Secured Undercover
Book 1: Secured Heart series
By
Charity Parkerson
Copyright Charity Parkerson © 2013
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--Warning: This book contains graphic depictions of sexual activity including oral sex and masturbation. It is intended for mature audiences not offended by explicit representations of sexual activity between consenting adults.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
Editor: Dionne Lister
Photographer: Pawel Sierakowski
CHAPTER ONE
It all began with her name. When dubbed with a name like Flower, you were doomed if you lived in a small town like Flatline, Texas. If you add in having to wear glasses as thick as coke bottles, you were dead meat.
Her parents had been tree-hugging hippies; at least this was how her aunt always described them. Flower would never know them since they died working for the Peace Corps shortly after her birth, leaving her in the care of her great aunt Millie. Millie was a sweet, conservative woman who did the best she could for Flower, but there wasn’t anything that could be done for her name. You could shorten it to Flo, but then she sounded like she should be waitressing at a truck stop somewhere.
Her only friend growing up was Bradley Henderson. He was overweight and forced to wear some unfortunate headgear, but one day they discovered they owned the exact same Malibu Barbie, the one with the brown hair, not the bleach-blonde hooch. They were inseparable from that moment, and together were teased without mercy. He was Blowfish-Bradley while she was Flower-Four-Eyes. She thought to go by her middle name once, but it was Luntz, and after learning the things that rhymed with that she quickly reverted back to Flower.
Flower swore she would change her name to something normal, like Mary, as soon as she turned eighteen, but on her sixteenth birthday, Millie took her to get contacts. That same day she met Chad.
At seventeen, Chad Williams was already six foot four. His sweeping, dark hair and laughing blue eyes stole her young heart away. He told her that her name was beautiful just like her. Of course, he also told her she was the only girl for him, divested her of her virginity, and then left her stranded at prom, but the new love of her name stuck, even if he did not.
Her heart was crushed at the loss of Chad, and she was sure she would never recover.
She momentarily considered marrying Bradley just so she wouldn’t have to spend the rest of her life alone, since, as a teenager, she truly believed that without Chad, the world would come to an end. Luckily, she didn’t go through with it, especially since Bradley now lived as Brandy. He danced four nights a week down at the Queen of Diamonds in Abernathy, and he was everyone’s favorite gal. The Barbie should have been a tip off.
Flower flipped her long, jet-black hair over one shoulder, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. She readjusted the pins sticking out of her mouth pulling out just one. With the hem of the shimmering gold dress pinned to her liking, she stood, trying to work some of the kinks out of her back.
“How does it look from the back?” Bradley asked twisting at the waist in attempt to see behind him.
“Quit twisting it or I’ll never get it right,” Flower chastised.
Bradley dropped the material as if his fingers were burned. “Sorry, sugar, I’m so excited about this new creation of yours that I’m getting impatient for it to be finished.”
The Queen of Diamonds held an annual charity event called, of all things, The Queen of Diamonds annual charity event. It was a huge gala, but the biggest draw of the evening was the fashion show at the end of the night. As strange as it may seem, designers fought tooth and nail to have their creations displayed across the stage. Apparently drag queens dropped some serious cash on their costumes, and this year the leading designer was none other than her; Flower Luntz Calloway.
She loved to make a person beautiful, which was her dream. It may not seem like much to some people, but when people felt beautiful, it showed in everything they did. It made things better, even when you were at your worst.
She was a huge success in Flatline, Texas, and even fairly well known over in Abernathy, but this event would make her famous. Not the kind of famous where you were stopped on the street for your autograph. It was more of a prestige. But none of it would ever happen if Bradley couldn’t be still she thought as she caught him once again bunching the waist between his fingers in an attempt to see his own ankles. She let out a frustrated growl before a bell sounded from the front room alerting her to a delivery.
“Saved by the bell,” she muttered, thinking she might be forced to stab him with a pair of shears if she watched him destroying her work any longer. In the front room, a deliveryman stood holding a huge bouquet of flowers.
The guy looked to be around eighteen years in age. He was snapping at his chewing gum as if he’d rather be anywhere else in the world. He straightened up from his slump when he caught sight of her. “I have some flowers here for … Flower?” he asked skeptically.
She stopped from rolling her eyes, instead, opting to smile brightly. Kill them with kindness; that was her motto.
“That’s me.” He handed the flowers over then stood as if waiting for something.
“Oh I’m sorry,” she told him, setting the bouquet on the counter. “Let me get you a tip.”
He brushed his hand nervously over his hair. “No, that’s not necessary. Maybe I could get your phone number instead?”
She blinked at him in confusion, wondering for a moment if he needed it for some official reason before it dawned on her what he meant.
“Um, how old are you exactly?”
He flashed a dimply grin. “Nineteen, ma’am,” he answered cheerfully.
Her hands clenched. “Okay, Skippy. The fact that you just called me ma’am should have been your first tip off that this wasn’t going to go well for you. For God’s sake. I have a bra in my dresser drawer right now that’s older than you.”
He shifted his feet uncomfortably. “So … that’s a no?”
She picked up the flowers and hugged them to her chest in an attempt to keep from wrapping her hands around his throat. “Yes. It’s a no,” she answered as sweetly as possible.
“Jeez lady, all you had to do was say no. I didn’t need a whole speech about you needing to replace your underwear, and for the record, I really don’t wan
t someone with a nineteen-year-old bra anyway. I got me some standards.”
He stormed out leaving her feeling oddly disappointed, which should’ve been a warning sign that she had been too long without a man. Well, a man who actually wanted to be a man. Maybe she should have scooped up Skippy while he was willing.
“More flowers from Chad,” she called down the hall. As she turned the corner, she caught Bradley with the dress hitched up around his waist so he could rearrange his junk.
“Damn it Bradley!” She screamed slamming the flowers down. His head shot up and a look of guilt passed over his face before he turned mutinous.
“I’m sorry Flower, but you have no idea what sequins will do to your boys.”
“Please, please tell me you’re wearing underwear underneath there,” she begged, even though she already knew it was a lost cause.
“Um well it kind of messes with the line of the dress.”
“Oh my God,” she breathed. “This cannot be happening to me, not now. I have exactly one week to finish every one of these gowns before we head out to Nashville for the gala. What am I supposed to do if you keep refusing to work with me?” A single tear ran down her face. She couldn’t stop it any longer, nor did she want to. While this was a wonderful opportunity, it also forced her into being so stressed she was pretty sure she was going to snap.
Bradley clicked across the room on three-inch heels and drew her into his embrace. “I’m so sorry baby. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.”
Flower started to speak but a knot formed in her throat making it almost impossible. Her voice ended up coming out in a squawk. “I’m going to fail. I’m going to be an utter, complete failure. From this day on people will laugh about me behind their hands, because I don’t have what it takes to do this.”
“What do you need to get this done?” Bradley asked solemnly.
“I need you to hold still; don’t twist the dress; not at the waist and not with your hands. I just need you to stand still long enough for me to get measurements and pin the hems. That’s all. That’s all I’m asking of you.”
Bradley felt like shit. He was so accustomed to playing his part that sometimes he forgot that he didn’t need to play the game here with Flower. She deserved this break for her career, and lately he wasn’t the understanding friend he should have been. “I’m sorry. I have no excuse for my behavior. I know how important this is to you. Let’s try it again. I’ll be a good boy, and we will have your dresses ready even if I have to call in reinforcements. Okay?”
She only seemed to cry harder at his words. He hated to see her cry. It was one of those things that was almost intolerable for him. He dropped his act completely. Becoming only the Bradley she had known all her life. “Seriously Flower,” he pled, using her name intentionally, hoping it would snap her out of her tears and make her realize how serious he was. “I will fix this.”
She stared at him for a moment, as if in shock. He wondered if he was making a mistake by dropping his mask, but then she sniffled and smiled brightly. “You know I like Brandy because she is you, but I love Bradley, and I miss him, if that makes a lick of sense.”
“You miss me?” He asked feeling confused but relieved.
She nodded. “I do. You’re living over in Abernathy now, and the only times I see you are when you come in for a new dress. A part of me thinks that you’re not even coming to see me anymore, just my dresses.”
Bradley’s chest tightened at her words. There were so many things he couldn’t tell her so he did stay almost solely in Abernathy just to keep from saying too much. Some truths went unchanged, and they were not secrets. “I love you too, and I miss you so much. I’m sure that I could find someone closer to my house to buy dresses from, but yours are the best, so for me it’s a twofer. I get to see you and get what I need.”
She didn’t have to know that what he needed was her, because what she needed was not him. She deserved all the happiness in the world, and he was all that was wrong with the world.
Flower was visibly straightening her shoulders. “Okay. I had a moment, but I’m over it now. Let’s get to work on your gown. I want my man to be the hottest chick there.” And that’s why he loved her; he’d loved her all of his life.
CHAPTER TWO
Smith Security Services had been in business for five years now, and, in that time, co-owners Shannon Smith, Bob Sparks, and Weave Sparks all engaged in some crazy assignments in order to make ends meet. Not a single one of them wanted to crawl to their parents for money.
The Queen of Diamonds annual charity event was by far the craziest assignment they took part in. It was being held inside a grand hotel. The numerous security issues they had to consider were mind-numbing. They were only just beginning to set up, and things were already insane. Each one of the queens were hard core divas. They each wanted their own personal guard refusing to accept that they weren’t there to guard them personally. They were there only to secure the expensive jewelry and gowns that were being put on display before being auctioned off at the end of the gala, but that little fact hadn’t stopped a single one of them from receiving some very personal demands that Shannon would be taking to his grave. With all of their equipment in place, and all of the charity pieces locked up tight, the three men were taking a much-needed break.
The gala meant big bucks in tourism, since so many queens from around the country traveled to see the fashion show, fighting like cats and dogs at the end of the night to buy their favorite pieces. For this reason, several cities put in their bids each year in hopes of being the event’s hosting city. This year the winner was Nashville, Tennessee. Upon arrival at Nashville International Airport, Flower took a taxi straight to the hotel and checked into her room before making a quick tour of the ballroom and banquet room. Then she ran back upstairs to change, and headed down to the hotel bar. She was in desperate need of a very strong drink after stressing all day that her dresses would be damaged in flight. Now that she was settled, she needed a moment to relax. She wasn’t fit for company, and her room felt too confining. She headed down to the hotel lounge thinking to lose herself in a crowd. The suite Bradley and her were sharing boasted two bedrooms, a kitchen, and living room, but when he wasn’t there it just felt empty. Unfortunately, she recognized right away that she’d only be enjoying one short drink before heading back to the security of her room.
The hotel bar was a dangerous place; not because Shannon couldn’t handle himself, that was one of the few things he excelled at, but because it was filled to capacity with women—only he was pretty sure there wasn’t actually a solitary woman present. This men were professionals, and it was virtually impossible to tell the women from the men. As he scanned the room, his gaze landed upon the only one wearing jeans and a tight sweater. He knew immediately that this was no man. A party raged around her, but she kept her eyes glued to the sketchpad she was holding, turning it at different angles.
“Who are you watching so intently?”
Shannon glanced over, barely suppressing his annoyance at Bob’s question. “I’m only trying to decide if we need to set some cameras up in here.”
Bob snorted into his drink. “Yeah, right, try another one,” leaning over in his chair, Bob peered in the direction Shannon had been looking in. “Sweet,” he drawled. “You managed to find the one lone woman in the room.”
Shannon scowled but remained silent, while Bob had no such qualms. “She’s the show’s fashion designer.”
“She has a funny name something like Fauna or Flora,” Weave interrupted.
Shannon rolled his eyes at Weave Sparks saying anyone’s name was funny. Bob snapped his fingers. “I know. It’s Flower, Flower Calloway. Rumor has it she’s pretty famous over in Texas, but I think she’s fairly unknown here and hoping to branch out in order to make a name for herself.”
“Hmm,” Shannon said, splitting his attention between the identical twins Bob and Weave and the woman across the room. As he looked on, she dug th
rough her handbag and threw some money on the table. She stuffed the sketchbook inside and he realized she intended to leave alone. Shannon jumped to his feet to follow. He could hear Bob saying something behind him, but he ignored him in favor of following her. Once out in the hallway, he saw she had already made it all the way to the elevators. He picked up his pace. The elevator doors opened, and she started to step inside, leaving him behind. He called out, stopping her. “You shouldn’t be out walking alone at night.”
She turned her head in his direction, and he almost froze at his first clear view of her face. Her skin was pale and smooth. Her hair was dark, framing her face perfectly, and a set of sparkling green eyes stared at him curiously. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
He broke into a sprint the last few steps and caught up to her. “I said, you shouldn’t be out walking around by yourself at night. It’s not safe.”
She glanced around with laughter in her eyes. “We’re inside, and the lights are on.”
He wanted to smile at her obvious mischief, but kept his face smooth. “It’s even worse inside. You could get yanked inside any one of these rooms.”
She stepped onto the elevator then leaned her head out, preventing the doors from closing. She was openly laughing now. “I’m thirty-three. I should be so lucky.” She leaned back inside, and as the doors began to close she added, “I haven’t gotten any action in years.”
Shannon blinked at the closed doors wondering if he heard her right, then a smile spread across his face; Ms. Calloway wasn’t getting away from him so easily.
As soon as the doors closed, Flower fell back against the wall, covering her face with both hands. “Ohmigod,” she breathed in mortification. Did she really just say that? What was she thinking? Her only excuse was that when she turned at the sound of his voice, all good sense fled at the sight of him. He was golden; golden skin and amber eyes. Lord, she almost swallowed her tongue. His body looked as if it was sculpted out of marble. His smile showed a set of perfect white teeth, but that was no real excuse for her moment of insanity. With any luck, she’d never see him again and wouldn’t be forced to feel like an idiot. It was a hope that was dashed as soon as the elevator doors opened.
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