Unwrapped

“Of course I do. But you just got out of a relationship and he’s…well, he’s Cole. Impossible to pin down.”

Vanessa leaned forward and gave her a bright smile. “Not if you help me. We can ambush him.”

Wendy raised a brow and reclined in her chair. It was the Friday before Labor Day weekend, and she’d just finished decorating the office for fall. Little light-up acorns and pumpkins adorned the front windows and fake leaves hung from every surface.

Good thing her boyfriend of almost nine months—nine months!—was so patient about her need to plaster everything with frou-frou plastic embellishments or else she’d likely be single and out of a job.

“Define ambush.”

“Well, see, here’s the thing. You and Des are so committed to each other that basically nothing can break you two up. And Cole’s up for anything and so am I. Put all those ingredients together and you have a recipe for—”

“Wait a frigging second.” Wendy’s eyes went wide to match her surely gaping mouth. “You’re not suggesting we have a foursome, are you?” Who suggested that kind of thing? At work no less, in the middle of a Friday afternoon?

This was what she got for working in an office with non-traditional, incredibly sexy bosses. Apparently the rarefied air in the place had even infected Van.

Van shrugged, her innocent act not fooling Wendy one bit. “C’mon, don’t act like such a prude. You told me what you did with the two of them. What’s adding one more person?”

Wendy cast a quick glance left then right. “We did that before Des and I hooked up for good.” Why had she confessed that dirty secret anyway? Other than wanting to brag a little, because, seriously, Des and Cole were too hot to believe, especially as a duo. “We haven’t gone near Cole since before Christmas.”

“But don’t you miss it?” Van waggled her perfectly groomed blonde brows. “It’s hard to tuck the freaky back down once you’ve let it out. Trust me, sista, I know.”

Wendy fanned her face and not because she was considering this absolutely insane idea. She wasn’t a freak. Hadn’t she made that bargain with herself to enjoy her few wild weeks with Cole and Des and then move on? That she’d ended up with Des permanently had just been gooey, delicious frosting on the cake.

“Des wouldn’t be into that,” she said quickly, happy to use her boyfriend as an out.

The man in question breezed down the hall, a stack of mail gripped in his broad hand. “Des wouldn’t be into what?” he asked, leaning down to kiss Wendy full on the mouth.

Van groaned. “More PDAs? Jesus.”

“With what you just suggested, you’re mad that he kissed me? Whoa, hello hypocrite,” Wendy muttered as Des shifted back and dumped the mail in her outbox tray. “I’ll drop that off on the way out tonight, honey,” she added to him.

“PDAs and endearments.” Van shook her head, her eyes gleaming. “I may gag.”

“Deal with it,” Des advised, sitting on the other corner of Wendy’s desk and breaking off one of her plastic leaves in the process. He picked it up off the floor with an apologetic wince. “Sorry.”

“No problem.” Wendy tugged out her top drawer and nodded toward the contents with a grin. Another strand of leaves were coiled up inside. She was saving those for Des’s office. “I always have extra leaves to go around.”

“What about penises?”

When Des and Wendy turned equally shocked expressions toward Van, she merely shrugged. “Des, your girlfriend is turning into a prude. You may want to do something about that before the condition becomes irreversible.”

Des grinned and reached out to stroke Wendy’s hair. She tried not to arch into the touch but it was damned hard. “I assure you that’s not true.”

“Whatever.” Van shook her head and stood. “You guys have a nice weekend. I need to go bolster myself for another ladies’ night at the bar since my supposed friend isn’t willing to share

the wealth.” With a flounce of her blonde curls, Van sashayed over to her cubicle.

Wendy’s shoulders sank with relief. Bullet dodged.

Des rubbed the back of Wendy’s hand and caught her attention. “What is she talking about? Dare I even ask?”

“No.” Wendy closed her eyes. “Really, it’s better if you don’t.”

“It’s about Cole, isn’t it? Those two have been circling each other so long I’m surprised they haven’t done it in the bathroom yet.”

“That may come.”

“I sure hope not.” He tipped up her chin and she opened her eyes, smiling as he lowered his mouth to hers. “The bathroom holds fond memories for you and me.”