Roger clapped his hands.  “Okay, Kavi, this is game point.  Ram it down their throats!”

Lori glared at her two opponents, concentrating on where to send her serve.  Tossing the ball into the air, the bikini-clad woman leaped, warm sand spraying from her bare feet.  Punching the white sphere, it soared over the net.

With a diving save and another hit, the other team returned the volley, but it was too high.  Roger leaped and with a powerful stroke, spiked the ball.  It streaked between the opposing players, slamming into the ground.

“Point!  Match goes to Ryan and Kavi!” shouted the judge.

Lori squealed in delight and ran to a smiling Roger.  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

“What?” said Roger, shocked that Lori said that.

“We’re lovers.  Kiss me.”

Without thinking, Roger pressed his lips to hers.  Lori’s mouth opened, she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled against him.

His hands on Lori’s sides, Roger couldn’t believe how much she was throwing herself into the role.

“All right, you two.  Get a room.”

Taking a step back, Roger waved to the other team.  “We’ll see you tonight at the casino.  We have some celebrating to do.”  He smiled as he draped his arm around Lori’s shoulders.

She leaned into him, placing her hand on his shirtless chest, kissing his ear.  “See you later, Erica.”

Going back to the hotel, the couple held hands as they made their way across the beach.

===

Lori turned off the tricorder.  “The room is clear.”

“We’ve been here two days and nothing has happened.  Why do you keep checking?” said Roger.

“Prominent people come here everyday: government officials, business executives, criminals.  I wouldn’t put it past any Ferengi to do whatever it takes to gather information they can use to gain profit.  We can’t risk blowing our cover.”

Roger didn’t admit it, but he was embarrassed for not being more careful about this.

“I’m going to take a shower.”  Lori tossed Roger the tricorder.

“Wait.”

Lori looked at him, but didn’t say anything.  She was gorgeous, so it was difficult to not be obvious about looking at her.

“We need to talk,” said Roger.

“About…?”

Was it possible Lori didn’t know?  Roger found that hard to believe.

“The kiss.  The hugging and the touching.  The kiss.”  Roger had to work at not fumbling over his words.

Lori didn’t answer right away.  Roger could only wonder what she was thinking.

“It was for show to everyone watching,” said Lori.  “If we’re going to make a connection with Klunt, we’ve got to play this 100%.  He needs to believe we’re who we say we are.”

“Yes, I know all that.”

“Then what’s the problem?  You’re reading too much into this.”  Lori paused.  “Is there anything else?  I need that shower.”

“No.  No, there’s nothing else.”  Roger watched Lori until she disappeared into the bathroom.  Going out onto the balcony, their room was on the fifth floor, he stared at the sky, the bright and shining sun contrary to how he was feeling.