Double Dare Part 11

"Which one of these two can handle heavy flirting?" Isabel continued. "Which one screams, 'Do me with a dollop of whipped cream'? Which one would a guy go for?"

She took a swig of her drink. Then she faced Audra, her sweet face hard with determination.

"For the first time in my life, I want to be leather and studs," she declared.

Audra's eyes widened. Come on over to the dark side, Come on over to the dark side, she wanted to say. Afraid to jinx this breakthrough, though, she swallowed the invitation. she wanted to say. Afraid to jinx this breakthrough, though, she swallowed the invitation.

"What actually happened?" she asked instead.

Isabel took another look at the designs, then rolled her eyes. "Did you ever meet a guy who made you want to give him a bath with your tongue?"

Jesse's face flashed through her mind. She hadn't considered a tongue bath before. But now that she did, it had definite possibilities.

"I showed up this morning for my appointment. I was supposed to finalize everything and sign the contracts, right?" Before Audra could comment, Isabel continued, "I'm waiting in this guy's office and he's like twenty minutes late. I'd rather walk out, you know? Because the last thing I want to deal with is a rude client. If he's late for meetings, who knows what other bad business habits he has?"

Audra had barely finished nodding when Isabel barreled on. Now, though, she was pacing. Her wide-flying gestures didn't bother Audra so much as the open can in her hand.

"Finally, just as I decided no account, no matter how pretty a feather in my cap, was worth that rudeness, in walks this guy."

"The manager?"

"I wish. I've met the manager. He's balding, short and has an overbite. This guy is tall, hot and s.e.xy. I guess he's the general manager or something."

"General manager? That's good, though, right? I mean, he's got the power to hire you for a lot of malls, not just one."

Isabel winced.

"Did he turn you down? He reneged on the verbal agreement?" Audra growled deep in her throat. Anger, rarely expressed, surged through her. With swift strides, she started pacing the length of the boutique, too. "I'll go to that mall myself and kick his sorry a.s.s. Where does this guy get off?"

"He didn't renege, Audra. I ran."

Stopping so fast that her spiked heels should have been smoking, Audra squinted at her friend. "Huh?"

"I ran. He came in, all hot and s.e.xy and I got tongue-tied. All I could think of was stripping his suit from his body and having him for breakfast. Then he..."

"He what?" Images flashed through her mind, none of them pretty. Her stomach cramped again.

Her voice so low that Audra had to strain to hear her, Isabel said, "He flirted with me."

Huh?

"Did he take his clothes off while he flirted?" Audra asked, perplexed.

"Of course not."

"Did he make kinky suggestions? Make you feel pressured to put out? Invite you to a threesome with the balding missing manager?"

"Don't be ridiculous. He didn't do any of that. He was just...you know, flirty. Like he was interested."

"So you ran away? Not only from a hot dude who'd likely give you a nice lube job, but from a huge business deal?"

And Isabel had worried Audra would blow her her career? career?

"It sounds stupid when you say it. But I was overwhelmed. I'm not like you. I'm not used to such intense interest from a guy. I guess I ran from it. From him."

Isabel tossed her empty can into the trash and threw up her hands. "It's not like it really matters, right? I mean, I don't have to move on to the next stage of my business plan yet. I've improved the flower shop a lot already, right? Money is okay. So I've hit a career plateau."

Audra thought of her own struggles lately. That plateau seemed to be going around. Sure, she'd got a fancy promotion to head designer, but she was starting to feel that it was an empty promotion. Pretty words, no substance. Since she'd been fighting that particular perception most of her life, she should recognize it when it stared her in the face.

"No law says I have to move up now, now," Isabel continued. "I'm fine waiting a few months. Maybe years."

"Years? Oh, my G.o.d, no way." The glaring comparison to her own situation was too obvious to ignore. Audra smothered the thought with a determined jut of her chin. She wasn't waiting years to have her cake. And neither was Isabel.

"Years, my a.s.s. You get your b.u.t.t back to that mall, s.e.x that guy up and get that account."

"s.e.x him up? You're insane."

"You don't really have to sleep with him. Just flirt. Give him back the same as he's giving you. You know, go for the gusto."

"Isn't that a beer slogan?"

Audra rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. You want to be leather and studs, go for it. Who's to say you have to take it slow? Don't you owe it to yourself to give every shot one hundred percent? Even if it might not be the perfect time?"

"I can't mix business with pleasure like that," Isabel objected. "It'd be like using my body to get the account."

"Jeez, Isabel. You were already promised the account. So go get it. If you use your body at this point, it's to celebrate the success. Quit making it a crime to have s.e.x."

"Meaningless s.e.x."

"There's no such thing," Audra reminder her. "Even M&M's satisfy."

Considering her words, Isabel flicked a finger over the leather design board. "I haven't seen any designs like this in the boutique. Are you branching out? To be honest, this is the kind of thing I'd always imagined you designing. You know, something that screamed naughty s.e.x."

Audra contemplated the leather-studded design she'd been doodling. Isabel was right, this was was one of the things that had attracted her to lingerie in the first place. And exactly what she intended to market. Some day. one of the things that had attracted her to lingerie in the first place. And exactly what she intended to market. Some day.

"We don't carry this kind of thing yet, it's just something I'm working on. You know, kind of like cleansing my palate. I'm on overload right now and was. .h.i.tting the point that if I had to draw one more pink rosebud, I'd scream."

"Well, this definitely isn't pink." Isabel wrinkled her nose and looked around the boutique. "Of course, I'm sure carrying something like this here is way down the road. After all, this store caters to the sweet, wedding trousseau styles. I doubt this will fit your target market or Natasha's marketing plan."

Audra sniffed, but didn't answer. Instead, she tidied up the counter and focused on building Isabel's confidence back up so she could take that manager by storm.

Five minutes, a few pats on the back and a satin chemise later, she waved Isabel out the door. Audra eyed the stack of custom designs she was sending to Natasha. The courier was due any second. Lips pursed, she eyed Leather Submission, as she'd t.i.tled the teddy she'd just finished, and the tie that had been its inspiration.

It wasn't a big deal to include it. She was just showing Natasha a few options. With a sly grin, she cut a chunk off the tie and stapled it to the design board. Natasha would recognize it from their conversation and realize the b.u.t.t-ugly tie had inspired a design, just like she'd predicted. Audra slid the tie-decorated board and the other designs into the mail pouch going to China and sealed it all with a kiss.

Sure, she got the whole careful planning thing. She did appreciate the progress. Slow and steady. But dammit, she wanted the whole dream. Designing things that inspired her. For women like her.

She wanted the gusto for herself.

And she was gonna get it.

DAVE L LARSON was living on easy street. Life didn't get much better than this. He lay back on the foofy pillows of Bea's overstuffed couch and toed off his shoes. He had it all. A hot chick and a growing reputation with the right people looking for his particular skills. was living on easy street. Life didn't get much better than this. He lay back on the foofy pillows of Bea's overstuffed couch and toed off his shoes. He had it all. A hot chick and a growing reputation with the right people looking for his particular skills.

And thanks to his handy-dandy off-site backup system the triad had no idea about, it'd taken him a couple of keystrokes and he'd made a spanking brand-new copy of the chip they wanted. No point in wasting time chasing his tie and the other chip when it wasn't any kind of real threat. He'd asked Bea enough questions to know her friend wasn't a problem. If there was one thing Dave prided himself in, it was his judgment of people.

"Hey, snook.u.ms, did you want a beer?" Bea asked as she curled up on the couch next to him. "I'll get you one and you can tell me what you've heard about my photo shoots. I'm ready, you know. I've got the perfect lingerie coming and everything."

Dave grimaced. He might actually have to find a way to make that happen for her. But at this point, he didn't have a clue. Time to change the subject.

Even though he'd intended to wait until after s.e.x, Dave pulled a box out of his jacket and handed it to Bea. Before, after, either way, he'd be getting s.e.x. This little gift would just ensure it'd keep coming.

"A present?" Bea said in that cute little girly voice that got him all excited. "For me? How sweet of you."

She leaned over, her lush b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed against his shoulder giving him s.h.i.+vers, and brushed a lip-gloss-infused kiss against his cheek. Even knowing he'd have a breakout as a result, Dave couldn't bring himself to wipe the stain away.

He forced himself to sit still as nerves scratched their way down his spine. This was the first present he'd given a woman, if you didn't count his mother. And he didn't. Had anything ever mattered as much as this moment? He felt he was putting everything on the line.

In the blink of an eye, Bea ripped through the wrapping he'd made the clerk redo three times until he'd been satisfied. When she lifted the lid of the velvet jeweler's case, her grin sparkled as bright as the diamonds nestled on the white satin.

"Oh, Davey," she squealed, leaping across the couch to wrap those long, tan arms around his neck. Dave groaned as he slid his hands over her curves. She was a dream come true. Sweet, a little dumb, with a body better than any of his favorite p.o.r.n queens. He couldn't get enough of her.

She rained kisses over his face and neck, all the while hooking the five-carat diamond bracelet around her wrist. Dave sighed in pleasure.

"You like?" he asked as she held her arm out to admire the dangling ice. This was definitely worth tapping into his untraceable overseas account for the funds. "That's just the beginning. You stick with me, you'll be wearing jewels from head to toe."

Bea leaned back on her heels, her short dress hiked up to the thighs that he'd beg to taste again. The look she gave him was at odds with the airy persona he'd come to count on. "I appreciate the gift, Dave. But I'm not with you for presents. Or even for that magazine shoot you've promised me. I'm with you because I like you. I really admire what you've made of your life."

Dave ducked his head to hide his wince. Sure, she liked the picture he'd painted. Who wouldn't? He was custom-made for her, thanks to his ingenuity and brilliance. Not that he believed for a second that she'd stick around without jewels and incentives. But that was fine with Dave. It wasn't as if he'd stick around if she didn't have such well-stacked incentives herself.

"I mean, how many guys orphaned so young make a huge success like you did? You're a photographer to the stars. You're a self-made man. I admire all of that, especially what you told me about investing in the arts." Bea gave him a s.e.xy look through her lashes. "I'd really love to learn more about art. It's so s.e.xy."

Dave chewed the inside of his cheek while he tried to remember what he'd told her. He really needed to start writing these things down.

Before he had to come up with anything, though, his cell chimed.

"Hang on," he told her as he pulled it from the leather case on his belt. The tension in his body went into overdrive when he saw the three X's on the readout.

"Can I take this in your room? It's business and, you know, private."

She didn't even take her eyes from the sparkles as she waved him on his way. Dave hurried to the lush delights of Bea's bedroom, and, with a wince, answered.

"Larson here."

"Larson, my man. You've done us proud." The voice was as smooth as gla.s.s, but Dave knew it could cut deep enough to slice his jugular. A man didn't make top lieutenant in a group as powerful as the triad without a deadly reputation. "I wanted to personally thank you for the information on that chip. It's exactly what we were hoping for."

Dave wiped the bead of sweat from his upper lip. "You, uh, you got it all to open, right? No questions on anything?"

"You're information was both concise and user-friendly. Well done."

Dave tried to swallow, but he didn't have any spit in his mouth. If it was fine, why was the enforcer calling him?

As if he'd plucked the question straight from Dave's brain, the man continued in his whiskey-smooth tone, "I like to make it a point to let my people know when I'm pleased with them."

Dave's heart skipped a beat. His His people. people. Yes! Yes! He'd made it. Time for the cushy jobs, the prime benefits. He'd made it. Time for the cushy jobs, the prime benefits.

"Of course, I was a little disturbed when I'd heard of your earlier...mistake." His pause was just long enough to let Dave become very aware of the sweat raining down his spine to soak the waistband of his slacks. "But you retrieved the temporarily misplaced information in a timely manner and didn't cause undue hards.h.i.+p for my people. I hate it when they have to take time away from their day-to-day jobs to...deal with issues."

Retrieved. Dave's vision blurred just a bit around the edges. Remade, retrieved. They were so close to the same thing. It didn't matter. Bea's friend was harmless. Just some bubbleheaded bimbo, hardly anyone to worry about. h.e.l.l, she'd likely tossed the tie by now.

"Hey, no problem," Dave finally said. "I mean, it was a simple mistake. Easy enough to rectify, ya know?"

"But it was rectified, which is what matters. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how damaging it would be to our operation should any of that information ever be used by any party other than us. An ident.i.ty is a precious thing, and, of course, an exclusive thing. Should anyone else have the same ident.i.ty, the same information, well...the picture isn't pretty, is it?"

Since the picture flas.h.i.+ng through Dave's mind was of his body, dead in any horrifying variety of ways, he had to agree the image was ugly.

What if the chip slipped into the wrong hands? What if Bea's bubblehead friend somehow found it, even though it was expertly hidden in Dave's favorite tie? What would she do? Dave swiped the sweat off his chin with a shaky hand. Maybe he should check things out, try to get it back.

"As you know, I appreciate thoroughness in my people. After all, finding new ones is such a trial."

Since the triad had a reputation for never letting anyone leave employment alive after they'd "found" them, the threat was clear. The line went dead. Bile rose in his throat. Needing to wipe away the sweat dripping down his forehead and soaking his s.h.i.+rt, Dave headed for the bathroom to wash up.

He had to get that chip back. Not that the lieutenant had any idea the chip the triad had was anything other than the original. But just to be on the safe side, Davey'd better hook up with Bea's friend, Audra. He'd get his tie back, secure his deal. After all, he'd finally achieved his dreams. No way some loose thread was gonna screw that up for him.

BY W WEDNESDAY, Audra was worn out and ready to scream. She'd just finished the final modifications to one of Simply Sensual's hottest designs for Bea. Now, the lilac lace screamed down-and-dirty s.e.x instead of sweet, demure seduction.

It wasn't leather, but it'd suit Bea to a tee. She just hoped Bea wasn't disappointed. Her friend seemed to be putting a lot of hope into this guy's promises. Promises that sounded too good to be true.

Not that she hadn't cared about her friend's welfare and happiness in the past. She just didn't know how to interfere without sounding like an uptight idiot. As a rule, the three Wicked Chicks tended to live by a sink-or-swim policy, never interfering with or advising the others.

She thought of the final adjustments needed for Bea's last outfits.

Discontent weighed at her shoulders.

She didn't want to work.

No, what she wanted was Jesse. It'd been a long time since Friday night. Much too long since that delicious o.r.g.a.s.m on the back couch. Even the barrage of erotic dreams she'd been enjoying all week weren't enough to satisfy her anymore.

She wanted Jesse.

She pulled a slip of paper out of the back pocket of her denim skirt. The creases were worn fuzzy, and looked about ready to rip apart from her unfolding and folding it. She stared down at the angular scrawl. Jesse Martinez-cell. Jesse Martinez-cell. Seven digits to delight. Seven digits to delight.