Party Favors

by Jennifer Dunne, Madeleine Oh

  “Yeah! And remember when you tried to kidnap Sally and she ran screaming to Aunt Jenna?”

  “God, yes! I had to apologize for scaring her. She was a whiny brat.” And hadn’t changed much, only now it was her fiancé she griped about. “You never complained.”

  “Just planned on punching you when I’d had enough!”

  “I don’t remember you ever punching me.”

  “Neither do I.”

  He went very thoughtful, looking at her in a way that sent an odd shiver down her back. It wasn’t sexual. Couldn’t be. Heck, she and Andrew had had diapers changed together. Attraction wasn’t anywhere in the deal.“

  They finished the pizza in companionable silence, sharing the last slice. Andrew eyed the empty platter. “That was worth the trip down here, now shopping, right? It’s why we came, wasn’t it?”

  “I’ve got my Visa card ready.”

  He hadn’t been joking about the Rose and Leather Boutique. The black leather bikini and fishnet stockings on the model in the window, set the mood. The whip in her plastic hand left little doubt that this was not your everyday gift shop.

  But despite her misgivings, Katie was fascinated, and couldn’t help noticing Andrew seemed right at home as he went over to the cash register and bought a gift certificate. That would be an easy way out, but she caught sight of a row of costumes. All grown-up sizes, for Halloween, she supposed. She was looking at a pirate outfit complete with black breeches, spotted kerchief and a white shirt with flowing sleeves, when a young woman clerk came over.

  “Looking for a costume?”

  “Just looking, thanks.”

  Andrew came up behind her. “Found something you like?”

  “I don’t dress up for Halloween.” She spent her energies and money handing out candy to the children in the neighborhood.

  “They’re not for Halloween.”

  Katie looked from Andrew to the young woman. “Fancy dress?”

  She shook her head. “Acting out fantasies.” She pulled out a couple of hangers. “The French maid and the nurse are popular.”

  The idea was preposterous, and utterly fascinating. The nurse and maid did nothing for Katie, but the empire line Jane Austen style dress the clerk now held was lovely. Apart from the slits up to the high waist.

  “Like it?” Andrew asked, as the clerk wandered off to talk to another customer.

  “I do rather, but it’s revealing.”

  “That’s the whole point.”

  “You could get arrested walking down the street in that.”

  “Sweet coz, it’s not meant to be worn walking down the street. It’s for acting out your fantasies in the privacy of your boudoir.”

  For when the pirate came and carried you off... It took her back to their old games of make believe as kids. “You’ve got a pirate one?”

  “Not the pirate.” He chuckled. “I go for the black leather look myself.” He looked up at a model suspended against the wall. “Like that.”

  ‘That’, was skin-tight, black leather pants with a vest that showed pretty much all of the model’s wide chest. “I can’t see you wearing that for Sunday lunch with your parents.”

  That sent him off in a great peal of laughter. “I’ll let you into a secret, only Sophie has seen me in it.”

  Perfectly understandable. Or was it? What was she doing here? Fascinated to tell the truth. The price tag on the Jane Austen dress was reasonable enough, but when would she every wear it?

  “You like it don’t you?” Andrew asked.

  “Yes, but I came to get a shower gift, not fancy dress.” But she spared a final glance for the Pirate. It even had a leather eye patch dangling from the hanger. Enough! She turned and all but knocked over a table of whips and riding crops. She stepped back, but not before noticing one made of royal blue suede. Fascinated, she reached for the smooth handle, and ran her fingers through the soft tresses, until she noticed the price tag, and put it down very carefully. Way above her price level.

  “Like it?” Andrew asked. “It’s a nice piece of workmanship: French. They make very nice quality things over there.”

  “They make the best crystallized fruit too.”

  He raised an eyebrow at that. “Marrons Glacés to you too, Katie me girl. Never thought I’d find you with a flogger in your hands.”

  This was getting too much. “Let up, Andrew. I need to find a gift for Sally.”

  “I’ve paid for mine. You’re the one playing with the merchandise.”

  Undeniable, but... “You brought me here.

  “Yes, I did!”

  “Why?”

  “Just curious, Katie, and I do so love yanking your chain.” He rattled a set of manacles and chains hanging from a display case.

  There was no point denying her fascination. Andrew read her too well, but the shop was more crowded than a few minutes earlier. What if one of her clients walked in, or someone she knew? Time to beat a fast retreat. She grabbed the nearest article that wasn’t leather or metal: a pair of red velvet, fur-lined handcuffs, and made for the check out.

  If the pimply youth at the cash register dared any smart ass comments... He barely glanced at them, just scanned the tag and took her plastic. Why not? If customers regularly bought chains, whips, and the odd-looking leather swing hanging in the window, a pair of handcuffs were pretty banal.

  “Do you gift wrap?” She wasn’t sure what made her ask that, but...

  “Sure,” he indicated a roll of paper behind him. It was shiny black with tiny gold and silver handcuffs.

  “Never mind.” She’d drop by the card shop later and pick up something with flowers or wedding bells. Much safer.

  She was ready to beat a fast exit. Where was Andrew? Over by the books and videos, talking to a tall, dark-haired man. A sumptuous-looking dark-haired man. Okay, a kinky dark haired man, given he spent his evenings here, but on the other hand, maybe his cousin had dragged him here too.

  At that moment, Andrew looked her way. “Ready?”

  “Yes!”

  He-and the scrumptious other-walked over.

  “Katie, this is Jud Carlton. Jud, Katie Fairfax.”

  “Hi, Jud” He had a lovely firm handshake, and his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

  “My pleasure.” His voice was warm and confident. Yikes! What a sexy smile, did the man have any idea what he did to any woman over puberty? “You’re with Andrew?”

  “He’s my cousin. We’re shopping.” Sheesh! That sounded twerpy and now Jud was eyeing the black shopping bag in her hand.

  “I dropped in to look around, too. You never know what you’ll find here. Or,” he paused, “who you’ll meet.”

  “We’re done, Jud,” Andrew said. “On our way for coffee. Want to join us?”

  It was the first she’d heard about coffee, but caffeine wouldn’t go amiss. She had a web site to work on when she got home.

  She ended up in a booth next to Jud, while Andrew went off to pick up three lattes, and to make sure hers was hi-test.

  “Planning on staying up all night?” Jud asked.

  “With a bit of luck.” He nodded expectantly and she went on. “I have a web design business on the side.”

  “So you stay up all night working?”

  “Not every night. Just when I have someone paying extra for a rush job. I wasn’t about to say ‘no’.”

  “Do you ever say ‘no’?”

  How was she supposed to take that? His dark eyes didn’t look as if he were hitting on her, but hell if she knew. “When it’s in my self-interest, yes. What about you?”

  “Me? I believe in self-indulgence and discipline.”

  “Aren’t they contradictory?”

  Jud shook his head, and a lock of dark hair fell over his high forehead. “Not in the least. Doesn’t one need both in any venture? How would your business on the side be without discipline on your part?”

  “It wouldn’t be, and yes, my mother considers it self-indulgent.”

>   “Proves my point!” She wasn’t sure it did, but… “So, Katie, what do you do when you’re not building web sites, or shopping for kinky toys?”

  “I wasn’t shopping for...” Hell, she had been. “For a ‘day job’ I work retail. It pays the rent, and gives me health insurance.”

  “Retail? Hmmm... Not at the Rose and Leather?”

  “No way! I’d never even been there before.”

  “Big bad cousin leading you astray?” His eyes twinkled. “Tell me what did you buy?”

  “Handcuffs.”

  “Ever had them used on yourself?”

  “Good grief, no!” That sounded ridiculously prim. “They’re for my cousin, as a gag gift for her shower.”

  “If it’s a ‘gag’ gift why not get her a gag?”

  “They sell gags? What for?” Dumb question.

  “Same reason as handcuffs, chains or ropes: to restrain a lover.” Had to be something about his voice, but her throat went tight and she felt the bag beside her crackle as her fingers gripped the top. ”You think your cousin would like that?”

  Highly unlikely! “It’s just for fun. She'll never really use them.” It was actually hard to even imagine prim Sally making out, but...

  “Why not? People do, you know. It adds to the excitement and pleasure.”

  “Being made helpless?” This was approaching incredible, and fascinating.

  Jud nodded. Three seconds later, Andrew arrived with a tray and three mugs. She almost hugged him. Jud was making her nervous, but on the other hand if they now started talking basketball, or football...

  They talked about cats, or specifically, Andrew’s pregnant one.

  “Katie’s holding the fort for me while I’m away. She can be godmother to the kittens if she likes.”

  She didn’t really like. “I’m going to will that cat to wait until you get back.”

  “Don’t sweat it,” Jud said. “If you need help delivering, just give me a call. My mother bred dogs, cats can’t be that different.”

  “I might just call you to come over so you can worry for me.”

  He’d obviously been waiting for that. He produced a printed business card, and wrote a number on the back. “Here’s my cell phone.”

  “You make house calls?”

  “Any time.”

  This was getting out of hand! Trouble was, she wanted this Jud she barely knew to make a house call... and stay the night. She was nuts! She knew nothing about him, other than he was one of Andrew’s friends-or maybe just an acquaintance. “I’ll remember that, Jud.” She slipped the card in her jacket pocket, finished her latte, and reminded Andrew she had to get home.

  They didn’t talk much on the way back. She sensed he was waiting for her to say something-about Jud perhaps. She didn’t. Not having any idea what to say, and wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about him. He rather unnerved her.

  “See you at the shower,” Andrew said as he dropped her at her front door and drove away.

  Chapter Two

  Aunt Sarah’s house was packed when Katie arrived.

  “Katie! I’m so happy you’re here. Come in and get some wine.” Sally was glowing with joy, as she hustled Katie into the kitchen where, Tim, her intended, was dispensing jug wine, and talking to Mary, her cousin Jason’s very-pregnant wife. Yes, the family was increasing.

  Katie took the offered wine, and Mary grabbed a can of pop before they both elbowed their way towards the living room. As Katie noticed and waved at her also pregnant sister, Susie across the room, Uncle Jimmy, Sally’s father, called from the doorway. “Okay! Everyone in the living room and get a seat. Time to open the goodies! Part the crowd please and let Sally and Tim through!”

  Balancing her wine, Katie moved sideways. Mary followed turning her belly as best she could.

  “Excuse, me,” a voice said behind them. Katie turned and stared. Jud smiled. “I thought it was you, Katie.” He smiled at Mary. “I think in your condition, you deserve a chair. With a courtly bow, he stood and offered her his.

  Mary was no fool, eight months gone and swollen ankles. She sank into the wing chair with a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure,” Jud said, and closed his hand over Katie’s and eased them both away.

  Smooth mover was an understatement. They were squashed in a corner, and as more people moved into the room, she found herself penned in behind the sofa.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here. You know Sally and Tim?”

  “No. Sophie’s out of town, so Andrew brought me instead.”

  She couldn’t help laughing. “Think anyone noticed the difference?”

  He nodded with mock seriousness. “I suspect so, but three bottles of good Merlot helped ease the way.”

  “Is this sort of affair your idea of an evening out?” She was here half on sufferance. She’d have heard about it from her mother until Christmas if she hadn’t put in an appearance.

  “I understood you’d be here.”

  He was direct. “I might not be staying.”

  “You see a way out?”

  Short of climbing over the back of the sofa and stepping on the four people occupying it-no. “This wasn’t accidental, was it?”

  “Not much that I do is accidental.”

  Sheesh, what had she ended up with? Besides a voice like warm Kahlua, and looks to stop traffic or change the weather. “Planned it all out did you?”

  “Yes.” She was tempted to shove him for his arrogance, but elbow space was at a premium right now. “After I got home Thursday, I called Andrew right away, and he said you’d be here. I came. Waiting for you to call was too iffy. I was afraid you’d chicken out.“

  She almost spluttered red wine all over Aunt Mildred’s new hairdo. Jud offered her a handkerchief. It was perfectly ironed, hemstitched linen, darn good thing she didn’t really need it.

  “Thanks.” As she handed it back, their fingers brushed, his dark eyes watching her intently. His gaze bothered her, or more precisely, excited her. She turned away, making a point of looking intently at the stack of wrapped and ribboned gifts. “They should start opening them soon.”

  “Can’t wait to see them open your present,” Jud said, “and to watch your reaction.”

  “My reaction?” It was what the entire family would say when Susie opened it that was bothering Katie. And heaven help her! Her mother was now standing by Susan, and at a nudge from Susan, Mother looked across the room. She waved, her eyes all but popping out on stalks when she noticed Jud. Katie groaned inwardly, she was headed for the maternal inquisition now. “Hi, Mom, Susie!”

  They both waved back, eyeing Jud as if he were the first man they’d seen in twenty years. And he, drat the man, nodded politely and smiled! Susie simpered in reply. Darn it, her sister was married with two and seven-ninths children, she had no right ogling her man. Hey, wait! Jud wasn’t hers. He was just the man imprisoning her in the corner behind a rather nice, chintz-covered sofa.

  “Your mother?” Jud whispered, his breath warm in her ear.

  She nodded. “And my sister.”

  “Am I the only person present who isn’t a blood relative or in-law?”

  “Yes.”

  “That gives me an edge, I hope.”

  “I don’t think it gives you anything!”

  Since Robbie, Sally’s brother called for quiet just then, Jud was saved the trouble of replying. Everyone settled expectantly to watch Sally open her gifts.

  But first they had to divide into three teams and blow up condoms until they burst. Since everyone else was suitably impressed at Jud’s condom bursting ability, she pretty much had to be. Fair enough, he did burst their team to victory.

  “That was interesting,” Jud whispered “Do that often at family gatherings do you? Some sort of fertility rite?”

  She not only stopped herself from laughing, she even managed to look him in the eye and reply, “Yes. It’s a family custom.”

  “Hmmm.” He raised his dark eyebrows and the cor
ner of his mouth twitched. “I can think of much better uses for them.”

  “If they pop that readily I’m not sure I’d ever trust one around you!”

  “I’ll get super strength ones.”

  And Mom was smiling benignly in their direction. If she had half a notion what he’d just said, she’d have a conniption. “Think you’ll need them?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want to get you pregnant, until you’re certain you want to have my baby.”

  She asked for that one! But, she had to admit, she’d never had so much entertainment at a family gathering in her life. And she’d be up there with the angels, if she didn’t get a charge out of all the admiring and curious glances cast their way. She was spared from answering by the start of the grand gift opening.

  “I like the black lace one,” Jud whispered as Sally opened yet another tap pants and camisole set.

  Keeping her eyes fixed on Sally and Tim surrounded by wrapping paper and gifts, Katie shook her head. “I prefer the red satin one.” “It’ll look good on you, but even more, I’ll enjoy taking it off.”

  Sheesh, try to be ornery and the man took it as come on. “Dream on!”

  “Oh, I do, Katie. Don’t you? Imagining you has kept me awake the past couple of nights.”

  “That explains it, you’re sleep-deprived.”

  “It’s not sleeping I plan.”

  Across the room, she caught her mother’s encouraging smile. Mom wouldn’t be quite so complacent if she knew what Jud was saying-or would she? After their last, ‘Katie, do you think your attitude might be putting men off? You should try harder!’ She wondered, Right now, it was Jud who was trying-in every sense of the word!

  “After this, I’m going home to sleep-alone!”

  “Good. That means I don’t have competition!”

  He got a punch in the ribs for that.

  His hand caught hers. Very gently, he opened her hand, and stroked one finger across her palm. Quite against her will, her body broke out in goose bumps. He dropped her hand before she had a chance to pull it away.

  “You’re pushing your luck, Charlie!”

  “It’s Jud, and I’m looking forward to pushing more than that.”