Negligee Behavior (11 page)

Was she having second thoughts about Gordon? Had she done this big makeover to impress him?

The blood started pounding in his veins again. The thought of her leaving…No, she couldn’t go back to him. He shoved a hand through his hair and bit back a groan of frustration, not understanding his own irrational thoughts.

“Look. I just don’t understand,” she said and her eyes suddenly narrowed. “I’m not dressed any differently than Val. Why the double standard?”

“Because on Val it’s normal,” he sputtered. “But you’re different. You wear cat shirts and skirts to your ankles.”

Her lips pressed together before she shrugged. “So? I decided it was time for a new look. Why are you suddenly so uptight?”

“Because you look like a two-dollar whore!”

She reared back and her face drained of color.

Oh fuck. Why the hell had he said that? Regret ate a bitter hole in his gut. She’d called him uptight and it had pushed him right over the edge.

“Ah, shit. Brandy, I didn’t—”

The door swung open and Sebastian stormed in, his mouth drawn tight and his eyes narrowed with rage. Val stood in the doorway, her eyes wide and a hand pressed to her mouth. Hell, they’d probably heard half of the conversation.

This wasn’t going to be pretty. Sebastian looked ripe and ready to rip him a new one.

“Brandy, go back up front with Val,” Sebastian said with a jerk of his head.

Marco tried to catch her eye, to convey a silent apology for his reckless words, but she refused to look at him. She kept her gaze diverted as she stood up and walked from the office, her body rigid.

Val waited for her to leave and then shut the door behind them, giving Marco one last searing glare that silently declared him a bastard.

He took a deep breath, braced his hands on the desk and faced Sebastian.

“If you weren’t my friend I’d be knocking you out cold, instead of trying to rationalize with you.” Sebastian folded his arms across his chest. “You are out of line, Marco.”

The anger that had lowered back down to a simmer, flared right back up.

“Yeah? Well, why don’t you tell me what the hell were you doing hitting on her?”

“Hitting on her? I wasn’t hitting on her. We were having a bit of a chat.”

“Bullshit. You couldn’t take your eyes off of her—”

“Because she looks amazing, Marco. And I’ll wager you didn’t even take the opportunity to tell her that.”

The words died in his mouth and his jaw hung slack. What could he say? She did look amazing. He just resented like hell that other men were noticing it.

“I was treating Brandy like I treat every woman, mate. I’m a bit of a flirt. It’s common knowledge.”

“You were whispering in her ear. That goes beyond your usual level of flirting.”

Awareness dawned in Sebastian’s eyes followed by amusement.

“Ah, I see.” He nodded. “You know I could be a nice bloke and tell you what exactly I was whispering into her ear, but I don’t think I will. You’re being a complete ass and deserve to fester in your jealousy.”

Son of a bitch.
Marco ground his teeth together and fisted his hands.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? What this is doing to me?”

“You’re doing this to yourself, mate. Nothing is any different from yesterday except for what Brandy’s wearing.” Sebastian turned and headed for the door.

“And be warned–if I hear you refer to her as a two-dollar whore again, I will hit you next time. She’s a nice lass, Marco, and you’d better treat her as such.”

Sebastian gave him one last pissed off look, and then left the office.

Damn. Marco spun the chair around and stared out the window. He’d completely lost it. With Brandy and with Sebastian. And over the stupid fact that she’d put on new clothes and gotten her hair cut.

Closing his eyes, he shook his head. He should apologize, but he’d probably get within an inch of her and kiss her senseless.

He thrust a hand through his hair and groaned. Getting through this night was going to be hell.

“He hates it.” Brandy rushed behind the counter up front and grabbed a cocktail napkin to dab her eyes.

Val came up beside her and gently turned her away from the customer side of the bar.

“You don’t want the customers to see you cry.”

“Thank you.” Brandy sniffled. At least someone was still thinking like a professional.

She’d completely lost it. Thank God she’d managed to stay somewhat composed when she was in the office with Marco.

“He doesn’t hate your outfit, kid.”

“Yes, he does.” Brandy gave a watery laugh and looked over at her. “And why do you keep calling me kid? I’ll be thirty the day after tomorrow.”

“Wow, really?” Val’s eyebrows rose. “You’re younger than I thought. See, I told you it was the cat shirt.”

Younger than she thought? Dear God, was it really that bad?
“Well, apparently I should have kept the cat shirt. Marco won’t even let me work tonight.”

“He has no choice. He’s hard up for waiting staff, and you’re not dressed any differently than me.”

“Yeah.” She sniffled. “And I told him that.”

“Oh, I gotcha. Is that when he called you a two-dollar hooker?”

Her shoulders quaked as she dragged in a quick breath. “H-he called me a whore, not a hooker.”

“Same thing.” Val laughed. “Hey, kid, look at me.”

Brandy looked to the left, not wanting to see the other woman’s amusement.

“No, no, look at me. I want you to understand something.” Val grabbed her chin, turning her back until their eyes were level. “What just happened in the office is a good thing.”

Brandy shook her head. “I’m sorry, how could any of that have been a good thing? I did this whole makeover so he’d like me more, not less.” She shut her eyes and curled her fingers until her nails bit into the palms. “I just can’t get the whore comment out of my head.”

“Okay, yeah, the whore line was a bit much. And he did go a little caveman on you for a few minutes. But do you realize why?”

“Because maybe I do look like a whore?” She opened her eyes.

“Don’t you say that. Don’t you ever say that. You look like me.” Val grinned and then winked. “Sure, it’s a little sexier than you’re used to, but around here you fit right in.”

“Then why was he so mean to me?”

“Because he likes you. And he liked you even before you had the makeover.”

“No.” Brandy’s pulse slowed and then sped back up to double-time. “Do you think so?”

“Of course. That’s why he flipped out on you. He liked you before, when you weren’t flaunting your goods to the world. But now that you threw on some clothes that say ‘hey I’m sexy’, he knows other men are going to figure out what he saw before you changed.”

Brandy shook her head, but some of what Val said actually made sense. Though she still wasn’t one hundred percent convinced he liked her before or after the makeover.

“So what do I do?”

“Just go to work as usual and know that you look totally hot. And then at the end of the night you reap the rewards in tips.”

It sounded simple enough. “Okay. I can do that. I hope.”

“You can. And be prepared for men to flirt, because they’re gonna be on you like flies to honey.” Val gave her a teasing frown. “Just don’t take all my tips.”

“I won’t. I promise.” Brandy sniffled again, a little less shaky now, and dabbed her eye one last time. “Thanks, Val. I needed that.”

“Good.” Val patted her shoulder and turned back toward the floor.

“Wait!”

Pausing, Val turned back around and lifted an eyebrow. Brandy hurried over to her.

“But what do I do about Marco?”

Val gave a slow smile. “Let him come after you—and he will. But don’t let him off the hook too easy. The man did call you a slut.”

“Whore.”

“Right. And be sure to flirt with other men. That’ll really get his boxers in a knot.”

“Oh…” Brandy’s cheeks warmed. The image of Marco in boxers, with no shirt on flitted through her head. Not that she’d ever seen him in such a state, but the idea of it was quite…sexy.

“Ahh, look at that, I see where your mind went. You dirty girl.” Val grinned and nudged her in the ribs. “Yeah, you two are perfect for each other. I gotta get out on the floor. Those people are beer guzzling, nacho addicts.”

“Okay, thanks, Val. I’ll be out in a minute.” She pressed her hands against her cheeks and took a deep breath.

The door to the kitchen swung open and Sebastian strode out. His gaze immediately sought hers and then he came over to her.

“How are you doing, luv?”

“I’m fine.” She gave him a less wan smile. “Thank you, Sebastian. Is he still…?”

“Being an ass? Very much so. But he’ll get over it.” He winked. “Are you okay to work tonight?”

“Okay? What do you mean?”

“If you’re too upset, I completely understand—”

“No, not at all. Val had a nice little chat with me, and I feel much better.”

“Male jealousy is the equivalent to PMS in my opinion. So just go about your business until his cycle passes.”

Brandy burst into laughter and pressed a hand against her belly.

“You’re a funny guy, Sebastian. Why are you single again?”

Her words coincided with Marco coming up front again. His jaw hardened and he turned right around and returned to the kitchen.

Sebastian followed her stare. “Ah, the man has terrible timing.”

Sebastian was right about Marcos’s timing. She never flirted, and he’d caught her doing it twice with Sebastian now. But the man was practically a professional flirt. A woman got in his presence and couldn’t help herself. It certainly didn’t mean anything. Sebastian didn’t make her blood heat the way Marco did.

Sebastian turned back to the counter where a customer waited. “All right, luv, time to get to work. If you need a few minutes, please feel free to take them.”

Maybe she should take this time to call her parents. She had yet to even check in with them. And if Gordon contacted them first they’d probably flip out. Her phone, where was it? She looked back at the office and groaned. Oh right. Back with
him
.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed through the double doors and walked back toward the office. She kept her head held high and her stomach sucked in—she still wasn’t quite used to how tight the new clothes were.

She pressed her lips together and tiptoed inside. Maybe she could grab her purse without alerting him to her presence. Kneeling down, she slipped her hand into the straps and lifted it onto her shoulder.

“If you insist on flirting, could you not do it with Sebastian?”

Crap
. He hadn’t even turned around. Damn. Her reflection was glaringly obvious in the window.

“I wasn’t—”

“I should have been clearer about the rules we have at Dante’s. We don’t encourage dating amongst the employees.”

Seriously? He was seriously going to throw
that
at her? She braced her hands on her hips and glared at his back.

“Oh really? It sure didn’t seem to matter to you last night when you were feeling me up in the parking lot.”

“Yes. About that.” He turned around, his expression cool and unreadable. “A mistake. It won’t happen again.”

Ouch. She tried not to visibly react, even as she wondered how could he sound so calm about what had happened between them? Stare at her like they’d never even met.

This was absolutely ridiculous. Ever since the makeover she’d felt a little different. A little more confident and daring. With the conversation with Valerie still fresh in her mind, she lifted her chin and decided to gamble.

“Bullshit.”

He blinked, obviously shocked. “I’m sorry?”

“I’m calling bullshit on you.” She stepped forward and jammed a finger into his chest.

“What?”

“Bullshit on everything.” She took a deep breath and plunged on before she lost her nerve. “You don’t think I look like a whore, you think I look hot. And it pisses you off.”

His eyes narrowed. “Now hold on—”

“And you know what else pisses you off?” she went on, gaining more confidence. “The idea that other men are going to be hitting on me tonight.”

“Brandy—”

“So here’s the deal, buddy.” She slid her finger up his chest and then placed it against his lips. “Either step up to the plate or accept the fact that others will.”

Before he could respond– not that he could with his jaw hanging open–she turned and left the office with her purse in hand.

Her heart pounded double-time, and she hoped to God she hadn’t just made a major mistake.

She started to head outside, to call her parents real quick, when Sebastian waved to her from across the bar.

“What’s up?” she called out, heading towards him.

“I lied. We’re about to get slammed. I know I said feel free to take a few minutes, but can you start now?”

The phone call would have to wait. She slid her cell back into her purse and nodded.

“No problem. Let me just drop my purse in the back room again and I’ll be right out.”

She took in a deep breath, wishing she didn’t have to go face Marco so soon. She’d wanted to leave him to stew in those parting words.

Tiptoeing back through the kitchen she peeked around the door, saw Marco’s back was to her, and tossed her purse on the floor and ran back to the front.

True to Valerie’s prediction, Brandy was indeed popular. The realization came not even an hour into her shift, and Brandy had already made fifty bucks in tips.

“How about another beer, cutie?”

Already on her way back to the bar, she stopped and smiled at the customer leaning against one of the pool tables.

“A lager?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You got it.” She grinned and resumed her trip to the bar.

Sebastian was busy serving up a customer, but she squeezed her way in and set down her tray.

“I need a lager and two Cosmos.”

“Sure thing, luv.”

“Thanks.” She put her hand on her hip.

The place had slowed a little, but still held a few dozen people. Not bad for a Sunday night, she assumed.

“How are you doing out there?”

She turned back to Sebastian and smiled. “I’m doing great. Although my feet are starting to hurt a little.”

Sebastian leaned forward to peek over the counter at her feet. “I do not envy you in those heels, luv. Though they look mighty sexy on you if I do say so myself.”

“You’re good for my confidence, but stop flirting and make my drinks,” she said and gave him a big grin.

“Is that so?” He lifted an eyebrow as he started mixing the drinks. “Have you seen Marco since…”

“No. I think he’s keeping his distance. I told him he needed to step up to the plate.”

“Step up to the plate?”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s a baseball term. Don’t you watch baseball?”

“Can’t stand the stuff. I only watch football—ours, not that thing you Americans call football.”

“Soccer?” She rolled her eyes. “You’re going to have to convert, buddy. You’ve been in America how long?”

“Five years.” His smile dimmed some.

“What brought you over here again?”

“My wife. Well, she’s in the process of becoming my ex-wife,” he said, and she didn’t miss the way his jaw tightened. “In any case. I’m here now.”

Nice job pushing him into that emotional minefield, Brandy
. She cleared her throat and tried to backpedal from an obviously sore subject.

“Well, Sebastian, if I didn’t want to sleep with Marco so bad, I’d probably do you.”

Her attempt at shocking him worked. He threw back his head and laughed.

“Thanks, I needed that.” He set the beer and the Cosmos on the tray.

“Me too.” She grinned and took the tray from him. “Thank you.”

“Behave out there, luv.”

“I can’t make that promise, but thanks for trying.” She winked and turned away.

Her stride back onto the crowded floor had a confidence-induced swing. She could feel her butt doing that ultra sexy swish she’d always seen on other women, but never noticed on herself.

She did enjoy this. Allowing herself to loosen up a little and explore this new part of her.

After dropping off the Cosmos to a couple of rowdy twenty-something women, and collecting money and tips, she headed back to the pool table to drop off the beer.

“Well thank you, cutie.” The middle-aged man took the beer from her and handed her a twenty. “If I tell you to keep the change will you give me a kiss?”

He had several friends sitting around him, all who laughed and poked each other at his comment. Obviously the man was trying to be impressive with his buddies.

“Well, I can’t show customer favoritism, can I?”

The group of men laughed harder and the customer pushed the money back into her hand and shook his head with a sheepish smile.

“You keep the change. You earned it. What’s your name anyway? Are you new?”

“Brandy. And yes, I’m new. Enjoy yourselves, boys.” She spun away, congratulating herself on earning her biggest tip of the night so far.

The next two hours passed in a blur, and her stack of tips grew steadily thicker.

By last call her eyelids felt as if there were dumbbells attached to them, and her feet were swollen around the strap of her heels. She was relieved when the last customer left a short while later. She lifted one leg and jerked off the heel, rubbing the arch of her foot.

“The price of looking sexy.” Val sat down across from her and started counting her tips. “The longer you wear them though, the easier it gets.”

Brandy winced and glared down at the offensive shoe. There was no way that vicious heel was going back on her foot tonight.

Thank God Val had helped her pick out some comfortable clothing to just relax in during the off-hours. Because flip-flops and those pink sweats sounded positively orgasmic right now.

“So Brandy, where you staying tonight?” Val asked, rubber banding her wad of cash together.

Wasn’t that the question of the hour? Ignoring the sinking of her stomach, Brandy glanced towards the kitchen. Marco had remained back there most of the night. No doubt avoiding her.
Way to step up.

“The past couple of nights I’ve stayed with Marco.” She sighed and set her foot back down on the floor. “But it’s probably time for me to just check into a hotel.”

“Nah. Don’t check into a hotel. Come crash at my place. Slasher pretty much lives there now, but he’ll stay out of your way.”

Brandy’s hand fluttered to her throat. “Slasher?”

“My boyfriend. His real name is Stan, but he gets all pissy when you call him that.”

“Oh right. The great sex guy who inspired you to call in sick to work.”

“That’d be Slasher.” Her smile turned wistful. “The man could fuck his way out of murder rap.”

“Oh. He sounds like…quite a fucker.” She giggled and rubbed her foot harder. “I think I’m going to have to wait tables on my knees tomorrow.”

Val grinned. “Well, men do love a woman on her knees.”

“Who’s on their knees?”

Brandy looked up and found Marco crossing the empty floor towards them.

“Brandy’s going to be tomorrow.” Val stood up and stuffed her tips into her purse. “Or maybe tonight if you get back on her good side. Running to the bathroom, be back in a few.”

Brandy watched the other woman hurry to the back, and then turned to face Marco.

His eyes locked on her, his expression lacking the anger that had been there earlier. Instead there was something else, a flicker of heat that gave her hope.

Her pulse quickened and the tiredness disappeared, leaving only a buzz of anticipation. She licked her lips and lowered her feet back to the ground.

She waited for him to say something. Felt the heavy strain of the thick silence between them as the seconds ticked by.
Say something to me. Say you’re sorry
.

He was thinking. She could see he wanted to say something. He would open his mouth and then shut it again.

Finally he said, “I’m going to have you start working the day shift tomorrow. You’ll be working with me.”

And obviously he had no intention of apologizing tonight. She gritted her teeth so hard that she felt the promise of a tension headache come on. She looked at the clock.

“Okay…and what time does the day shift start?”

“Eleven.” His gaze moved over her, from head to toe. As if he wanted to touch her, but realized fighting was the safer route.

“Well then I’d better get some sleep.” She slid out of the booth and walked past him, unable to resist muttering, “Asshole.”

“What?”

She ignored him and pushed into the back of the bar. All the lights were off except the office.

The door swung open and banged against the wall.

“What did you just call me?”

“I didn’t call you anything,” she said, scooping up her bags and her purse. “My inner whore did.”

He knocked the bags and purse from her hand, and backed her up against the wall. His hands slammed on either side of her head and her pulse jumped. She dragged in a quick breath, inhaling his spicy scent.

His lips moved in to hover just above hers and her knees went weak.

“Well your inner whore is right.” He slid a hand down the wall until it connected with her hip, his fingers curled around her flesh possessively. “I am an asshole.”

“Yes.” In the moment of weakness, she couldn’t keep the hurt and vulnerability out of her voice. “You are, Marco.”

“I’m sorry.” Regret flashed in his eyes before his mouth slanted across hers. Shock and pleasure combined to send tingles of pleasure through her body.

She gasped and pulled away slightly. “What are you doing?”

“Stepping up to the plate.”

His mouth came down again, harder this time. His tongue slid deep to find hers. The tingles turned into waves of heat and desire.

His thumb swept under her tank top, stroking the bare skin above the waist of the skirt. Each stroke of his thumb sent arrows of heat between her legs.

Part of her wanted to shove him aside, not let him off the hook right away just as Val had suggested. But the other part, the turned-on side, was begging her to say to hell with it and go full throttle.

Screw it. The sexual side of her had been in lockdown mode for way too long.

She grabbed the front of his shirt as he curled both his hands around her hips, pressing his pelvis against her.

“Brandy, are you going to stay with me—oh shit.” Val’s laughter faded. “Guess that’s a no.” The door swung shut again.

Neither of them came up for air or bothered to acknowledge Val’s brief presence and disappearance.

Marco pulled her away from the door and they stumbled across the office, tripping over her bags before making finally it to his desk.

She heard the sound of papers and objects being brushed off, before he lifted her onto it.

“What did Sebastian whisper in your ear earlier?” He caught her earlobe between his teeth.

“Oh.” She gasped and squirmed against him. “J-just that you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands off me tonight.”

“He was right.” He yanked her tank top over her head. “Damn. For a choir teacher you have some of the hottest underwear I’ve ever seen.”

“About that…oh God.” Her impulse to confide who she was died a quick death when his hands covered her breasts.

“Pink lace.” He shook his head, pinching her nipples through the bra. “And a white set yesterday.”

He stepped between her legs, spreading her thighs wider. Even through his jeans, she could feel the hard length of his erection pressing against her panties.

“If you don’t want this, tell me to stop,” he said as he unfastened the back clasp of her bra and tugged the lace from her breasts.

“Do I look that stupid to you?” she asked.

“No.” He traced the circles of her areolas with his fingers. “You look like a woman who’s about to have sex in the back office of a bar.”

“Promises, promises.” She gave a breathy laugh and arched into his touch. “I’m beginning to think you’re all talk.”

“I’ll show you all talk.” He growled and lowered his head to suck one of her nipples into his mouth.

Her teasing mood fled as his touch sent fire racing through her blood and an ache throbbing between her legs. It was all she could do not to grind back against him with utter abandon.

He switched his mouth to the other breast, licking the nipple while his hips pressed against her through the layers of clothes they both still had on.

Off. She wanted all the barriers gone. Blindly, she unsnapped the top button before reaching for the zipper on his jeans.

She had her hand inside his pants a second later, exploring and touching the impressive erection she found.

Marco pulled back with a groan, pushing his jeans and boxers down his body and all the way off. He tugged his shirt over his head and another hot ripple of desire shot through her.

His shoulders were broad and defined, his chest with beautifully defined pecs was sprinkled with dark hair.

“Come here,” she whispered, reaching for him.

He grinned and shook his head. “I showed you mine.”

She didn’t miss the reference to what she’d said to him the first day they’d met, she just was too turned on to dwell on it.

Sliding off the desk, she unzipped her skirt. Good lord that skirt was tight, how had she gotten into it in the first place? At last she wiggled out of it and the fishnet stockings letting them slide down to the floor.

“Wait.”

He grabbed her wrists to stop her before she could slide out of her panties too. She stood awkwardly in just the pink lacy thong.

“Let me just look at you like this for a second,” he said hoarsely. “Jesus, Brandy. You’re amazing.”

A blush heated her cheeks. “I’m not.”

Amazing? No the models for Sugar and Spice were amazing. She was just an average woman who could stand to lose ten pounds.

He shook his head. “You’re absolutely beautiful,” he reiterated and then went to his knees in front her.

His large hands wrapped around her thighs; his warm breath nuzzled her curls through her panties.

“Marco,” she gasped and gripped his shoulders.

He didn’t reply, instead traced his tongue over the swell of her sex. His fingers curled into the lace and he tugged it to the side.

The next instant his mouth was on her naked flesh and her knees buckled.

He backed her up to the desk again, taking a second to pull her panties free from her body and toss them aside. He eased her onto the edge and lowered his head back between her legs.

Each flick of his tongue against her brought the impending climax closer in from the horizon.

He slipped a finger inside her and then sucked her swollen bud into his mouth. As he brushed the sensitive spot inside her, she came with a ragged cry.

Waves of pleasure rocked her body, her hips pressed against his mouth as he continued to pleasure her.

When he stood she couldn’t have moved from the desk if she’d wanted to.

“One second, sweetheart.” He brushed a featherlight kiss over her lips before crossing to the other side of the desk and pulled out a condom.

Did he do this often
? The question flitted through her mind, leaving a trace of unease, before he came back and parted her legs again.

The head of his erection settling against her opening wiped away all doubts she had that this might not be the best idea.

She sighed and pressed herself against him, until the tip of him slid just past the lips of her sex.