“Not surprising, if they think you’re trying to sabotage their company.”
“Right, but why be nice to me then? I guess I’m lucky they’re not like your family, or I’d be in a dungeon somewhere being tortured for information.” I giggle.
“Vaffanculo! Fuck off! I keep telling you they’re not mafia—just mafia adjacent.”
“Uh-huh, but what does that even mean?” I snark back. It’s been an ongoing thing since she took me to visit her family for the first time.
“Stop trying to change the subject. So, they fed you dinner, and then what? Where are you now?”
I look around Andrew’s bedroom, then sigh. “I’m in Andrew’s cabin, in his bed.”
“You’re what? Is he there with you?” she shrieks.
Pulling the phone away from my ear, I cringe. “No, he’s not here. I’m alone.”
“You need to explain?—”
“The big house? Well, no one lives there, apparently. Each of the brothers has their own cabin. Since they don’t trust me alone, Andrew has me in his cabin, and since there’s only one bed, he gave it to me.”
She mumbles something I can’t hear, then she takes a drink. “I want to see, take a picture, and send it to me.”
“Of what? The room? Me in his bed?” I ask.
“Yes, all of it,” she demands.
Smirking, I turn the camera around and take a selfie of me in the bed, then a few more photos of the room. I think about taking some of the bathroom, but I don’t want to get out of bed. Then I send them to her and wait for her reaction.
“Oh, and thanks for taking out my comfy PJs. The silk gown, really?”
“I packed your favorite vibe, too,” she snarks. “You’re welcome. Holy shit, you weren’t kidding. Wow, that bed is gigantic—and look at those attachment points. I’ll need to use them in one of my books,” she says in awe.
“What do you mean, attachment points?” I ask and glance around at the bed, not seeing anything.
“The headboard, you don’t see those openings at the edge? Perfect for attaching rope or cuffs, or?—”
“Shut. Up. Don’t you say it,” I groan. Like I’m not turned on enough already. Fuck.
“Aww, what’s the matter, Jac? Is the big, bad Gallant brother getting to you? I know he’s been your secret crush for years. Did you think you could hide it from me?”
Of course I didn’t, but I’d hoped. “He’s killing me. Like a walking, talking sex god. He smells like heaven. And when he looks at me, it’s like I’m the only one who exists in the world. I’m in so much trouble, Cheri. What am I going to do?”
“Girl, fuck him. That’s what you do. Get him out of your system.”
“But he’s my boss, or my boss’ boss. I can’t lose this job.”
Her sigh is loud over the phone. “You won’t. If he threatens you, you can threaten him right back with going to HR. People know you’re there, on the mountain. If the opportunity arises, I say go for it. It’s a win-win. Besides, if he falls for your pussy, he won’t believe you’re out to get him.”
“I think that only works in your books,” I huff.
“Oh, Jac. C’mon, be brave. You’ve dreamed about that man for as long as I’ve known you. You’ve got a chance to live out your fantasy. Promise me, you’ll think about it if the chance comes up. And if he’s that big, I bet his cock is monstrous, too.” She snorts.
“Fuck you, bitch,” I say with affection. “That was just mean. This bed smells like him. How am I supposed to sleep when he’s all around me?”
“Use your vibe. An orgasm or two should wear you out, then you’ll sleep like the dead and wake up refreshed in the morning.”
“Oh, is that from the Cheri Anderson book of sleeping remedies?”
“Nope, it’s from Grandma Santini.”
