Page 71 of Let Me Say It Again

It wasn’t easy breaking down the walls that formed a fortress around my heart, though, and I wasn’t going to push myself to do something I wasn’t ready to do.

“Have fun with that, then,” I said, pointing a finger at his engorged cock.

He gave me a languid expression. “Oh, but I will because I’m going to jerk off to you in the shower. Told you once before that I’m not opposed to using my hand. I’ve got two good ones, best if I use them.”

I wiggled the tips of my fingers, waving at him in a cute and innocent way. Ironic because I was neither of those things. “Have fun,honeybun.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jade

“What a week,”Allie said on a sigh, sitting back in a conference room chair.

I huffed out a breath. “You’re telling me.” I was exhausted just thinking about it all again. See, I’d brought Allie, Perla, and Maria up to speed on my life after Maria’s editors’ meeting. All four of us were sitting around the table in the conference room, talking about everything and nothing when they’d asked me how Newport went. Of course, I’d had to divulge.

“It’s happening,” Maria pointed out in a sing-song voice. Right off the bat, I didn’t like what she’d said. Not one bit.

Eyes narrowed to thin slits, I shot her a look. “What’shappening?” What did she know that I apparently didn’t?

Smirking, she looked at Perla. Oh, brother, this was where she was going to tell me I was following in Perla’s fake-turned-real footsteps. Before she could voice her opinion, I put my hands in the air. “Hold up, wait a minute. I think I know where this is going and no. No. No. No. A thousand times over.”

Perla laughed as she got up to help herself to one of the fresh bagels Maria had brought in for the meeting.

“Get me one. I’m getting hungry,” Allie called, a finger raised in the air. “Extra cream cheese.”

Nodding, Perla pulled two out of a brown bag and slathered them with cream cheese. Throwing a wink at me over her shoulder, she spoke. “I have a spread idea.”

Maria’s gaze turned from her notepad where she was doodling what looked like a naughty pornographic sketch. Something to inquire about later. “Well?” she probed.

Meanwhile, I had a feeling Perla was throwing me a bone in mentioning this whole spread idea, so I was intrigued to hear what she was going to say next.

“We just finished a meeting. Aren’t you a little late?” Allie asked, tearing her bagel apart.

Just as Perla was about to divulge her idea, my phone rang, which caused my stomach to flip over. It was Sherrilyn. I had to take it, didn’t I?

Pointing a finger in the air, I stood up and started walking to the door. “I have to take this.” If I could get to the elevators, I could go downstairs and talk to her, but I knew my signal would drop. So, instead, I walked to my office, answering the call on my way. “Hi, Sherrilyn. So nice to hear from you.”

I heard the distinct noise of traffic. “Jadey.” I cringed. “How are you?”

Nodding, I closed the door to my office. “Good. You?”

A car horn sounded as she sighed heavily into the phone. “I’m excellent. I hope you and Red had a nice time in Newport.”

“Of course. It was lovely. Truly, we can’t thank you enough for sharing your special day with us.” And by special day, I meant not-so-special in case you forgot they were already married!

“Think nothing of it. Anyway, I don’t have a lot of time to gab, so I’ll get right down to it. I need your help. Actually, we need your help.”

“We?” This better not be a set of hoops or some shit I had to jump through for Red. Not that I wouldn’t have because I would. I just preferred not to be treated like a circus animal. And for the record, this was the sole reason why my stomach had flippedover when I’d seen it was her calling. I just never knew with this woman.

“The planning committee for the charity auction. What did you think I was talking about?”

Shit.“Um, nothing. The auction, of course.”

“Anyway, there’s been a last-minute change in venue, which means that certain details need to change and invites have to be updated so everyone knows. Lots to do. It’s ridiculous. You’ll help?”

I’d rather not, but it was for a good cause. Correction: it was for two good causes—Red and the charity. “Tell me what you need.”

Releasing a sigh, Sherrilyn squeaked. “I just knew I could count on you. Thank you, Jadey. I’ll email you the details.”

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