purple tissue paper.
I crouched down for a closer look.
The small card on the string had a note to me.
FOR MY HUBBY!
I laughed and dug into the gift bag to find what Callie had gotten for me.
She didn’t go too far out of her way for this gift.
It was the stems of the flowers I had gotten her.
I nodded.
She took the time to cut the heads of the flowers off and then got me a gift bag and put the stems inside.
“Well played,” I whispered as I stood back up.
I looked toward her door and took a deep breath.
This was… fun.
Being able to push at each other in new ways.
There was a part of me that actually applauded Callie for all she had done.
It was impressive to see.
She was able to keep up with me for the most part step for step.
I was able to get her to trip a few times. Catch her in a lie or dealing with some jealousy.
At the same time, she had done the same thing to me.
My right hand tingled for a second, tempting me to knock on her door.
To thank her for the stems of the flowers.
To kiss her.
I shook my head.
That wasn’t going to happen.
The tempting and teasing and flirting was one thing. If we each had a drink or two and we got like that, that was fine. We were just trying to attack one another. Callie knew my weakness was women. And she was a damn fine woman. She knew she had the perfect curves and she knew her chest was just ahhh. She knew how to flaunt it and drive me crazy. We both knew it would always be a look but never ever touch sort of deal.
The same for me.
She loved the muscular look of my body.
She loved when I was naked and cupped my hand over my dick.
In the same way that I wanted her to turn around when she was topless, she wanted me to move my hand so she could get a look at me.
And we both knew if that moment ever came it would be a big mistake.
So the tempting, teasing and flirting… and cutting off flowers… would just have to do for now.
I went inside my apartment and poured myself a much needed drink.
Managing my career, my gym schedule, and a marriage was tiring work.
After a glass of scotch, I took a shower to wash the rest of the day away.
For the first time in a while it looked like I was going to have a quiet night in.
This was the exact kind of night where I’d send a text to one of my heart numbers.
Those were the numbers in my phone with a heart after their name.
They were women who could appreciate a text to come over and fuck.
They knew the rules.
There was no promise of spending the night. I would always make sure they got a ride home. They were to bring a change of clothes in case they slept over because I didn’t want anyone wearing my shirts and getting the wrong idea. And more times than not, we’d end up in the shower to wash away all the evidence before going to bed.
I looked at my phone and wondered if I was an asshole for that.
Then again… sex was sex.
Everyone needed relief.
Solo or a partnership, what did it matter?
It wasn’t like I was some douchebag who would pump his dick twice, blow my load, and then fall asleep.
Anyone who came through my apartment always left with a smile.
That was something I took pride in.
I caught myself scrolling to Callie’s name.
Hers didn’t have a heart after it. Obviously.
I turned my screen off and slipped my phone into my pocket.
One thing I knew for sure…
I needed another drink.
I sat with only one light on in the apartment.
In my favorite chair, with my phone, a tablet, and a laptop open.
Working instead of enjoying a night to myself.
The scotch wasn’t cutting it in distracting my head.
So I started to dig into a few of the companies that Vince wanted to jump in bed with.
Of course they were all high-risk investments.
Space…
I shook my head.
That one was going to be Eddie’s problem.
Or at least it would be for a bit.
Because Eddie would fight Vince on it hard. Vince knew he could never get rid of Eddie. Ever. The only thing Eddie could ever do that would get him fired would be to steal from the company. And even then, it would be Eddie leaving in handcuffs