Page 24 of French Martini

I startle and turn my head in a daze to see Ridley standing next to me at the dining room table. Apparently, I drifted off into my own thoughts staring at the flowers Oakley brought.

“You okay, man?”

“Uh, yeah.” I rub my forehead, glancing at my half-full mug of cooling coffee. “I need more coffee.”

“I brought a carafe.” He tops my drink off with steaming fresh coffee. “What’s going on? You’re not normally down here this early.”

“Yeah.”

“Where did the flowers come from?” Bane asks as he enters the room carrying a plate with a bagel on it.

“Are we having a family meeting?” Jerryn asks, following closely behind Bane.

“No,” I say.

“Good, because Kit and Stewart probably wouldn’t be down for it if we were.” Ridley grins.

“Ditto Salem and Indy,” Bane adds. He sits across from me and tilts his head as he studies my face. “What’s up, diva? You look upset.”

“I’m not upset.” I blow out a breath and sit back in my chair. “I have a lot on my mind. This whole…” I wave my hand in the air, gesturing vaguely. “I’m not sure I made the right decision getting Oakley involved in this.”

“Why?” Ridley asks. “He seems up for it.”

“Therein lies the problem. He’s very up for it.”

“Is that where the flowers came from?” Jerryn touches one of the petals.

“Yes. He said he was practicing romancing me.”

“No offense, Low, but I don’t see the issue,” Bane says, biting into his bagel.

Rolling my eyes, I lift my mug and sip my coffee. The guys watch me set it down. I might as well admit my issue. If I can’t talk to these guys, who can I talk to?

“Oakley is a friend and an important professional contact. Lines are being crossed, and I don’t know how we’ll go back to what it was before this.”

Ridley wiggles his eyebrows. “And why is that, Low?”

“Yeah, what kind of lines?” Jerryn asks, far more innocently than Ridley.

“We had…” I clear my throat as my body heats. “We had sex last night.”

Ridley’s grin makes him look like the Cheshire Cat. “’Bout damn time. The sexual tension was getting pretty thick.”

“I agree,” Bane mumbles as he chews.

Jerryn gives me a sweet, sympathetic look. “Was it nice, at least?”

Memories flood my mind, cruising straight to my dick, and I have to force myself not to squirm in my chair. I showed him who I am and he ran with it, and nothing could be better than that.

“Yes.”

Bane raises an eyebrow and Ridley chuckles. Jerryn, for his part, just smiles.

“So it was really good then.” Ridley nudges me with his elbow.

I force my guard down, slumping into my chair. “It was amazing, guys. Better than…” My throat clogs with emotion that I push back. “Better than I’ve had in a long time. Maybe ever. It was also the first time since Alain.”

“Oof,” Jerryn murmurs.

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