Page 135 of Falling for Mr. October

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

GIOVANNI

“Let’s start our discussion,” Emily says, pulling an oblong, teal cylinder out of the bag slung over her shoulder.

I glance at Bianca, who’s snuggled up next to me, and am surprised to see a frown on her face. Leaning in, I whisper, “Did your friend just pull a plastic dong out of her bag?”

She stifles a laugh. “It’s the Dong of Discussion,” she says in a soft voice. “She’s told me about it, but I’ve never seen it in action before.”

Not surprisingly, Miles loudly proclaims, “Oh shit. What’s that?”

Emily scowls at him. “Whoever’s holding it can speak,” she says.

“Can’t we just sit around and have a cozy chat?” he presses. “Is there really any need for us to handle sex toys?”

“Don’t try to take away all our fun,” Luanne pouts.

“You can’t talk if you’re not holding the Dong of Discussion,” Emily repeats with a frown. “And you’re not holding it, Miles. From the sound of it, you don’t want to.”

“Are you even a Smut Slut if you don’t want to touch it?” Bianca murmurs to me.

I tighten my grip on her, suddenly wishing we were somewhere a hell of a lot more private. Were there any spacious closets here? Abandoned conference rooms?

“Did Emily provide you with your little friend?” I whisper.

“Give me that,” Luanne says, taking the Dong of Discussion out of Emily’s hands. Once she has it, she turns toward us. “What are you two lovebirds whispering about?”

Bianca grins at me before answering, “Giovanni likes the Dong of Discussion.”

“Your questions need to be book-related, Luanne,” Emily says with a sigh.

“Do you say Yes, Chef to Giovanni, Nurse Bianca?” Luanne asks.

“I was wondering that too,” Helen says. “We watched that show The Bear, and they were always saying that.”

“What an odd title for a show,” comments one of the non-Shirties book club members.

“There’s no bear in it,” a Shirtie replies. “It’s only called The Bear on account of the restaurant.”

“What kind of name is that for a restaurant? Sounds like a damn zoo.”

“Maybe they serve bear,” offers up another non-Shirtie. “I think I’d try it. I ate some elk once, and it was all right. Would you try it, Luanne?”

“I’d try anything once,” Luanne says in a saucy tone. “Just ask Stuart down the hall.”

There’s a chorus of laughter, and Emily rubs her temples. “Can we please get back on topic?”

“Yes,” Bianca says, grinning at me, her eyes glued to my face. “I like saying yes to him.”

“Dear God, why’d you invite me to this?” Miles asks, but he’s laughing as he says it, far more amused by the chaos of the meeting than Emily is.

Luanne bounces the Dong of Discussion on her lap, accidentally activating it. It starts humming in her hand, and she laughs and holds it above her head as if it’s a trophy.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, as if in commiseration, and since I’m waiting to hear back from my agent about my plan for getting the reporters to back off, I pull it out.

My stomach sinks as I scan the message on the screen.

“Giovanni?” Bianca whispers.