When the Lights Go Out (8 page)

Negotiating fringe benefits can be a lot of fun…

Fringe Benefits

© 2015 S.L. Carpenter

Part of the April Fools For Love collection

Business meetings can be hell, and business trips even worse, especially when one employees lusts after another. Linda wants nothing to do with her overly aggressive boss whose idea of sensitivity training involves porn and a rubber chicken.

Fortunately she’s got a good buddy along, and together she and Stacy manage to thwart those devious plans. Stacy finds her own fun and Linda stumbles over the most gorgeous man sleeping off what looks like an afternoon of sun and beer. And boy, he’s “loaded” in the best sense of the word.

Before she knows it, Linda becomes sex-crazed over Richard. Between wine, skinny-dipping and nights of incredibly imaginative bliss, the two of them explore delights neither could have anticipated.

However, as the meetings come to a conclusion, there’s one more surprise in store for Linda. And it involves an April Fool…

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Fringe Benefits:

Linda was transfixed. She didn’t realize she was staring, her nipples hard, or the fact that he’d woken up and was watching her gawking at him.

“My name is Richard by the way, but you can call me Dick if you’d like.” He smiled and fixed his shorts. He groaned, scratching his short black hair and rubbing his scalp.

Linda’s face turned a bright shade of red. She dropped her head and water dripped down her burning face.

“Sorry, I…uhh. I was just looking at your…umm, tan. Yes that’s it, your tan,” she said and couldn’t help but giggle like a schoolgirl. She leaned sideways to squeeze the water out of her hair. Her bathing suit accentuated her body.

Richard stared at Linda. She was a beautiful woman and he appreciated beauty. He also appreciated bathing suits, and breasts and… “I like your suit. It looks good on you.” He wondered what it looked like
off
her.

Linda sat down on the chair beside him to take in a little sun and they began to chat.

“I’m here for an important business restructuring meeting at the hotel. I missed my morning meeting because the damn flight was delayed.” He rubbed his head, finally getting some feeling back in his scalp.

His firm in San Francisco was here for a meeting with another company. He had a nasty hangover from the airline drinks. Mixing drinks on a redeye flight was a bad idea. Partying with his buddies in the airport bar made it worse.

“Tequila, beer and airline peanuts don’t mix well,” he mumbled. His bloodshot eyes and throbbing headache were proof.

In spite of his condition, he noticed Linda’s body becoming tense as his gaze caressed her skin. He again found himself staring at her. There was something intoxicating about her. Maybe that or the warmth of his blood rushing through his veins to his groin area.

“Well, I’d take a hangover instead of the crappy trip here in a car with a man I’m uncomfortable with.” She shifted on the chair.

“Don’t be so sure. The flight was short but I feel like I chipped my tooth on a bad peanut.” Richard smiled and shook his head, laughing at his stupid jokes. “I’m pitiful at this small talk. Isn’t this weather great?”

They both burst into laughter.

“Hey Linda, um, can I have you for dinner? Uh, I mean will you have dinner with me?” Richard grinned at his stupid remark. “I’m such an idiot.” It was true that he wanted nothing more than to eat her for dinner but he wanted to ask her out first.