Page 133 of Devilish Debt
Perhaps discuss with them on the drive home whattheythink.
They appreciate it more when I let them in on major decisions rather than just make them.
I will never again book a cruise vacation for three without discussing it first.
I thought it was a sweet, romantic gesture.
Salay took it as an act of war to trap her on a ship she couldn’t get off when she felt like it and Zero interpreted as challenge of investigative skills to see whoallthe other passengers would be.
That reminds me.
I need to cancel that trip.
“You have…” Cian struggles to process the information, “both?”
“Happily.”
“And they know about each other?”
“We’re in one singular consenting relationship, so yes.”The smugness on my face appears upon our arrival at the large, round, white tablecloth covered table where my partners have been waiting for my return.“Cian McDermott, this is my girlfriend, Salay Henderson.”
She casually leans back in the cushioned seat presenting us both a better view of her tits that are barely being contained in the bright orange, halter, mini dress that looks like it belongs being a swimsuit coverup rather than a dress.“Pleasure, I’m sure.”
My eye roll barely precedes my free hand landing on the back of chair closest to me.“And this is my boyfriend, Zero.”
He extends his orange floral and beige jacquard jacket arm forward along with an open palm for shaking.“Nice to meet you.”
“Zero?”he curiously questions.“No last name?”
“Not until he’s ready to have mine,” I declare, fingers inching over to rest lovingly on the nape of his neck.
Redness tints my boyfriend’s cheeks prompting Salay to sink her teeth into her bottom glossed lip in amusement.
This is also a first.
Yes, me introducing my colleagues to my significant others, but alsodeclaringmy intent –my hope– for our relationship.
It feels different.
Yet right.
Like getting a straight no guilty verdict when you knew your client was the wrong one being tried.
“You here with someone?”Salay politely asks the man standing beside me.
His mouth opens to tell the planned truth when the real one casually walks by our table, arm wound tightly around the arm of junior associate from a rival firm.
Jaqueline Bryant is off limits in his mind.
Wrong.
The one weekend they had together during Christmas is something that – to him – should’ve never happened.
But did.
And being very familiar with the very jealousy pumping through his veins at this moment as well as understanding of needing a push to go after what it is you really want leads to me gently encouraging, “You should go say hi to Jaqs.This is her first one of these things.She’d probably appreciate the familiar face from the office.”
Cian’s blue glare cuts over to meet my brown.I simply wink in wordless support prompting him to nod in gratitude prior to declaring to the table, “If you’ll excuse me…”
