Page 56 of Getting Down to Business

He’d been quiet as they ate and on the way back to the office. In the lobby, she went to check on something with the front desk clerk so she wouldn’t have to ride up with him on the elevator.

This was work. It was important to keep it separate. She didn’t want people to think something was going on. She’d just gotten this promotion. If everyone knew she was with Gray, they’d think she’d slept her way to the top. Even though there were technically six other floors to the top. Still.

Her phone rang.

“Speak of sleeping their way to the top,” she said before answering. “Hey, Ken.”

Kenley Carmichael—now Kenley Jackson—used to work with her until she was fired and wrongly accused of sleeping with their boss’s husband. She moved to Connecticut where she did in fact end up sleeping with her boss who was now her husband.

“How are things?” she asked.

“Good. I got a promotion.”

“What? And you didn’t tell me? We need to celebrate.”

“Sure thing. Why don’t you roll yourself over here and we’ll throw back some shots.” Kenley was very pregnant.

“Maybe we’ll have to postpone until after my confinement.”

Alyssa laughed at the historical reference. Though it was an apt description, considering Zane didn’t want her to do anything that could possibly hurt her or the baby. Like standing for more than ten minutes or walking.

“Zane is still being a worry wart?”

“He moved the yogurt from the bottom drawer to the top shelf so I won’t have to bend to get it.” She let out a sigh. “But the nightly foot rubs are nice.”

“Hmm. Foot rubs, huh? Maybe I would get knocked up if it meant foot rubs.”

“Really?”

“No. Not happening.” They laughed together. They might have started out doing the same thing for Hasher Borne, but their lives had taken way different paths.

Kenley was married with a baby on the way, living in suburbia with her flannel-wearing husband. And Alyssa was still in the city, trying her best not to get attached to anyone.

“How’s the new place?” Kenley asked.

“The new place is good.”

“And the roommate? What did you decide?” There was a tone on that last word that hinted at her suspicions.

“We’re sleeping together.”

“I knew that was going to happen!”

“Yes. Yes. It was such a mystery. So I caved and we’re having sex. That is the extent of it. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to you. Gray is perfectly fine with how things are between us. He’s not expecting anything.”

“I see.”

“What do you see?”

“I see you’re happy.”

Damn people who knew her so well. Why did she talk to people?

“Gray is a lot of fun. We enjoy doing things together. It’s like being with you, but with a penis. So yeah, I’m happy.”

“I’ve been replaced by a penis?” Kenley gasped.

“You did it first, Mrs. Glass Houses.”