Page 25 of My Brother's Roommate (Frisky Business 2)
Thank fuck.
Not that I don’t like being on the floor from time to time. In fact, it’s days like this that remind me why I got into this business in the first place.
I love witnessing all the excitement as both new and veteran shoppers learn about cock rings, vibrating anal beads, and all the other battery-powered blessings that will take their sex lives to the next level. It always leaves me with a combination of pride and envy. I’ve sure as hell never had that kind of enthusiasm about my sex life.
Well, until last Friday night. And Saturday morning too.
I swore Penelope and I would be a one-time thing. An experiment. But when her petite frame cuddled up to me on Saturday morning, all cute and flushed and blinking up at me with those big blue eyes, there was no way I was keeping my hands off her.
Since she pulled out of the lake house’s gravel driveway Saturday afternoon, we’ve only exchanged a few texts, and it’s all I can do to keep from falling into a guilty spiral over the whole thing. For the past three days, not once have I looked Connor in the eye without feeling like the world’s biggest fuckup. Which is sort of a big problem, seeing as we live in the same apartment and run a company together.
“Jesus, it’s a fucking zoo out there.”
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
Connor stumbles into the back office, wiping sweat from his brow with the side of his hand. “You’re lucky you get to stay out of this, Cox.”
I scoff. “Would you rather crunch numbers instead?”
Silence.
I thought not.
Connor is the world’s biggest people person and therefore the best salesman we’ve got, but I’d bet half a paycheck I could stump him with a word problem meant for fifth graders. Needless to say, the dude has never looked at a spreadsheet for any reason other than to complain about it.
In my peripheral vision, I watch as he wanders over to the minifridge, grabs a can of flavored sparkling water, then collapses into the office chair opposite my desk.
As if I weren’t already having a hard time focusing on our books, now I’ve got to do it with the company of the guy whose sister I can’t stop thinking about getting my mouth on again.
I frown at him from behind my laptop. “Shouldn’t you be on the floor?”
He snorts, taking a good long swig of his drink. “Doing what, making sales? Your forty-percent-off idea is doing the work for me. Plus, Caleb and Hayes are on the registers, so I can chill for a minute.”
My stomach churns, all my nerves suddenly on high alert to his every move. Here’s hoping Connor is being literal about that minute. But based on the way he’s leaning back in that chair, I’d say he’s planning to stay put for a while. Just my luck.
“So, guess what?”
I can feel his eyes hot on me, expecting my reply, but I keep my gaze on my screen. Maybe he’ll take the silence as a hint.
Surprise, surprise, he doesn’t.
“Hello? I said guess what?”
With a huff, I close my laptop. “Sorry, I’m a little stressed right now.”
That’s not a lie. I’m drowning in all the work I need to get done today. And yes, I also happen to be a little on edge about trying to navigate a conversation with my roommate after I had my dick in his sister’s mouth this weekend. But I’m going to go ahead and leave that part out.
“What’s up?” I ask, feigning some level of interest.
“Penelope is in the final two for that promotion,” Connor says, fighting off a proud smile.
I lift a brow, urging him to go on. This actually is something I’m interested in.
“It’s officially between her and that other dude, the boss’s son or cousin or whatever,” he says, a deep furrow appearing between his eyebrows. “Do you know who I’m talking about?”
“Spencer. Boss’s nephew. I met him at the retreat. Real jackass.”
Connor snaps his fingers. “Yeah, that’s the one. I guess her boss officially told them this morning that everyone else in the management program is out of the running. Pretty cool, huh?”
I nod, reopening my laptop. “Yeah, good for her.”
Here’s hoping my screen blocks the fact that I’m smiling like a fucking idiot. I’m so proud of that girl. She’s going to beat out Spencer for this promotion, no question about it.
“Thanks again for going with her to that retreat.” Connor rambles on, seemingly oblivious to what the mention of Penelope has done to me. “From the sound of it, this company she’s working for is a regular sausage fest. I’m sure having you there was a lifesaver.”
“For sure.”
“What was that weekend like, anyway? Did you have fun? Or was it weird?”
My heart responds faster than I can, thumping furiously.
