AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I hadn’t known Joystick or Eli long enough to miss them this much when they weren’t around, but I did anyway. But neither of them lived here. When this was over—when Joystick’s ankle was healed, when the movie was done and Eli’s contract was up, they were going back to their lives in other places.
It wasn’t like they were ever going to stick around. Falling for men I barely knew wasn’t smart. It wasn’t responsible. Especially two of them at the same time.
But whatever excuses the logical part of my brain threw at me, whatever reasons I used to convince myself it wasn’t smart to feel anything for them, were shot down by my heart.
They even got along with Lucas, which if they hadn’t would have been a huge, rational reason to distance myself from them.
Instead, reliable, smart, always doing the right thing Kandace was warring again with the Kandace that wanted to love life a little more. The me who was finally doing so.
Monday morning, walking into the office was a relief, as I’d always liked this job.
A few years ago, when Andrew sold his internet porn business, he’d asked me to be his financial adviser. I’d worked in an office like that for years, but my job was administrative—I hadn’t done things like make investment decisions.
Then again, neither did most of the investors. It was a massive company, and the computers and contracts made most of the decisions about where to put the cash. Andrew said I was a much better choice than any of them, and hired me on the same commission based type of salary those investors had made.
And I was good at what I did, surprising me, but apparently not him. The entire thing led to an invitation to join the partnership here at the Rafael group, where they actually put some thought into the start-ups they supported. The other people here believed in helping good ideas grow and reach their potential, the way I did.
As cheesy as it sounded, every day I saw people’s dreams come true, and I loved it.
I settled into my desk for the morning ritual of beginning work. Checking my calendar to remind myself which meetings I needed to be in. Going through email to decide where the priorities lay—
I frowned at the message from a general contractor whose name I frequently gave to new clients. I’d been considering sending Joystick to him as well, because the contractor was honest and good at his job.
Based on recent events, we’re no longer comfortable working with your business partners. I ask that you stop referring people to us immediately.
What the…?
Occasionally we got messages like this, especially if someone we’d sent a vendor’s way was a pain in the ass to work with, but as far as I knew we hadn’t done any of that lately.
No reason to burn the bridge further. I typed up a quick reply.I understand. If there’s anything I can do to change your mind, please let me know. You’ve been a great business partner. Wishing you the best.
I put the message to the back of my mind and moved on, but a nagging thought I couldn’t quite grasp lingered.
I had moved on to prepping for my first meeting when a knock drew my attention.
Xander was standing in my office doorway, leaning casually against the frame, looking very much like a man who knew the room would listen to him if he so much as cleared his throat. It was easy to see why some people were drawn to a presence like his, with his salt and pepper hair, hard body, and looming presence. His husband and girlfriend certainly liked it.
I was looking for—Less flashywasn’t the right phrase, not when I thought of Joystick. Though Eli definitely had that quiet-but-smart-and-fun-and sexy…
“What can I do for you?” I wrapped the random and disruptive thoughts up for later.
“Wanted to make sure Lucas got everything taken care of,” Xander said.
I nodded. “He’s all set. Thank you for rescuing him.”
“Anytime.” Xander’s tone was casual and friendly. “Speaking of all that, you know a lot of people gossip in a place like Haddarville.”
I raised my brows, not trying to hide my surprise at the statement. “I know you don’t typically care about what they have to say.”
“It’s true, I don’t. But this time I’m hearing whispers that you’re spending a lot of time up there.”
People cared where I spent my weekends? Why did that bring a flush of heat to my cheeks? I didn’t care what they were saying.
But I did care about the reasons I’d been doing exactly that—spending a lot of time in the small town. Especially after this weekend. It seemed like each time I saw Joystick, each time I talked to Eli, the tug to them got stronger, and the resistance got weaker.
The indoctrination was still there, though. The voice saying loving them both was irresponsible. Inappropriate. Going to hurt the people I would do anything for.
I shook the thoughts aside. “I have been. And?”
