“Trust me, you are.”

I suck in a breath. “Do you think Max is into…kinky stuff?”

“Did any of your other boyfriends strip off your clothes and tie you to a motorcycle?”

“No.”

“Did he just happen to have some rope or other restraining device handy?”

My stomach sinks. “Yes.”

“Then I diagnose a severe case of kinkiness, and you’re going in the deep end.” She giggles and whispers something intelligible.

“Is Doctor Drake in the room? Are you letting him hear our conversation?” I bolt upright in the bed.

“He’s just gone out again to look through the pie cupboard where I keep my sex toys. We didn’t spend much time in the bed—mostly in the kitchen, on the couch, the dining table, the shower, and out on the balcony. You missed out big time. He is kink on a stick. And with his knowledge of female anatomy—”

“I don’t want to hear it. What about Jake? If he was pissed off with your games before, I can’t imagine he would be happy to know you are sexing it up with my BOSS.”

Amanda snorts a laugh. “Since when did you become the expert on men? I thought you just told me you didn’t even get Max into bed. What happened?”

I twist the sheet in my hand. “I…it was so intense it scared me, and I didn’t like that he made me like it. I tried to talk to him about it afterward, but I couldn’t explain myself and he didn’t seem to understand. It kind of ruined the mood. Eventually we decided it would be best to call it a night.”

“Poor Max,” Amanda chortles. “He must have had a hard night after dropping you off.”

“Amanda!”

“Text him. Let him know you’re okay.”

“I’m not okay. I’m confused.”

“Tell him that too. And for the record, he didn’t make you like it. You like it or you don’t like it. It’s all up to you.”

I wriggle under the covers and pull them over my head. I am going to hide here all day. No debt collectors. No kinky fighters. No friends sleeping with my boss. “You aren’t making me feel any better, and he wasn’t even the reason I called. I have another problem—”

Amanda’s voice drops to a low rasp. “He’s sucking my toes.”

“Ewww. TMI. And I’m sure he can hear you. Does he know it’s me?”

“No,” she whispers. “And he can’t hear me. He’s under the covers.”

“Please. Take me away,” I whimper.

“You’re safe. He’s just slithered out of the bed and is racing toward the kitchen. He’s so exciting. I never know what he’s going to do next.”

My stomach churns. “Don’t tell me any more. Every time I look at him at work I’m going to have inappropriate images in my head. What if I blurt out something without thinking? What if we’re in a meeting and someone says something about toes? I won’t be able to control myself.”

“Oooooo. He’s been through my toy stash and now he wants to play,” she murmurs. “He’s holding things up one by one to—Bad dog. Get off the bed. Stop. Don’t bite the pillows. Oh, wait. Those aren’t pillows.” She bursts into laughter. Well, at least one of us is having fun.

“I’m hanging up,” I say morosely.

“No wait. The debt collector.” She mumbles something and I hear the unmistakable sound of a bed creaking. “You have to find a way to shut him down.”

“But—” I have too many questions and I need her full attention. “Do you have time to meet up for coffee?”

Amanda giggles. “I think I’ll be staying in bed today. Drake has brought in a bowl of ice, a bag of clothespins, a packet of twist ties, a cucumber, and a bottle of hot sauce. Ooooh. And a pair of handcuffs. Where do you think he found those?”

I sigh. “I don’t think he would have had to look too hard.”

“Oh wait, someone’s at the door. Hold on. I’ll be able to give you my full attention once I’m out of the bedroom.”

She breathes into the phone and I imagine her walking through her country chic living room filled with pastel antiques and cozy chintz. A lock clunks. A door creaks.

“Jake!” She gives a squeak of horror.

My pulse races. “Get him out of there,” I whisper. “Don’t let him see—”

“Who’s that?” Jake’s voice is so loud I hold the phone away from my ear. “Damn it, Amanda, you didn’t waste any time did you?”

“You wouldn’t see me.” Her voice is thin, high, and almost unrecognizable. My eyes prickle with tears.

“So you jump into bed with the first guy who comes along?” he shouts. “When the going gets tough, Amanda gets laid? Is that about it? Is that how you handle a relationship? Is that all I meant to you?”

“Jake,” she whispers. Her voice is thick with horror and regret.

I slap my hand over my mouth. In all the years I’ve known her, I’ve never heard her sound so desolate.

“If I never see you again, it will be too soon.” The door slams.

Amanda draws in a breath and a sob rips from her throat.

“I’m on my way, honey.” I end the call and jump out of bed.

No Max for me today. Tension eases from my shoulders. I have a little breathing room.

***