“But it still happens…” I put my chocolate cannoli down, suddenly feeling queasy.
“People still win the lottery, too.” Josh laughed, but it wasn’t funny. He reached over and put his hand on my arm, meeting my eyes. “Look, an agent will get you in the door. An agent will get you a fair and fast read, which is all an author can really ask for, and if your book is accepted, an agent will get you a better money deal, hands down.
That’s what an agent can do for you.”
I frowned. “Are you a good agent?”
He smiled, raising an eyebrow. “Are you a good writer?”
“I’m very good.” I looked down at his hand on my arm and back up at him.
He nodded. “So am I.”
The intercom buzzed and we both jumped.
“Car’s ready,” Josh said, as if I hadn’t heard the doorman say so. “Do you have everything?”
I shrugged. I hadn’t come with much. I stood, opening his robe and taking it off.
“Here. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” He slung it over his arm, looking across the bar at me. “Tell you what, let me give you my card.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
He was already opening a kitchen drawer, taking out a white card and a pen and sliding it across to me. “Go ahead and write down your phone number and email on the back.”
I hesitated, frowning, pen in hand. “I don’t know…”
“What have you got to lose?” He opened the drawer, taking out another card. “I mean, I’ve already seen you naked.”
I blushed and laughed, writing both my cell and email on the card and sliding it back to him.
“Here, take this one.” He scribbled something on the back. “That’s my personal email.”
“Thanks.” I zipped it up inside my purse. “I guess I better go.”
“I’ll walk you to the elevator.”
It was just around the corner and down the hall, and I didn’t bother with my shoes, carrying them in one hand.
“That really is a great dress,” Josh remarked as he pushed the button. The doors opened immediately and he held them for me. “I can see why Catherine brought you home.”
“Tell her I said…” Yikes. What should I say? I cringed, feeling awkward. “Tell her I said goodbye.”
He nodded. “Goodbye to you, too, Just-Janie. Nice meeting you.”
“Bye, Josh.” I gave him a little wave as the doors closed before leaning against the back wall of the elevator and letting out a huge pent-up breath.
I quickly dug out my phone, flipping it open to scroll through messages, seeing Lil’s last one first:
OMG THE NITE I HAD! W8 TIL U HEAR!
You’re not the only one, I thought, smiling and thinking of my unexpected night with Catherine-and my even more surprising morning encounter with her husband.
What were the odds of a writer meeting her future agent after spending the night having sex with his wife? I wondered. Those were long odds, I figured. Crazy-odds. The kind of odds Vegas wouldn’t even let you bet on.
Those were lottery-winning odds. And strangely, that’s just what it felt like, seeing Josh’s card tucked away in my purse-like I’d won the lottery. I just wasn’t quite sure yet exactly what my prize might be.
I tried to sneak in as quietly as I could. It was still early and I was hoping, since it was a Sunday, everyone, including Beth, would still be sleeping.
I went in the front door because the side door that went through the kitchen had a squeaky screen. I leaned there for a moment as I gently closed the front door behind me. What a night! I still felt a little hungover, although I’d had worse mornings. I was mostly just exhausted. Catherine and I hadn’t slept much last night. I warmed at the memory and wondered what to tell Ronnie and TJ, because I knew they were going to ask where I’d been, what I’d been doing, and more importantly, why I hadn’t called.
Maybe I could go to bed for a few hours and pretend I’d been there most of the night? I started toward my room but stopped when I heard voices from the kitchen.
Ronnie and TJ were awake, and I had to pass the kitchen door to get to my bedroom.
Damnit. I inched forward, holding my breath, listening.
“It’s not that.” TJ sighed deeply. “But I told you before, I just don’t know if I can go through that again.”
Ronnie spoke up, sounding angry. “I went through it, too, you know.”
“I know you did.” He sighed again. “Come here.”
“I just want you to be happy.” Ronnie’s voice sounded muffled, not angry now, and I knew he was probably holding her.
“I am happy!” TJ sounded sincere. “I’m just…scared. I almost lost you. We almost lost Beth. I don’t want that to happen again.”
“I know.” Ronnie sighed and I stood there, wondering what had happened. Had Beth’s birth been so difficult? I knew she’d had a c-section-she still had the scar, low and faded at her bikini line. But lots of women had those. I hadn’t really given it much thought past kissing it as I made my way south or north on her body.
“I mean, look at me,” he laughed ruefully. “I couldn’t sleep all night, worried about our other girl.”
I startled, knowing he was talking about me, feeling even more guilty.
“I wish she’d call or something. I just want to know she’s safe,” he said.
“I’m sure she’s okay,” Ronnie reassured him. “She probably went home with someone.”
He snorted. “I don’t like that idea either.”
“Can’t have your cake and eat it, too…” Ronnie laughed.
“I sure can…” he disagreed, and I knew that low tone in his voice, the one that told me he was turning wolfish, on the prowl.
Feeling guilty, I decided to make my presence known.
“Morning, guys…” I stepped into the kitchen, seeing them both standing by the sink, Ronnie wrapped in TJ’s arms. She was in her robe and he was wearing pajama bottoms. “Sorry I didn’t call…”
“Janie!” Ronnie smiled and held her hand out. “Where were you, you naughty girl?”
“Yeah, I… uh… slept over.” I went to them at her invitation, and warmth enveloped me on both sides.
Ronnie grinned. “How was he?”
“ She, actually…” I confessed, biting my lip.
“Really?” Ronnie looked up at TJ. “See, I should be the one who’s jealous.”
“Neither of you have any reason to be jealous.” I tucked my head against TJ’s shoulder and squeezed Ronnie’s hand, which had found its way into mine. “I should have just come home.”
“That bad?” TJ wrapped an arm around me and caressed my hip.
“Not bad, just…” I didn’t know how to tell them what it felt like being outside of the circle of their arms, their love. “I don’t know, meaningless sex feels good at the time, but it doesn’t feel so good afterwards…”
TJ’s hand moved over my dress, pulling it up in back and sliding under the elastic of my panties to massage my ass. “Well, how about some meaningful morning sex to make up for it?”
“But I’m so sore.” I groaned, turning my face up to be kissed anyway. He tasted like coffee. I probably did, too.
“Just what were you doing?” Ronnie inquired, raising an eyebrow.
“Well…” I squirmed, feeling sheepish. “Let’s just say…those toy cocks are way more dangerous than real ones.”
“That is so not a good thing to tell a man.” TJ laughed. “Good thing I’m so secure in my masculinity and all.”
“Where’s Beth?” I asked, suddenly realizing we were standing in the middle of the kitchen all mashed together.
“She slept over Isabelle’s last night, remember?” Ronnie tucked a piece of stray hair behind my ear. “We were hoping you’d come home and join us last night…”