Page 102 of The Games We Play
I let out a laugh, spinning slightly to check out my ass and giving a nod of approval.
The other night with Mac… well, it’d taken a turn I should’ve expected the moment I agreed to go upstairs with him. Sure,I’d had a few drinks, but I knew what I was doing. I was fully present, fully in control.
At first, my plan had been simple: tease him, torment him, let him watch while I took the pleasure part into my own hands. But when he broke the rules and stepped in to finish what I’d started, it was like a switch flipped. I’d forgotten how good he was—how goodwewere—and I couldn’t bring myself to stop it.
He’d been right… No one did it like he did. Not even myself.
You’re supposed to know your own body better than anyone. And yet, somehow, Mac had learned every part of mine like it was a language only he could speak.
There wasn’t a single ounce of regret. Not for giving in. Not for wanting more.
In fact, the only thing I felt now was the urge to do it all over again. I felt recharged, like the battery in me died and now I was back, baby, back to full strength.
From across the room, my phone started ringing, which was the last thing I needed. I reached into my closet, snatched the biggest T-shirt I could find, and sprinted toward the sound, half-blind as I wrestled to get my head through the neck hole.
On the final ring, I hit accept and put it on speaker.
“Hello?” I said, slightly breathless, still struggling to get the shirt on right.
“Penny! Just the person I was hoping to reach,” my boss, Gerry, said cheerfully.
I internally groaned and tilted my head back in frustration. It was my day off, and he knew that.
“You called me. Who else did you think was going to answer?” I replied, a little sharper than intended. Gerry was a good boss, just one who occasionally forgot about boundaries. I’d learned to take the good with the annoying.
He let out a deep, hearty laugh. “I know, I know you’re off today.”
Then why are you calling me?I screamed silently.
“But the board’s looking for an update on this year’s fundraiser,” he continued. “Last year was a hit, and they’re eager to know what’s coming next.”
Seriously?He was calling me on my day off… to talk business?
“I hate to be that person,” I said, grabbing my sandals, gift bag, and purse, tucking my phone between my ear and shoulder, “but is this something that could wait until I’m back in the office?”
“Oh! Of course, of course,” Gerry backpedaled quickly. “They’ve been blowing up my email, and I wanted to give them something to chew on.”
With a resigned sigh, I closed my apartment door behind me and hurried down the steps. I glanced into Petal Pusher and spotted Sandy cleaning the front window. I waved, and she returned it with a sunny smile.
I could give himsomething, a placeholder to keep the board off his back. Honestly, I didn’t even have a plan yet.
“Fine,” I said. “Romance has been flying off the shelves this year. I was thinking of tailoring the event to that crowd. It fits the small-town vibe.”
Total bluff. I pulled that straight from thin air. But as I said it, the idea started to take shape. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad plan after all.
Fumbling through my purse, I found my sunglasses and slid them on.
Maybe we could host something at the bar… an adults-only night? That sounded likeLibrarian Pennytalking.Off-duty Pennywas climbing into her car, ready to spend the day swimming and drinking with her closest friends.
“Great!” Gerry said. “They’ll love that. You young people and staying up to date with the trends, changing the book world one post at a time!”
I laughed, starting my car. One of the rare times social media was actually working in the world’s favor.
“I’ve got to go,” I said, clearing my throat. “I’ll stop by when I’m back in the office.”
After a round of goodbyes, I hung up and pulled out of the alley, heading toward Cassidy Ranch, more than ready to dive in and have a damn good afternoon.
“I’m here! I’m here!”I called out, breathless as I jogged through the clearing in the woods that opened up to the swimming hole. Everyone was already there—everyone except the birthday girl. So technically… I made it on time.Ish.
