Page 147 of Not Safe For Work

Chapter 34

We didn’t make any plans beyond his place, ASAP. I didn’t bother stopping to pick up any toys or implements, and I didn’t spend the afternoon thinking of ways to tie him up and tease him and make him go crazy. What would happen when we stepped through that front door was anyone’s guess.

Throughout the day, I made sure to drink a ton of water to appease my throbbing temples. No way in hell was this hangover coming with me tonight. It had almost fully faded by lunch anyway, but I was taking no chances.

At four thirty, my desk phone rang.

“Modeling and drafting, this is Jon.”

“Why don’t you cut loose and head home for the day?” Marie said.

“What? But it’s—”

“I know what time it is. Get out of here.”

“I—” Even as I reached for my keys, I hesitated. “Listen, um, thanks. For having my back.”

“You’re welcome, Jon. I’m sorry you had to go through this whole fiasco.”

“Did Mitchell give you a hard—”

“Don’t worry about me. Besides, I’m pretty sure your boyfriend put the fear of God into him, and he won’t be giving anyone a hard time for a while.”

I laughed. “Yeah, he looked pretty scared.”

“He was. And let me tell you, Rick wasn’t done with him after we left your office. He called the Forsythe boys into the conference room to discuss those contracts, and he must’ve let them have it for a good twenty minutes.”

“Wow, seriously?”

“Seriously. Anyway, get out of here.”

“I’m out of here. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

After we’d hung up, I grabbed my wallet and keys. “See you all tomorrow. I’m out.”

“What?” Bianca piped up. “You’re leaving early?”

“Boss’s orders.”

“Lucky bastard,” Scott muttered.

I just chuckled and got the hell out of there. Knowing this group, when I came in the next morning, there would be a pile of gifts on my desk. Probably a jumbo bottle of ibuprofen, along with some safe-sex pamphlets, a pack of extra-small condoms and a coupon for a walker.

Whatever. Let them joke. Even if they were going to rib me for it until the end of time, it was good to be out about who I was and who I was seeing.

Especially now that I was seeing him again.

I texted Rick on my way to my car and drove like a bat out of hell across town to his neighborhood.

Normally, when I arrived at his place, he’d be out the front door before I’d made it up the walk. This time, the door stayed closed.

As I started onto the porch, though, my phone buzzed. Another text, this time with a single word:

Upstairs.

I laughed to myself. Calling the shots now, are we?