I’ve gotten behind on and need help with is about another pen name I’ve been working on.”
They were so silent, I peeked over as I doctored my coffee. Curiously blank expressions stared back at me.
“I’ve been working on romance and erotica stories for a little while. It started out as just a hobby, but it’s gotten bigger lately and if I want to make a go at it, I need more help.” As I paused there was still silence, so I turned back toward the table.
Austin snorted and held out his hand to Tanner. “Hand it over. I want my money.”
Suddenly I didn’t feel so badly. “You were betting on my writing? That’s terrible.”
Rolling his eyes, Austin wiggled his fingers at Tanner. “Don’t dawdle.”
Tanner shot me a dirty look as he dug out his wallet. “Couldn’t you have waited a few more months to come out with this? He’d have forgotten by then.”
“No chance. This is buying me those new heels I wanted.” He wiggled excitedly as Tanner handed him a ridiculous pile of bills. “Now Bradley can’t complain about how much they cost.”
“But Bradley will complain about Tanner betting on ill-advised things that he knows he’ll lose.” Bradley was frowning at Tanner like he was a five-year-old who’d wasted their money on something stupid.
“Tanner was drunk, so it shouldn’t count anyway.” Tanner turned back to me, still trying to look pissed, but he was missing the mark by almost laughing. “How long have you been doing it?”
“Not crazy long. The idea was just to do something fun once in a while to relax. The erotica is easy and fun. I don’t have to plan out all the layers like I do in a regular book. And you guys always talk about the most insane things and give me ideas I can’t use in the mysteries. So it really is your fault.”
Laughter and scoffs filled the room as everyone either shouted out denials or bowed like they were the royals of kink. When things calmed down again, Wade turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“Because at first I was only selling like five of them.” I shrugged. “And I figured Austin was probably at least half of those, so they didn’t count.”
Austin grinned. “Got to have one for the tablet and others squirreled away just in case the government comes after me.”
I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not, so I just ignored it. “I wanted to wait until they were actually selling and it didn’t look like some pathetic side project.”
Wade leaned around the table and squeezed my leg. “We understand.”
“We’d also guessed.” Austin was having a fabulous time. “You’re too good of a writer to just focus on little old ladies.”
“I like my little old ladies.” They were fun.
“But sexy alphas and sex scenes are so much better.” Austin rubbed his hands together greedily. “Okay, give it up. What’s the name? I’ve got some catching up to do.”
Groaning, I confessed the pen name as everyone scrambled to get out their phones and start looking up the books. Austin was first, of course. “Oh wait, I’ve read some of these.”
Yep, there was no way I was lucky enough to hope he hadn’t found any of them.
His head popped up excitedly. “Imagination. He recreated scenes from your books? Oh, tell me it was the omega harem one?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Nope, the Master slave one with the slave being bought in the first chapter, and the original one he did was the office romance with the letter opener.”
Their eyes widened almost comically.
Wade leaned forward. “Austin, which one has the slave?”
He wailed. “I don’t know. I haven’t read those yet.”
Snickering, I shrugged. “You’re missing out.”
Austin stood and started tugging on Tanner’s arm. “Hurry. I’ve got to get you back to work so I can read these.”
He tugged his arm away and pointed Austin back toward his chair. “You’ve got to be kidding. I’m still finishing my coffee. Besides, we still need more information about his date. All we know is that they were relaxed at the restaurant and then he got to be a slave when they got home. Is that really enough detail for you?”
Some days I hated that he was so damned efficient.
Chapter 18
Tristan
I laughed, shaking my head. “No, nothing that crazy. We’re just getting together with the rest of the guys at the club to meet some of the possible employees.” I probably should’ve put that word in air quotes because were they really