Part 6 (2/2)
Bingo. Davey cracked his neck, pasted on a fake smile and hoped they didn't recognize him as the scared little girl. The Audra chick must have his computer chip. Dave wasn't too concerned, though. It wasn't as if she was the compet.i.tion, out to sell it to the highest bidder. Nah, this was all gonna be fine. Just fine.
Davey leaned his elbows on the high table and turned on the charm. He'd find out if he had anything to worry about, get a name to retrieve his chip from and romance his dream woman in the bargain. n.o.body was better at getting his way than Dave Larson.
AUDRA'S SMILE drew Jesse's attention away from the mouthwatering view of smooth flesh showcased in red leather. He knew the flesh was smooth because his fingers had memorized the feel of her. drew Jesse's attention away from the mouthwatering view of smooth flesh showcased in red leather. He knew the flesh was smooth because his fingers had memorized the feel of her.
”You'll have to tell me a little bit about your preferences,” Audra told him. Straightening slowly, the view s.h.i.+fted and he saw her top only reached her midriff, leaving her stomach bare above low-slung jeans.
A bare stomach adorned with not only an ultrafine gold chain, but also a belly-b.u.t.ton piercing-a glittery red jewel with dangling stars.
Jesse did his d.a.m.nedest not to swallow his tongue.
”Preferences?” he asked. The possibilities ran through his mind at the speed of light, each one featuring a deliciously naked Audra.
”Yeah. You know, what look you like. What gets you excited?”
”You.”
And she did. Instead of the magenta-tipped spikes he'd seen before, today her hair was fluffed around her head. Still edgy black, it was just a little softer. Her face seemed softer, too. Maybe it was the girly atmosphere of the boutique instead of the harsh lights of the club or the parking overheads. This easy, approachable look made it d.a.m.ned hard to think of her as a criminal.
Especially in this confection-style shop, with its gilded edges, swirly decorations and ma.s.s of frilly s.e.x-inspired nighties.
She laughed a little and shook her head. ”I mean what lingerie looks are you into? Any fas.h.i.+on preferences?”
”I like the look you have going on,” he reiterated. ”What style is that?”
Audra looked down at herself, then shrugged and grinned. ”You won't find this in here. For the most part, Simply Sensual's stock is more subtle. You know, satin and lace. Someday, I hope to bring in a little leather, maybe some metal detailing. But for now, the stock here is pretty sweet. I call this my last rebellion style.”
”Do tell.”
”When I started working here, I was the ultimate rebel. It was all about the design, not the boutique. Shop, retail, that was boring. I'd show up for work whenever I felt like it, take off when I wanted.”
”Didn't your employer object?”
”Believe me, I didn't come with references,” Audra said with a rueful laugh. ”I remember my first job. I worked at this trendy little boutique. One day I saw a list of 'employee rules' posted in the office and realized I'd broken them all.”
”Don't you worry about breaking rules?”
”Nah. I'm not big on rules. Usually the worst I get is a lecture and I'm used to that. I had a social worker once who was the queen of lectures.”
”Social worker, huh?”
”No biggie,” she said with a shrug, ”I had a high school counselor who doubled as Dottie Do-Gooder. She was so sure I was gonna end up in jail or on the streets, ole Dottie called in Child Protective Services. They'd already tagged me as a lost cause, but this social worker figured she'd hang out and make me her project child.”
Even though her tone was light, it was clearly a closed door. Jesse noted the tight, pained look around her eyes as she talked about the past. From the info he'd dug up, she'd never actually been in the foster system. It didn't sound as if she'd gotten off unscathed, though.
”So you're not big on rules, huh? What about losing your job?”
Her wide smile was obviously in thanks for changing the subject. Jesse ignored what it did to his body and told himself to focus on the case. His body, of course, ignored him.
”Natasha knew what she was getting into when she signed me on. Actually, I started in the back doing design work while I went to school. Simpl Sensual has two functions. The boutique and the lingerie company. My focus is design, first and foremost. But somehow I got conned into creating displays, eventually got suckered into working the cash register.”
”Sounds like your-” Jesse stopped himself before he let slip sister-in-law sister-in-law ”-boss is pretty wily. She obviously knew what it would take to entice you into becoming the model employee.” He eyed her bare belly and winked. ”Especially if you get many men in here shopping.” ”-boss is pretty wily. She obviously knew what it would take to entice you into becoming the model employee.” He eyed her bare belly and winked. ”Especially if you get many men in here shopping.”
”We get a few. And yeah, Natasha's okay. She just promoted me last week. Now I run the design department of the lingerie side of the business.”
”And you still rebel?”
Audra laughed, a husky sound of delight.
”I'll always be a rebel. I'm just a little...less, now.” Her tone drooped, kind of like the wispy bit of silk that dangled, one strap hanging forlornly, from the padded hanger. She reached over to adjust it, securing the loose strap over the fabric-covered b.u.t.ton.
”Over the last few months, I suppose I have become the model employee. h.e.l.l, I even put the money in the cash register now so it all faces the same way.” She gave a rueful laugh and walked toward him. The effortless swing of her hips tempted him to forget his resolve to stay on track. Jesse caught her distinctive scent and felt his body reacting with remembered yearning. ”But a girl loses her edge if she doesn't keep that naughty side alive and kicking. So now I find other areas to be...bad.”
His mouth watered as he envisioned her being bad on him. Over him. Under him. Oh, h.e.l.l. Focus, Martinez. Oh, h.e.l.l. Focus, Martinez. He needed to get a grip. She'd given him the perfect opening, he needed to think with his cop head. He needed to get a grip. She'd given him the perfect opening, he needed to think with his cop head.
”So what kind of bad are you into now?” he asked.
”Just about anything you have in mind, I'll bet I'd be into,” she said, taking a few steps closer. So close, he could feel the heat radiating from her lush body. So close, his fingers tingled with the need to touch her. She was like a drug. She'd wormed her way into his system and he couldn't get enough of her. Then he frowned. Anything?
”Like what? I mean, how far do you go to be bad? Drugs?”
When her eyes popped wide, Jesse winced. Dammit, he belonged behind a computer keyboard, not here trying to sneak information out of a woman whose scent fogged his brain.
She gave him a long look, the most serious he'd ever seen from her. Then she offered a one-shouldered shrug. ”I guess, given what some people call bad, I don't mind clarifying for you. I'm anti-drugs, and to be honest, I'm a very light drinker. I'm not big on artificial stimulation.”
She paused, inspecting his face. She must have been satisfied with whatever she saw there, because she ran her tongue over her lower lip and moved close to him again.
”I am, however, very into physical stimulation. If memory serves, you're pretty good in that area.”
”I can work magic with my hands,” Jesse a.s.sured her. Sure, it was usually on a keyboard, but all that finger work limbered him up for much more intricate maneuvers.
”Really? Does that mean your wand is magic, too?” Her comment, combined with her wide-eyed innocent look, made him laugh with pleasure.
”You're so d.a.m.ned cute, you know that?” He was surprised at how much fun she was. How at odds her playful side was to the hot packaging.
”Cute? I don't think I've ever been called cute,” she said with a snicker.
He winced. That probably wasn't the kind of thing a woman over twelve took as a compliment. But she didn't seem offended, just amused.
”Is that a bad thing? I know my sisters have this need to be taken seriously, and cute isn't synonymous with serious. Other women I've known seem to need compliments and-” he almost said ”to be fawned over,” but stopped himself in time ”-you know, to be treated so carefully. You're probably the most comfortable person I've ever met.”
”Comfortable? You're kidding, right?” She furrowed her brow and gave a little curl of her lip. But, again, she didn't seem offended.
”Comfortable with yourself, I mean. Not comfortable to be around. After all, I get a hard-on the minute I see you. That's not exactly what I'd call relaxing.”
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