Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (56 page)

“And she just amazingly happened to arrive in time to come to Rufus Randall’s party? Remarkable recovery, hmmm? And how clever of her to look for you there.” Not that she didn’t believe that the woman was trouble personified. But Natasha wasn’t falling for Drew’s declarations of innocence. Naïve she was not. Not anymore.

“I’d called her cell to see if she was on her way but couldn’t reach her. I left a message so she’d know where to find me.” Natasha’s skepticism must have been clear on her face, because Drew rolled his eyes and heaved a disgusted sigh. “Look, Natasha, I don’t want the account. It’s not worth the trouble of watching some weird guy with a Clark Gable fetish chasing after my sister. This business thing is supposed to keep her out of trouble, not get her in deeper.”

Drew sat up and shoved a hand through his hair, mussing the russet strands and making Natasha’s fingers itch to tidy them.

“I’d hoped this convention would get her enough work to keep her on track, get her focused, so I can stop being her babysitter. Audra takes a lot of... well, guidance. If she hooks up with this Randall guy, I’ll be stuck constantly watching that jerk to make sure he doesn’t try anything.”

Natasha wanted to point out that his sister was obviously an adult. Quite obviously. And that she hardly looked like she needed protection. More like the other way around, she thought uncharitably.

But this conversation was actually working to Natasha’s advantage, so she’d keep the obvious to herself.

“So, what? You’ll just walk away? Let
Perfect Passion
go, just like that?”

“Me? Sure. But it’s not me you have to worry about, it’s Audra. I’m just the temporary bankroll. When it comes to
Twisted Knickers
, she calls the shots.”

Natasha licked her lips and considered his claim. To give herself time, she asked, “If it isn’t your company, what do you do?”

“I own a sports bar in Auburn.”

If he’d told her he was a white slaver who imported Amazon women to square dance at bowling conventions, she wouldn’t have been more shocked.

“A bar?”

“Yeah,” Drew said with a smile tinged with pride. “It was my dad’s, and my granddad’s before him. That’s where I learned to play pool, actually. When the old man got too sick, I took over. Having to take time off work to babysit Audra is a definite pain in the ass. So you can see why your accusation just doesn’t work.”

“Look, maybe it’s been a long night and my brain is shorting out, but I’m not getting it. It sounds like your sister intends to get Ruf’s account, whether you like it or not. And since she’s already got his interest, there isn’t anything you or I can do about it.”

“Sure there is.”

“What?”

He leaned back on the bed again with a naughty grin.

“C’mon, Tash. Between us, we can get you that account—hell, that and the next three on your list. And keep my little sister out of that jerk’s clutches in the process.”

Was this how Pandora felt as she’d eyed that box of temptation? A tingling in the belly, excitement and anticipation buzzing through her ears? Natasha knew better. A wise woman would cut her losses and move on. And Natasha had always considered herself a wise woman.

“How?” she asked.

“C’mere, babe.” Drew patted the bed next to him. “I’ve got a plan.”

* * *

His eyes closed, Drew mentally cursed mornings. Not just this morning. All mornings. Mornings sucked.

“Five minutes, ‘kay,” he mumbled into the bed sheet.

“What the hell do I look like, dude? Your alarm clock?”

“No, you look like a pain in the ass. I’d be home in my own bed if it wasn’t for that stunt you pulled yesterday. The least you can do is turn those stupid cartoons down and give me five more minutes to sleep.”

Drew shifted his head so he could squint at his sister, who looked oddly young without her usual mask of war paint. Or maybe it was the tongue she was sticking out at him that made her look like a kid. Without makeup, Audra could pass for at least five years less than her twenty-two. Seven, if it weren’t for the black and red streaked hair smashed up against her head, the silver stud pierced through her nose and the T- shirt inviting him to kiss her right on the ass. Drew’s chest tightened when he realized how much Audra looked like their father.

“Dude, you are one major nag. You’ll make someone a great wife someday,” Audra sneered. “I’m here, right? So quit bitching and chill. Before the end of this weekend, I’ll have it made. Then all I’ll have to do is figure out how to spend all the money that’ll come pouring in.”

Drew didn’t even bother to sigh. Despite countless lectures, Audra seemed to believe she didn’t have to work hard for success like the rest of the population. It was just another reason that the
Perfect Passion
account was wrong for her. She was plenty of trouble on her own, but who knew what kind of crazy a creep like Ruf Randall could add to the mix.

Tasha, though, could handle the guy. She saw him for what he was and had no interest in anything from him but a business deal. Besides, she was only fronting
Sensual Supports
for her aunt. She was probably using this little foray into the lingerie business to explore her sexuality, he figured. Once that account was nailed down, she’d hand it back to her aunt and retreat to her safe little world.

“I think you should pass on that Perfect Passion account. The guy is a bozo. A total lech. You had a solid plan and a list of accounts to chase. Why are you ditching it to put up with a jerk like Randall?”

“Puleeeze, I can handle a pussycat like Rufus Randall. I figured it out at that party last night. If I play my cards right, I can hook up with him for the long term. Work my way into his company, be his right hand chick, you know?”

Drew rubbed his fingers over his eyes with a groan. He was going to have to scrub his brain to erase the creepy images her words evoked.

“He likely has a right hand chick already, Audra. One who worked her way up the ladder, not flirted her way into a job she wasn’t qualified for.”

“Then she’s gonna be outta luck, isn’t she?”

Drew frowned in frustration. It was like listening to Lorna all over again. Audra’s mother believed in the importance of taking care of number one, and she’d passed the skill onto her daughter.

For the first time, Drew gave thanks that Tasha was here, for reasons other than her glorious body and sexy mouth. She was the only thing standing in the way of a creepy pervert and his idiot sister. And as he’d promised her last night, he was going to do everything hi his power to make sure she got the account.

Starting now.

* * *

Natasha ground her teeth, wanting to scream.

Her breakfast meeting with Ruf had turned into a double date when he’d walked into the restaurant with Audra on his arm and a scowling Drew on his heels. Now, instead of talking business, they were all forced to endure the Audra show.

It was a lot to take on only one cup of coffee.

Natasha was sure she was wearing the same equally fascinated and horrified look Ruf was.

“So, like there I am, watching this guy do his heavy breathing act, and I just had to roll my eyes, ya know? I mean, what? I’m gonna give it to him there in the grocery store? What a dork.” Audra spoke around the mouthful of French Toast she’d nabbed from Drew’s plate. “So, like, that’s why I refuse to do the grocery store again. With freaks like that hanging out, a chick just can’t check out the produce in peace.”

Natasha speared another strawberry—the catalyst that had inspired Audra’s produce story—and bit down viciously.

“So, Ruf,” Natasha said, trying to get control of the conversation, “I’d love to hear about your plans for the spring line-up. You did a great job incorporating your new logo into the designs last year. Will you continue that theme?”

Out the corner of her eye, she saw Audra open her mouth to say something, then wince and clamp her lips shut and glare through heavily lined eyes at her brother. Natasha didn’t know what he’d done, but she flashed him a look of gratitude and grabbed the chance to pitch.

So pitch she did.

And apparently she rocked it. By the time Ruf had soaked up his plateful of gravy with his last biscuit, his nods had gone from polite to enthusiastic.

“Tell ya what, Sweet Thing, I think we have a lot to talk about,” he said, wiping a speck of sausage off his pencil mustache. “Now, I’m gonna be honest with you. I’m mighty partial to what
Twisted Knickers
has to offer and I’m hoping to see a lot more.”

From the leer on his face when he glanced at Audra, who was shoveling in food like she hadn’t eaten in a year, it was pretty clear just what he wanted to see. Drew’s glare made it just as clear he planned to stop the guy.

Since Ruf obviously had no problem listening to the advice of his dick when it came to business, Natasha was very glad that Drew intended to keep his little sister’s questionable virtue off the bargaining table.

“Besides,” Ruf continued, “I have a policy of only doing business with friends. Makes it easier all round, if you ask me. So how about the four of us get friendly, hmm?”

Ewww. Eww eww eww. Horror speared Natasha’s gut. Sitting next to Drew on the bench seat, Natasha felt him growl. Even Audra went pale.

Oblivious, Ruf tossed his napkin on his plate and rose. “I’ve got tickets to one of those shows tonight, some fancy thing at the Bellagio. Why don’t we make it a foursome? Dinner, show, a few drinks.”

Oh, God, no. As much as Natasha wanted Ruf’s account, the idea of double dating to win it was just too much.

“We have plans tonight,” Drew said.

Natasha’s grateful smile faded when Ruf shrugged.

“Fine, tomorrow night then.” He rubbed his hands together and smiled. “Call it the first step in negotiations. We’ll take things from there. Vegas has a lot to offer, just like your companies. I’d like to explore it all.”

Nobody seemed comfortable with the offer, but Audra slowly nodded. Natasha had no choice but to agree.

And then try not to throw up.

She wanted to break the sexual curse, but was it really smart to explore the many facets of Sin City with a Clark Gable wannabe, the baddest bad-girl she’d ever met, and her sexual nemesis?

She had a feeling this was going to seriously bite her in the ass…

Chapter Five

“I don’t know about this. I think we should keep an eye on Audra and Ruf,” Natasha protested as Drew led her through the luxurious Venetian hotel toward the Grand Canal Shoppes.

Uh…no. That wasn’t happening. Drew had got his fill of the two of them at breakfast and on the convention floor. Tonight was his.

“Don’t worry so much,” he dismissed. “Audra blew off Randall to hit the dance clubs tonight. I’m sure he’s doing business of some kind, but it’s not with my little sister.”

“You do realize your sister isn’t my only competition for this account, right?”

“You need to relax,” he said. “You spun a great pitch this morning and Ruf spent half the day staring across at your booth. Trust me, you’ve got the guy hooked.”

Tired of the crazy old coot taking so much of Natasha’s attention, Drew laid his arm over Tasha’s shoulder and pulled her close.

Tonight was going to be about what he wanted. And, he vowed, he’d make sure what he wanted was what she wanted, too, before it was over. He wasn’t a man who usually thought of romance. But Natasha was the kind of woman who’d be swayed by it. So he’d done what any smart guy without a clue would do. He’d asked the concierge.

A half hour and a fake gondola ride later, they were seated in a restaurant with the unbelievably lame name of Casanova. Because, what? That was romantic? He’d definitely over-tipped the concierge. Hell, he’d had to resort to hand holding in that log ride disguised as a gondola. As Drew watched the waiter pour wine, he realized that his hand was still wrapped over Natasha’s.

Okay, so the handholding was actually kind of nice.

He watched the way Tasha’s hair slid along her throat, teasing the edge of her dress where it curved downward. The red fabric highlighted her breasts in a way that reminded him of all the delights they promised. Delights he hoped to enjoy again.

“So what do you think?” he asked, slipping his hand away.

“Of the Grand Canal?” At his nod, she smiled. “It’s wonderful. I had no idea there was anything like this here. The stores, the view, the gondola, its all so much fun.”

“Only in Vegas.” “It’s like its own little world. A place where wishes and dreams could come true.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“What would you wish for?” Drew asked, genuine curiosity in his tone.

“I don’t know,” she said with a shrug. But the color on her cheeks told him differently.

“C’mon, Tash. You have to have some dreams. Some wishes that are so out there that they’re not worth tossing a coin in the fountain for?”

She laughed. “Sure, I guess so. I used to wish I could be like my Aunt Sharon. I love
Sensual Supports
, what she’s made of it. She started the company as a tiny clothing store, but expanded and eventually started specializing in lingerie.”