by Lynn, Janice
“You’re staying in?” Avery asked, surprised. Randi usually took advantage of the nightlife smorgasbord while they were in the city.
“I am now.” She gave her full attention to the laptop screen. “BigBen is going to eat my dust.”
Randi had a competitive streak a mile long. Cassidy said she’d bemoaned the loss to the gamer most of the day while they’d shopped. Randi did not like to lose. Ever.
“Thanks again for the new bloomers.”
“You wearing them?” Randi didn’t look up.
Avery glanced over her shoulder as if trying to see her bottom. “Can’t you tell?”
“The whole idea is for you not to be able to tell,” Cassidy teased, then hugged Avery. “You look more beautiful than I’ve ever seen you. Please be careful. This Jude guy scares me.”
“Why?”
“Any man who disses Randi and gets you off in a public restaurant deserves a healthy dose of fear.” Cassidy glanced at the wall clock. “Oh, gotta go. I’m supposed to be there before seven.”
“See you in an hour or so.” Avery waved goodbye, watched her friend leave, and tried to decide what to do for the next hour. Getting ready hadn’t taken nearly as long as she’d expected.
Randi was caught up in her game and had a gleam in her eyes that said she wouldn’t appreciate being distracted by conversation. Courtney was in Boston, hopefully not with the P.I.
Avery went into her bedroom and got on her own laptop. She did a quick check of the agency’s website. These days they were getting more requests than they could handle. Randi mentioned taking on a new agent or two. Avery vetoed the idea. Bringing new girls into the agency was asking for trouble. The four of them got along so well. Adding another personality to the mix could be their downfall. TGEA was her family. She’d protect it with her life. Which meant no new agents for the time being.
Next, she pulled up all the information on Jude. From Mandy Sims initial request to the information they’d gathered, including the pictures. When the case was closed, all information would be deleted.
She scrolled through the photos.
The man was a total player.
Twins. Ugh. She rolled her eyes. Lots of men had twin fantasies, but leave it to Jude to actually act upon that fantasy. But then, what should she expect? He headed up a porn magazine. Of course, he acted upon his fantasies.
And did amazing things to her body even while fully dressed.
She wanted him. So badly she ached.
Tonight she’d pull another rung out from beneath him.
Was it wrong to want to have sex with someone you planned to destroy?
It’s what he did to women. He slept with them and tore their world apart. Justice. Pure and simple. He couldn’t hold that against her.
A nagging feeling tore at her gut.
Not guilt. Guilt was not allowed. Not ever.
She was an avenger of women. An avenger who provided well-deserved justice to the world’s bad guys.
Jude was the epitome of the bad guy.
He’d pay the price.
No guilt. No remorse. Just get the job done and get out.
Her cell rang.
“Hey, Av. He’s already here.”
“What?” He’d gone to the party without her? Did he plan to stand her up? He was a mark. She should be pissed, not hurt.
She was pissed.
And hurt.
“He’s here and schmoozing with Mrs. Yamaguchi. She looks like his new best friend. Want me to go ahead and take care of him? You really wouldn’t even have to show.”
She glanced at the time on her laptop’s screen. A little after seven. Would he stand her up?
She should have Cassidy do him in, but she had to know if he would show.
“No, let’s see what he does.”
A few moments of silence.
“Isn’t that allowing him to get back in her good graces?” Cassidy asked. “I thought tonight was about severing that relationship until it was unrepairable.”
“Let me worry about that.”
“Okay, just thought you’d want to know. Want me to call if he leaves?”
Avery sighed. She did. “Yes.”
Her eyes caught her reflection in the mirror of her dresser. Jude was a player. She shouldn’t have forgotten that. Ultimately, he’d always do what was best for him, not caring who he hurt along the way.
She stared at her image, fought back the fluttery feeling in her chest.
All ready with perhaps no place to go.
* * *
Jude checked his watch. Seven-fifty-nine. On the dot on time. He grinned, impressed with his ingenuity. He’d been to the party, wooed Mrs. Yamaguchi, and still made it to pick up Angela on time. Tonight was going to be a great night.
He waved at the doorman.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the doorman asked in a Jamaican accent, with his hand held up.
“Inside.”
“No.” The burly black man who could double for a professional linebacker shook his head. “Give me a room number, and I’ll buzz whoever down, man.”
Room number? Angela hadn’t given him a room number. She said she’d be waiting. He glanced through the double glass doors and his breath caught. The loveliest sight he’d ever laid eyes on drifted toward him in green silk that shamed the lushest forest.
Jude placed his hand over his heart and shook his head. “Never mind.”
She met his eyes long before she exited the building. Intense green fire burned into him. Her hair hung long and vivacious down her back, brushing over bare shoulders. He’d never seen her with her hair down. Even last night, she’d had it clipped up.
Amazing. Her hair. Her eyes. Her smile. Everything about her.
“You are breathtaking,” he told her the second she stepped through the doors. He raked his gaze over her from head-to-toe, taking in the exquisite lines of her dress. The silky green material gathered at her breasts, emphasizing their ripeness, then nipped in to define a tiny waist that he knew from experience fit between a man’s hands just so. From the waist the material flared to hug her round hips and wickedly long legs. The dress flowed smooth with each move she made, as if the material was one with her body. “Beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Her full lips, painted a pale all-too-kissable pink, curved upward.
He reached for her hand to assist her down the steps.
She turned and waved at the doorman. “Night, Harry.”
“Night, Miss.”
She accepted Jude’s hand.
Electricity zapped him, burning his insides, reminding him that twenty-four hours ago she grinded against his thigh with the sweetest ass he’d ever had the pleasure of holding in his hands.
“You make me want to forget about going to the party altogether,” he admitted, knowing she’d think him a jerk if she could read his thoughts. Damn, he was a jerk, because he wanted to hike her skirt about her waist and play in her panties just like she’d accused him of earlier.
She turned, smiled at him.
“Really?” she asked, her eyes beguiling, tempting with sinful playfulness.
Hell fire. She’d never looked at him with the blatant teasing sexuality in her expression. Not ever.
“Oh yeah.” He opened the limo door and assisted her inside. Seconds later he slid in beside her.
“Fine.”
“What did you say?”
She shrugged her bare shoulders. “Let’s not go to the party. We’ll just ride around in this delectable car,” she glanced around the luxurious limo like she’d never been in one before, “and enjoy the night.”
If she only knew how tempting that was. He’d already put in that quick appearance at the party. Unfortunately, a quick one wasn’t nearly long enough considering what was at stake. He’d promised Mrs. Yamaguchi a dance once the band started up full swing. The perfume cloud was sure to notice if he failed to follow through and there would be hell to pay.
“You have no idea h
ow much I’d like to take you up on that offer.”
Her lower lip pouted ever so slightly. “But you’re not going to?”
It wasn’t really a question since her eyes said she already knew his answer and was disappointed. Business first, then pleasure.
He laced his hand with hers. “The night is young, Angel. We’ll go to the party, mingle, dance, and still have plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company.”
If only Marcus would get his act together and get busy.
Surely by now he’d set some kind of record on post-divorce celibacy. Wasn’t he supposed to have gone out and had a rebound fling or something?
Angela leaned forward, nuzzled against his neck, breathed in deeply. “I can’t stay out too late since I have to work tomorrow. My boss is a total nag.”
“Is he now?” His lips twitched and he hardened at her nearness, at her heady inhalation of his scent. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him?
“Oh yes.” She nodded and brushed her lips against his throat.
He twisted, leaned close. Inches separated their mouths. “Tell me, Angel, do you like how your boss nags?”
“Not particularly.” She smiled a sexy little smile. One that said she liked his nagging very much, but would rather die than admit to it. “But I bet if he put a little more effort into it, I’d come around.”
He liked the sass about her.
“I’d kiss you, but if I do, I have this feeling I’d say to hell with the party, Mrs. Yamaguchi, and the rest of the world, too.”
“Assuming I’d let you, of course.” She ran her tongue over the corner of her mouth all innocent like.
There wasn’t a damn thing innocent about the action.
“Of course.” He swallowed.
She was daring him to do it. To take her mouth. To forget everything else and take her.
Hell, he was only a man and always had been up for a good challenge.
He already knew how hot she was. How responsive.
He closed the distance and kissed where her tongue had just been. Licked the spot.
She arched into him, her breasts grazing the front of his tux. Reminding him that her lushness was there for his taking. Tonight, she wasn’t crossing her arms.
“You know the driver can see us through the window, right?” he asked against her lips before kissing his way down her throat. She smelled good. Cinnamon toast. She made him hungry, but not for breakfast.
He wanted to devour her.
“Ask me if I care,” she said, sliding her hands inside his jacket to run over his chest.
“Angel, you make me so hot.” He molded her breasts, but refused to uncover them. The driver might run them off the road if he got a load of Angel’s perfection.
“How hot?” she asked, nipping his earlobe. “Sweaty hot or explosive?”
“Both,” he admitted. “So hot I could burn alive from spontaneous combustion just thinking about being inside you.”
She pulled back and stared into his eyes. Something glittered in her gaze, something he didn’t quite understand. Not teasing. Not lust. Almost remorse or protectiveness. Whatever, he couldn’t be sure.
“Forget the party, Jude.”
He’d never heard her plead before. He got the impression she didn’t often do so.
“Please, just take me to your place, and let’s not do the party.”
Her voice sounded so needy, so urgent he could almost justify screwing up his career to have her.
But even if he brought her to his place, there was still his vow. What did one have to do to get out of a vow, anyway?
Make atonement to the Vow God?
He had to get Marcus laid, that’s what, because there wasn’t any way around his promise, and Jude didn’t break vows.
He took a steadying breath and pulled back. “I can’t. I have a job to do, and Simon expects me there. I can’t shirk my responsibilities to the company.”
She glanced away, then nodded. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Something about the tilt of her head said he’d messed up.
He cupped her chin and turned her to him. “Angel, I’m damn flattered that you did.”
“But not enough to skip the party.”
Jude prided himself on his intelligence, but he didn’t get the sadness to her voice.
“It’s just a party, babe. Just a few hours of one night.” He kissed her, soft and tender and in a way that he hoped told her how much she was coming to mean to him. “I think we’ve got lots of hours, lots of nights ahead of us.”
Threading her hands into his hair, she kissed him back with a desperation he didn’t begin to understand. If he didn’t know better, he’d think it was a goodbye kiss. He knew better, and he wasn’t letting this woman go. Not until they’d played out the attraction between them. Which might take a hell of a long time.
The car stopped outside the hotel.
Jude pulled back, caught his breath, then brushed his fingers across his mouth. “Is my lipstick smudged?” he asked, hoping to lighten the mood.
She smiled and rubbed her fingers over a spot where her lipstick mussed his mouth. “There. You look perfect.”
“Then we’re a matching set, because so do you.”
She didn’t meet his eyes, and he knew something had changed from the time she asked him to forego the party.
Chapter Eight
Since arriving at the party, Avery barely had the opportunity to say two words to Jude. Everyone wanted his attention. Especially everyone female. Women of all ages fawned over him. Jude took the attention in good stride, laughing at their comments, flirting lightheartedly and smiling continuously. He introduced her left and right, but none of the guests paid much notice. They all focused on Jude. No wonder.
Just being with him made a woman feel good about herself. The way he looked directly into your eyes when he spoke to you, the way he responded and made you feel as if you were the center of his world.
It was easy to forget that she was here on assignment and not really as Jude’s date.
She didn’t want to do what she’d come to do.
Which had never happened before.
In the limo, she’d actually tried to talk him out of coming to stop her from doing what needed to be done. It surprised her when she’d initially agreed to his suggestion about not going. Then the idea took root and the need to protect him kicked in. Think twins. Think Mandy. Think Sara. Think all the other women he’d used and carelessly tossed aside. Jude did not deserve protection.
“Are you not enjoying yourself?” he asked from close to her ear. He did that often, leaned in to speak close to her ear, as if his words were for her alone. As if he wanted an excuse to be close. As if he couldn’t quite believe she wasn’t shooting him down each time he did.
“Not as much as I would be if you’d taken me up on my offer,” she admitted.
“The night’s still young.” His eyes were full of promise. Promise she knew he wouldn’t have the opportunity to fulfill.
“Jude, darling, I didn’t know you were going to be here. But then, I should have. You’re at all the best parties.” A movie star glam blonde kissed him square on the mouth. She turned to Avery and stared down her nose with distaste. “Who’s this week’s flavor?”
“Mandy.” The name rolled off Jude’s tongue with apparent frustration. He hadn’t returned the kiss, but he hadn’t pushed the woman away either.
This was the pitiful woman who’d emailed TGEA? The one whose heart was broken and life had been shattered? Cassidy had checked her out, but still…
“Angela Greene,” she said, sticking out her hand to the beautiful blonde who had an amazing hourglass figure. Avery could almost be envious.
The woman’s gaze dropped to Avery’s hand, gave a yeah-right look, and eyed her closer. “He lined you up to take your clothes off yet?”
“Angela is filling in for Mrs. Sedwick this week,” Jude volunteered.
The woman’s gaze na
rrowed. “An assistant who can afford a Claire Davis original and those earrings?” She snorted at Jude. “I don’t think so. Unless…What did she have to do for you to fork over the cash?”
Jude’s gaze dropped to Avery’s gown. He frowned, and she watched as realization set in. She’d made another mistake.
During her vanity of wanting to look good for him, she hadn’t considered that a mere temporary assistant would never be able to afford such a gown. Stupid. A mistake a novice would make. Not a professional TGEA agent. Especially her. She was the one who kept the others straight. What was wrong with her?
Not that she didn’t know. Jude. He was messing with her mind.
“Who’s Claire Davis?” he asked.
“Only the hottest designer of the decade. A temporary assistant couldn’t afford a Claire Davis original if she spent her entire year’s salary. All Claire’s dresses are one of a kind, but carry her trademark bust.” The woman smiled slyly. “I have two, by the way.”
“Busts?” Avery couldn’t resist asking. She didn’t like this woman. A woman she was technically working for. Was jealousy making her view the woman through green-tinted glasses?
“Claire Davis gowns.”
“Lucky you. For the record, all I had to do was put a call in to a friend who models. She let me borrow this for tonight.”
“It just happened to fit like a glove?” Skepticism dripped off the woman.
Avery glanced down at the dress and smiled dreamily. “I know. Like it was made for me. Isn’t it just the most perfect dress?”
“Perfect,” the woman bit out, then turned her attention to Jude and her back to Avery. “Dance with me, love.”
“Maybe later.” He didn’t sound as if he wanted later to come.
The woman cut a nasty glance toward Avery, then pouted at Jude. “I’ve just gotten back from Bermuda. I thought you might have missed me.”
He arched a dark blond brow. “You were gone?”
