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FORTY-SIX

Kinsley

“Well, well, well. Look who the cat dragged in.” Holly smirks at me and plops her ass down next to me as soon as I sit on the couch above her bookstore.

I glance her way and give her a droll look. “I’m always here for book club. Was there another meeting I missed? One I didn’t know about?”

Daisy cackles from my other side, and Holley’s eyes narrow as she stares at me for several seconds. “I don’t know why I thought getting details out of you was going to be easy. You didn’t even tell us about your ménage à trois with two of your bosses; this bitch had to tell us.”

Just in case there was a question about which bitch it was, she points over my head to Daisy who is now clutching her belly and struggling to breathe. I’m sure she’s dying about this impending conversation we’re going to have about my sex life, but I’m really not in the mood.

Not after the horrible day I had.

I don’t know why I thought coming here would make me feel better, but in my defense, that was before Brantley handed me my ass after the meeting fiasco. One thing is for sure, the guys aren’t giving me any special treatment at work.

Not that I want it. But maybe I’d like to get yelled at a little less.

Coming here and hanging out with friends should be an escape from the dumpster fire that is my life, but I already want to leave. Don’t get me wrong, I knew they’d have questions. I just thought I’d be better equipped to handle them.

“Can we at least talk about the book first?” I cringe, waiting for her inevitable shouted no, but instead Holly sits back and smiles. I hate this phrase with a passion of the fiery sun—but she looks like the cat who finally ate the damned canary. You know, that big cheshire cat smile. The one that definitely says she’s up to no good.

I’m sure I just walked right into her trap, but dammit, I speed read this book after the shit-tastic day I had, and I don’t want it to be for nothing.

“Ohhhhh yes.” Ava leans forward, framing her chin with her hands, blinking rapidly at me. Here it comes. “What was your favorite part? The Eiffel Tower or the spit roast? Based on your experience, which position is more enjoyable?”

Yep. Total trap.

“Oh, I don’t know.” I sit back and twirl a lock of red hair around my finger. “I really like how the relationship developed between everyone. You know, three grumpy bosses and our heroine who shakes up their life with her sunny disposition and colorful office decor.”

The irony of the situation isn’t lost on me. The guys have commented several times on the bright animal prints I have scattered through my office and surprise, they aren’t fans. Not even Maverick who is usually the more easygoing of the three of them.

June leans back in the loveseat with a groan and fans herself with the paperback copy of the book because apparently she’s an overachiever. “Ohmygodyes. And how they resisted her for weeks. Weeks . Then they put her up on the conference room table and devoured her for hours.”

Her wistful sigh tells me she’s not thinking about the book.

Lucky bitch.

Although, I guess I’m not one to talk. I’m kind of dating three guys. Or, at least, I think I am. Who knows after the office shit show that had barely started when Brantley cut a grown man’s tie in half because I complimented it.

Wasn’t sure if I should be turned on or horrified.

I’m still not.

“I don’t know what it is about sex at work, but it’s so hot.”

As soon as the words come out of Holly’s mouth we all adopt similar expressions—horrified. And then Daisy and I look down at the couch we’re both sitting on, make eye contact with each other, and immediately hop up.

They can say what they want about me, but I’m not inviting people over for book club and inviting them to sit on a sperm couch.

“What the fuck, Holly?” Daisy wipes off the back of her jeans, her gaze narrowing. “I’m sitting here. You’ve got to warn a girl.”

Holly waves her off with a laugh. “Please, the couch is safe. Might want to be cautious of the checkout counter, though.”

“When was this? And more importantly, who is it? Now who’s holding out on us.” I cross my arms, sit on the couch, and give her some serious side eye.

“It was before I met you.” Now it’s her time to sigh. “He was hot, though. Owned the hardware store around the corner. Let me tell you, he could really wield a hammer. He sure knew how to nail, if you know what I mean.”

“The carpet knows what you mean.” I deadpan with a roll of my eyes. “You’re about as subtle as the Kool-Aid man.”

June shrugs, humming to herself. “You should date a football player. They do their best work in the crease. They really know how to get in those tight spaces.”

Daisy glances over at her and says in a sing-song voice, “Someone’s been listening to the announcers again.”

“I can’t help it; they’re so funny. And unintentionally dirty.” She’s quiet for a second and then sits up straight, pointing toward Holly. “You should write a smutty romance with a football announcer. It would be hilarious. The heroine could hate sports. Oh, no. She could be the owner’s daughter who is jaded for some unknown reason. Maybe she dated a player. Maybe her friend did and it ended badly. See, this book is practically writing itself. Feel free to send me a royalty check.”

Holly huffs a laugh. “Too bad I don’t write sports romance. My readers would be so confused.”

“Vampire and werewolf dick isn’t much different from football dick.”

“Except supernatural creatures can fuck at lightening speed. And always have huge dicks.”

June eyes her, smirk on her face. “I don’t see a difference. Obviously, you’ve never had the pleasure of being with an athlete.”

She’s probably not wrong. All these athletes in books have stamina for days, and there’s no way all the romance authors can be wrong.

We spend the next few minutes debating the finer points of various book boyfriends before finally veering back to the why choose book. I manage to get through the rest of the meeting without too many extra questions pertaining to my sex life. Thank the Lord. I’m about to run to the front of the store to snag Colin who has recently returned with Ryan and Oliver when June and Daisy pull me to the side.

“What’s going on with you?” June waves to my face, which is currently frowning. “You seem off tonight.”

“I don’t know.” I glance down at the ground, but when I look up, they’re still staring at me expectantly. It’s pretty clear they’re not going to let me leave without an answer. “There’s a lot going on at work. This week has been one giant fuckup after another. Anything that could go wrong has. I’m surprised they haven’t fired me yet.”

“Please, who could fire you?” Daisy flicks the ends of her blonde ponytail over her shoulder. “You’re delightful.”

“Why thank you. I am a delight.”

June chews on her bottom lip and tugs at the collar of her sweatshirt. “Have you guys talked about it yet?”

“Umm. No.” Especially not after Brantley cut Zach’s tie in half and then proceeded to ream my ass for the next thirty minutes. “I ran out of the office today, binged the heck out of this book, and came straight here. Tomorrow I’m taking Colin to his pre-surgery appointments, so I’m not sure when I’ll see them next. Maybe I can avoid them until Monday morning.”

“Oh, yeah? You really think they’re going to leave you alone all weekend?” Daisy’s brows shoot to her hairline. The look she’s giving me is one hundred percent skeptical.

“No,” I groan. “There’s no way. They’re probably already outside my apartment waiting for me to come home.”

“Oh yes, the new fancy apartment that’s right below theirs.”

I groan again, this time throwing my head back and putting in more theatrics. “I regret telling you about that. It’s only temporary. Once Colin recovers from surgery, we’ll be moving out.”

June laughs and places a light hand on my shoulder. “Bless your heart. Remember when I thought living with Ryan was only going to be temporary until my apartment was fixed?”

“That’s different.” I bristle, shaking her off me. “I’m not living with them. And…”

I’m about to tell her we don’t have the kind of connection she has with Ryan, but I’m not sure that’s true. So I shut my mouth and do a swift turn, heading down to the bookstore.

June lets me get mostly down the stairs before she calls out. “Yeah, looks super temporary.”

But it has to be. That was the agreement, and it’s not one I intend to take back.

Besides, if this thing with them progresses, it’s not like we can all live there. The bed isn’t big enough.

Hell, neither is the closet.