Pity.
Audra had failed. The first Wicked Chick to blow a dare.
Youre right, that wasnt failure, Suzi finally agreed. Who knows, maybe hes not into chicks or something.
Bea gave a snort of laughter and shrugged. So we, what? Chalk it up to a first? Wanna get another round of drinks and dance?
Audra realized her friends would let it go then. Theyd pushed the dare as a means to prove she hadnt moved on. That she was still one of the girls.
But now? Now she had something to prove to herself.
Hey, Im not done yet, she told them. You dared me, I need to fulfill the dare.
How? Isabel wanted to know.
New dare? Bea suggested with a shrug.
Like? Audra asked.
Simple, Suzi claimed. You do the next guy to come through the door.
Audra sucked in a breath, ignored the voice in the back of her head claiming she was so over this dare crap, and nodded. Over it or not, she has something to prove. She eyed the tie as Isabel glanced at the ugly thing, then at Audras tiny purse. With a grimace, her friend tucked it into her own hobo bag.
Audra glanced around for Jesse. Gone. At least he hadnt witnessed her failure. She didnt know why it mattered, but it did. Shoving the thought aside, she focused on the entryway and hoped to hell the next guy through the door wasnt a bigger geek than the one whod just run away. It was probably asking too much for him to be as hot as the appetizer shed enjoyed earlier.
JESSE SHOULDERED his way through the crowd waiting to enter the club and looked around for Davey. He didnt have to look far. The geek was huddled over his cell phone a few feet from the entrance, obviously waiting for a valet to bring his car around.
Jesse sidled closer, staying out of the guys line of vision, until he could hear the one-sided conversation over the noise of the crowd.
Look, I did my part. I passed the info to your bimbo. When do I get my money?
Jesse leaned a shoulder against the building and let out a sigh. Not only could Audra undoubtedly talk dirty enough to have a man begging for releaseshe was dirty. As in, criminally dirty.
Damn.
He listened with half an ear as Davey negotiated fund transfers and time frames. Hed be able to track the payoff through Daves computer, no problem.
Which meant he was that much closer to solving the case. At least, a part of the case. Hed come to realize in the last few days that Dave Larson was a small piece of a much larger puzzle.
And Jesse wanted the bigger picture. And the promotion that would come with it.
Hell, he was twenty-eight. His late father had already made lieutenant by this age. Of course, Jesse had spent four years earning his degree in computer science, but he should still be farther up the food chain.
This case, the undercover work and proving he could step outside his cozy computer world would seal that promotion for him.
And prove once and for all that he was just as good a cop as his father had been. He grimaced. Being the son of a legend was definitely a pain in the ass.
He watched Davey slide into his car. From the grin on the kids face, he mustve overtipped the valet. Jesse debated following him, but there wasnt much point. He could track the payoff money easily enough by computer.
Right now he needed to connect with the next level. Which meant Audra. He remembered the taste of those luscious red lips beneath his with pleasure. Some days he loved his job.
Anticipation spinning through his system, he reentered the club. His gaze sought out the table where shed met the geek. She was still there, surrounded by friends.
When their eyes met, hers grew huge and she ran her tongue over her lower lip before flashing a delighted smile. She murmured something and three other sets of eyes glanced his way, varying degrees of naughty smiles on the womens faces.
With a look filled with sexual promise, combined with an unexplained gratitude that made his body go on full alert, Audra slid from the barstool in a slow, sexy move. Would she do everything with the same deliberate sensuality? Would he find out?
No. She was now a suspect. A criminal. His key to breaking this case.
But as she walked toward him, the last thing on his brain was the case. His gaze traced long, sleek legs encased in sheer black hose, and his fingers itched to glide up their silky length.
Jesse realized with a sinking heart that after years of wondering if he had any more in common with his late father than their coloring, hed just found proof positive. Good ole dad had not only had a penchant for dares, hed had a taste for women who spelled trouble. God knew, this was a rotten time for the grand discovery. Because this woman definitely spelled trouble, in glowing neon letters.
Looks like its later already, she said when she reached him. He smiled in response to the humor in her husky tone.
What happened to your date? he fished. It didnt look like it went well.
Oh. She glanced back at the table where her friends watched. She pressed her lips together, then shrugged. You saw that, huh?
Bits and pieces. So that was your blind date? He held his breath. If she admitted it was a business association, he could haul her in for questioning.
Of a sort, she replied.
Damn it.
A sort, huh?
Yeah, a sort. She hesitated, then gave a one-shouldered shrug. You know, more like a dare. You ever get suckered into a dare? There is just no way out.
Believe me, I know all about dares.
Then you know how humiliating it is to back down from one, dont you? As she spoke, Audra shifted so she stood between his legs. He wanted to pull her against him, to feel her body give way to the straining flesh pressing against his now too-tight jeans. She traced a finger over his mouth. Jesses lip tingled, and it was all he could do to keep from pulling that finger into his mouth and sucking on it. He was a passionate manit was in his bloodbut hed never experienced this level of deep, dark excitement.
Oh, yeah, a dare refused is a guarantee of humiliation, he agreed.
Sometimes a dare accepted holds the same guarantee.
Was she talking about her deal with Davey? Larson could be involved in anything from credit card fraud to identity theft. What had he passed to Audra? Jesse was going to have to find out.
It sounds like youre an expert on dares, he said.
Something dimmed the sparkle in her huge brown eyes. To Jesse, it looked like a combination of indecision and reluctance. Her gaze slid past him, a frown quirked her brow, and then she puffed out a little sigh.
How about we blow this joint? Find a little privacy and get to know each other better?
His mouth went so dry, Jesse couldnt reply. Instead, he nodded.
Desire ripping through him like a jagged knife, he followed Audra out of the nightclub, his gaze glued on the tantalizing sway of her leather-clad hips.
Jesse told himself he was just playing along for the case. He had to follow her to find out what she knew. That was all. He didnt intend to let it get out of hand.
But for the first time in his six-year career as a cop, he wondered if he could keep his pants on long enough to arrest a woman before having desperate, mind-blowing sex with her.
AUDRA WELCOMED the warm evening air after the stifling, sticky heat of the club. Her ears still ringing from the loud music, she took in a few deep breaths and wished for a breeze.
Did you want to go somewhere? Get something to eat or some coffee? Jesse offered. His hand warmed her hip as he shifted to protect her from being jostled by the partyers shoving past them to leave the club.
Did she want to go anywhere? Audra eyed the hunk at her side and puffed out a breath. He was hot, no question about it. But more, he had a layer of sweetness that had her alternating between wanting to hug him close and lick him all over. The latter boded well for her current predicament, the former was better avoided.
After all, thanks to that crazy man whod freaked out over her offer to get friendly, Jesse had become her new dare. Not that she was proud to have the first failed dare chalked up under her name. But at least that failure came with a sweet reward. She eyed Jesse in delight. Hed make this dare a pleasure.
All she had to do was focus on the rush of sexual energy arcing between them like a rainbow, a bone-melting orgasm the promised reward. And ignore the spark of emotion, the weird desire to get to know him better. After a year of watching her brother and his bride grow closer, shed probably just picked up on their couple vibe. Like a virus, that kind of thing could only be dangerous to her health, though. So shed ignore it.
How about we find someplace quiet, she suggested with a wink, and see what comes up?
From the widening of those delicious coffee-brown eyes, he got her message. The heat there told her he was all for it, but then his gaze shifted, became more reserved.
Theres a little coffee shop nearby, he countered. We can order something to drink, maybe a piece of pie, and talk?
He was kidding, right? Audra stopped and looked closer. There was a hint of color on his cheeks, but that could just be the neon lights. He was gorgeous, no question about that. And sexy as hell, but he didnt seem used to the club scene. Was he playing hard to get? Or was he one of those? A fabled good boy?
She squinted, taking in his shadowed jawline, his crooked nose, and the slight frown between his heavy brows. She couldnt tell for sure. After all, shed never known a good boy.
Wouldnt you rather go somewhere a little more private? she asked.
He closed his eyes for a second, as if in prayer, then opened them and gave her a tight smile. Lets talk a little first, huh?
From the stiff set of his shoulders, he didnt mean dirty talk. Intrigued by the novelty, Audra smiled and nodded. Okay, then. Your car or mine?
Its close. We can walk.
Audra laughed aloud. Walk? She lifted one foot to show off the four-inch heels of her spiked black pumps and pointed her toe. These feet have been known to do many things, she paused suggestively, but they dont walk any farther than necessary.
Arent you concerned about getting into a car with a strange man? A beautiful woman like yourself needs to be cautious.
From someone else, that might have sounded patronizing. Jesse, though, seemed genuinely concerned. His gaze locked on hers, warmth and sincerity clear in the brown depths. She noted the protective hand on her hip, not groping or sliding down her butt, but simply keeping her from being jostled.
Something warmed in Audra. Nobody had ever shown concern for her before. It feltodd. A good kind of odd, though. Could he really be that sweet?
She gave him a warm smile and said, Im used to taking care of myself, promise. Im a good judge of character and I fight nasty. The can of Mace in her purse didnt hurt, either. Nobody tries anything with me I dont want without regretting it.
He gave a contemplative nod, but didnt try to pull any macho crap by arguing or trying to prove he was tough. Audras respect rose a few notches. How wild. She was really liking this guy. She just might want to see if this dare could lead to something more.
Depending on his performance on her O scale, of course.
Lets take my car, she suggested. I prefer the drivers seat.
She slid her hand in his and shivered a little at the hard strength of his palm and long, narrow fingers.
So, he said as they made their way to the parking lot, that guy didnt look like your type.
Audra looked at the milling partiers in confusion. Which guy?
The one in the club back there. You know, the dorky guy you had the sort of date with.
Oh, him. No, hes definitely not my type. Audra suppressed a shudder. What a geek.
Do you have to deal with that a lot? Id think a woman as gorgeous as you are wouldnt need blind dates.
You know how that goes. You have to kiss a lot of toads before you nail a prince.
Thanks to the geekor Dave, as hed introduced himselfbeing a nervous wreck, shed lucked out and wouldnt be locking lips with any toads tonight.
Would she be nailing this prince, though? Audra gave Jesse the once-over out of the corner of her eye. He sure looked like a prince. Hot, sexy and ready to be crowned.
They reached her car and she dropped Jesses hand to fish through her purse for her keys.
Ill bet youre going to have a few things to say to whatever supposed friend set you up, huh?
Why?
What kind of friend sets you up with a loser?
The kind who think they know best and are afraid I might break away from the gang.
Gang?
Audra frowned at the edge of cynicism in his tone. Gang, club. You know, a group you hang with regularly? I take it youre not into clubs, she asked with a tilt of her head.
Im not into anything that pushes me to do things Im uncomfortable doing.
She pursed her lips and gave him a long look. Shed bet she could push him to do quite a few things he hadnt been comfortable with before. And have him thanking her afterward. But she wasnt the kind to give away secrets, so she just smiled and gave a dismissive, one-shouldered shrug.
Your date with that dork wasnt your idea, I take it?
Audra grimaced. Not hardly. More like I gave in to pressure and my need to keep my standing with my friends. And almost ended up with a very regrettable evening. Although she clicked the lock button on her key fob I have to say I came out the winner here. If not for them, I wouldnt be here with you, would I?
Audra turned and in a smooth, easy move, pinned Jesse between her body and the car. She almost purred aloud. Even in heels, he still towered over her, the hard length of his body inviting her to lean into his warmth. Very nice. This dare was turning into pure pleasure, no longer a means to prove her Wicked Chick status to her friends. She wanted to get closer to Jesse. Just for herself.
With her slowest, most seductive smile, she watched him from under her fringe of lashes. His eyes had that slightly glazed look that assured her he liked the feel of her body against his. She shimmied a little, just to be sure she had his attention.
As she slid her free hand up his biceps, this time she did purr aloud. Yum. Youre in fabulous shape. What do you do for a workout?
A little weights, some martial arts, he replied, his attention more on her caresses than her question. Both hands settled lightly on her hips, clenched, then gripped her curves fully. So what made you pick this club tonight?
Hmm? Wild Thing? Its a fun place, one of the best in Sacramento. Id planned a little celebration, although it didnt turn out quite the way Id hoped. But I think youre the perfect celebratory present to myself.