Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Pineiro, Charity

  “Your advantage, in my opinion, is your distribution. You’ve got both domestic and overseas markets. You have a solid manufacturing center at your disposal and can easily absorb the costs to offer higher value merchandise.”

  “What exactly are you proposing here, Sweet Thing?”

  “Sensual Supports is expanding its revolutionary bra design, Ruf. We’ll be taking the specially engineered support and applying it to a wide variety of lingerie. Women’s, of course, and I’ve been thinking about doing some testing the men’s market as well. After all, what man doesn’t appreciate the right kind of support?”

  Natasha had no clue where all these ideas were coming from. She’d swear, Tantra had sent her brain into overdrive. After the water play and massage with Drew, she’d expected to be so focused on sex, on getting it on with him that she couldn’t think of anything else. But instead, it was like she had an extra current of high voltage energy running through her brain. And it was all focused on business. At least, it was until she could get naked with Drew. After all, a girl had her priorities.

  The limo slowed, then stopped, indicating they’d reached the hotel. Natasha wanted to crow in triumph at the timing. What better way to end the conversation, with Ruf mulling over her ideas.

  “How long will a bra like that make it big in the marketplace?” Audra added snidely, obviously determined to have the last word. “You’re asking Perfect Passion Lingerie to compete with the big boys, like Victoria’s Secret. I doubt Ruf is gonna want to pour that much into making your cute little idea fly.”

  “Hmm, I don’t know. There are possibilities there,” Ruf admitted. He didn’t say anything more before he got out of the car and reached in to help Audra exit. From the nasty look the younger woman shot her, Natasha thought it might be wise to let her clear the car before trying to exit herself. Audra looked inclined to violence.

  “Nice job,” Drew murmured, sliding out the opposite door and helping Natasha out too. “You’ve nailed it. Look at his face. He’s gonna make an offer.”

  Natasha let Drew lead her around the sleek black limo to join the other couple. Ruf did, indeed, look like he was contemplating some kind of offer. Audra looked like she was contemplating murder.

  “Tell ya what, Sweet Thing. I’m not one for impulsive decisions when it comes to business, but you made some good points here tonight. So here’s what I’m gonna do.” He slipped the limo driver a small wad of bills then waved them all toward the entrance of the hotel. “I’m thinking I’d be a crazy man not to nail down that design of yours. Now, I’m not talking about the party account you and Lil Darlin’ here are both running neck and neck for. I’m talking a completely different deal, ya hear?”

  Natasha heard. She walked through the sliding glass doors to the hotel lobby and motioned for him to continue.

  “So I’m making you an offer. A damned impressive one too, for that design of yours.”

  “I beg your pardon?” That wasn’t what she’d expected to hear at all.

  “Sweet Thing, I want the rights to that design. I’ll buy the rights from you, from your aunt. Whoever it belongs to. I’ll take over the design myself. If it were mine, I’d be more inclined to absorb some of those costs we were talking about.”

  Nerves shot through her like the lights reflecting off the overhead chandelier. God, what was she doing? This wasn’t her business, it was Aunt Sharon’s. And Aunt Sharon wanted low-maintenance. She wanted a smooth, easy part-time retirement. What Natasha was contemplating hardly qualified. But she couldn’t stop herself. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and she’d work nights and weekends if she had to. She was going to make this happen.

  “Now there’s an idea, Ruf,” she said evenly. Who knew years of repression would come in handy, but that’s how she kept her face calm and friendly. “But what I’ve got in mind is taking Sensual Supports to an all new level. I can easily engineer an entire line of women’s, men’s and couples lingerie around just this one design element. And, you’re welcome to a shot at the business. But only a small shot, and the offer ends when the convention does. Then I open the doors to the big dogs. That will give you a six month head start on the industry before people start trying to copy the concept.”

  Natasha wasn’t sure who looked more put out. Rufus, who obviously hadn’t thought she’d refuse. Or Audra, who hadn’t thought she was any real competition.

  Drew, though, looked completely turned on. She gave him a long, slow smile, gratified at the way his eyes glazed over. Sexual energy, having carried her through this entire impromptu brainstorm and business proposal, now refocused. And its target was Drew. Natasha squirmed a little, her body ultra-aware of the sexy man next to her. It was time to go play. Two elevators arrived at once, and Audra stomped toward one without a glance backward.

  Drew held the other open and waited patiently. But the growing bulge in his trousers made it clear that his patience would only last so long.

  “Ruf, thank you for this evening. Both for taking us to the spa and for listening to my ideas. Why don’t we talk more about it tomorrow, hmm?”

  With that and a smile, she followed Drew into the elevator. Then waited for the doors to close before looking her lover full in the face for the first time since they’d left the spa.

  She raised one brow in question.

  He grinned.

  “It’s kind of weird what happens when you have to channel all that sexual energy somewhere, huh?” she teased.

  “Damn, you turn me on like crazy, Tasha.” But he was careful to keep a distance between them. Natasha knew it wasn’t out of lack of interest though. She realized that the minute they touched each other, they wouldn’t be able to stop.

  “I hope you don’t mind my little foray into business there,” she said softly, her eyes tracing a sensual design over his torso. She couldn’t wait to run her hands over the breadth of his shoulders. To trail her fingers down the muscles of his chest. She swallowed heavily.

  “I’m glad to see you grabbing that dream,” he commented, his gaze fixed on her breasts. Natasha felt her nipples pebble in response, and knew he wouldn’t even have to touch them to send her into ecstasy.

  “I don’t think your sister feels the same.”

  “It’s better this way. She’s smart. She’ll think it over tonight and see that this account is a dead end. Tomorrow I’ll introduce her to a few contacts I’ve made and she’ll get other things moving. Everyone wins.”

  He talked like a man in a dream state, barely aware of his words. All his attention was directed toward something else. And that something was Natasha. She reveled in the glory of it.

  The elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Together, they moved at a modified sprint down the hall.

  Riding on a wave of energy like none she’d ever felt before, Natasha slid her keycard into her hotel room door.

  No sooner had the door clicked shut behind Drew than he grabbed her and hauled her to the bed. With a laugh of delight, she bounced on the mattress once before grabbing the edge of his shirt and pulling him down with her. Breathless laughter accompanied the sound of rustling fabric as they stripped each other as fast as they could.

  Naked, Natasha straddled Drew’s hard body and rubbed her aching flesh over his impressively hard erection. She caught her breath, loving the feel of the sleek silky skin of his penis beneath her swollen nether lips. Tingling shivers of desire exploded, and she knew she couldn’t hold out any longer.

  Natasha spared a glance at the luminous numbers on the bedside clock and gave Drew a wicked smile.

  “Three hours are up,” she informed him. “Time for release.”

  “Thank God,” Drew breathed, shifting his hold on her hips to lift her higher so he could sip at her nipple. With an easy thrust, he entered her and slid his hands down to mesh his fingers with hers. “I’m ready to beg for release,” he admitted with a groan as she began a slow, rhythmic gyration.

  Maybe it was the extended foreplay, maybe it was j
ust Drew, but either way, it was definitely the most incredible climax of her life. The emotional intensity ripped through her in a whirlwind, too deep and strong to be called an orgasm.

  Drew groaned his own release and Natasha collapsed against his chest. Even while she floated on the delicious cloud of physical satisfaction, she knew, deep in her heart, that she’d made the mistake of falling for him again.

  But at that very moment, she wouldn’t have changed a thing.

  Chapter Eight

  “Aunt Sharon, I know this will work,” Natasha repeated. She’d snuck away from the convention hall to nap, and had been excited to reach her aunt on the first ring. At least, until she’d hit the brick wall of apathy on the other end of the phone line. “You’ve said yourself that the bra has a lot of potential. Well I’ve scoped out that potential here this week and know I can create a line of lingerie that goes well beyond a simple bra.”

  There was silence on the other end.

  “What’s up? Natasha asked with a frown. “Do you hate the idea?”

  “Natasha, honey, I’m going to close Sensual Supports.”

  The air in the room suddenly thinned and Natasha was glad she was lying down.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you right. Could you repeat that?” She must need that nap more than she realized. Lack of sleep was obviously messing with her ears.

  “Your mother is right. I can’t keep doing this. The doctors say I need to relax. Trying to run a business does create a certain amount of stress, you must admit.”

  “Aunt Sharon, you don’t have to give up your life’s work. If we launch the new line, you’d have a much better income, much stronger contracts. The increased money would definitely alleviate any stress you might be feeling now.”

  “Honey, I just don’t want to worry about it.” Sharon sighed. “It’s not that I’m giving in to your mother’s nagging. Believe me, after thirty-odd years of listening to my bossy sister-in-law, I’m immune to it. I’m just tired.”

  Natasha blinked hard to keep her tears from falling. She didn’t want her aunt to have to struggle. Fear, ever-present from the moment Sharon had called to tell her the diagnosis, washed over her. There wasn’t anyone in the world she loved like her aunt, and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her. It was just wrong to let Sharon’s dream, Sensual Supports, die without a murmur.

  “What will you do?” she asked as she tried to come to grips with the fact that her trip, her pitching, her wild Tantra energy, was all for nothing.

  “I’m going to sell the business. That’d be the best thing. If I sell the building, it should bring me enough to retire on, if I’m frugal. If you can find a way to convince Perfect Passion Lingerie to buy my designs outright, that might help give me some added security.”

  Silent tears trailed down the sides of Natasha’s temples to slide through her hair and onto the pillow beneath. She’d pitched her dream to Perfect Passion the night before, and now she had to go back and tell him that it was a mistake. Tell Ruf she’d take his little, end-of-the-road offer to buy the design outright.

  But she’d pitched her dream, not Aunt Sharon’s. Sure, it was her aunt’s business. But Natasha had latched onto it years before as an escape—a place where the real Natasha could come out to play. She’d used the boutique as an outlet where she could live out her dream of being a fashion designer. But Natasha realized that she was doing the same thing to her aunt—trying to force her to live the life Natasha wanted—as her parents were doing to her.

  How long would she hide? Drew was right. It was time she stepped up and lived her life, lived her dreams. All of them. That included accepting her feelings for Drew. Her love for him. She swallowed deeply and raised her eyes to the ceiling. Natasha had a choice. Be wild. Or spend the rest of her life hiding.

  “Aunt Sharon, will you sell it to me?”

  “What? I thought you didn’t want a partnership.”

  “I don’t.” Natasha wet her lips, waiting for the panic to come. But it didn’t. This felt right. “I want you to sell me, outright, Sensual Supports. Please.”

  * * *

  Refreshed from a cooling gel mask on her eyes and twenty minutes of rest, Natasha made her way through the convention center with a jaunty swing in her step. She felt like a new woman. Complete with a fabulous new business and an even more fabulous lover. Both of which she planned to enjoy to the fullest. There’d be no more hiding for Natasha Stover.

  Just as she rounded a corner, a loud air horn sounded, confetti flew through the air and bodies converged. Clueless, Natasha tried to dig in her heels to keep from being carried like a barrel over a waterfall, but the rush was too much.

  “Dammit,” a woman swore, sounding more exasperated than angry. Natasha turned to see an older lady, mid-fifties and well groomed, caught in the stream of bodies too and rolled her eyes in sympathy.

  “Crazy, isn’t it?” the woman said with a half laugh. “They do this at one o’clock each afternoon. I know it’s bound to be mess, and yet here I am, stuck in it again.”

  “Were you trying to reach the booth?” Natasha asked, indicating the body oils and massage booth stirring up the celebration. “I heard this brouhaha is to give away massages.”

  “Hardly, although I could damn well use a massage after getting caught in this crush. All I’m trying to do is check out a few booths, scope out some of the vendors and I keep forgetting to avoid this aisle after lunch.”

  Natasha pressed her lips together to keep from giggling at the woman’s disgruntled expression. Spying an opening in the crowd, she grabbed the woman’s arm and with a nod of her chin, scooted them both out of the melee.

  “Sweet freedom,” Natasha said with a laugh as they watched some twenty or so people converge on the booth.

  “Thanks.” The older lady brushed herself off, gave a little shake as if to rid herself of the crowd cooties, then pinned Natasha with an intense look before smiling and holding out her hand. “Claire Crews, nice to meet you.”

  “Natasha Stover.” Mid-shake she realized whose hand she was holding. “Claire Crews of C.C. and Company?”

  “One and the same. Why haven’t we met already? Stover? What company are you with?”

  “I’m the owner of Sensual Supports,” Natasha answered, glee filling her as she said the words aloud.

  “Sensual Supports, hmmm? And you haven’t come to meet me yet? What’s the deal? You’re not interested in seeing your designs paraded around the world?”

  Natasha was glad she’d let go of Claire’s hand, since her palm had suddenly become incredibly sweaty. She was standing before the Grande Dame of lingerie and Natasha had yanked her around by the shoulder. If she’d been eyeing Rufus Randal and Perfect Passion Lingerie as her brass ring, this woman represented the twenty-four carat, diamond encrusted one. Her alliance of accounts, as it was said she referred to them, consisted of European designers, some of America’s top lingerie companies and the hottest up and coming Australian manufacturers.

  More to the point, she had a reputation for taking the occasional small company or designer under her wing and turning them into a global success. Which, as wonderful as it might be to dream of, was so far beyond what Natasha could ever imagine that she felt the sudden attack of intimidation wash away.

  Until she realized the woman not only knew her company name, but that Natasha hadn’t pursued an appointment with her. Oh. My. God.

  “Ms. Crews, I’ve admired your company’s success for quite a while now. I think a lot of your designers and products. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “You didn’t answer my question. I’ve looked over your brochure, checked out your company. You have some good ideas. Your fabrics are a little blasé, your colors could use a boost, but your designs are top notch. So while every Ann, Jane and Mary here has been dogging my steps, trying to gain a second of my attention, why would an innovative businesswoman like yourself not have at least dropped me your card and info?”

  Natasha
thanked God for her mother’s lectures on decorum, since that was the only thing keeping her expression calm when her insides were shaking like a rickety bridge over a wildly rushing river.

  “To be honest, I’d have thought you’d be so inundated with cards and info that you wouldn’t even notice mine wasn’t among them.” Which sounded a hell of a lot better than you’re way out of my league, lady, so why would I put myself through the torture of pitching when I know it’s not possible? “But, now that we have met, I’d love to discuss my latest lingerie line with you. It’s an innovative twist that I think will take the market by storm.”

  “I notice everything, which is why C.C. and Co is where it is. Innovative, hmm. We’ll see. Spiff up those fabrics, add some oomph to your palette, and send me a proposal.” Claire shot a look at the massage booth and shuddered. “I’m sure you can find my contact info, right?”

  Stunned, Natasha could only nod.

  “Then I’ll be on my way before that crowd gets loose again. Pleasure, Natasha.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Crews. It was lovely to meet you.” Mentally numb, Natasha watched one of the biggest names in lingerie clomp down the aisle.

  It took her another ten minutes to get to her own booth, since she kept getting lost in thought--and in the aisles. She did, however, find a booth that specialized in permanent lingerie, of the tattoo variety, and another that was hocking tee shirts and skirts silk-screened to appear like well-toned bodies showing through sheer fabric. She was so preoccupied thinking about Claire Crews, she couldn’t even wince at the tackiness.

  Finally in the right aisle, she arrived at her own booth. Figuring it was pointless to worry about her soon-to-be-accepted-invitation-to-shoot-for-the-stars, she made a promise to give herself all the time she needed to freak out…later. Right now she had to relieve Lanie.

  Except Lanie wasn’t there.

  Natasha frowned at the man sitting casually on her display table, apparently not caring that his gorgeous butt was squashing her satin chemises.