Page 19 of The Upgrade

“Are you nakedly shaking my hand?”

“I’m wearing boxers.” He sweeps a hand over his eight-pack abs, then catches my wrist. “Also, not shaking your hand.”

Rolling my wrist, he plants the softest, sweetest kiss in the center of my palm. Then he turns it over again, dotting one feathery kiss on each of my knuckles.

I shiver. Since when does a hand kiss excite me?

But that’s just a distraction. In less than a week, I’ll be off on my Jilted Brides Honeymoon. And then? Who knows.

I do know one thing, though: My sexual journey won’t lead to love this time. Not to marriage or commitment or the sweet surge of feelings I’m shoving back down in my chest.

“It was lovely to meet you, Eve.”

“Likewise.” Another step back and I turn toward the door, snatching my purse off the nightstand. “Have a great trip,” I call over my shoulder, feeling his eyes on my back.

With a twist of the knob, I step into the hall floating out on his echo of words.

“Have a great life.”

Goddammit, I plan to.

* * *

My VPof marketing appears in my office doorway. “All packed and ready for your trip?” Nina’s wearing a tight black skirt and a salacious smile.

“Just about.” I sound tired from working all week in preparation for abandoning my company for ten whole days. “I’d planned to travel carry-on only but wound up packing too much.”

Nina grins wider. “Filled an entire suitcase with condoms, huh?”

I laugh and shut down my laptop. “Crystal Bliss Retreat provides them free of charge.”

“This place sounds insane. I’m almost jealous.” She sighs and leans on the corner of my desk. “You’re going to have so much fun.”

“That’s the plan.” I run through my mental checklist of projects I’m leaving behind. This isn’t like me to miss work for so long. “Did I brief you already on the?—”

“Yes,” Nina says. Her eyes are kind, but her tone is firm. “I promise you’ve briefed me on every single thing that could possibly need our attention while you’re off unlocking your inner sex vixen. Relax, Eve—you deserve to enjoy this.”

“I just don’t want you to get stuck doing extra work.” I hate putting a burden on anyone. “I’ll keep my cell phone on the whole time.”

“You will not,” she insists.

“I mean, I kinda have to. My best friend and her sisters are tag-teaming cat care. I need to be reachable in case they sell Bratwurst to a circus.”

“Fine.” Nina crosses her arms. “I promise not to call you unless the building’s on fire or I desperately need to hear how your sexy trip is going. Seriously, girl—forget all this and have a fantastic time.”

She means it, that’s the best part. Nina’s married to her childhood bestie, a smokin’ hot architect named Josh. They’ve got an open marriage and a tight-knit friend group that holds regular group sex nights.

The fact that she tells me the details is why I felt safe sharing my plans for the Jilted Brides Honeymoon Club.

“I’m nervous,” I admit, nibbling my lip.

“You’re going to do great.” She settles in the chair beside my desk. “You deserve this, Eve. You put everyone else first all the time—your friends, your family, this company.” Her expression turns serious. “You deserve to have something just foryou.”

“Thank you.” Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back fast. “Oh! I almost forgot. The Carmichael account?”

She gives me a stern look. “You arenotworking on that while you’re gone.”

“No, it’s just—this one’s different.” How do I explain why this account should be handled delicately? It’s Nina, so I may as well give her the truth. “That’s my stepsister’s company. I just—I want to be in the loop if anything comes up.”

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