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"I think Austin would like to go shopping," Nixie snickered.

"Everyone needs more necessities," he insisted grumpily as he made a pot of coffee. Strong coffee. Very, very strong.

"True, espeically if I'm going to be sharing my wardrobe," she interjected. She looked over at Kaori with an appraising eye. "We are alike in some ways, but you are more generously endowed in some areas."

"I don't think I have anything else," Nixie replied as she curled up into one of the chairs at the breakfast bar. "Zurich has some wonderful boutiques. We'll make a girl's day of it, and have Austin carry all the bags and hatboxes."

"Goodie," Austin interjected as he waited impatiently for the coffee to brew.

"Wow, Austin, you must have been at the top of your game," Nixie continued to tease. "A thank you the morning after? You must have some skills!"

"I'm fine, thanks," he told Kaori through gritted teeth. FInally enough coffee had dripped into the pot to constitude one cup. He poured it into a mug and drank it. It was strong and so hot it burned his tongue, but it took his mind off of other things, like really showing off his "skills."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Nixie replied. "but it does make him fun to tease."

Austin nodded his appreciation. He had worked for Nixie long enough to see her in many intimate ways, but he had always kept his hands to himself. It had been hard at times, harder than the night before on occasion, but his reputation was Sterling. Still, he knew better than to open his mouth right then as he sensed a foot ready to leap in.

"We can pick up breakfast and Tylenol on the way," Nixie continued. "There's a bakery down the street so as soon as Austin has his shower and looks less like a grumpy bear, we'll go."

"I have better self control than that," he replied, finally loosening up. "But I will take a shower--a nice cold one." He finished his coffee, grabbed his overnight bag and Lockheed the bathroom door behind him. He had been bluffing about the temperature. In his experience, they never worked. So he just took a regular shower, although it was exceptionally long. He took care off all his business and came out looking as fresh as a daisy.

"Finally," Nixie sighed. She grabbed her things and led the way down to the lobby.

"I did. The shower has a massaging head that helped work out the crick in my neck from sleeping on the floor," he replied, intentionally missing her innuendos. "You know, 'cause I gave you the couch. Even though you didn't take it."

He grabbed Nixie's bag and followed her out. Nixie was already at the front desk, checking out. Austin rushed to get the car and put the luggage in the truck. Then he held the door open for Nixie and Kaori. Nixie smiled at him as she slid into the car.

"To the bakery, Mr. Stud-Muffin," she teased from inside.

Austin drove to the bakery first. He got out and ordered breakfast for the girls and brought it back to the car.

"Where to next, Miss Prince-Hughes?" he asked, as professional as ever.

"I think we need to get Kaori some luggage," Nixie announced as she drank her latte with one hand and fiddled with the buttons on her phone with the other. Already, she was sending and receiving emails, texting, and making appointments on her new phone. "Just find the first leather boutique and pull in. We'll find her something that suits her."

Austin dutifully drove the car down the street until he found a small collection of fashion-oriented shops. One had purses in the window, so he pulled over and found a parking spot. He opened the door for the girls and followed them into a boutique.

"Just the thing," Nixie declared as she saw the shop. As soon as she got inside the door, Nixie waved her hand at the shop and said, "Pick something, Kaori. I'll add it to your expense account." Then she sat down and worked on her phone.

Austin stood dutifully by her, waiting for the promised bags and hatboxes to carry.

"You need a clutch for formals, a purse for daily work, an overnight bag for working weekends, and a larger piece of luggage for the rest of it," Nixie dictated from her phone. "And yes, you get the luggage first and the clothes later, because it is easier to find a gown that matches your clutch than the other way around."