Sin (Just This Once 3)
“It’s my life.” I sigh.
“That’s why you’re dressed like that?”
I give the black pants and white blouse I’m wearing a once-over. Harmony opted for a more relaxed look. She’s wearing jeans and a lightweight pink sweater.
“What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?” I smile.
“It’s not exactly hot man bait.” She rolls her eyes. “Speaking of hot men…are you seeing anyone? Or fucking anyone? Are you doing anything with any good-looking men?”
I rub my hand over my mouth to hide the wide grin on my lips. “I’m busy with work.”
“I take that to mean you haven’t seen a cock in a while.” Her brows perk. “Maybe since Vegas? I know you hooked up with that hot-as-hell stripper.”
“I didn’t.” I look her straight in the eye. “Nothing happened between us.”
She studies my face. “You came back to the room with your tank top inside out, so if you didn’t do the stripper, you picked up a random.”
I shrug off her words. “I prefer to live in the present.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “Presently your pussy is lonely.”
I glance around the diner, trying to contain my laugh. “I want to come back here for brunch next week so let’s change the subject before they toss us out.”
That lures a smile to her lips. “You could use some action.”
“As much as I’d like to talk about my sex life all day, I have just enough time to hear about what’s happening in your life.” I tap the face of my watch. “Give it to me in thirty seconds or less.”
“Thirty seconds or less?” She tosses my words back with a lift of her brow. ”Things are good at work. They’re perfect at home. I’m living my dream.”
I push back from the table, fishing in my purse for my wallet. “Today is my treat, right? You picked up the tab last time?”
Last time was the week before Kendra’s wedding when Harmony and I went to lunch before we tackled shopping for a joint wedding gift.
She nods. “Tell David that I think he should cut you a break and give you a weekend off.”
I toss some money on the table before I shoulder my bag. “I’ll tell my dad you said hi and that you miss him.”
“That’s not quite the same, but fine,” she says with a smile. “I do miss him. He was the biggest fan of our volleyball team during senior year.”
He was. My dad never missed a game. He cheered Harmony and I on with everything he had. It meant a lot to her since her dad died before her tenth birthday.
I lean down to give her a hug. “Text me this week if anything exciting happens.”
She pats my back. “Promise me you won’t work too hard.”
I can’t promise that. I need to work as hard as I can if I’m going to take over as CEO of Faye & Sons once my dad retires next year.
I have a lot to prove to him, and I’ll take advantage of every opportunity I can to show him that I’m the woman for the job.
***
“Why is she here?” My stepbrother, Mitchell, looks across the conference table at my dad as I walk in. “Isn’t she knee deep in the campaign for that Walters woman?”
“Ivy Marlow-Walker?” I smile at my dad just as he’s about to open his mouth to respond. “She owns a multi-million dollar jewelry design business, Mitchell. She’s an important client. Actually, every client we have is important which is why I make it a point to research all of them, even if I’m not working directly with them.”
My dad beams at my words, his green eyes lighting up.
“Whatever, Linny.” Mitchell skims his hand over his short blond hair. “We aren’t here to talk about rings and bracelets.”