Page 63 of Smooth Sailing
She laughed, but there wasn’t humor in it. “That’s what screamed through my head the whole walk-through.”
Rage boiled inside him. From what little he knew, people in that lifestyle were usually protective of their community and respectful of boundaries. Yet these two had the audacity to proposition her before the ink was even dry on their contract. And when she was alone in their home.
“Did they seriously think that was appropriate?” He kept his voice low, fighting the urge to shout.” He should have been with her. “Why in the hell would they think you’d be interested?”
“They knew about your adventure in Chicago.”
Her words punch him in the stomach. Why did his impulsive choices cause others so much collateral damage? “It was one damn time,” he groaned, rubbing a hand down his face, pulling his beard until it stung. “I’m so sorry, Paloma.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said, but he disagreed. She sighed, and his guilt was heavy. “That was only one tiny part. I think it’s how we acted around each other had them looking through security footage.”
He froze. Cold and heavy regret settled in his gut. “Security footage?” he echoed.
“Security cameras. Max,” Her voice dropped so low he had to strain to hear it. “They have footage of us. On their coffee table.”
“Christ,” he choked. The phone nearly slipped from his numb fingers.
He shouldn’t have been so reckless. His mother’s words from their last conversation shouted at him, asking when he’d stop being so impulsive.
“Paloma,” he finally said, his voice low and rough. “I . . .” He didn’t know how to finish the sentence.
“Can we meet today?” she repeated. “Discuss damage control.”
“Damage? Are we talking blackmail? Coercion?” His mouth went dry, his fingers drumming a nervous rhythm against his desk.
His ex had told him the swinging community protected their own, valued consent and boundaries. But the Thompsons had propositioned Paloma during their final business meeting. The timing couldn’t be coincidental. A power play? Or did they think a nearly-sealed contract made it fair game?
“So far, neither,” she said. “They seemed fine with me turning them down. I’ll give you the full story when we’re together. See what you think.”
He stilled his restless, nervous tapping and checked the time. His eyeballs burned from exhaustion, but he needed to help her. “I’m still at the office and need to discuss a few loose ends with Grace. It might take a while. Would tomorrow morning be better?”
“No. I’m leaving for the Sterlings’ first thing in the morning.”
“Tomorrow? I thought we were going together next week?” The last of his selected plants were due to arrive the following Wednesday.
“There’s a few big things arriving tomorrow afternoon. I need to be there and ensure the installation is correct,” she replied. “It’s a quick overnight before we return for the final phase together.”
It was ridiculous that her going without him bothered him. He ignored his worthless reaction and asked, “Where do you want to meet?”
“Do you mind coming to my place?”
Grace walked into his office. He held up his index finger. She nodded, taking the seat across from his desk. “Yeah,” he told Paloma. “I shouldn’t be more than an hour or two.”
They hung up, and he focused on Grace. “Ready to go over those reports?” he asked, rubbing the sleepiness from his eyes.
“Are you?” She tilted her head, meaning she’d already figured out more than he wanted her to know. “We can do this tomorrow if you need to. You’ve got that thousand-yard stare going.”
“No, some of this can’t wait.” He shuffled the papers on his desk, trying to gather his scattered thoughts. “But if possible, let’s focus on the urgent stuff now. I need to head out after to see Paloma. There’s an . . . issue.”
“Work or personal?”
His pen clattered against the desk. “Why would you assume personal?”
Grace settled into the chair and gave him a come-on look that made his neck heat. “I’m not blind. I’ve seen you two when she stops by.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “The way you look at each other and gravitate toward one another in meetings. It’s nice, actually. You smile more.”
Her words, meant to be supportive, only intensified the acid churning in his gut. His impulsiveness could hurt not just him and Paloma but the company’s reputation. “Grace—”
She held up a hand. “Don’t overthink it, Max.”
