Cleaning

Rick wasn't sure Usha had meant her promise about being topless but he needn't have worried. At seven, she was banging around the gym, tossing out wine boxes (perhaps their next party, they would have to upgrade the selection), mopping up puke where the drinkers had gone too far, and generally flashing her tiny tits everywhere she went.

Rick had to keep himself from following her around like a puppy. "I'm not needy," he repeated to himself. "I'm not needy."

"God you're acting needy," Usha told him.

"I'm a guy. A beautiful topless woman shuts off the flow of blood to my brain."

"I could put on a top."

"No, no. I'm pretty sure the brain is back in control here."

By eight thirty the mess was under control and Usha suggested hanging a couple of the speed bags they'd bought.

Which they did, and which was every bit as distracting as he'd imagined it would be with topless Usha standing on a chair and holding the speed bag ring above her head while he screwed it to the ceiling.

Kat limped in about nine-thirty with three cartons of Starbucks coffee and a dozen donuts. She looked like shit, with two black eyes, a fat lip, abrasions all up her right leg, and various cuts and scrapes everywhere else that showed, which was pretty much everywhere because she wore a pair of cycling shorts and a bikini top.

"Nobody told me it was topless day at the club," she complained.

"Since we don't have the money to pay Rick, I figured a little bonus compensation would come in handy."

"Speaking of handy," Rick said. "We do have a few minutes to--"

"Speaking of needy," Usha said. "Come on, Rick. A deal's a deal. No renegotiating halfway through."

"Speaking of cleaning," Kat said, "you'd better check on your massage room. First clients any minute. And Rick."

"Yeah?"

"You still needy at the end of today, I'll see what I can do to take care of it. Usha isn't the only one who can come up with non-monetary rewards."

"Thanks. But no worries. I think I can survive."

"Just saying."

"And I'm just saying 'thanks.'"