Page 73 of Mine

I knew someone was watching us.Fuck.

Tommy nodded. “Yeah. Did you?”

Tommy had always been direct. And he knew me too fucking well.

The only card I had was to play into what everyone thought about me.

“Do you really think someone like Salt, a twenty-five-year-old horny songwriter covered in tattoos, would sleep with someone like me?”

He blinked and sat back slightly. He blew out a breath. “I don’t know, Pepper. The divorce was hard on you. It’s been a tough time, and I wouldn’t blame you for having fun with someone younger. But Salt is way too young for you. And I mean, someone like you shouldn’t even want to be with something like him.”

“Something?” I asked. “You mean someone?”

He sighed, clearly uncomfortable. “Yeah, of course. My point is that you wouldn’t be interested in doing the stuff I’m sure that guy is into. You didn’t even know what a Prince Albert piercing was until last week.”

A mix of humiliation, fear, and anger crept up. “It wouldn’t be wrong for me to have desires.”

“Of course not,” he said smoothly. “Ofcoursenot. But like… maybe not those desires.”

“Tommy,” I said, taken aback. “I know about you and Dan’s sex life. It’s not like you’re not into stuff. I don’t understand what you’re thinking about me.”

His knee was bouncing up and down. “I don’t know what you want me to say. You’re kind of a prude. You always have been. I love you, Pepper, and I know you’d never do anything sexual with a client.”

“Well, then there’s your answer,” I whispered with a smile.But Salt isn’t a client. Yet.

Tommy nodded and then his smile melted. “Right. Of course.”

“Salt isn’t a client yet. So if I did sleep with him, it wouldn’t be wrong,” I said. “And if he were a client, and I did sleep with him, I’d inform the board per the morality clause in my contract. The same one that both you and Jeff have. And then what?”

Tommy just stared.

“Nothing,” I said. “Right? Because you’d be informed.”

“It would make things difficult…”

“Difficult? Like how Jeff was difficult when he was fucking the intern for months and everyone knew about it but me?”

His cheeks flushed. “Yeah. Maybe not that bad. But it wouldn’t be good.”

All I did was nod. My heart was beating too fast. “He’s too young.”

“Oh, definitely,” Tommy snorted, still nervous.

“Too hot for me, too.”

Tommy agreed initially, but then frowned. “Pepper, you’re?—”

“He’s just not my type. You can go.”

He went still, frowning. “I feel like I’ve upset you.”

“You have,” I said. “Tommy, I love you, but you’re a dumbass. And Dan is my favorite.”

“Jesus,” he gasped, covering his heart like he’d been shot.

We stared at each other for a moment, andboth cracked smiles And this time, my smile was a little bit more genuine. Even though my feelings were hurt, and this had just been a painful reminder that—don’t fucking go there now.

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” he said. “I care about you, Pepper. Deeply. Are you okay?”

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