by Gina Gordon
“Carrie? Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” She was going to be just fine. She knew what she had to do. Carrie would make him beg. Show him what he’d been missing. Once she had him, it would be the end. She would never think about him and he would never enter one of her lustful thoughts again. Carrie had revenge to motivate her now.
Chapter 6
Carrie ran from one end of the booth to the other, handing out business cards, answering questions and skimming through her design book. Martina had agreed to help out for the rest of the weekend, but for today she was on her own. Although, after the revelation yesterday morning, Carrie wasn’t sure it was the best idea for them to be confined in a small space together. Despite the possible tension, Martina wasn’t the type to let her down.
Carrie had done a walk-around of the show that morning and noticed she was the only booth doing custom lingerie designs. That had to work to her advantage, but so far she was just getting traffic. Brides would take her card then leave.
Truth be told, Carrie knew lingerie wasn’t the most crucial item on a wedding to-do list but that wasn’t going to stop her from preaching. She knew the importance of lingerie. The role it played in a woman’s confidence and sexuality. Despite what many brides might think, spending money on lingerie was one of the most important investments they should be making for their big day. Even if she didn’t make one sale, the exposure alone was worth the opportunity.
Carrie was showing a blond, blue-eyed bride a couple of samples when a husky, strong male voice bellowed from the side.
“The one on the right.”
Both Carrie and the bride looked over to find Aleks standing at the table in front of her booth. His dress shirt was open at the collar. The light purple color reminded her of Easter. His suit jacket stretched across his broad shoulders, and although she preferred him in jeans, his dress pants didn’t disappoint.
“Make sure to wear the stockings.” Aleks tilted his head as if rethinking his words. “At least that’s my opinion.”
“It’s a very good opinion.” The bride’s voice got high and giddy. Leave it to Aleks to charm the pants off a soon-to-be married woman.
“Then take my advice. Whatever man gave you that ring will be very happy.”
The bride looked down at her hand, and seemed almost disappointed to remember that she wasn’t single. “Can you have something made in two months?”
Carrie was shocked. The bride had teetered back and forth thinking that buying lingerie was an unnecessary expense. Then in less than a minute Aleks had charmed her into a decision.
“I can have it done in less time than that.”
“Great!”
“Do you have time for me to take your measurements?”
The bride nodded.
This was her first booking of the day. Carrie looked from side to side, as crowds of people flooded the aisles. If she was tied up there was no one here to man the booth. And right now, Aleks was the only help in sight. “Al, would you–”
“I’ve got it covered.”
She lit up inside and out.
Aleks shrugged out of his suit jacket and got to work. The mere presence of him at the booth had women buzzing around like bees to honey.
“He is one hot piece of man.” The bride actually blushed when she said the words out loud as Carrie slid the tape measure across her chest. “Is he your boyfriend?” Carrie shook her head.
“Is he someone’s boyfriend?”
Carrie wanted to smack the girl. This woman was at a bridal show because she was getting married and she was interested in Aleks. For the sake of sales, Carrie just shook her head again and continued without a word.
Besides the disgust radiating just under the surface, Carrie really didn’t want to get into discussing Aleks’s off-the-charts hotness with a slutty stranger. Especially with a strange woman he probably would bang if he had met her anywhere else. Regardless of the ring on her finger. That was just the type of guy Aleks was. So why do you love him?
She continued taking measurements, but out of the corner of her eye Carrie watched Aleks interact with the women at the booth. He charmed, he laughed, and before she knew it she had a line of young brides waiting to book an appointment. Aleks even managed to rope in some mothers who were interested in surprising their husbands.
A few hours later, as the crowd died down, and the last bride walked away with her appointment written on one of her business cards, Carrie rested her bottom against the eight-foot table and let out a huge sigh.
As soon as Aleks had shown up the time flew by. In a way, Carrie was happy that she was able to keep herself busy with fittings because she really couldn’t handle watching Aleks flirt his way into getting number after number. She saw them. Girls, brides or not, shamelessly letting him know they were easy.
Aleks stood to her left, quickly going through her design book. She looked him over. The flurry of women hadn’t fazed him at all. He didn’t have one hair out of place, not a shimmer of sweat on his skin. Carrie, on the other hand, felt like she’d just been put through the wringer.
“You’re good for business, Turko.” Because of Aleks, Carrie had thirty appointments booked over the next three months.
“I do what I can.”
“What are you doing here, anyway?” It had been so busy they’d barely spoken two words to each other.
“You know I only work a few blocks away.”
“Shouldn’t you be working?”
“I was bored.”
“So you take off?”
“I am the boss.” Aleks managed a recruiting company that specialized in high-level executive placement. He had moved up the ladder pretty quickly considering he had a degree in schmoozing. “Your booth looks great.”
“Thanks. The exhibitor services people were able to secure the black and white draping to match my color scheme.”
Her booth was decorated with white drape that hung to the floor. Black drape swagged across the top of the white. Carrie didn’t have elaborate signage. Instead, she pinned up her signature bags, alternating between black and white showing off her logo. Her samples sat on the long table with her appointment book and business cards. She had a pedestal and long mirror in the corner.
“Thanks for staying to help. You didn’t have to.”
“I know I didn’t have to. It was a good day. A lot more fun than being at the office.”
“I’m sure you don’t have hundreds of women coming on to you at your office.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but this was definitely more fun than being hit on at the office.”
His lip curled in a smirk. A sexy smirk that made her stomach clench. Maybe she should make her move.
“I’ll help you pack up.”
Of course he would help her pack up, and probably quickly. After spending all day with the type of women he feared the most–those wanting a commitment–Carrie was sure Aleks wanted to run screaming from the building. Weddings and love and the whole forever thing made him queasy.
He helped her pack away her samples into a large Rubbermaid container. “Do you need a ride?”
“No, I have my car. I have to head to the store to close up. Amie worked today while I was here.”
Aleks helped her to her car and once the container was secured in the backseat with the door closed he sidled up to her at the driver’s side.
“Carrie?”
He was so close again. Close enough to kiss. She knew what that kiss would be like if she went for it. She would feel it tingle through her entire body. Instead of a kiss, he hugged her. A strong, full body embrace that had his entire length pressed up against her.
When Aleks pulled away he whispered, “I’ll see you later.”
Before Carrie even had the opportunity to make a move, he walked away and left her second guessing her plan. It was obvious Aleks wasn’t interested. Then she thought about their encounter in the basement. If they hadn’t been interrupted she was sure they would have gone all
the way. Was it a temporary lapse in judgment for him?
She still had time to decide. Carrie had already spent the last eighteen years of her life pining over the man. What was another couple of days?
Chapter 7
Carrie slid the bronze key into the lock and made the two full turns to open the door. She stepped into her store, exhausted but ecstatic that the first day of the bridal show went so well. And she owed it all to Aleks.
“Amie?” She threw her keys and bag on the counter then took off her black blazer and headed toward the change room. “Am–”
Suddenly her friend appeared in the doorway, dressed in nothing but a white thong and white La Perla corset.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out what I’m going to take as payment.” Amie would never take Carrie’s money. Instead, she agreed to take free lingerie.
“That looks good on you.”
“I know.” Amie shrugged.
“Aren’t you afraid someone is going to walk by and see you through the window?”
“Nope. Besides, maybe that’s how I’ll finally meet my Mr. Right.” Amie turned on her heel and went into the stall not bothering to pull down the heavy curtain. “How’d the day go?”
Carrie leaned against the doorway. “Fantastic! I booked thirty appointments. You’ll never guess who showed up.”
Amie looked over as she undid the clasps of the corset. “Who?”
“Aleks.”
“Turko?”
“Yep. He’s actually the reason why I made so many appointments. The women flocked to the booth. You should have seen them. Falling all over him. Making appointments just because he told them to. It was disgusting.”
Amie shook her head. Obviously she wasn’t surprised by Aleks’s behavior. “Everything is waiting for you on the counter so you can close up.”
“Thanks again, Amie.”
“No thanks needed.” She slid on her black wool pants. “Anything to help the Bare Naked Designs cause.”
“You’re one of my favorite customers. Actually, you don’t buy anything, do you? Sort of counterproductive, wouldn’t you say?”
“Word of mouth. I spread the word of your wonderful designs.”
“Of course, totally worth it.”
“So...” Amie stepped out of the dressing room and gave Carrie a sly grin. “So, what?”
“You spent the entire day with him. Any moves?” Amie wiggled her eyebrows.
“No. I thought maybe a kiss would happen at the end of the day, but he ran away.”
“What a chicken.”
“I don’t think it’s a case of him being a chicken, Amie. I think he just isn’t that into me.” “First of all, you can’t possibly believe that. Second, Aleks is a chicken.”
This was the second time Carrie got the impression that Amie knew something she didn’t.
Discouraged, she made her way back to the counter and sorted through the day’s receipts.
“You said yourself that you need to do this. I don’t like seeing you so torn. Your business is taking off, you have every reason to be happy but I see how much the thought of him weighs you down.” Amie jumped onto the counter. “You need to turn this into a positive. Come on, Care,
I need the deets.”
“It seems we already have a friend who can give details about that.”
“Are you going to be mad at Martina forever?”
“No. I just...it just...” It hurt. If she said it out loud it would only confirm how far gone she
really was when it came to Aleks. Instead, she needed to make this casual. Prove to her friends she just needed some good sex and that was it.
“Martina doesn’t love him. She loves your brother.”
“I know that.”
“So get over it. We’ve known all along that Aleks and your brother had certain ‘things’ they
like to do together.”
“Yeah.” For as much as she disliked thinking about her brother and sex, Amie was right.
She always seemed to be right.
“So what are we going to do about this dilemma?”
Carrie shrugged. “Go for it?”
“That wasn’t very convincing.”
“It just seems that every time we have an opportunity to move ahead he shies away, making
it very hard for me to be confident about the situation.”
“Maybe you need to be spontaneous. Forget about his actions and just worry about your own.
Entice him. Make it impossible for him to resist you.”
Amie reached across the counter and grabbed for the buttons on Carrie’s blouse.
“What are you doing?”
“Making you irresistible.” She undid the top two buttons then jumped down from the counter.
Amie rolled back on her heels to analyze. “Not enough.” With one more quick flick, the third button popped open, revealing the front clasp of Carrie’s white lace bra.
“That’s a little too much, don’t you think?” “The store is closed. No one will see.” “Sometimes Amie, you’re too much for me.”
“You know, all the men I date say the same thing. Just once I would like to find a man who can handle me. Speaking of...I gotta run and see if I can’t find him tonight.”
“Where are you headed?”
“I’m meeting some of the girls from the yoga studio at Bar Nine. Do you want to come?” “No, you go ahead. I’m going to finish up here and then head home. The next two days are going to be pretty hectic.” And they would be, but Carrie needed some time to get her thoughts together. She had recruited Martina as her helper weeks ago and had no doubt she would show up. But after finding out that she’d slept with Aleks, Carrie wasn’t sure how she felt about the woman she now considered a sister.
“Be nice tomorrow,” Amie warned, as if knowing exactly where her thoughts had drifted.
“I...” Carrie had no claim on Aleks. “I will.” It was ridiculous for her to be angry. At least not at Martina. Aleks on the other hand... “I’m overeacting, aren’t I?”
Without saying a word, Amie gave her best ‘duh’ expression then flitted out the door. Carrie didn’t bother to lock it behind her.
Spontaneous? Surprise Aleks Turko? Easier said than done. She would always be the pigtailed little girl in his eyes and not a spontaneous sex kitten looking for a good time. He would probably laugh in her face.
The logical part of her brain confirmed Carrie would rather spend the rest of her life pining over him than risk being humiliated, or worse, losing his friendship all together.
Unfortunately, the other side of her brain, the side that controlled her libido, couldn’t stop thinking about Aleks taking her every possible way.
She reached into her bag under the counter and pulled out her sketch pad and pencils. Maybe if she concentrated on work she would stop thinking about Aleks–on top of her, inside her, all over her.
* * * *
Before entering the store, Aleks watched Carrie through the window. She was hunched over the counter intently focused. By the way she gripped her tongue between her lips, he knew she was sketching.
It was rare for Carrie to be sans suit jacket. She was always neat and tied up, the picture of professionalism at all times. But tonight her white blouse, still tucked in, was unbuttoned, exposing the generous swell of her breasts. A large amount of flesh that was normally painstakingly hidden during business hours. His arousal stirred in his pants at the sight of her creamy flesh. Would he ever be able to look at her without wondering what heavenly fabrics were hidden underneath her clothes?
Her hair was up, a pencil stuck through the twirled strands, her black rimmed glasses perched on her nose. To any other man she would be a typical salesperson but to Aleks, Carrie was perfect.
The memory of their encounter in the basement was all Aleks could think about. It affected him too much. He knew if they took it all the way he would never recover and that just wasn’t Aleks Turko. He had see
n her look of disappointment earlier when he didn’t make a move, but it was a bad idea no matter how he tried to spin it. Seeing Carrie so freaked out after Rob put a stop to their fun, confirmed things would never be the same. Their day at the show had gone perfectly, as friends. How could he let anything screw that up?
With a surprise in his hand, Aleks hesitantly walked into the dimly lit store. Immediately, the overwhelming smell of flowery powders and soaps made him want to gag but as he walked in further, the scent of orange blossom swirled in the air. It was either her scent or the guilt at never seeing her store that weighed heavy on his shoulders.
Carrie straightened up when she heard the door. The moment she realized it was him, she immediately reached to take the glasses from her face.
“Working on something new?”
She pushed together the mess of papers and hit them on the counter, smoothing them into one neat pile. Colorful pencils were splattered across the countertop. She had definitely been sketching., “Getting some ideas down before I forget them.” She spoke as if trying to justify her actions.
“I really need these bridal designs to be perfect.”
“They will be. Just be patient with yourself.”
“Not really my best trait.”
He couldn’t disagree. Patience was not one of her virtues.
She laughed. “You just can’t placate me, can you?”
“Nope.” Aleks didn’t feel the need to lie or charm her like every other woman he encountered.
He knew no matter what, Carrie would always be there. She was the only woman he felt that connection with.
“What are you doing here, Aleks?”
“I have something for you.” He could have sworn he saw a lick of heat flutter in her dark eyes, but she shook it off quickly.
“A present?”
He hefted a plastic bag on the counter in front of her. “I was window shopping, and I saw this on the shelf. I immediately thought of you. Think of it as my peace offering for not taking a bigger interest in your store.”
Aleks watched her open the bag and pull out the box. At first Carrie wasn’t sure what was inside, but her eyes widened when she realized she was staring at the new HP Touch Smart notebook. A computer specifically customized with fashion designers in mind.
