Page 51 of Tickled Pink

Jackie presses her lips together. “It’s a business expense,” she argues under her breath.

I squint.

“Hey, this is what you get when you leave the travel arrangements up to me,” she says.

“Fair point.” I sink deeper into my chair. “Maybe we can get the seats on the flight downgraded?”

“No! Phoebe…” Jackie leans forward. “No man would ever downgrade the luxuries of doing business. You shouldn’t either. Martin Fellows did not put you in charge of this company because you were responsible.”

“Yes, he did. He literally said those exact—“

“Bup-bup-bup!” She raises her palm to silence me. “He put you in charge of this company because you knew how to make it thrive and when you thrive, it thrives, and do you know how you thrive? By taking care of yo self.” She tosses her raven-colored hair back over one shoulder. “By taking care of yo self.”

I chortle. “Fine,” I say, knowing that I’ll never convince her otherwise.

She pumps her arm in victory. “Yes!”

“But the next time we go somewhere, we’re flying coach.”

She clears her throat, ignoring that as she swipes her tablet. “Anyway, that’s the end of my task list for today. Can I go? I still have to pack.”

I nod with a quick glance at my empty to-do app. “Yeah, I might sneak out of here a few hours early today, too.”

“Big plans with the boys tonight?” she asks, leaning forward with interest.

“Just one boy, actually,” I say. “It’s Max night.”

“No Thad? What did he do to get put in the doghouse?”

“No one’s in the doghouse. Max was working late last night, so Thad and I spent the night — and most of this morning — together alone. He thought me and Max might like to do the same.”

Jackie swoons. “Ain’t he just sweet?”

“He really is.”

“So you spend one night getting plowed by a hot pilot, then you spend the next night getting railed by a hot lawyer, then you spend one long agonizing week apart from them only to come home on Valentine’s Day morning and get fucked from both ends by two hot men who are both madly in love with you? Is that how your life is going now?”

“Yeah, it is,” I say with a grin.

Jackie sneers. “You are such a cunt.”

I laugh as she storms out of my office.

Chapter Sixteen

Phoebe

I stare into my wide-open suitcase, manually counting every article of clothing I’ve packed so far. I probably won’t need this many sweaters. Los Angeles in February isn’t nearly as cold as New York is. It’s strange how easy it is to forget that. I spent my entire life in California until I moved here, but these last few years in New York have felt more like home than my actual home did.

And it’s all because of my boys.

And Stinky, of course.

The front door opens. She launches off her cushion, racing down the stairs to greet him as he enters. I check the clock by the bed. Four o’clock. Home early, just like he said he would be.

“Hey, girl,” I hear him say.

I can’t help but smile as I picture him dropping to one knee to greet her. Max truly loves that dog. He always wanted one, but his father wouldn’t allow it. Pets, women, family — all worthless distractions to the great Keith Monahan.

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