Double Dare Part 23

Audra pressed the tiny chip between her fingers and considered her options.

She'd always been proud to be unique, to march to her own drumbeat. All of this worry about who she was and soul-searching were a waste of energy. She was who she was. A bad girl with a soft spot for good boys. One h.e.l.l of a designer with a knack for the naughty. A wild woman who was strong enough to make her dreams come true.

And a woman in love.

Which brought her to the real question.

Was Jesse man enough to accept her? The whole her, totally?

She rubbed the chip again.

Maybe it was time to find out.

15.

JESSE LEFT Shale's office and tried to keep his triumphant grin from splitting his face. He'd nailed it. The case, and his internal struggle over his choices and work methods. And d.a.m.ned if he didn't feel good. Shale's office and tried to keep his triumphant grin from splitting his face. He'd nailed it. The case, and his internal struggle over his choices and work methods. And d.a.m.ned if he didn't feel good.

Now to get Audra to talk to him again, find a way to work things out with her, and he'd be great.

"You look like a happy man," Rob said as Jesse approached. Feet up on his desk, the redhead looked like he was about to fall asleep. Jesse raised a brow.

"The case is pretty much nailed," Jesse said with a frown. "What's up?"

"You had a phone call."

"Informant?" Jesse dropped into his chair and booted up his files. He wanted to make sure his case against the triad was as solid as possible. No loose ends, no easy walks.

"Nah. Girlfriend."

Jesse's fingers froze on the keyboard. "Audra called?"

"Yup. Said she had something you might be interested in."

He was interested in everything she had. That didn't narrow things down much. He squinted at his partner.

"She didn't leave details. Just said she had something you might want to check out."

Jesse was already out of his chair and halfway to the door when he thought to ask, "Did she say where she'd be?"

"Nope. But she mentioned a leather couch."

AUDRA TURNED the sign on the boutique door to Closed, but didn't lock up. Just in case Jesse decided to drop in. Would he? She was pretty sure he would, despite her nasty slams the other night. After all, his parting comment had made it clear he was either emotionally invested or the best d.a.m.ned actor this side of George Clooney. the sign on the boutique door to Closed, but didn't lock up. Just in case Jesse decided to drop in. Would he? She was pretty sure he would, despite her nasty slams the other night. After all, his parting comment had made it clear he was either emotionally invested or the best d.a.m.ned actor this side of George Clooney.

Of course, he had a major investment in retrieving the tiny computer chip she had tucked away in the pocket of her miniskirt, too.

But she'd ignore that possibility until she saw him face-to-face.

Audra checked her appearance in the gilt-framed mirror on one wall. A tweak here, a s.h.i.+mmy there, and her leather skirt and chiffon blouse were just right. The glint of her rhinestone belly-b.u.t.ton ring showed through the sheer top. She fluffed her hair, liking the redone magenta tips, and grabbed her purse to find her gloss and add more s.h.i.+ne to her lips.

Shoulders squared, Audra took a long, hard look. d.a.m.ned if she didn't like what she saw. A Wicked Chick with an att.i.tude, but a solid grasp on her future. Not bad.

Not bad at all.

The front door rang a gentle chime as it opened. Antic.i.p.ation swirled a whirlwind through her belly and she lifted her chin. Showtime.

She gave her reflection a wink, a seductive grin curving her lips as she turned.

"Hey, big boy."

Oops. It wasn't Jesse.

Instead of her s.e.xy hunk, some geeky guy sauntered into the shop. Short, dark and unimpressive.

Audra squinted. He looked familiar, but in the designer sungla.s.ses, it was hard to tell.

"Can I help you?"

"Since you owe me, I'd say you're definitely going to help me now."

"I beg your..."

The guy whipped off his sungla.s.ses at the same time he pulled out a nasty-looking knife.

"What the..."

"Game's over, hot stuff" he snarled, his tone pure anger. "You've screwed me over and now it's time to pay."

"Screwed you over? I have no freaking clue who you you are," Audra explained, taking an automatic step backward. This was a joke, right? are," Audra explained, taking an automatic step backward. This was a joke, right?

Except the knife in the geek's hand was anything but funny.

Geek.

Oh, my G.o.d.

"Dave Larson?" she whispered, her mouth suddenly as dry as the Mojave. His laugh sent chills down her spine.

"I'm glad you're not playing dumb," he said with a friendly smile. That smile worried Audra more a lot more than the s.h.i.+ny knife in his hand. It was pure ice, with an edgy anger that made it clear he was a man with nothing to lose. "I'd hate to think I'd have to educate you. This way, we're on the same page and can help each other out, hmm?"

"Just because I know your name doesn't mean we're on the same page," Audra told him.

His icy smile melted. Apparently, she should have kept her mouth shut.

"Thanks to you, I'm screwed. Not only did you sell me out to the triad, you ruined my love life. Because of you, I've lost everything."

Audra tried to make sense of his words. Sell him out? He must mean something to do with the chip she had in her pocket. That part she got. But his love life?

"Dude, you can't pin a lousy love life on me. I gave you a chance for a wild time once already. You're the one who ran away."

Like the mercury in a thermometer on a hot day, she watched the color climb Dave's cheeks in slow heat.

"Bea was mine," he claimed in a low, empty tone. "She was totally into me. Then I find out you're dirty, that you double-crossed me to the triad. And suddenly she's not returning my calls. She's too busy to see me. I know a kiss-off when I get one. It's your fault. It has to be. You ruined things. Everything."

This guy was Bea's photographer? G.o.d, that girl had rotten taste. Audra tried to swallow, but her throat felt as if it had closed up. She drew in long breaths, trying to push back the black haze from her vision. She'd never pa.s.sed out before and she'd be d.a.m.ned if she'd do it now. Not over some geek with a grudge.

"Look, let's talk about this," she said, gesturing to the high-backed velvet chairs. "I'm sure we can figure something out."

"I've already figured it out. You screwed me over, you'll pay." The knife held low at his side, he took a measured step toward her.

Audra sucked in a shaky breath, and the geek's gaze dropped to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. The heat that flared in his beady eyes turned her stomach. Then it sparked an idea.

Jesse would come. She had to believe in him, believe that he'd really meant it when he'd said what they had was all about love. She'd never believed in love before. Not enough to trust it. Not enough to trust anyone to believe enough in the emotion to actually be there when she needed them.

But she believed in Jesse. He'd be here. And she'd be d.a.m.ned if he'd find her cowering from some geeky loser. Still scared, but determined, Audra racked her brain to figure a way out of this mess.

She gave Dave a long look up and down. The guy had a good sixty pounds on her. While he didn't look very muscular, she'd bet anger gave him more strength behind that knife than she wanted aimed at her.

At her look, he preened a little. Shoulders pulled back and he visibly sucked in his belly. Audra narrowed her eyes, a.s.sessing the signs. She knew men. More importantly, she knew how to read the male species. Dave wasn't immune to her charms. He'd run from her once. Could she do it again? It was worth a shot.

"Look, we can work this out," she said in a smooth, husky tone. Audra pulled out all the stops, giving him her sultriest look and running the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip. With a little extra swing in her hips, she slowly stepped toward him.

His eyes glazed over.

Audra pulled her shaky courage around her like a paper-thin chemise and sauntered closer to Dave. She fluttered her lashes and gave him her best do me do me look. look.

Dave swallowed audibly.

"We don't have to have all this tension between us, you know. I'd be happy to work things out so you're completely...satisfied."

A bead of sweat trailed down Dave's face.

"You get me back that chip," he demanded, trying to sound tough. "You do that, I'll make a deal with the compet.i.tion. I can even cut you in," he offered with a leer.

"Cut me in, hmm? Sounds like you'd take good care of me. But what about Bea?"

"She was just a pa.s.sing thing, you know? To get to you, track down my chip."

Audra was so glad Bea had dumped the jerk.

Triumph surged as he closed the blade of the knife and dropped it into his pocket. Now they were on a more even footing.

"I'm confused," she admitted. "When you came in here, you accused me of sending that chip to China. What makes you think I can get it back? Or even if I could, that we'd get away with it? I'd think whoever has it would have already used the information, wouldn't you?"

"This chip is pa.s.sword protected. Your contacts in China won't be able to open it. They'll either be contacting you soon for instructions, or sending it back. A smart man always has a backup plan. And I'm one h.e.l.luva smart man. That chip is worth a fortune, and only I know how to use it," he said, his hands shaking as they ran over her shoulders.

Audra had to force herself not to throw up at his touch. Thinking fast, she eyed the filmy pink robe on the hanger by the dressing room.

"Why don't we make ourselves a little more comfortable and discuss this, hmm?" Taking his hand in hers, she had to hold tight to his fingers to keep the sweaty appendages from slipping away. She led him to the public dressing room and gestured to the open door with her chin.

"So tell me," she asked as he eyed the narrow room and its plush red velvet chair, "do you like it better on top? Or on bottom?"

His hand shook so hard at that point, she gladly let it go. Audra reached over and pulled the sash from the robe, holding it taut as she pressed it against Dave's chest to push him backward. His legs. .h.i.t the chair, and he fell into the seat with a clumsy thump.

Audra mentally rolled her eyes and pasted what she hoped was a simpering look on her face.

"All this intrigue talk has me all turned on." Audra licked her lips and, with a slight wince, straddled the geek in the chair. "When I'm this turned on, I just want to be kinky. Wild." She leaned close, as if to give him a wet, openmouthed kiss. She pulled back before she made contact, though. "A smart guy like you, one who takes such huge risks, I'll bet you're good at the kinky stuff."

Sweat flew from his forehead as Dave nodded so hard, he should have had whiplash.

Audra reached down to take his hand and, holding it inches from her breast, she wrapped one end of the rosebud-pink sash around it. He frowned. She grabbed his other hand and wrapped the sash around it, too.

"I'm not into pain, but I'm huge on dominance," she said, reading his arousal clearly. She swallowed as nausea rose at the image, but kept bluffing. "I want to tie you to this chair. While you watch, I'll strip off all my clothes, then all yours. Then I'll run feathers, so soft and light, over your body."

She swore there was drool on the guy's chin.

With a tight square knot, Audra secured each end of the sash to the arms of the chair. Then, sucking in a shaky breath, she rose. Crossing her arms in front of her, she gave Dave a seductive look and grasped the hem of her blouse. Hopefully seeing her bra would be enough to keep him giddy until she could run out on the pretext of finding those feathers.

"Audra? You here?"

"What the..." Dave started, pulling at the scarf.

Panic and relief surged in equal doses at the sound of Jesse's voice. She hadn't even let herself consider what she'd do if he hadn't shown up. And now that he had? Were the knots tight enough? Had she put him in danger?

Her vision blurred with anxiety, Audra had to swallow twice to find her voice.

"In the front dressing room," she called out. "I've got company, though. You might want to be careful."

"Hey," Dave protested with a yelp. He started to get up. Worried he might escape, Audra moved fast to plant herself on his lap. She knew she couldn't hold him down, but between her body weight and his tied hands, she could keep him at a disadvantage.

Jesse stepped into view, and she drank in the sight of him. His hair brushed the collar of his black T-s.h.i.+rt and worn jeans curved over hard thighs. His face was blank, although his eyes flashed what was either irritation or surprise at the sight of Audra on Dave's lap.

She winced. Maybe not a smart move, but if it kept Jesse safe, it didn't matter.

"This is a private party," Dave said, his tone pure male posturing. "Get lost, dude."

"I got your message," Jesse told her. "I'm going to hazard a guess this," he indicated Dave, "isn't what you had for me?"

"Hardly. This was an unfortunate surprise," she replied.