Quarantine Pet - His Pet

“Are you… Are you inviting me out there for reasons other than work?” I asked carefully.

“Now why would you say that?” he asked incredulously. “Your cousins would throw a fit if I laid a hand on you. Not to mention the lawsuit that would come out of it. I’m strictly business…if you are.”

“Riiiight,” I said, unsure. “I mean, I was sensing a vibe…”

“Really? What vibe?” he asked innocently.

“I think you know.”

“Do I?”

“Yeah, but okay,” I agreed with a sigh. “I’ll pack a bag. Keep your secrets.”

I walked into my apartment. Isabella, my roommate, was already there freaking out at the TV. “Sandra! Oh, my God! Where is your mask?!” she squealed. “We have to get masks!”

“Relax, Bella, relax,” I said. “You okay?”

“No. I’m freaking out about this,” she said. “Wait, what is going on with you?”

“Hmm? Nothing.”

Isabella was a bit of a scatterbrain at times, but the one thing she was good at was she could immediately sense when I had a new beau. Or, in this case, a new crush? I couldn’t really tell what Mr. Harris’ intentions were. Bella suddenly dropped all her worry and hopped over to me.

“Wait-wait-wait, who is he?” she asked suspiciously.

“Who is who? What?” I countered, trying to avoid her and going into the hall.

I went into my bedroom and started packing for the trip. Bella followed.

“Oh, my God, you’re going away with him? Who is he?”

“Ten seconds ago, you were having a meltdown, and now you’re prying into my business,” I pointed out.

“You know I have no life,” she retorted, as she plopped down on my bed. “I live vicariously through you. Now spill.”

“Jack Harris has invited me up to his house in the Hamptons to stay with him while we’re quarantined. We will be working.”

“Wow!” Bella said, wide-eyed. She looked me up and down. “Did you shave everything?”

“Work, Bella. It’s for work,” I repeated. The lie was apparent to both of us. Jack had me nervous. Pulling my hair out of the bun I had it in, I ran my fingers through the strands.

“Yeah, I’d like to work on him,” my roommate teased. “Seriously, has he made a move on you?”

“What? No!”

“Oh, he’s going to, and you’ll be on your back before you know it,” she joked. “I can see it. It’s all over you. You reek of desire.”

I found myself putting my palms over my cheeks. If I was blushing, I didn’t want Bella to see it. “You’re nuts,” I stammered out.

“I’m not. Tell me you don’t want him. Go ahead. Deny it.”

“He’s very handsome,” I confessed. “But we’re coworkers. I can’t do that. My cousins own the firm, and they will fire Jack if he even looks at me funny.”

She shrugged. “You’ll be out all the way in the Hamptons! Who cares?!”

“You understand,” I reminded her. “That you’ll be here all by yourself going crazy from watching the news, right?”

“Yes, but knowing that you’re getting plowed for the first time by a guy that hot will give me hope,” she assured me. “Plus, I assume you’ll call with regular updates?”

“No!”

“Text me a pic of his dick while he’s asleep!”

“You are crazy.”

Bella cackled. “I’ll bet you twenty bucks Jack Harris will be balls deep in you before the weekend’s done,” she offered, putting out her hand.

I didn’t shake it. Deep down, I knew Bella was right. Whatever was going to happen in the Hamptons, it probably wasn’t work-related. My head was swimming at the thought of seeing Jack. Getting him alone? I probably would have a lot of trouble controlling myself.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go,” I said, getting nervous and dropping down to sit on the carpet. “If I end up sleeping with him, this could derail my whole career.”

“Who needs a career when you got a slab of man like that?” Isabella pointed out. “The guy’s gorgeous, rich, successful, brilliant, I mean, where’s the downside? I’m not seeing it. Either you go for it or let me go to the Hamptons.”

I laughed and threw a pillow at her.

The next morning, I texted Jack. I needed his address in the Hamptons, but he texted back, “Don’t bother. Should be outside in a few.”

I was even more hesitant by this arrangement. Now I’d be all the way out into the Hamptons with no idea where I was. Just me and Jack, I started to talk myself out of it, but Isabella pushed for me to go.

“If you don’t do this, you’ll regret it,” she insisted. “Who cares if he wants to hook up with you? He’s a catch!”

“Won’t people look down on me if something does happen?” I asked, unsure.

“Are you kidding? If I was in your position, not only would I go, I wouldn’t pack any underwear. Believe me, you’ll have a good time,” she insisted. “Now go, or I swear to God, I’ll jump in his car and leave with him.”