Free Salesmen on the Rise by Cheryl Dragon

very bi, and he’s only one of my boyfriends, thank you. Nothing you saw today was acting.” Zoe felt Owen stand next to her, and then more people. She looked back and saw all four men stood there, three of them very unsure what was going on.
    “Bisexual? You’re saying you’re dating all four? How odd.”
    “One minute, Lucky Springs is too backward, and now, it’s too progressive? If you like gay sales guys, what’s wrong with bisexual? A group relationship is wrong, but gay isn’t?” Jar demanded.
    “Wouldn’t your clients love to hear how narrow your views are?” Zoe folded her arms.
    The man fumbled for words. “This is highly unusual at a conference in public.”
    “We don’t have a problem with it. What’s yours?” Cam chuckled.
    The entire bar watched them now. “I suggest you think over the message you want to send and if you want to limit who you do business with. We’ll meet in the morning for breakfast as planned, and see how you feel then. If you don’t show up, we’ll understand.” Zoe nodded.
    “We’ll be there.” The man walked away, shaking his head.
    As soon as the potential customers were gone, Zoe’s hands shook. She leaned on Jar. “What the hell just happened?”
    “I think you struck a blow for group love everywhere. Are you okay?” Don asked.
    “I need to lie down.” Zoe shook her head.
    “Let’s get you a drink. Sit down,” Cam suggested.
    “No, I’ve had enough public displays.” She focused on the elevator and forced herself to move in that direction. Jar stayed with her, which was reassuring. The other men followed along. Once the five were alone in an elevator, she could breathe.
    “How could you let me do that?” She punched Owen in the shoulder.
    “Like anyone could stop you from doing anything.” Don laughed.
    “I told them about us. This isn’t Lucky Springs. It’s not normal here.”
    “It’s New Orleans. What isn’t done in the streets here?” Cam countered.
    “But that’s just it. Some of our potential customers aren’t from here. Those guys are extremely progressive, but not everyone in the south is. Oh God, I just screwed it all up!” She leaned on the wall as the doors slid open to their floor.
    “Come on. It’s not that bad.” Owen picked her up and carried her out of the elevator.
    “This is helping?” She wiggled to get free.
    “Helping us get turned on,” Jar teased.
    “Stop it!” She kept her eyes closed so if anyone else were in the hallway, she’d never know.
    Finally, Owen dropped her on the soft hotel bed, and she opened her eyes. “That was ridiculous.”
    “So is you getting pissed because you shot off your mouth.” Cam sat next to her. “You’re not a kid. You stood up to that guy and told him you’re with all of us. That’s nice. I liked it.”
    “It could hurt our business or your sales. This is about your customers.”
    They didn’t get it. Without a decent income and security, all the love and sex in the world didn’t make things okay.
    “There’s more to life than that. One conference won’t make or break the business.” Don tugged her high heels off her feet.
    She wanted to argue and fight, but the intent looks in their eyes told her she’d lose. Even Owen seemed to be on their side. Four against one. Now, wasn’t the time for a big debate about the future. Her declaration stroked their egos, but for her, it only made it more real. “Sorry, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have lost control like that. It’s unprofessional.”
    “You told the truth. Don’t apologize. You straightened out the misunderstanding and kept the meeting for us. Thank you. Honesty never made anyone ashamed.” Cam hugged her tight. “At least, not in Lucky Springs.”
    Part of her wanted to change the subject and just have wild, hotel-room sex. That would feel good but not right for some reason. What the five of them had was becoming too real. Not just in Lucky Springs but everywhere now. A public group relationship?