Page 14 of Indecent Ventures

She laughs again. Yes, Thor is a woman. Her full name is Thorunn, but she’s so good at her job, handling it like a superhero, that everyone calls her Thor. Of course, that also means everyone assumes she’s a man until they meet her, but we have fun with it.

Thor is an attractive blonde woman, and she’s equally as tall as me. It’s nice to have another tall friend. I’m always the giant around my friends. She’s the head of the design department and has been for over ten years. She’s my boss, and we have a great working relationship. She’s in a slightly different place in life than me, with a husband and two kids. But we get along well in the office, and occasionally after work for drinks.

“I don’t have issues. Iama fucking superhero. Now, I did come into this den of sin for a reason. Skylar needs modeling for her Matthews proposal. She said she’d rather you do it than Neal, but I told her you’re already overloaded. It’s entirely up to you.”

I flip my hair. “God, it’s so hard being the best. Everyone wants a piece of you.”

She coughs, “Trained by the best.”

I smile. “I’ll give you that one. It’s fine. Add it to my pile. Dominic’s proposal is almost done.” Dominic has the same job title as Skylar. He’s in his early forties and is sexy as hell, with dark hair, olive skin, piercing brown eyes, and a broad chest that always makes his shirts look like they’re going to pop off him. I wish they would.

She narrows her eyes at me. “Stop mind-fucking Dominic. He’s twice your age.”

“What? Me? Never.” I smirk at her. “Only pure thoughts of what’s underneath those tight suits he wears. They’re a little snug in the crotch, if you catch my drift.”

She bites her lip. “You’re not wrong.”

“And what’s with his eyes? It’s like they bore into your soul. I’m usually into blue eyes, but his brown eyes are the sexiest I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t mind them staring at me while he fucks me on my desk.”

She shakes her head. “You’re deranged.” I giggle. “Speaking of those who engage in inappropriate office behavior, did you see how high the pool has gotten as to whether Reagan and Carter will announce a pregnancy by year-end.”

“Hmm. That’s a little over two months away. What’s it up to?”

“Twenty-to-one odds they announce before Thanksgiving. Ten-to-one by Christmas.”

“I’ll put five-hundred dollars on before Thanksgiving.”

“You wouldn’t have any insider information, would you?”

“Nope.” I wink multiple times.

She smiles. “I guess we’ll both be betting on before Thanksgiving.”

CHAPTERTHREE

FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO

COLLIN

“What do you mean Reagan broke up with you? You guys are in love. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. You’re endgame.”

Carter practically collapses in my arms at my apartment door. He’s a mess.

I close the door and help him to my couch. “What happened?”

He plops down and I sit next to him. “She thinks I’ve been faking my feelings to get her business for my father.”

“Your father? You hate him. You would never do that.”

“I know.” His head is down in his chest. “I did something stupid regarding her business before we started dating and now she thinks I’m a fraud.” He legitimately has tears rolling down his face. He whispers, “Collin, I can’t lose her. I love her. I can’t even breathe without her. She’s my world.”

I rub his back. “I know, buddy. We’ll fix this. I’ll do whatever I can to help. I know you love her, and I know she loves you too.”

“I more than love her. She’s all I see. Do you know what it’s like to be in a room of people but only be able to see one? To have everyone and everything else fade into the background?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t.”

“That’s what it always feels like with her.” He starts sobbing. “She makes me a better man. She calls me on my shit. I need her. I can’t live without her. And now she hates me. She won’t talk to me. She can’t bear to look at me.”

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