“About the same time, we were having one of those fundraisers at school, selling chocolate bars. Every afternoon, while my mom thought I was at Jade’s house, I instead would set up shop at the high school and, sure enough, sold a ton of candy. The day we were supposed to hand in our tallies, I lied and said a few nasty high school girls followed me to school and stole the money. I even went as far as giving descriptions. For days, the police in our town were looking for three females who suspiciously resembled the cast of Mean Girls.”
Predicting the reason for her pause, I asked, “You got busted?”
“More like karma. Jade came with me to the mall the day I bought my laptop. For the record, that goody two-shoes was not happy with my scheme. I didn’t care and was so excited to use it that I forced her to run all the way back to my house. One block away, I tripped on a patch of ice and watched in horror as the bag flew out of my hands, landing in the path of a passing car.” The robust chuckle that rumbled from my chest forced her reluctant grin to spread. “The driver didn’t even know he murdered my adorable laptop.”
It took effort to compose myself enough to say, “That’s priceless.”
“It gets worse. Because our small town was filled with spies, my parents found out a week later. I had to confess to the principal, and my punishment was helping the janitorial staff clean classrooms after school until I paid off the fundraising money. My classmates started leaving rubber gloves and cleaning supplies at my locker.”
That had me falling into hysterics. Meanwhile, she calmly took a sip of wine, waiting me out. “Thanks for that, Jersey,” I said, wiping my eyes.
“Yeah, yeah… now you.”
“Well, I graduated magna cum laude from Fordham and then Fordham Law…”
“Of course you did.”
I lifted her foot and bit down on a sock-covered big toe.
“Ow… go on.”
“The rest you know… I have my own firm, I’m a workaholic, and I enjoy fucking.”
“Oh come on. There’s got to be something embarrassing you can share.”
“Nope. I’ve got nothing. I was a Boy Scout.”
“You’re full of shit. I heard some stories about you three growing up.”
“If from Brad, he probably exaggerated or downright lied.” Rising from the couch caused her legs to fall on the cushion with a thump.
“Okay, well, then if you won’t tell me, I’ll just have to ask Brad to share your worst,” she said as I headed for the fridge to grab a bottle of water. From where I stood against the cabinets, I narrowed my eyes on hers. There was plenty Brad could squeal about me. But teasing her was so much fun. “I’m sure with a little coaxing, I could easily get him to spill the tea,” she claimed, slowly rising to come closer.
Damn, even loose bland sweats did little to hide her smoking-hot body, and predictably my own body started to react. It also didn’t help that my mind could easily see what was beneath the fabric—tits to die for and that sexy-as-fuck belly button ring for starters. And for a moment I forgot what we were bickering about.
“Last chance to come clean, counselor.”
I gave no response, no reaction, until she came close enough to where I could easily grab her wrist. Her smug smile instantly faded when I pulled her body up against mine and molded my hands over her ass. “Do your best, Jersey.”
Crushing my mouth on hers caused a surprised gasp, while a strangled cry sounded over the baby monitor, bringing our kiss to an abrupt end.
“Jade said he’d sleep for hours.”
“Figures.”
Amy pulled out of my two-handed grip and shrugged. “Oh well.” She sauntered away to retrieve the little cock-blocker, leaving me sexually frustrated. A few seconds later, I could hear Michael’s whimpering through the monitor before Amy soothingly said, “It’s okay, sweet boy. Don’t cry.” Another garbled whine came from him as she added, “Good timing, by the way. Uncle Nate needs to remember who’s running this show.”
“Until later,” I called out, loud enough for her to hear me before I drained my water.
Needless to say, that little booger proved her right, and run the show he did.
During a ton of hysterics on his part, a debacle involving mashed bananas, a disgusting diaper change, and even a projectile spit-up that mimicked an exorcism, Amy and I laughed our asses off. Because of Michael’s antics, an uncommon easiness weirdly had us turning some sort of corner.
Sure, that smart mouth of hers still spewed sassy retorts every chance it could, and I loved that about her, but there was also a new level of civility between us. Like it was us against him, two friends banding together during a babysitting crisis. Granted, friends who wanted into each other’s pants, because that sexual tension between us never once ceased.
If anything, it worsened. I know for me it had, and I could tell the same applied for her based on the many signals that I picked up on. A woman’s body never lied. There was a reason God created full, pouty lips that could part on a suppressed sigh, or spectacular breasts that could pebble in arousal.
But it was always the eyes that revealed the truth. Since coming together with Amy, hers had been windows into her thoughts. All the words she voiced couldn’t negate that she wanted me.
It seemed like a day later by the time Michael finally calmed down. While I bounced him on my knee, making silly noises and blowing raspberries on his chubby cheeks, Amy eye-fucked me with such intensity that if it weren’t for my nephew, I would’ve taken her right then and there on my brother’s couch.
However, sex wasn’t the reason I showed up at his apartment earlier. I knew she’d assume our day together was canceled. But just as she had her ground rules for when we could see each other, I had mine for ensuring we would be together. Again, I really tried not to think hard as to why it was her that I wanted to spend time with. For argument’s sake, I labeled Amy as a stimulating challenge that turned me the fuck on.
Her phone’s buzzing caught my attention. Assuming it was Jade, I said, “Is she making sure we haven’t killed him yet… or him us?”
“Huh?” she asked, looking up and realizing my comment. “Oh, no, it’s Janis.”
“Everything okay?” Although I really didn’t care if the woman caught fire.
“Yeah… she still hasn’t heard from Runnel.” My expectant expression was met with a small frown. I knew exactly who Runnel was, and how important they were to Janis and her agency. Mistaking my silence, she added, “Shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. It’s not a done deal yet.” She engaged in some sort of internal battle before saying, “They expressed interest in my Brazen Truths series, but those things can very easily fall through.”
An uncomfortable twinge squeezed inside my chest. “That’s amazing, Jersey,” I forced myself to say enthusiastically.
“It’s all just talk right now. It seems to be taking them forever to decide, but Janis said it’s common and keeps reminding me to be patient.”
It didn’t surprise me that Janis was withholding information from Amy. Because of the very public divorce, I knew for a fact that Runnel, as well as many other clients, were all concerned with the Steiner Agency’s stability. Janis may have been running the show, but Richard’s financial involvement was big enough to cause doubt that she could survive without him.