Page 33 of Happy Endings

“I’ve tried that stuff before. It doesn’t work.” Jessica crossed her arms and glared at Trixie. “I thought this was supposed to be fun. You suck at this.”

Trixie froze. Her mother’s voice ran through her head.Why are you throwing your life away?Maybe she wasn’t any good at this. She’d been stuck at third place in her company for months. Tonight’s pop-up was already going off the rails.

“I’ll try it,” a deep voice called out.

Andre. Did he volunteer himself?

“Yeah, Andre!” Xavier hooted. Apparently, he and Andre were childhood friends. The waiter had introduced himself earlier when he dropped off her appletini.

The guests joined in and cheered, except for Jessica.

Andre walked up to her front table and handed her a Diet Coke with a perfectly cut lime wedge.

“Relax,” he whispered. “You’ve got this.”

“Thanks,” she whispered. She gulped the cold, bubbly soda, eyes widening when the taste of rum hit her taste buds. Taking a deep breath, she mentally found her place in her presentation.

“Now that your brain is in the mood, let’s get the rest of you revving. A massage is a good way to ease into the physical part of intimacy. The Blow Me massage oil will heat things up.”

The crowd smiled.

“Here’s how you activate it. Andre, can you roll up your sleeve and hold out your arm?”

Are you sure?she mouthed to Andre. He pushed up his sleeve. Her throat went dry. The dark brown curves of his muscles were very well defined. The same strong arms that had wrapped around her body as their tongues danced. She cleared her throat.

“Blow Me massage oil comes in several flavors, but Wicked Juicy Apple is one of the most popular.” She opened the bottle and squeezed several drops on his arm. “Like any massage oil, it helps hands glide over your body so you can work out tight muscles.”

Setting the bottle down, Trixie held his upper forearm with both hands. Using the pads of her thumbs to apply light pressure, she pulled gently toward his wrist. His toned muscles rippled under her touch.

A quick glance showed Andre’s eyes shining, a half smile on his face.

“That feels, uh, nice.”

The men in the room chuckled nervously. No doubt worried she’d ask them to help model the merchandise, too.

Andre shifted his feet, as if suddenly aware that forty pairs of eyes were on him.

“Doesn’t the massage oil smell good?”

“I do love apples. Smells like Mama Hazel’s apple cobbler,” he added. “Which is our special dessert on Friday nights.”

Who was this man? Charming the audience while marketing his restaurant at the same time.

“That’s not the best part.” Trixie leaned over his arm and blew on it.

“Whoa! It’s getting hot,” Andre exclaimed in surprise. He deepened his voice. “Hot in a good way, if you catch my drift.”

The women in the front row swooned. Damn, he was good at this.

“Once your massage starts to heat up, you’ll want to nibble and kiss each other.” Trixie turned to Andre. “Lick your arm.”

“What? Oh, I mean, of course.” Andre’s eyes were shining as he pulled his arm up to his mouth. “Should we taste it together?”

“I already know what it tastes like,” Trixie stuttered. Did he suggest she lick him in front of forty strangers?

But the guests cheered and hooted, egging them on. This pop-up was not going the way she’d planned. However, tonight’s focuswas on couples, per her newly divorced hostess’s request. After leaving a bad marriage, her hostess had found a partner who treated her like the queen she was. What better way to show how couples—especially those with reluctant partners—could enjoy the products together?

Trixie took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Eyes on the prize. Nothing was going to keep her from first place.

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