But one look in her sassy, hazel eyes and he was lost. He’d never met a woman like her. She was so damned unpredictable. Tough and sweet and fiery and—holy hell. The sex last night had been hot.
Normally not a one-night-stand kind of guy—that was his brother Blake, the heartbreaker—Jordan didn’t know what this was between him and Sass. Trouble. That’s what it was.
He pulled the car right up to the cabin and sat there for a couple of minutes before getting out. Staying at Sass’s place wasn’t exactly the best way to stop thinking about her. But it was a nice quiet spot. Jordan had to use his foot on the inside of the door of the Camaro to push it open. He’d have to find some lube to fix it. Jordan was no mechanic but he could at least manage oiling some squeaking hinges. The extent of his knowledge didn’t go much beyond that, though. Much to his family’s chagrin.
No, Jordan liked cars. Loved them. But it wasn’t the mechanics that got him juiced it was the aesthetics. He’d been drawing cars for as long as he could remember. All makes and models from classic to modern. He loved the sleek lines but even more, he loved the originality of something new, something that had never existed before he’d put pen to paper. That excited him. Almost as much as Sass.
Shit. He had to stop thinking about her.
Jordan lugged his duffel down the path to the deck of the cabin and dropped it. Instead of opening up the door, he decided to go down to the beach. He took off his boots and socks, rolled up his pant legs, and walked across the stretch of sand to the dock.
He sat with his feet in the water, considering his next move. He’d spent the last six months investigating Hogan’s via the Internet, rod blogs, attending car rallies and shows and it didn’t take Jordan long to figure out was going on. Carlos Rodriguez was hired about five years ago, precisely when interest in Hogan’s went up. Now Jordan just had to see Carlos’s finished product for himself, find out what Hogan paid him, and offer him more to defect to Carlyle’s. A guy like Carlos would jump at the opportunity. He’d love it in Denver, all the women to choose from, the clubs, the nightlife. Yes, it was almost too easy.
Jordan stood and undid the buttons of his shirt and took it off. Then he peeled away his jeans. He didn’t have a suit with him, so his boxers would have to do for a swim. As soon as he hit the water and began his long, easy strokes, he had an image of Sass pulling through the water with her toned arms, emerging like a nymph, dripping and breathing hard, and Jordan groaned. She was the one obstacle in his path. The rut in his wheel. The thorn in his side. He didn’t want to hurt her and he certainly didn’t want to use her. But if experience was any guide, when he was around her, he couldn’t help himself.
…
As soon as Libby opened her front door, Sass was pulled in with a force she’d had no idea Libby possessed.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“What?”
“I’ve taken the liberty of setting out a range of products that I think you might be—”
“Whoa,” Sass interrupted. “What the hell is this?”
Covering every available surface, the dining room table, the coffee table and the kitchen counter, were boxes and samples of Sextopia products.
Libby waved her hand at the wares. “These are just a few of my best sellers. After our conversation yesterday, I figured maybe you’d be interested.”
Out of morbid curiosity she glanced over the array. She wasn’t about to tell Libby she’d taken care of her pent-up desire by following her advice and going back to Jordan’s room. That was too mortifying.
“I thought you’d invited me over for supper.”
“I did. You hungry? We can check this stuff out later.”
“Yeah. I’m hungry and no, I’m not interested in this shit.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake. Don’t be such a prude. Sit.” She pulled a barstool from beneath the overhanging counter and patted it.
Sass sat, pushing boxes and paraphernalia out of the way.
Libby pulled a beer from the fridge and uncapped it. “You look like you could use this.”
Sass took a gulp while inspecting the place, doing her best to avoid the penis look-alikes sitting on the counter beside her. She hadn’t been in the condo in ages and she barely recognized it. White cabinets, granite countertops, hardwood floors, the place was clean and modern. When had Libby remodeled it?
Not only that, but how on earth had Libby afforded renovations like this on her cashier’s salary? She didn’t have much time to mull this over because, in no time flat, her friend slid a plate of delicious-smelling food in front of her. “What is this?”
“Ginger beef, Jasmine rice, and a sweet potato and basil salad.”
Damn, the food smelled good. After a few bites, she said, “You’re an amazing cook, you know that.”
“Thanks.” Libby sat beside her with her own plate.
Sass took another bite and chewed slowly. The food was some of the best she’d tasted in a long time, probably since the last time she and Buck had been invited over to Libby’s mom’s place, before Mrs. Morrison had gotten sick. They hadn’t been back in years. Mrs. Morrison’s cooking wasn’t fancy, but it was delicious and just after Sass’s mom died, she’d helped Buck out by babysitting Sass as much as needed. Obviously, Libby had learned a few things from her mom.
“So?”
Shit. She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “So…what?”
“Did you or did you not go back to the Pit and pick up Jordan Michaels?”
Sass considered how to reply. She was so sick of lying but, even though Libby was her best friend, she’d never been comfortable discussing her sex life out loud. Of course, her best friend had a way of figuring these things out, so Sass decided a little honesty was probably the best policy in this situation. She set her knife and fork on her plate and said, “I did.”
Libby clapped with way too much excitement. “I knew it! Oh, God.” Her face went all dreamy. “How was it? Don’t leave out any details. I’m living vicariously through you right now.”
Sass squeezed her eyes shut and apparently that was all the answer Libby needed. She squealed. No joke.
“Did you have your first sleepover? Tell me you stayed the night. Tell me you had hot morning sex. Or better, a hot tandem shower.”
“I’m not telling you anything. Besides, you’ve never told me about any of your exploits. That’s not fair.”
Libby sighed. “Fine. Keep all that good stuff to yourself.” She motioned to the products spread out around the room. “I’ll be keeping this to myself now that you don’t need it.” Libby took her empty plate, rinsed it, and put it straight into the dishwasher. “You are going to see him again, aren’t you?”
Sass shook her head. “Nope.”
“Why not?”
“One time, Lib. It was a one-time thing.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.” She didn’t dare reveal the fact that Jordan was staying at her cabin; otherwise she’d never get Libby to stop talking about him. “So, ah…” She glanced apprehensively around the room. “Maybe later you can show me some of this stuff.”
“I can show you now.”
“I was hoping we could watch a movie first.”
“A movie?”
“Yeah. I brought one.”
Libby had the good grace to not fall over in shock and instead followed Sass to the door where she’d left the videocassette on a side table. Libby picked it up. “Ten Things I Hate About You. God, I love this movie.” She flipped it over. “Where’d you get it?”
“Millie.”
She laughed. “Of course. It’s perfect.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh nothing.”
Sass frowned, suddenly having second thoughts about the movie. It was probably some chick flick—totally not something she was into. But then watching some stupid romance was probably better than dealing with the items that were set out on the dining room table. One quick glance an
d Sass’s pre-beer jitters returned. “So, do you want to watch or not?”
“I’d love to but we can’t. I got rid of my VCR a long time ago.” Libby pointed at her flat-screen television set and entertainment system. “Everything’s digital.”
Sass took in Libby’s new furniture and modern electronic equipment. Had she come into an inheritance that Sass wasn’t aware of?
“But if you’ve got your heart set on a movie, I’ve got lots to choose from.”
“No,” Sass said. Might as well get this over with. She forced herself to turn toward the dining room. “Just forget it and show me what you’ve got.”
Tugging on Sass’s elbow, Libby said, “Don’t worry. It’s all cool and I promise it won’t bite.”
Resigned, she followed Libby to the dining room table. Good Lord! Did people seriously use this shit? She circled the table, confused and terrified by the wealth of products. She glanced questioningly at Libby, wondering if she really knew her long-time friend at all.
“Okay. This one’s a favorite. It’s the Harvey Wall Banger.” Libby wet a suction cup on the back of an enormous dildo and, with one loud thwack, stuck it to her dining room wall. “It doesn’t take much imagination to see how you would use this one.”
“N-no.” In fact, the vision embedded in her brain told her there was no imagination involved at all. “What’s this?” She picked up something small and rubbery that had what appeared to be a headphone wire coming out of it.
“Oh, the butterfly. Good choice. That’s my number-one seller.”
“It looks like a baby pacifier, only…bigger.”
Laughing, Libby took it out of Sass’s hands. “Cute, isn’t it?”
“What’s it for?”
“Oh, it’s wonderful. You wear this in your underwear, and you can tuck this little control up into your pocket. Then you switch it on when you’re feeling the urge and…” She pressed the small control and the pacifier came to life, jiggling and jiving in the palm of her hand. “You definitely need one of these.”
Sass frowned. You wore it in your underwear? To work? Were people walking around having orgasms all day long? She scratched her head. “What I don’t get is what’s wrong with good old regular sex?”
“Absolutely nothing. In fact, many of the women who use these products report an increase in sexual satisfaction with their partners.”
Sass’s agitation was growing by the second. “Lib, you’ve done two home parties. Get real. That doesn’t exactly make you an expert in all this.”
By the hurt expression on her friend’s face, Sass had crossed a line.
“For your information, Miss Know-it-all, I sell these products all the time. In fact, I earn enough that I could quit my day job if I wanted.”
“What?” Was she supposed to believe the residents of Greenview were all walking around with butterflies in their pants and Harvey suctioned to their bedroom walls? “How is that possible?”
“The Internet. I make a fortune selling sex toys on the Internet. The only reason I still have my job at the drugstore is to get out of the house and interact with people.”
“No way.”
“It’s true.”
“People really buy this stuff?”
“All the time. Every day. And, once you make a name for yourself, you wouldn’t believe the repeat customers. How do you think I pay for my tropical vacations every year? Drugstore tips?”
Sass considered her friend in open-mouthed disbelief. Finally she said, “Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
“God, Lib. I’m sorry I’m being so shitty. I really have…this is all…foreign to me.”
“Listen,” Libby said, smiling in a manner that was in no way condescending. “Let me make up a care pack for you. Nothing outrageous, just some of my most useful and best-selling devices and products. They come with instructions so you can figure them out for yourself. How does that sound?”
“Yeah. Sure. Fine.” Sass chewed her thumb. “How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. Consider it a belated birthday present.”
She looked up, surprised. “How’d you know?”
Libby made a weird face as she packed up the “toys.”
“Of course I know when your birthday is, though it’s been a long time since you’ve celebrated properly.”
Sass accepted the care package without argument, thinking about how inappropriately she’d celebrated her birthday this year, with a tire iron. The year before, she’d stayed home and watched horror movies, one right after the other. The year before that what had she done? Oh yeah. She’d gone to the shooting range. The one before that, she’d gone out to the cabin to lie on the deck and look up at the stars.
The year before that she’d lost her virginity.
What was it about her birthday that always made her sad or do stuff she later regretted?
…
Checking herself out in the mirror, Sass groaned in frustration. This was ridiculous. She had no idea how to prepare for a date. She’d showered and combed her hair. She had no hair products of her own, so she added a little of Buck’s pomade. But now her hair smelled like Buck—which was too weird. She started applying makeup but then thought she’d overdone it so she washed it off again. No sense giving City-boy the wrong impression. The nerves were killing her and unfortunately when she got nervous she had the habit of feeling pissed off. She couldn’t help it.
Okay, Sass. Get a grip.
She wasn’t out to impress Jordan Michaels, and she definitely wasn’t going to sleep with him again. Not tonight. Not anymore. Thanks to Libby, she wouldn’t even be tempted. She had a secret weapon buried deep in her pants, and the minute she felt anything remotely resembling desire, she’d just switch on her butterfly and relieve the pressure herself. No more propositions, no more jumping Jordan’s bones. Just dinner. A pleasant, average, I’ve-got-a-sex-toy-hidden-in-my-underwear dinner.
Normal.
Perfectly sane.
Yeah, right.
Chapter Ten
Jordan didn’t know the last time he’d felt so relaxed and at peace. It was unseasonably warm for September and he’d spent the majority of it down by the beach, swimming, sketching, and drinking the odd cool one. If it wasn’t for the pending dinner engagement, the day would have been perfect. He wasn’t quite sure how it was possible to dread and look forward to the same event. The only thing that was keeping him sane was his promise to himself. No more sex with Sass. Period. Not because he didn’t want to. Oh, no. Because he wanted to way too much. All in all¸ it would be a good exercise in self-control. Kind of like his fight with Carlos the other day.
Jordan gingerly touched his eye. Yep, still swollen and still sore. Thank God his brothers weren’t around to razz him about that. But just like that old Kenny Roger’s song his mom loved so much, “The Coward of the County,” there was a time to fight and a time for restraint. Monday had definitely been a time for restraint, and, if he could keep himself from kicking Carlos’s scrawny ass, he could keep his hands off Sass.
The steady growl of the ’Vette’s engine and the crunch of gravel on the driveway alerted Jordan to Sass’s arrival. Playing it cool, he sat out on the deck with a beer at hand and a book open in front of him.
Thirty second later she rounded the corner looking sexy as hell. She wore old jeans cut off at the knee, showing off her toned calves and skater shoes without socks. Her shirt was a simple white tank that complemented her tan. Still no bra and the hint of her rosebud nipples nudged against the material. Despite his vow, his cock took notice.
“I brought pie,” she said. Her voice was kind of hesitant like she wasn’t sure what to do with it.
“Thanks. Just put it on the counter and grab yourself a beer. I want to hear how the car’s coming.” Okay. This was awkward. It was her place yet they were both acting like it was his.
Once she was seated beside him, sipping her own Miller Genuine Draft, she seemed to relax.
“The car
might take a bit longer than expected,” she said quietly.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. The whole thing needs to be sanded down, and then we’ll knock out some of the dents and fill. By the time we’ve repainted it’ll be better than before.”
Jordan’s stomach dropped. Shit. That was a lot of work. If his father ever found out…okay, he didn’t want to think about the repercussions.
“All that is doable in a little over a week. It’s the three hubs and the front grille that are the real problem.”
“Problem?”
“They’re beyond repair and our supplier just called and said they won’t come in for three weeks.”
“Three weeks?” His voice was much too loud. Jordan had to remind himself of his plan to show restraint, but the fact of the matter was that he had to get the car back before then. Shit!
“Maybe you want to just go back to Denver.” Sass picked at a thread on her chopped jeans.
Jordan shook his head. Going back to Denver without the car was not an option.
“I’m really sorry, Jordan.” Her voice was so low he could barely hear her.
Taking a deep breath and a long drink, Jordan said, “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”
She looked at him funny. “Yes it is.”
So, that’s what she did at Hogan’s. She ordered parts. Probably did the books too, payroll maybe—like him. Whereas he had no say at Carlyle’s she probably ordered everyone around. He respected a girl who took her job so seriously. “Okay. So it’s your fault.” He nudged her foot playfully. “I’ll manage as long as you don’t mind having a houseguest for a few more weeks?”
She studied him closely, frowning and blinking rapidly. Then she said quickly, “Sure, no problem. Stay as long as you want.”
“Great.” Jordan stood to take his empty bottle inside and get dinner on the grill. “I hope steaks are okay?”
“Fine.”
“How do you like yours?”
Sass shrugged. “I don’t know. Cooked?”
Jordan laughed as the door banged shut behind him.
While he grilled steaks, Sass sat on a bench in the farthest corner of the deck and watched.
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