In the catering kitchen, Pepper is splayed out next to the table holding the cooling casseroles.
Am I supposed to let them sit or anything? Maybe, but I don’t care. I retrieve a bowl from one of the cabinets plus a large spoon.
Pepper howls a lament when I don’t fix her a plate.
“I don’t know if Mandy wants me to give you any of this. It might be too rich. Do you want some cucumber?” I slice up a cucumber I find in the fridge and toss a few pieces at the dog.
The corgi reacts like I’ve thrown her a dead rodent.
I shrug. “That’s all you’re getting.”
Mandy is lounging in the tub when I come in with a steaming plate of casserole. She toasts me with her glass of wine. “There’s the best cock in Seattle!”
I kiss her again, because I can, because I love her.
“Is the casserole burnt?” She’s suspicious when she sees the bowl in my hand.
I show her the photo on my phone of the pans all laid out neatly on the counter to cool, then I flip to the one of her tied up on my bed. “My two favorite things to eat.”
I feed her a bite of the casserole.
“Yum,” she says. “But it needs to sit for a little bit.”
“I told you, I’m starving.” I pour more wine into the glass resting next to the tub.
“I’m upgrading you to five stars.” The water laps against her skin.
“Finally. A man really has to put on a whole production to impress you.”
“Any establishment that comes with a free gigolo is five stars.” She trails her hands through the pink water.
“Hey, you didn’t have to pay me at all.” I reach down and cup her slippery breast, lean in to kiss her, slowly, the way I want to make love to her the rest of the night. Except… “More wine before I go?”
“Go where?” She looks up at me.
“I need to fix this port contract. I met with Isaacs earlier today.” I can’t keep the disgust out of my voice. “He thinks Linda’s not going to give me the contract.”
Mandy laughs then pokes me in the thigh when she sees the annoyance on my face. “Aww, you’re so worried.”
My scowl deepens.
“Lucky for you…” Her pink-wet hand slips up my leg to tug at my cock. “I already have it under control. I have a meeting scheduled with Linda tomorrow, and she was happy to hear from me. So actually, I’m going to be the one leaving you to lounge in the tub so I can prep formybig meeting.”
“Mandy, you—I can’t…” I shower her with kisses. “Fuck, I lo—I’m going to give you a huge bonus if you fix this for me.”
“Bigger than the one you currently offer?”
“Such a huge one you won’t be able to sit for a week.”
39
MANDY
The rain starts right as I duck into the Pacific Horizons building to meet Linda in her office.
I cannot fail. I’ve already screwed up once, and I have to make sure Salinger wins this contract. He’s counting on me.
I’m dressed to win… well, at least dressed for a business meeting. Spanx are my body armor. I brush my hands over the cold droplets of water clinging to my skirt and adjust my blazer.
