If his peripheral vision proved accurate, Stella was, uh, mildly impressed when she laid eyes on one of his modelling agency’s cabins.  Anton didn’t need to look directly at her to know how much she gawked at the structure.  “My, you model types really know how to rough it,” she said with a wink.  His response was a hearty laugh, as she had a point.  Should he have referred to it as a chalet, or perhaps a lodge?  Either way, the cat was now out of the bag, and he kept grinning while hauling the coolers and bags inside.  She of course helped, so that task was completed in no time.<br/><br/>Refrigerator and freezer doors swung wide open, he began to place food and beverages in their proper places.  Stella, meanwhile, quietly disappeared.  Anton knew what she was up to.  Two stories of investigation was too strong a lure for her to resist, after all.  He patiently waited for the tell-tale sign that was all but inevitable.  A few minutes later, and there it was.  The tickling of ivory keys wafted to his ears.  Disco, he thought.  She found it.  Although “only” a baby grand, it was still impossible to miss, especially for someone who knew how to play it.  Strumming could also be heard soon after.  Eh?  She played guitar, too? Anton thought with a smile.  He wondered what other instruments she was proficient at playing.<br/><br/>Seemingly satisfied with her exploration, Stella returned to the kitchen just as he was stacking the empty coolers and bags out of the way in the pantry.  She then asked what room she could take.  Ah crap, that didn’t take long, he thought, having dreaded this moment.  In a way, it was probably best to get it outta the way sooner instead of later.  Never the presumptuous type, Anton was not about to inform her that they both would be in the master bedroom.  Needless to say, he shared that room with his wife numerous times, which meant he wasn’t about to sleep in it by himself, a queen-sized bed being overkill for flying solo.<br/><br/>And although he’d been here with Magdalene on a few occasions, the agency’s photo crew and others had also been here, so the pair of models kept to their own rooms.  “Uh, whichever one you want, Stella,” he finally replied.  “Then I’ll, um, take one that you don’t.  No favorite here.  You’ll see they’re all pretty fabulous in their own right, if you haven’t done so already.”  Damn, why was this so awkward?  Not quite acting like a teenager on a first date, it sure felt that way to him.  And this was what, day one of five?  At this particular moment, any<i>Astroglide </i>usage seemed highly unlikely.<br/><br/>Eager to change the subject, he nodded at her comment about freshening up, telling her where the bathrooms were.  She probably had already discovered all three, but just in case.  Before she departed, Anton inquired if she might be hungry, which was answered with an unquestionable “yes.”<br/><br/>“Good,” he stated.  “I grabbed a couple of sub sandwiches while at the grocery store, a Club and an Italian.  I’ll meet you on the deck when you’re done.”  As Stella left for the nearest restroom, Anton retrieved the two subs and a pair of IPAs from the fridge.  A cupboard was hastily opened and a bag of<i>Ruffles </i>potato chips joined the party.<br/><br/>When the sun was out as it was today, the deck would be bathed in its warm rays, but not so intense that it’d fry them like two eggs on hot Georgia asphalt.  In mid-July.  At this point, Anton was minus any expectations.  With none to speak of, there was no chance of disappointment.