Page 83 of Whiskey Neat

“The patio guys are coming on Friday,” Jerryn says. “They’ll string the lights.”

“And the landscaping company is coming that day too,” Bane adds. “They had the best price on the potted plants Lowen liked.”

Lowen drags his pen down his paper. “What else?”

“The POS computers are being installed Monday,” Ridley says, “with a quick training meeting at two.”

“The office is set up and the inventory system is ready to go,” Salem says, leaning against a column.

He’s become Lowen’s right hand, his Mini Me, essentially, and taken a lot off his plate so he could focus on the house too. When Salem glances at me, my core heats and I remember last night and the way he rode my face like both our lives depended on it. I’ve never been so happy not being able to breathe.

I wink at him, amused as his cheeks turn pink. We’ve spent nearly every night together for weeks now. I’ve convinced myself it’s because the dorm style frat life back at the house isn’t my vibe, but part of me knows that’s bullshit. I can’t get enough of Salem. I don’t want to get enough of him.

The guys don’t even bother to give me shit anymore, simply accepting his constant presence in my life, from work to dinner to evenings spent wrapped around his warm body. It’s the closest thing to a relationship I’ve ever had, with one major exception.

We don’t talk.

About anything.

Other than the day’s events, it’s all very superficial still, and I can’t deny that my curiosity about him is building. I want to know things about him, and while I’m totally satisfied with our sex life, I want to explore even more with him. I just don’t know how to bring it up. The last thing I want is to ruin a good thing.

“Did you hear that, Indy?”

I blink, turning to look at Lowen, aware of the snickering coming from my friends. “Uh, no. Sorry.”

Salem fights back a grin, while Lowen looks truly exasperated.

“Ridley suggested we have a barbecue at the house and invite Wren so we can do a little teambuilding,” he says.

“Yeah, fine.”

“And the idea to do the soft opening for the other businesses in the area,” Kit adds. “We’ve talked about that, but we’re getting close to finishing now so maybe we should set a date?”

“Do you think we’ll be ready in three more weeks, Oakley?” Lowen asks.

“Definitely. Once the inspection is done, we can finish the painting and final touches. I’ve never failed an inspection, so I’m not worried about it.”

Oakley’s voice dips and Lowen clears his throat, dragging his eyes back to the clipboard.

“Perfect,” he says, but his voice trembles just slightly, enough that I’m sure only me and the guys notice.

Kit bumps my arm with his in acknowledgment and I fight back a chuckle.

“Sounds like we’re on track then,” Lowen says before flitting off.

“Think they’ll hook up?” Salem asks me as the meeting ends.

“Not sure. Lowen’s guard is pretty high.”

“Relatable. Speaking of hooking up… You coming over tonight?”

“Am I invited?”

“Standing invite, handsome.”

I gaze into his eyes for a moment as words I won’t say fill my head. “Then count on it, sweet thing.”

Standing in the shower with the water as hot as I can stand it, I try to shake off the intense need I have to get my hands on Salem again. Last night was incredible, but the memory of his taste and how soft his skin is and those gorgeous fucking moans of his haunted my dreams to the point where I woke up with my dick so hard I could hammer nails with it.

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