Part 5 (1/2)

Natasha tapped the pencil on the pad of paper, the dull thump keeping rhythm with Aerosmith belting out ”Just Push Play” on the radio.

”I can call Aunt Sharon and get the money transferred today. The sooner we get the contracts and an idea of what kind of numbers we'll be producing, the faster we can deliver product. What do you think about me leaving tomorrow? It's like an all-day flight, but I can set up meetings starting on Wednesday.”

”Sounds like a plan. Let's get this party rockin'.”

Natasha settled behind her desk with a cup of peppermint tea while Audra knocked back a Red Bull. For the next half hour they sketched out a plan of action, then went over the boutique responsibilities for the next week or so.

”I think that's everything,” Natasha said as she tidied her notes into a stack. ”And just in time to open the doors.”

She came around her desk and gave Audra an excited hug.

”We're making it, Audra. Big-time. Drew is so proud of you.” She pulled back, obviously realizing all this sentimental stuff made Audra uncomfortable. ”So we're set. Are you sure you can handle everything alone?”

Audra considered her performance over the last week since graduating the textile and design academy.

She'd lost an order, told a customer the fishnets made her cellulite look like a bag full of marbles and almost got the delivery guy fired for flirting on company time.

Hardly management material.

But if she wanted to be trusted with something as major as bringing her vision to the spring line, she'd have to prove she could handle running the boutique.

Rarely felt nerves made their way through her stomach with a nasty flutter.

”I can handle it,” she vowed. She'd make sure of it. ”As long as I don't have to remember to bring a condom,” she muttered under her breath.

”Um, no, I doubt you'll need to worry about that. At least, not for the boutique-unless you're planning another party,” Natasha said with a wink and laugh.

Maybe she'd overreacted and Natasha wasn't worried about leaving her in charge. Audra frowned.

Dammit, she should worry. Two years ago, heck, two months ago, she'd have worried. Now, though, Audra was, what? Such a goody-goody she could be trusted to be well-behaved? She sank into her chair with a morose sigh. All these yo-yoing emotions were exhausting. Just because she wasn't a loser didn't mean she was a goody-goody. There was an in-between there. Somewhere.

”But, you know it's better to be safe than sorry. I'd strongly suggest keeping a few condoms on hand, since you never know what will come up.” Laughing at her own joke, Natasha headed out to the showroom to open the boutique for the day.

Audra made a face at her sister-in-law's retreating back and mocked, ”Ha ha.”

But inside, she groaned. How freaking pitiful was she? Even Natasha knew to be prepared.

After Natasha left, Audra contemplated the ugly tie pinned to the wall. The green was an insult to the eyes, and the c.r.a.ppy construction mocked her devotion to design details.

She should throw it away. It was stupid to hold on to some geek's tie. A geek who'd run out on her, making her a loser in her friends' eyes. Sure, they'd tossed her a second dare. But look how that had turned out.

But no, here she was, a sappy sentimental wuss who should have her Wicked Chick members.h.i.+p revoked. Courting silly thoughts about what a guy was like out of bed and wondering if he'd really call her for a date. Holding on to some b.u.t.t-ugly memento as a reminder of the night she'd met the hottest guy to ever keep her awake without even being there.

Talk about an ident.i.ty crisis.

A JUMBO COFFEE JUMBO COFFEE at his elbow, heavily laced with cream to disguise the bitter taste, Jesse's fingers cruised with loving familiarity over the computer keyboard. He ignored the usual Tuesday morning noise in the cop shop as he patiently hacked through Dave Larson's personal life. at his elbow, heavily laced with cream to disguise the bitter taste, Jesse's fingers cruised with loving familiarity over the computer keyboard. He ignored the usual Tuesday morning noise in the cop shop as he patiently hacked through Dave Larson's personal life.

Two steps forward, five steps back.

A dance Jesse loved. Larson was dirtier than a meth fiend on a street corner. The last two years he'd been up to his a.s.s in debt, conning Peter to rob Paul. Now, suddenly, he was rolling in the green. Enough cash flying through his secondary account to rent a BMW, pay for a Nordstrom shopping spree and buy one h.e.l.l of a lot of p.o.r.n on the Internet. Davey Larson was definitely being paid well.

Jesse hit Print to add the financials to his file and continued digging. An hour later, the phone on the corner of his desk jangled. He ignored it until someone yelled his name.

”Hey, Martinez. Phone. Dude wants to talk to you.”

Jesse waved his thanks and grabbed the phone, still working the keyboard with one hand.

”Martinez here.”

Five minutes later, he stared at his scribbled notes. It wasn't the chicken-scratch mess that had the coffee churning in his stomach. His informant had confirmed the rumors. Dave Larson wasn't just dabbling in organized crime. He was playing with the big boys. Chinatown-based mafia Du Bing Li Du Bing Li big. It seemed Dave had finally scored the underworld connections he'd sought through the most unlikely source. His p.o.r.n addiction. big. It seemed Dave had finally scored the underworld connections he'd sought through the most unlikely source. His p.o.r.n addiction.

And the woman who'd lured him in was said to be one hot babe who favored The Wild Thing as her club of choice.

Audra's image flashed through his brain. Jesse tried to wash out the dirty taste in his mouth with a swig of tepid coffee. Pulling a face, he shoved the cup away. He couldn't stand the flavor of the stuff, but it was the best caffeine bang for the buck, and his energy level was nil in the morning.

Dammit. Jesse slapped the notepad aside. He hated that she was dirty. Sure, she came across as a man-eater who knew the score, but there was an underlying sweetness that had tugged at his heart. Jesse slapped the notepad aside. He hated that she was dirty. Sure, she came across as a man-eater who knew the score, but there was an underlying sweetness that had tugged at his heart.

”What's up?”

Jesse glanced over at Rob Dutton, the cop whose desk faced his. A tall, lanky redhead with a penchant for practical jokes, he was the reason Jesse found himself in this moral mess. After all, it'd been Rob who'd dared him to get out of his comfort zone and try a little undercover for a change.

The b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

”The evidence against Larson is building,” Jesse told him.

”Good thing you tailed him, huh? Did you get the goods Sat.u.r.day night?”

Not for lack of willingness on his body's part. With a s.h.i.+ver, Jesse remembered the cold shower he'd taken Sat.u.r.day night after leaving Audra.

”I trailed him, identified his connection and made contact.” The memory of that contact sent a wave of heat over Jesse, making him s.h.i.+ft in his chair.

”Dude, you crack this case, you might snag a promotion. Your work here in Cyber Crimes is noteworthy, sure. But the extra steps you're taking, going undercover? The bra.s.s will love that. Hero stuff must run in the family,” Rob teased.

Jesse responded with a shrug as Rob took a phone call, but his mind raced.

The bra.s.s. Always close to the surface, the memory of his late father rose in Jesse's head. Even though he'd been gone five years now, Jesse still imagined his father was watching over his shoulder-always judging his job performance, his life choices-and shaking his head with a frown of disapproval.

A man's man, Diego Martinez had been one h.e.l.l of a cop. The bra.s.s said he'd died a hero's death. Jesse knew the reality was Diego had trusted the wrong woman. While Jesse might feel compelled to constantly prove he was as good a cop as his father, he wasn't about to repeat the man's mistakes.

So he would run an in-depth check on Audra Walker. As soon as he'd built enough evidence against her, he'd lose this fascination. Maybe then he could lay off the cold showers. His body would thank him. h.e.l.l, just the thought of Audra got him h.o.r.n.y as h.e.l.l. For another chance to see her, touch her, his body would weep in grat.i.tude.

Ten minutes later, Jesse was wis.h.i.+ng he'd started his day with something stronger than coffee.