Emmerson met up with Matty for breakfast and chose to keep her late-night calisthenics session to herself for the time being. Matty was upset about a fight she'd had with Annie over baby names. Emmerson would never say it to her face, but it was very entertaining how seriously Matty was taking it. As far as Emmerson could tell, the crux of the argument came down to the water signs associated with certain names.

"Well, you are less than useful this morning," Matty scoffed. "You don't have any advice on what I should do?"

"I mean... I love the name Kai and it's gender-neutral," Emmerson added weakly.

Apparently, that response only inflamed Matty's mood and she stomped away from the table muttering to herself. But Emmerson wasn't too worried about it. Matty just needed some time to cool off. It was a big life change for Matty and Annie, but she knew they'd get through it fine.

She was still feeling blissed out (and pleasantly sore) from last night.

There'd been a cute text from Jamie when she woke up asking if last night had been a dream. But then he'd used the dreaded words, "we should talk," that had Emmerson wanting to avoid him.

Last night had been fun, but he lived in another part of the country and when they'd briefly talked about "relationships," he'd told her is number one relationship at the moment was expanding his growing dental franchise. And she didn't begrudge him for that. She got it. So why did he want to talk?

She headed to her first session alone and within minutes felt Matty sit beside her. She rested her head on Emmerson's shoulder. "Sorry if I was being a bitch."

"No apologies needed. I get it. This is a really exciting step for you and Annie. You love each other so much, and you're little mer-person will be just as beloved."

Matty snorted and playfully punched her shoulder. The people in front of them turned around to give them a glare and Matty responded by sticking her tongue out at them.

By lunch time, Emmerson realized she couldn't keep dodging Jamie. He was legitimately searching for her all over the place to the point that other people had begun texting her to say he was looking for her.

While she was standing in line for the buffet lunch, he snuck up and whispered in her ear, "Dr. Green, aren't you looking lovely today."

Emmerson felt a surge of electricity that coursed through her groin in response to the sound of his voice.

"Dr. Tanner, so nice to see you again," she said attempting to sound business-like and steel herself against his charms.

"May I join you to dine at this fine establishment?"

"Oh, I don't know, there might not be room for us," she said as they both pretended to survey the dwindling line and the cavernous ballroom filled with mostly empty tables.

"Seriously Em, we should talk about... you know," he said nodding his head toward her, and give her side eyes.

They made polite small talk as they shuffled along gathering their food and found a table to themselves.

He seemed nervous. He kept jiggling one leg which was something he used to do in exams. Emmerson gently placed a hand on his leg to steady it.

"Jamie it's ok. I'm not expecting a ring or anything. We kind of talked about it a bit last night, right?"

"But that's just it, Em. I can't stop thinking about last night. It was right up there with the best sex of my life," he said dragging out the last word salaciously. "But then I'm running the scenarios through my head of you and me. How would we make it work? You've got your practice and I've got the three I'm running. I'd be a shit boyfriend right now. That's kind of why the whole thing with the swingers works. There aren't any expectations. All the ladies are already in committed relationships. No one's going to catch any feelings. But I'm doing all the talking. What do you think? You must have thoughts about it all?"

Emmerson toyed with the limp lettuce on her plate as she tried to come up with the right words.

"Last night was pretty damn amazing. But I don't think we need to put a label on it. Who says we can't just be friends with benefits? Like you said, we live in different corners of the country. I respect your dedication to your business."

Jamie sat back in his seat, clearly shocked by Emmerson's response. "I can't believe you are being so blasé about this. Wait. Is this because of that alphabet thing Henry mentioned. I am seriously just a notch on your belt!"

Emmerson laughed and laughed, while Jamie just stared back at her. "Oh. Sorry, that was a real question?!"

He nodded his head gravely and she explained how things had played out so far.

"That's crazy!" he hooted when she finished explaining it. "Now, let's get back to discussing whatever this is with us because as far as I know, you are still at the letter 'j', isn't that right?"

She smirked back at him and nodded.

"Why we didn't we experiment with this little FWB situation back in school?"

"We were both in serious, committed relationships and had no idea what the future would have in store. We were naively oblivious to the freight train of reality that would hit when we graduated," she scoffed.

"Oh, ouch. I don't think I like this cynical side of you Dr. Green. I much prefer the sex kitten I tussled with last night."

Emmerson blushed furiously and again turned her attention to pushing around the food on her plate.

"So, do we have a deal? When we're in the same town, we can be... friendly?" He asked licking his lips so sensually it made Emmerson quiver and he laughed that rumbly chuckle she knew so well. "I'll take that as a yes?"

"Yes," she answered decisively.

***

It was the second to last night of the conference and Henry and Irena had arranged a group dinner at a local restaurant. Irena said it was going to be a mix of swingers and some "vanilla folks" (non-swingers). Jamie said he would go with her, and Matty agreed to tag along.

They stepped into the swanky restaurant and were directed to the most raucous corner of the restaurant where the Saunders were holding court. She recognized a few people from the meet and greet like Candy and Doc, who both gave her a friendly wave.

"You came!" Irena squealed gleefully as she greeted them. "This must be the famous Matty. We heard so much about you when Emmerson was working for us. Congrats on the baby!"

"Oh, she told you about that too, huh," Matty grumbled and reluctantly accepted the compliment.

"It's wonderful! Such a joy to bring another life into this world," Irena gushed and pulled Matty away to talk her ear off about baby nonsense.

"Oh yo! It's my guy Kristoff! Kris, what's up man! I didn't know you were coming to this," Jamie called out boisterously, addressing a decidedly Scandinavian guy seated beside Henry.

Kristoff jumped up from the table and bear-hugged Jamie. "We just got in. Our flights got totally fucked, so we're only here for the last day. But we're going to be over here for a few weeks," he said, speaking with a slight Swedish accent.

Emmerson tried to check him out as discreetly as possible. He reminded her of an actor from a show she watched when she was younger called True Blood. She tried to remember the actor's name; he'd been in more recent shows... Alexander Skarsgård, that was the name! He was a serious dead ringer for the actor.

"Wait, you said 'we.' Is Katarina here too?" Jamie boomed enthusiastically, his head swiveling around the room clearly searching for Katarina.

"Yes, we decided to be wild and mix business with pleasure," Kristoff said with a grin.

"Let me introduce you to my friend Emmerson. Em, this is my friend Kris. He's a dentist in Stockholm, but he's here pretty often. And apparently, he brought his lovely wife with him this time too."

Emmerson reach out to shake his strong, firm hand in greeting. He was undeniably attractive, but it was his magnetic gaze that drew her in.

"And how do you know this brute?" he asked, gesturing at Jamie.

"We went to school together... dental school..." she stammered, suddenly feeling like her mouth couldn't form the words her brain wanted her to say.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you," he said warmly.

A stunning blonde woman with cheekbones like cut glass glided into the room, surveying the group with her piercing blue eyes before locking in on Kristoff and heading toward them.

"Ah, there she is!" Jamie said, rushing to envelop the woman in one of his signature crusher hugs.

The woman melted into smiles and allowed him to lead her back to the table.

"Em, this is the illustrious Katarina. Katarina, this is the equally illustrious Dr. Emmerson Green."

They greeted each other pleasantly and everyone eventually found spots at the table. Emmerson found herself seated across from Henry who was transfixed with his phone.

"Hey Henry," Emmerson called over and he stuffed his phone away.

"Hello Em, I'm so glad you could join us. Are you having a good time at the conference so far," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Oh yes. I sure have learned a lot of new things," she said feeling cheeky.

"That's good. Always important to learn and practice new techniques, at least that's what we say, don't we hun," he called out to Irena who was still engrossed in conversation with Matty.

Irena waved him off and kept talking. Matty actually didn't look petrified; she was actively engaged and had taken a seat beside Irena.

"So what letter are you up to now in your little alphabetical adventure?" he asked turning his attention back to Emmerson.

Her stomach dropped. She hoped Jamie hadn't heard the comment. But he did.

"Alphabetical adventure? Ooh, that sounds interesting... What are we talking here? Foods of the world? Countries?" Jamie probed enthusiastically.

Henry looked startled and cast her an apologetical look. "I'm sorry Em. I didn't think before I opened my damn mouth. Irena is always telling me to..."

Emmerson cut him off. "It's fine. I'm up to the letter 'j'." She paused to allow it to sink in for both of them.

"Wait a minute... am I just another notch on your belt?!" Jamie gasped theatrically.

"Get in line!" Henry shot back. "You've already moved on!"

Emmerson looked back and forth between, momentarily unsure if they were kidding.

"So, if he was the 'h' and I am the 'j', is it fair to surmise that the 'i' is someone we are all now intimately acquainted with who is seated at the other end of the table?" Jamie asked not so subtly.

Emmerson rolled her eyes.

"That is fucking HOT," Jamie bellowed, drawing curious stares from people at, and around, the table.

"Keep it down you idiot!" She hissed.

Jamie reached over and gently pushed her hair off her shoulder, away from her ear and leaned in to whisper, "I'm going to need details about this challenge you are putting yourself through later."

Emmerson shivered in response to his touch and hushed words.

They ended up spending most of the evening talking with Kris and Katarina.

Katarina regaled them with hilarious stories about her life as a fashion stylist in Stockholm dressing some of Sweden's most famous and wealthy individuals.

"There she was, standing in front of a wall of cameras, and as they illuminated around her, I realized she'd chosen not to wear the nipple covers!" Katarina said describing one incident. "With each flash of the cameras, her hard nipples were fully visible through the black fabric. And then I thought, 'oh please God, no. Don't tell me she skipped the panties too.' But she did. The next day it was all over the tabloids, full frontal nudity. But she'd done it on purpose. So instead of getting fired, I ended up getting more praise because people thought we'd done it as a publicity stunt."

Everyone hooted and guffawed at the story.

People began to trickle away from the table as the night carried on, including Matty who clearly wanted to connect with Annie following her chat with Irena. As people left, the group moved closer together at the table. In the end the only people left were Irena and Henry, Candy and Doc, Kris and Katarina, and Emmerson and Jamie.

"Is anyone up for some dancing?" Irena asked. "I'm not ready to call it a night yet."

"It's almost 10 o'clock," Emmerson protested. "How are you not exhausted?"

"What can I say, I find these conferences very invigorating," Irena explained, and everyone laughed knowing exactly what she meant.

"I'm up for some dancing," Katarina said and the others around the table all murmured their interest as well.

"I guess I'm outnumbered," Emmerson sighed with feigned reluctance. "I guess I can come for a little bit."

"Yeah you can," Jamie whispered in her ear and she felt that familiar surge of energy pulse between her legs in response.