Page 17 of Cheap Shot

It was a relatively light one.

On Saturdays, Twig & Bloom generally had good foot traffic, so he’d made some extra bouquets yesterday in anticipation, but there were no big events scheduled for this weekend. That would change as he got more established here in Boston and they edged toward Valentine’s Day, the spring holidays, and wedding season.

But for now, it was mostly small orders.

A part of him wished it was busier, so he could ignore the guilt lurking at the edges of his thoughts about what he’d done last night. He shouldn’t have let his dick do the thinking. The orgasm had been good, but it had been a shitty thing to do to Nicky.

Sure, Nicky had talked about the price athletes paid for success. The risks they all took. But would the guy who’d been his best friend and confidant since the age of fourteen really understand Sebastian hooking up with the guy who’d torpedoed his career?Who’d left him with chronic migraines and vertigo so bad he couldn’t lace up his skates?

Sebastian heard a knock on the back door and sprang to his feet, cursing himself for forgetting to unlock the delivery and employee entrance.

“Sorry,” he told Morgan and Joe breathlessly after he opened the door. “Guess I was a little out of it this morning.”

Morgan waved off his apology but Joe hesitated.

“Uhh, if I’m really on top of my deliveries, do you think I could leave a little early, boss? My kid’s got a school recital that I’d like to make it to.”

“Probably,” Sebastian said. “How early is early?”

“Just like … half an hour. Forty-five minutes, tops. That should give me time to change my clothes and get to his school.”

“Yeah, we should be able to make that work,” Sebastian said. “In the future though, please let me know ahead of time so I can plan for it.”

He wanted to be the kind of employer who worked around people’s schedules, but he neededsomenotice.

A relieved expression crossed Joe’s face. “Sure thing, boss. And sorry I didn’t ask sooner. It slipped my mind.”

“That happens,” Sebastian agreed. “Just try to do better in the future.”

“I will. I swear. Thanks!” Joe said, already making a beeline for the coolers where orders that would go out for delivery today waited.

Sebastian had prepared Joe’s delivery schedule last night before closing up, so Joe typically just went in the back, grabbed the deliveries, and headed out.

The guy had years of experience with floral deliveries so Sebastian could more or less turn him loose and trust that the work would get done. Which was one of the reasons Sebastian was willing to be a little flexible on Joe leaving early. Although, if they got any late orders, he’d have to handle the deliveries himself.

Uugghh, he desperately needed to find more employees, which, unfortunately, was proving difficult.

But that was a problem he’d deal with another time.

Sebastian went to the front of the shop, passing Morgan who’d ducked into the closet-sized employee breakroom to hang up her coat and bag.

“How was the game?” she asked a few minutes later as she met him at the front.

“Good,” he said, glancing up from a leaf on the potted Calathea he’d been inspecting. “Well, Portland lost but …”

She grinned. “You’re the only person I know who has season tickets to rootagainstthe home team.”

He shrugged. He wasn’t much for fancy cars and he never took vacations. He preferred to shop for vintage clothing and décor, which didn’t always come cheap, but that and season tickets to hockey games were his only big splurges.

And if he was weird about the hockey? Whatever. He wasn’t actuallyhurtinganyone.

“No, it’s great,” Morgan said hastily like he might think it was an insult. “Just different.”

Sebastian wondered what she’d think if she knew whose cock he’d had in his mouth last night.

He shuddered at the thought. Nope, no one needed to know. He could only imagine the kind of shit Brie would give him if she found out. And Nicky … well, Sebastian didn’t even want to think about that.

“So,” he said, clearing his throat. “Let’s go over the plan for the day.”