Page 149 of Pucker Factor

Red sighed. “Fine, I’ll get the parachutes.”

We ran out the door with Dash shouting after us, “And the bartender’s name is Bob! You’re welcome!”

38

SARAH

Miranda pulled out one of the many bottles of wine she picked at the liquor store. We were having a sort ofout of workparty. We were the only ones invited. I took down two glasses and set them on the counter, ignoring her chastising look. If it were up to her, we’d drink straight from the bottle.

“So, have you started looking for another job?” I asked.

“Why bother? Do you know how much I’m collecting from the company right now? Emotional distress, ptsd, traumatic overload, loss of wages…Seriously, I’m not looking for a job until they stop paying.”

“Don’t you feel bad about that? I mean, you’re basically taking advantage of the company because of one man’s actions.”

She nearly choked on her wine as she looked at me like a crazy person. I was getting a lot of that lately. “Excuse me? You were strapped to a bomb. You nearly blew up, and you think we’re taking advantage? Okay, maybe me, but you should totally milk it for all it’s worth.”

“I couldn’t do that.”

“Why? Sarah, you do realize that you could have died that day, right?”

“Of course, but I didn’t. Plus, I don’t believe in lawsuits and stealing money from companies.”

“This isn’t stealing. You were traumatized!”

Was I? Everyone seemed to think that I should be, but honestly, I would have been more traumatized by a spider jumping at me from my bathroom mirror. But if I said that out loud, I was pretty sure everyone would look at me like I was insane.

“Look, some people may be able to do that, but what happens when the money runs out? I mean, I want to be settled into my new job long before they decide to stop paying.”

“I guess that’s what rational people do,” she grumbled, taking another swig of her drink. “Not that I agree with it. I still think you should hold out.”

“Well, I’m not.”

“So, you already started looking?”

I winced. “Well, not exactly. I can’t figure out what direction to go.”

She nodded like she totally understood. “Because of the hot guy that saved your life. Yep, I get it.”

I hadn’t actually told her anything about Eli. I had no clue where this was coming from. “Uh, no, not because of that. How did you know about him?”

She snorted. “Are you kidding me? I saw you jump out the window with him. And I saw him being so careful with you as you walked away from the building. Girl, that man was draped around you like a second skin. It was hot.”

“He wasn’t draped around me,” I argued.

“Yeah? Then where have you been for the last week? You know, I stopped by several times and you were never home.”

“I was…out of town.”

Her eyes widened as she shifted closer. “With the hottie?”

“Yes, well…no. Technically, I went against my will.”

She slapped me, gasping with a smile. “Shut up! That is so awesome!”

I opened my mouth but had no clue what to say. It struck me at that moment that this was how others looked at me. I was the crazy person in the room, and now I had a friend to join me.

“So, Miranda…” I said in a leading way. “Suppose a man saved your life and then you slept with him…”

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