Tease Me (The Macintyre Brothers 2)

ELLA: Mr. Macintyre. You make it sound like currency in a bank account. I don't know if I should be flattered or upset...

JOSH: It's like currency and worth its weight in gold. I need a deposit in my bank account or I'll go into overdraft.

ELLA: !!!

ELLA: I'll stay tonight but Steph is coming into town tomorrow, so I won't be making any deposits while she's here. I hope you understand.

JOSH: I'll suffer. Mr. Manuel and I will become reacquainted.

ELLA: At least you'll be able to visit with Mr. Manuel. I, on the other hand, will not be able to have a visit from B.O.B., since my bestie will be sleeping on the bed beside me...

JOSH: Hmm. Two beautiful ladies sleeping in the same bed. You have to know where a man's mind goes...

ELLA: !!! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but we don't play for the other team, even when there's a drought.

JOSH: I could rent you a nice suite at the Ritz and then you'd each have your own room for her visit. In fact, consider it done.

I quickly opened a window in my browser and searched for the Ritz-Carlton Central Park. I reserved a suite with two bedrooms. Luckily, my credit card was already entered in since I had an account with them.

ELLA: Josh, I couldn't accept that.

I smiled.

JOSH: If you don't, the place will go to waste, and my money will be spent for nothing because... I already reserved it. It's paid for and the matter is finished. I don't want to hear another word about it. You've been working extra hard the past two weeks, and this is just a bonus in recognition.

ELLA: Josh...

JOSH: Ella...

ELLA: I still won't be meeting with B.O.B., though. I'm going to save up all my lust for when Steph goes back to New Hampshire. Then, I plan on overindulging in you.

JOSH: That's what I like to hear. I'd say that I'd do the same, but it's a plumbing issue.

ELLA: You can't go three nights without a visit from Mr. Manuel?

JOSH: I could, but then my mind would get backed up like a sink or toilet and you wouldn't wa

nt that.

ELLA: So, the plumbing affects the command and control center?

JOSH: They are intricately linked. Screw with one and the other is toast.

ELLA: We could sext after Steph goes to bed. She's a deep sleeper.

JOSH: Sounds like a plan. I'll pick you up at 6:30. We can walk there. It's just a few blocks away.

ELLA: See you then.

For the rest of the afternoon, I tried to wrap up as much of my work as possible, so I could spend time with Ella over dinner and enjoy our last night together before the weekend and Steph's visit.

I was interested in meeting the famed Stephanie, Ella's best friend from high school. Apparently, she encouraged Ella to see me despite everything and so I owed a lot of my recent happiness to her. While I would miss Ella in my bed for the weekend, I wouldn't dream of keeping the two women apart.

At just after six, I left the office and zipped up to the apartment to change into something a bit less formal, then I went down to Ella's floor and popped into Sharon's office on the way. She was still working hard, her head in her laptop.

"Hey," I said. "How are you doing? Everything going as planned?"

"Absolutely," she said and glanced up. "You here to pick up Ella?"