Bayfront Manor, Miami

"Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't that John Bowles, the old time Hollywood movie actor?" he asked Philippe who shrugged. He didn't even know the name.

"He was in some of our old movies," Bryan said.

They sat watching the ballroom dancers and the general activity in the Caban. Bryan began to watch with interest a very attractive young white woman dancing several dances with different men from the tour. Finally she danced with the man he had identified as John Bowles.

"I think I'll cut on that girl in the black dress," he said to Philippe. "I think she is on that tour that came in."

Philippe, smiling, said he would come and cut in if Bryan did it for more than a couple of dances.

Bryan agreed and went out on the floor soon after a new piece began, and cut in on the girl.

She was much more attractive up close. Her perfume was different but especially nice. Her spaghetti strapped black dress was somewhat long and more in keeping with something she might wear to a party. Her makeup seemed to be either wonderfully perfect, or not there much at all, leaving her real beauty exposed. She wore high heels, her dark brown hair was shoulder length and thick and beautiful.

"Are you a tourist with that tour that came in?" He asked, enjoying her superb dancing.

"No, I'm the one that brought the tour. I live here."

"You're kidding? Really?" he replied.

He knew right then who she must be, but she spoke before he could confirm it.

"I'm Christine Stratton. Stratton Tours, Mr. Butler," She smiled and broke for a twirl and returned into his arms. She was holding him close.. Her signal left no doubt. He was wearing boxer shorts. He was thankful that the lights were subdued and the dance floor was full of dancing couples.

"I know you're staying with Madam Marie Claude in the main house. Do you think we could duck over there and get to know each other better?" Christine Stratton had whispered close in his ear, her breath conveying with a soft slow full breathed hiss, the sound of promised passion.

One couldn't get more direct than that.

His mind had already begun the question-solving exercise of where in Chacune, or maybe El Rancho, or even down town, they might go. Buck was in his bed by now so their room was out.

Bryan wasn't ready to merely get into bed, he was ready to bound into bed, with her.

He had already come up blank on a place. Nothing would probably work in Madam de Lucy's house. Buck was sacked out in their room. Christine had come leading a small nightclub tour of tourists, which probably would have to be shepherded back to their own hotel later on.

"I'm bunking with Buck Petersen," He told her.

"The same room? That's a discouraging development."

Bryan let that pass.

He didn't ask if she was married because he already knew she was, and husband, Lonnie, whom he had not met yet, and had been talked badly about by Buck, was not leading this tour tonight. This would have been out of the question at home but this was Haiti.

Philippe tapped him on the shoulder to cut in on their dance and he yielded her and returned to their seats.

He watched Philippe dance with her and he was good. He was a lot better at tripping the light fantastic on the dance floor so he wondered if the hot lady was propositioning him out there. Philippe did have his own room in the Chacune House.

Bryan had just about shrugged off this as a missed opportunity as their dance continued through the next two pieces and he didn't go out to cut in.

The band finally took a break. Philippe and Christine came to sit with him.

"Christine, you and Philippe were really looking good out there. I was hoping he didn't show me up too much in the terpsichorean department."

Philippe in a gentlemanly response allowed that he had thought the same thing about Bryan's dancing. In the presence of this beautiful woman, Philippe, showed traces of the aplomb and smoothness he had seen in the French born actor, Charles Boyer, as he played in 'Gaslight', 'Algiers' and other movies.

"The lady made us each look good," Bryan smiled directly at Christine, maybe keeping his options open with her. She smiled back and Philippe caught the direction things were going. He managed a sly little smile. It was his private amusement not a jolly response.

"I was thinking that I would stay up late tonight out here." Philippe continued, "and watch all the dancers and maybe dance some more. Their sign says they are open until two. I'm leaving in the morning for Martinique so this is my last chance to observe the goings on in Haiti night life this trip. If you have any use for my room next door I won't be needing it for a couple of hours," he said. Looking at his wrist watch, "Shall we say I'll be heading over there at the stroke of midnight?"

He said it to both without breaking into a smile.

Christine put her hand on Bryan's arm and squeezed it a quick firm signal.

"You are a gentleman and a scholar,' Bryan smiled, smothering the worn out chiche' with grateful sincerity.

"Will your tour people be all right without your tender loving care?" Bryan asked.

"Our scheduled departure for tour's end is eleven thirty, so I'll trust you to monitor your watch, Bryan."

"Philippe would knock before entering," Bryan said for confirmation and to assure Christine.

"Yes," Philippe answered, expressionless. "I always knock before entering my room."

They all smiled.

Christine stood, holding out her outstretched hand to Bryan. "Come, Darling," she said, "I've always wanted to go through a Frenchman's luggage to see what if any Christian Dior he secretly wears under his outerwear."