Surrendering Series Box Set

“Does this mean I finally get to see your place?” I grinned and hoped that he saw it.

“Maybe. Wait and see.” I hung up without further ado.

Sloane and I had been talking about the situation and she said she was completely supportive, and to show that support, she was giving me the apartment for the night, and she was going to make us a fabulous dinner.

Have I mentioned she was the best friend ever?

She was having so much fun with her new lingerie line that she wanted to pull an all-nighter at her studio and get a collection together to send to her new manufacturer so they could pitch it to her existing clients.

I had something potentially sexy and potentially silly in my head and I was going to ambush him with it when he came to my place. Plus, the extra night off gave me a chance to make my apartment so clean and sterile, you could eat off every surface. I also removed anything that I didn’t want him to see, like stupid fish-faced pictures of me Sloane had taken, and shoved half of my shoes to the back of my closet. Guys were weird about shoes, as in they always thought women had too many, but I say that there was no such thing.

Sloane thought I was being ridiculous, but it was a big deal for me to show him my place. She just didn’t understand.

“So how’s everything going with that guy from work?” Marisol said as we sat at the bar and waited for open mic to start.

I’d made Sloane swear to keep her trap shut, and so far she’d kept her word.

“Oh, it was one and done.” I couldn’t deny going home with him the last time we’d been here, but I had decided to tell them that was it, and we were back to our working relationship. It was easier.

“Bummer. Was it bad?” Far from it.

I shrugged and hoped I sounded convincing.

“I was drunk the first time and sober the second and it just wasn’t worth potentially ruining my career over. Plus, can you imagine if Dad found out? I think I’d die of embarrassment.” Yup, probably would. Which was why Dad could never find out.

“Too bad,” Chloe said, pouting. “Is it weird working with him now? I don’t think I could ever screw someone I was working with.”

“It’s not too bad. We’re both adults enough to make it work.”

The three of them burst into laughter.

“You are so full of shit, Rory,” Marisol said, holding onto Chloe. “Tell us the truth.”

I took a sip of my drink and Sloane nudged me under the table. She really had to stop doing that.

“It’s awkward, okay? It’s like we don’t know what to say to each other, or how to act normally. I feel weird asking him to do things, even though it’s his job. So there. Are you all happy now?” I pretended to pout and sat back in my chair.

“Well, that’s what you get for eating where you . . . how does that expression go?” Chloe said and then she and Marisol spent the next ten minutes trying to figure it out as the first victim took the stage. It was a girl we’d seen before and she didn’t fare any better the second time around.

“Anyone else thinking a lobotomy would be a good idea right about now?” Sloane said, squeezing my knee and then changing the subject. A few seconds later I got a text from her.

Got your back. I didn’t message her back, but I volunteered to get the next round and that was as good as a thank you.

Nineteen

“Have you shaved?” Sloane said, sitting on my bed as I got ready for Saturday night.

“Yes.”

“You’re waxed, yes?”

“Sloane. This isn’t the first time he’s seen my downstairs. He’s seen it a lot. So I’m pretty sure he’s cool with how it looks.” He had actually informed me that he thought it was very nice and that it would make a lovely portrait. I hoped he was kidding about the last part.

“True, but you don’t want to let yourself go this early in the relationship. Keep up appearances for a little bit longer.”

“We’re not in a relationship.”

“Then what the hell is it?” She grabbed one of my pillows and tossed it at my ass.