‘I know, I know,’ she sighed. ‘I get paid next Friday, I’ll make it up to you then’ Simon nodded with a smile and sidled out of the bathroom...again, shutting the door softly behind him. What a nice, considerate man, thought Emma, as she ran the soft, dry toweling over her creamy opulence. She heated her microwave meal and, wrapped in the towel, took it up to her bedroom and switched on the little cheap laptop. Picking at her sweet and sour chicken, she logged in to Vali-Date, the matchmaking. "Robin climbed onto her bed but ignored Vivian's instructions and loungedon her pillow. Sitting on her knees felt far too perky and girly for howshe felt. If Vivian minded she didn't let on. "I thought communicationtherapy was for couple's counseling." Oh quit worrying about what I call it. You suck all the joy out of itif you do that! This is why you hard science people are boring. Now,"Vivian paused to take another bite, "I think I know just the subject forus to start this mondo-whining. ) The men insisted on helping to clean up after breakfast, getting in the way more than anything else, but the women allowed them to, anyway. Then laughing together, they restacked the dishes properly in the washers after the men left the kitchen, very proud that they had “helped” their spouses.The midday Christmas meal that the Southerners insisted on calling dinner was at one, and there was just about everything imaginable on the table. With every Alpha and his women there, and several of the. "Sarah was about to speak but Randy put a finger to her lips."But there's more. I've spent enough time with you now to know that youare decent person. A lovely person and I have treated you poorly since Ifirst met you," he said."But that doesn't mean I'm not going to use you to do what we have to do,"he said levelly.They held each other's gaze for a while and then Sarah broke the tensionby smiling."You really fucked up Randolph," she grinned.He looked at her quizzically."You just called me a.