Part 22 (2/2)
Her brother had stood up for her? Audra's heart did a little happy dance.
”What about Simply Sensual? What about the money constraints and marketing and all that other stuff?”
Natasha lifted one shoulder. ”The spicier line will be marketed under the Twisted Knickers label and distributed separately. I've worked up the specs, and it's all doable. As for money,” she glanced over as Drew returned with a bottle of champagne and three gla.s.ses, ”the Chinese distributors are placing much higher than expected orders, based on your naughty design. And if we need more financial backing, Drew's offered to bankroll Twisted Knickers.”
Her brother had that much faith in her succeeding? Tears sprang to Audra's eyes. Oh, G.o.d. She was turning into a total wimp. She tried to take it all in. Not just what was being said, but what was going unsaid.
Her brother's faith in her. Natasha's willingness to take a chance on her. The fact that they were offering her the world.
Excitement dueled with joy in her belly, doing a happy little cancan. Jesse had been right. Her dreams were worth standing up for.
And now that one was being handed to her, wrapped up in a black leather bow?
She didn't want to take it.
”Don't be p.i.s.sed,” she said slowly, ”but I'm going to say no.”
”What?” Drew yelped, the champagne slopping as he poured.
”Why?” Natasha asked, her tone a lot calmer.
”I'd suck as a partner, Natasha. I mean, the design aspect, well, that's a dream come true. I'd love it. But running the boutique, well...I blew it. Things got messy, the store isn't as well stocked as it should be.”
Audra sucked in a deep breath and kissed the best business offer of her life goodbye. Then she grabbed the half-full gla.s.s of champagne from her brother and downed it.
”It's just not my gig,” she admitted. ”If I've learned anything the last couple weeks, it's that I've got to be true to what works for me. And that boss thing, well, that isn't it.”
Feeling sick and a little miserable, Audra held out her gla.s.s for a refill. Drew, though, was staring at Natasha. The two of them were doing that whole silent communication thing.
Then Natasha nodded. With a smile, she rose and came around the coffee table to pull Audra out of the chair and give her a big hug.
”How about the design offer, then? They aren't a package deal.”
Like the sun had come out on a bitterly rainy day, hope shone again. Audra grinned. Then for the first time ever, she grabbed her brother and sister-in-law both in a huge hug.
JESSE WATCHED Shale peruse the case file. He wished he felt even half the level of triumph the gloating grin on the captain's face indicated. Shale peruse the case file. He wished he felt even half the level of triumph the gloating grin on the captain's face indicated.
”You're sure of this?” Shale asked.
Jesse nodded.
”You did it, Martinez. You nailed them. Not only Larson, but the whole Du Bing Li Du Bing Li triad as well. You've tied them to China and gave us the connection's name.” triad as well. You've tied them to China and gave us the connection's name.”
Jesse tried to smile, but he was sure it looked more like a pained grimace.
”Once Larson accessed his off-site computer storage unit, I was able to trace his connection. Hacking into it was easy at that point. He's a tidy thief. Everything was neatly labeled, ready to download. I'd bet the triad warned him to ditch the IDs once he'd handed them over, but a guy like Davey likes to have backup.”
”Have you physically located his off-site unit?”
”No, not yet. He's smooth. Without the chip he was reputed to hand off, this won't be as easily admissible in court, but we can make it stick. Especially since I was able to access the list of IDs. The triad's moving human cargo from China and already a.s.signed at least a dozen of those IDs to their people. It's not all tied up with a bow, but it's a solid case.”
”Too bad we didn't have that chip, or we'd blow it wide open. Even so, this is more than the chief had hoped for. Good work, Martinez. It'll go far toward that promotion. I gotta say, you have a lot of your father in you.”
”Yes, sir,” Jesse agreed with a grimace.
Yup, he was one righteous b.a.s.t.a.r.d, just like his father. Here he was, justifying sleeping with a woman involved in his case. Good ole dad couldn't have done any better.
”Although, if you don't mind me being honest with you, as much as I admired Diego, he didn't have your knack for tying up loose ends. Or your care to make sure the bystanders and victims in your cases are taken care of. To be honest, his methods were sometimes a cause for concern.”
”Sir?” Jesse stared across the desk and wondered if he'd heard right. Didn't everyone universally adore his father's methods?
”Don't get me wrong, Diego had a sterling rep and a solid arrest record. You take that extra care, though. People are more than just names and means to ends for you, Martinez. I appreciate that, and I'm proud to have you on my team.”
Jesse wasn't sure what to say to that. Shale didn't think he was like his father? Not in the ways Jesse was worried about. Sure, he'd let his emotions get the better of his common sense with Audra, but maybe that wasn't the same. He'd been with Audra despite the case, not because of it. Which meant maybe, unlike his father, he wasn't destined to lousy relations.h.i.+ps. He thought back to Audra's parting shot, her anger and swaggering att.i.tude. And now that he was remembering it without the cloud of guilt, he felt the faint stirring of hope.
All he had to do was convince her to give them a chance.
For the first time in fourteen hours, Jesse smiled. h.e.l.l, yeah, he'd convince her. Audra was meant to be his, and he'd show her exactly why. Jesse knew her-appreciated her-like n.o.body else in the world. And he'd use that knowledge to court her, to lure her back. Then he'd marry her and tie her to him for the rest of their lives.
AUDRA SLID into her car, the grin still plastered to her face. Rock on. She'd shown up ready to be fired and ended up with her own line of lingerie. Better yet, she'd realized that she really did know what was right for her and what wasn't. into her car, the grin still plastered to her face. Rock on. She'd shown up ready to be fired and ended up with her own line of lingerie. Better yet, she'd realized that she really did know what was right for her and what wasn't.
Now to do something about the man who was right for her. Audra would be d.a.m.ned if she'd give up a guy who not only got her, but got what made her her. her. What made her special. What made her special.
She fingered the design Natasha had returned to her, eyeing the sc.r.a.p of that ugly tie. She remembered Jesse's words about being true to herself. How clearly did he see her? More clearly than she saw herself, apparently.
So what was she going to do about it? Did Jesse really care, or was his interest in her based on his good boy genes trying to justify his naughty foray into down and dirty s.e.x? Could he handle the real her?
Audra thought back over her time with him the last two weeks. He'd never shown any hesitation in accepting her, even when she hadn't been able to do the same.
Maybe she'd underestimated herself. As crazy a concept as it was for a woman who'd always been sure of her own strengths, Audra thought back over her brother's words.
Drew gave her credit when she didn't herself. He was willing to stand up and fight for her when she'd settled for being shuffled aside. n.o.body had ever done that before, she realized.
Like Jesse, Drew believed in Audra's talent. In her vision and her ability to make her dreams a reality.
Audra stroked the ugly material she'd hacked off the end of the tie. The cheap, poorly constructed polyester felt slick beneath her fingers. Then she came to the tip, and winced. It really did feel as if someone had left a needle or something in the fabric.
With a frown, she tugged the tie free of its staple and tore at the material. A small chip, about the size of her thumb and encased in plastic, fell into her lap.
Well, well. It looked as if Jesse had been right. She was guilty, if unknowingly.
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