark opened the bottle with a dramatic flair, the cork popping as it launched from the bottle on its way to the ceiling. He poured two glasses and handed one to Debbie. "Here's to the most beautiful girl at the wedding."

She kissed him gently, but with enthusiasm and meaning. "I can't believe that they gave us a room like this. There's even a balcony. Can we go out there for a few minutes?"

They stood together, looking out at the Atlanta skyline. From their elevation, they could easily see well beyond the airport nearly twenty miles to the south. There was no noise, other than the sound of the breeze blowing across the building. Mark could feel Debbie shaking, not violently, just ever so slightly.

"Are you cold? Do you want to go in?"

"No, I'm fine. Just hold me for a minute, will you please?"

Mark put his arms around Debbie and pulled her to him. He could feel her pull tight to his body. "Debbie???"

"I'm just a little nervous, Mark. I've never done this before."

He pulled her head up and kissed her very tenderly. "Let's go back inside."

"Give me a minute, please." Debbie went to the bedroom while Mark went to put a Do Not Disturb placard on the door and secure it.

She called to him and he stepped into the bedroom. She was standing beside the bed wearing a steel blue diaphanous negligee. The lighting in the room cascaded onto her softly, highlighting her beauty.

"Mark," she asked timidly. "Am I..."