Making Sense Read online

  “I’ll try not to be.”

  Pursing my lips, I then raised my brows. We both knew if he didn’t get his ten hours he was a monster in the morning. His movements were sluggish and slouched, his replies were only ever grunts, which was why I called that side of Drew a zombie.

  “Love you, my boy.”

  “Love you the most.”

  I scoffed. “Doubtful.” I smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Get to sleep, and I’ll see you after school tomorrow.”

  “’Kay.”

  As I stood, I picked up Puss-it, which Drew whined about. “Nope, I know you’ll pat him all night if you had the chance. Maybe on the weekend he can sleep with you.”

  Drew sighed, but nodded. I threw him one last kiss, and he responded with his own, then exited his room, closing the door behind me.

  I didn’t know how I got so lucky, being blessed with such an amazing child, but I was, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

  Chapter

  Two

  Surprisingly, the night was quiet. I’d already tidied the DVDs, restocked the cock rings and had time to dust the vibrator boxes. Some women would hate the job, but I enjoyed it, except those back rooms. Shudder. Sex was something every person should enjoy, and sometimes with the added pleasure of toys, it made things more fun. I wasn’t embarrassed about selling sex toys. I was confident in the job I did. Even if I hadn’t tried out all the products, I still learned how they worked in case anyone had questions. Sex wasn’t something to be ashamed of. It was a part of life… which was why I missed it so much. John had always been good in the bedroom. It was why I hadn’t seen his cheating coming since he’d slept with me just two days before he said he was leaving. Yes, we fought, mainly over my weight, but if he couldn’t take me for who I was, then he wasn’t worth having in my life and bed. Something I told him after I slashed his tires and he called me a crazy bitch.

  The bell over the door rang as someone opened it. I placed a wide smile on my face, only to freeze when my wet dream walked into the store.

  Oh, God. He was… stunningly hot.

  I was going to choke and burn.

  He glanced over his shoulder and smiled when a woman entered just after him. I let out a whoosh of air that had caught in my lungs. When I knew the hot guy, like Clint, for instance, was taken, I was totally fine around them.

  Although, I couldn’t help but feel the sad dip in my belly knowing the man candy in front of me was taken. Then again, he was totally out of my league. At least he was entertainment for a few moments in the boring night.

  “Hi,” I chirped, and waved when they both looked my way.

  Wow, his lady friend was also stunning. A little on the larger size like myself, and gorgeous, and seeing them together made me like the man even more because he went for a bigger-sized woman.

  “Hey, hi, um, just looking,” she spat, and then giggled nervously.

  Aw, she was shy. I wanted to take her in my arms and hug her, tell her there was nothing wrong with being in an adult store.

  However, I didn’t. Instead, with my eyes holding hers, I said, “Let me know if you need any help. The other day our delivery came in with a shock therapy simulation kit for the nipples, clit and pussy mound. I’ve heard they do wonders to get you aroused.” The woman blanched. But when the man beside her choked out a laugh, I turned to find him looking at me. I quickly averted my gaze back to the woman. Yes, I was okay with good-looking men once I knew they were taken, but his eyes, his warm, dark, luscious eyes wanted to hold me captive until I shouted my deepest darkest secrets, and I didn’t think it would go down well when his girlfriend was standing right next to him.

  “Um, thank you. I think. But really we’re just looking. Filling in some time.” She thumbed to the man next to her. “He dared me to come in while we waited—”

  “What are these?” the man asked suddenly.

  Dang it, I didn’t want to look at him. My face was already starting to feel hot. I shouldn’t have had that reaction since it was obvious he was taken, yet I was still acting like an idiot around him. Quickly, I flicked my gaze to see what he held. My eyes widened a fraction. Did he even read the packet? It was really self-explanatory.

  Or maybe he couldn’t read or he needed glasses to read.

  Sucking in a breath, I called forth my sales persona and pasted on a smile. Talking to him didn’t actually mean I had to look at him. I could fake it.

  God, I hoped I could.

  Clearing my throat, I made my way around the counter and started, “Its popping candy. I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard great things about it. Women love it when their partners use it in the bedroom.” I stopped just beside the woman, and honestly, I knew approaching them to try and make them feel comfortable was a mistake. Her man smelled divine.

  “How?” he asked. His voice being quieter and richer, deeper made my pulse race.

  “Well, it’s called BJ Blast. It’s apparently designed for women, but I’m sure men would like it just the same.”

  “And this?” he asked, after releasing the candy and grabbing another box that I was sure he hadn’t even looked at.

  Smiling, I kept my professionalism at the front, even though I found the questioning a little strange. Not that people didn’t ask me, they did. However, I was finding he was doing it in a way that was automatic. As if he didn’t really care. Still, I replied, “Edible crotchless panties, unisex actually. Both men and women can wear them,” I added, in case he was going to question what it meant next. Waving my arm around the store, I said, “All products in here add a little spice and fun in the bedroom. Feel free to look around, and call out if you need any information. I’ll help as much as I can.”

  “You’re—”

  “Thank you,” the woman interrupted, and took hold of her man’s wrist, dragging him off to the wall of adult DVDs. Once there, they had a few private snapped words before the man sighed, ran a hand through his dark locks, and nodded.

  I kind of felt weird standing there staring at the couple, wishing I was in the woman’s shoes, so I went back around the counter and started to restock the sex dice on the stand near the register.

  The bell above the door rang, and in stepped two men, one who looked eighteen and the other in his late twenties. Both looked similar with their blond hair and blue eyes, only the younger one wore glasses. Thankfully, they were both cute in their own way, but not overly hot to a point where I would get tongue-tied and stupid. In other words, they were nothing like the man standing in the porn area.

  “Hi, welcome to Carnal Vice—” I broke off when the woman, still at the DVDs, started laughing loudly. Her man glared down at her. Turning my attention back, I offered a smile and said, “Sorry, my name’s Adalyn. If you need advice on anything, please don’t be shy to ask. I’m here to help.”

  The older one stepped up to the counter and said, “Hi, Adalyn, I’m Mike, and that’s Sam. It’s my younger brother’s first time in this type of shop.”

  Sam blushed, and when I caught his eyes, I offered him a sympathetic smile. It was obvious he didn’t want to be in the store with his older brother, who would probably tease like all siblings did. My younger sister, who I didn’t really get along with, constantly had with me.

  “Hi, Sam. Don’t stress about your first time. Heck, when I first visited an adult store, I knocked into the dildo stand, and they fell to the floor. Everyone in that busy shop looked at me and laughed. I then had to pick them all up while they wobbled all over the place in my hand. It just happened to be the ten-inch stand.” Leaning in a little, I added, “At least it’s not busy here.”

  He chuckled and nodded.

  “So congrats on it being your first time to the store, Sam.”

  “Thanks.”

  I threw out my hand and added, “Take a look around, enjoy, and there’s no pressure or judging here.”

  They moved off, and Mike pointed something out to Sam; they both had a laugh about it. I thought it was sweet hi
s brother had brought him for the first time.

  “What DVD would you suggest?”

  Just his growly voice had my heart jumping and lower half springing to life as if it were being born again and singing “Circle of Life.” My hoo-ha wanted to offer itself up to the man in front of me.

  Which was wrong.

  So very, very wrong.

  He had a woman at his side.

  Looking at his chin, his very sexy chin, I stuttered, “P-pardon?”

  He mumbled something under his breath, and said, “Which would you suggest?” There was a tapping sound, so I looked down to see his masculine hands on the counter, and one of his fingers tapped at a DVD of spanking. Next to it was one about gangbanging.

  “Spanking!” I cried, and I felt my blush run down to my neck. I glanced at the others in the store; his woman was giggling behind her hand. Mike and Sam were smiling our way mischievously. Clearing my throat, I said, “Sorry, um, the one about spanking is good. Unless you like to share your woman, then I’d go for the other.”

  “I don’t share.”

  That was good to know… at least, I thought it was. Only, I didn’t know why I was thinking about it in the first place.

  “Have you seen both?” he asked.

  Why wouldn’t he just leave me alone? His girlfriend had wandered away, and I wanted her to get her butt back over to us and drag him away.

  “Porn is good.” What in the world was I saying that for? “Ha, I mean, um, yes. I have seen them. We’re sent an extra copy of each movie to watch so we know what we’re talking about when people ask.”

  “Why are you patting your back?” His voice for once held humor.

  Because I was proud of myself for delivering a coherent sentence around your stunning self, was what I wanted to say. Instead, I pretended to itch and say, “Ah, my bra strap was annoying me. I wasn’t patting.”

  “So you would suggest spanking?”

  Spanking.

  He’d said it with his deep, gruff voice. I wanted him to say it again and again. If only I could watch his mouth form the words also. I honestly thought it would be possible to climax from it. However, I still wouldn’t look him in the eyes, so I kept them down on the movies and nodded. “Yes. Spanking is good.” My eyes widened. “I mean, the movie on it is.”

  Please, someone come in and murder me.

  “Adalyn,” thankfully Mike called. “What does this do?”

  My whole body sagged in relief. “Excuse me, please. Unless you want to purchase….”

  “Not right now.”

  Nodding, I left him to his choices and just about ran over to the brothers. They were holding up a dick pump, so I explained the use of it even while my mind was slapping myself mentally for acting like such an idiot around the customer when I clearly knew he was with his girlfriend.

  I left the brothers laughing and turned back to the counter to find the man still standing there. On the quick glance around the shop, I saw his partner had gone.

  Snap.

  He stood with his arms crossed over his chest as I slowly approached. I got the feeling from the flick of my eyes to his face he wasn’t pleased about something. Instead of going around the counter, I stopped just in front of him and asked, “Can I help you?”

  “No,” he clipped.

  Okay then.

  Maybe his woman ran off on him. He could come across as a big slong.

  “My name is Vice Salvatore.”

  Oh. Shit.

  “I can see by your expression you know who I am.”

  My mouth slammed shut. I nodded and then added in a whisper, “Yes.” Taking a deep breath, I went on, “You’re the owner of all Carnal Vice’s stores.” Though why you would name them after yourself is kind of weird. “And of all the adult films on the shelves.”

  My stomach dropped down into my toes. The stunning man was my boss.

  “Exactly. Usually, I would have my assistant run the secret shopper program, but she’s on maternity leave, and I told her I would fill in for the stores she had left.”

  Was he about to say there was a problem with my work?

  “This was my last one, and I’ve found the service lacking.”

  Oh no he didn’t.

  Clenching my teeth, I breathed heavily out of my nose. The good-looking knob found me lacking.

  Lacking.

  “Not once did you meet my gaze when I asked questions. You seemed uneducated, not only on how to speak normally but on the items in the store— What are you doing?”

  His question had come from me holding my hand up in his face. He’d just gone and peeved me off.

  “I’m stopping you from continuing.” Luckily, when I was fuming, I didn’t care if the man was hot or not. If my blood boiled enough, I would stand up for myself. Taking a breath, I lifted my gaze to his and glared. Placing my hands on my hips, I said, “When you asked about the items I told you exactly what they were. I know about everything in this store. There is no way you can tell me I’m lacking in that area.”

  “You fumbled through talking about everything.”

  Damn it. I fumbled through it because of his stupid looks. Only there was no way I would tell him that.

  God, I was an idiot.

  With my anger riding high, I demanded, “Ask me anything, and I’ll tell you.” I knew it would be later my nerves would get the better of me over the fact I just spoke to the big boss that way, which could cause me to lose my job. There was also a chance it would send me to a mental hospital from having a breakdown.

  His brows arched and then lowered into a scowl. “Fine.” He rattled off some products, and I told him exactly what they were used for and how partners could enjoy them together or alone even. He then asked me to define the difference between each blow-up doll. Even though a blush lit my cheeks at the errant thought of Mr. Salvatore using one, I went on explaining with my head held high and my eyes meeting his very intimidating ones.

  “So in conclusion, I would always suggest Veronica, her skin is smoother than most, so less chafing and more pleasure would be delivered.”

  “This will be your only warning. Act like you did with me with any other customer you’ll be fired.”

  “I won’t,” I said with a snipped tone. It seemed Vice Salvatore may have cured me of becoming a stuttering fool with any good-looking man. All I had to do was picture him and how much he peeved me off to bring my anger forth.

  Chapter

  Three

  Two weeks. It took me two weeks to calm my nerves and stop thinking Mr. Salvatore would pop back into the store and fire me. I needed and loved my job… well, until my own business was 100 percent profitable. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep the man out of my head. He even starred in some of the steamy dreams I had that involved spanking. No matter what I did, where I was, my mind conjured up the picture of him standing at the counter with his arms crossed over his broad chest, scowling.

  Thankfully, it was Molly’s thirty-fifth birthday, and we were headed to meet Clinton at the restaurant he’d picked, so I hoped with a few drinks and some inspirational words from my best friend, all thoughts of Mr. Salvatore would disappear. Not that I’d told her anything yet; I knew she would get annoyed on my behalf, so I was waiting for the drinking part of the night to begin, and for us to be around Clint; he seemed to calm her temper quickly.

  Climbing out of the cab, Molly commented, “Wow, Clint’s going all out tonight. Isn’t that sweet.” She smiled as we made our way to the door or the restaurant.

  It was sweet, and it kind of hurt my heart because I wanted what my best friend had. Instead, I was always their third wheel, not that they thought anything of it. Like then, while we walked to the maître d’s desk, I couldn’t help but think I shouldn’t be encroaching on their night. But then when I’d said I was staying in, they harped at me to join them, telling me it wouldn’t be the same without me. I couldn’t have asked for better best friends.

  “Molly” was called before we could say any
thing at the front counter. Glancing to our right, we saw Clint standing beside a table. He was dressed in black pants and a white shirt, waving us over.

  “He’s all dressed up,” I commented and heard Molly sigh in appreciation. I was glad I’d gone with a black cocktail dress for the occasion. Then again, the restaurant we were in held a five-star rating. Molly looked amazing in her dark red rock-a-billy dress, and by the way Clint’s eyes were devouring her, he would also agree.

  They greeted each other while I sat and placed a napkin on my lap. A hand landed on my shoulder. “Hey, Addy.”

  “Clint, good to see you going all out.”

  “Well, you only turn thirty-five once.”

  That was true. I turned it two years ago, yet I never did anything special for it. Neither did John.

  God, since the visit from the big boss, I seemed to be in a depressing mood. The “lacking” comment must have got to me more than I thought.

  Actually, I knew it had when I’d gotten home that night and cried into my ice cream. I had a real Bridget Jones moment while listening to music and thinking I had nothing going for my life. I had no one but my mom and son, who had to love me because we were related. Shaking my head, I cleared my mind, and instead of sinking lower into my pity party, I glanced to Molly who had just sat. I wouldn’t bring the night down for her since she was sweet to also love me.

  Her eyes widened. She smiled big and waved to someone. Before I got to see who, she took my wrist and Clint’s, then pulled us up with her, dragging us over to someone she obviously knew.

  “Grayson, long time no see. Hi, Kenzie, Dylan, Lori, and Mr. High.” Molly greeted as I stepped up beside her. My eyes widened. It wasn’t over the fact the table held two drool-worthy men and one good-looking older man. It was because Mr. Salvatore’s girlfriend was sitting next to, and curled into, another man. That man who was soon standing and bringing Molly in for a hug.

  “Molly, great to see you. When was the last time?”