“Since when do you care about STDs? You’ve never been picky about who you’ve stuck your dick in before.”
“I’veneverslept with a woman without a condom.”
She sticks out her tongue. “Liar. You’ve done it three times with me already.”
“You’re the exception, Pips. I know you’re not sleeping with a million other guys, and I know you have an IUD. I trust you.”
“Oh.” She looks genuinely surprised by that, which is weird, because I’d think it would be fucking obvious.
I clear my throat. “If anything starts to get serious or sexual with any of the guys you date, then you can just let me know and we’ll stop.”
Pippa nods, but I can tell by her careful tone that there’s something she isn’t saying. “Okay. If I find someone I like, we stop.”
“Easy.”
“Easy.”
Then why does it sound like the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do?
24
PIPPA
Instead of the usual buzz of voices in theBelladonnaoffices, I’m met with complete silence when the doors swing open. Other than me, Ingrid is the only other person in the office. No one else is enough of a workaholic to come in the day after Christmas, and nobody but me is enough of a pushover to run over the minute Ingrid calls.
Not that I have that much else to do, other than let my stepbrother toss me on his bed and fuck me until we both collapse from exhaustion. And as much as I love my job, I’d much rather be spending my Boxing Day riding Ryan’s face.
I push aside my fantasies for later. Right now, I have an editor to handle. I find Ingrid sitting in her office, staring intently at her computer like it holds the answers to the universe. I knock on the doorframe to announce myself.
“Merry Christmas, Ingrid.”
“Oh good! You made it,” Ingrid says. “I thought I was the only one who remembered we still have a magazine to publish.”
“We sure do.” Not that anyone’s going to be reading it today, when they could be shopping sales or eating cookies and watching shitty Christmas movies.
“But since it’s Christmas, Idohave a present for you.”
“Really? That’s so sweet.” I wonder if I was supposed to get something for her, too. Our office did a small secret Santa exchange, but did Ingrid expect something extra, since she’s been giving me all these opportunities?
“Follow me,” she says crisply. She pushes to her feet and strides quickly out of her office and down the hallway. I trail behind her—she moves scary fast, even with her petite frame and five-inch heeled boots.
At the end of the hallway, she opens a door, gesturing for me to walk into an office. It’s in the other corner of the building, with wide windows looking out on the city. There’s a big desk set up with two computers, and a comfy-looking navy velvet couch in the corner.
“Here it is,” she says.
I look around the office for anything wrapped, but I don’t see anything. “I’m sorry, but what do you mean?
“This is your new office,” Ingrid says. “Merry Christmas.”
My eyes go wide. “Really?”
“Your 12 Dates series has been breaking traffic records forBelladonna,” she says. “So I thought it was time you had an office that gave you a little privacy so you could work.”
I shake my head in disbelief. It’s a far cry from my cramped, shared office. “This is amazing, Ingrid. I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much.”
“You should know, the office comes with strings,” she says. “I’m planning on making you the new Head of Content for the Love and Relationships department.”
A smile breaks across my face, and a bubble of excitement rises in my chest. “You are? Really?”
