Lilah responded with a haughty look. Shed never bothered with her frenemy act before. Probably because she knew that Pandora would see right through it. Instead, the brunette leaned both elbows on the counter and bent forward to say under her breath, Youd know crime, now, wouldnt you? What was it you were busted for? Something to do with drugs? Or was it lying?
The only thing that persuaded Pandora to unclench her teeth was the fact that she couldnt afford to get them fixed if one broke. Instead, she turned on the heel of her own unslutty boots and retrieved a blown-glass peacock, each feather shimmering delicately in the light.
Before shed even set the piece on the counter, she could see the covetous spark in Lilahs eyes. But instead of saying she liked it, the other woman turned her nose to the air and gave a sniff.
Its okay. Just the kind of thing Id expect to find in this dingy little store.
The artist is one of my mothers clients, Pandora said, surreptitiously scraping the sale sticker off the price tag. Shed be damned if Lilah was getting thirty percent off. Her work is currently in the White House and was recently featured in a George Clooney movie.
Drool formed in the corner of Lilahs heavily painted mouth. Her hand was halfway to her purse before she thought to ask, How much is it?
The desire to make a sale warred with the desire to kick the bitchy woman out of the store. But responsibility always trumped personal satisfaction for Pandora. Which was probably why women like Lilah, and Cassiopeia, Fifi and even old Mrs. Sellers, had a lot more fun that she did.
With one unvarnished fingernail, she pushed the price tag across the counter. Lilahs eyes rounded and her lips drooped.
Will you hold it? My mother hinted that shed get it for me as a Christmas gift.
You want me to hold an overpriced joke?
The womans glare was vicious, but she jerked her chin in affirmation.
Hey, that was fun. Maybe all Cassiopeias lectures about karma were true.
Before Pandora could decide whether to go for gracious or gloating, a loud roaring rumbled through the air.
She and Lilah both stared as a huge Harley slowed down, the helmeted rider turning his head to stare into the store. A shiver skittered between Pandoras shoulder blades. Another out-of-towner? Usually tourism went dry in Black Oak between Thanksgiving and Valentines. It was probably someone visiting Custom Rides, the motorcycle shop that backed up to Moonspun.
Company? Fifi speculated, coming in from the café to stare, too.
Must have heard about the yippee-skippy youre offering up, Mrs. Sellers predicted, heading out the door hand in hand with her tottering hunk of afternoon delight.
As one, Pandora sighed and Lilah sneered.
Thats disgusting, Lilah muttered.
What is? The idea of two people enjoying each others company?
You know theyre sneaking off to have sex, the woman said, hissing the last word as if it were pure evil. The over-blown brunette averted her eyes from the elderly couple as though she was worried that they wouldnt hold out until they toddled all the way to their love nest, instead giving in and doing the nasty right there in the doorway.
And sex is bad Why? Pandora put on her most obnoxious, innocently sweet smile. From what I heard, you were having it a couple nights ago. Wasnt it in the backseat of an old Nova parked behind Landers Market?
Fifi giggled, forcing Lilah to split her glare between the two women.
Before she could spill her ire, though, the chimes over the door sang. And in walked Pandoras worst nightmare. The sexiest man shed ever seen, wearing black leather and a dangerous attitude. The kind of guy who could make her forget her own name, right along with her convictions, her vow of chastity and where shed left her underpants.
Black hair swept back from a face worthy of a GQ cover. Sharp cheekbones, a chiseled, hair-roughened chin and vivid gold eyes topped broad shoulders and long, denim-clad legs that seemed to go on forever.
Pandoras hormones sighed in appreciation as desire flared, smoking hot, in her belly. She wanted to leap over the counter and slide that leather jacket off those wide shoulders and see up close and personal if his chest and arms lived up to the promise of the rest of his body.
Oh, my, Fifi breathed.
Hubba hubba, Lilah moaned.
Go away, Pandora muttered.
The guy paused just inside the door, then knelt down to give Paulies head a quick rub before straightening and looking around. His narrowed gaze seemed to take in everything in one quick glance. Then his eyes locked on Pandoras. Nerves battled with lust as she felt something deep inside click. A recognition. And that soul-deep terror that this was a man who spelled trouble in every way possible.
LADIES, CALEB GREETED, barely aware of the two women on his side of the counter. His eyes were glued on the sweet little dish on the other side.
Her hair, a dark auburn so deep it looked like mahogany, tumbled over her shoulders in a silken slide, the tips waving over the sweet curve of her breasts. She wore a simple white shirt that draped gently over her curves instead of hugging them, and tiny silver earrings that made her look like a sweet-faced innocent. From the fresh-faced look, she didnt have any makeup on, either. Or maybe it just seemed that way because she was standing next to a gal who troweled it on like spackle.
Well, hello there, Spackle Gal said. The brunette, dressed as if she moonlighted on the stroll, minced her way across the floor to lay a red-taloned hand on his arm. Its a pleasure to have you here in Black Oak. Im the welcome wagon, and Id be happy to show you a good time while youre visiting our little town.
His brow arched, Caleb glanced at her hand, then back at her face. It only took her a second to get a clue and move her fingers back where they belonged.
I know the town just fine, thanks, he dismissed. His gaze went back to the sweetie behind the counter. Apparently I dont know everyone in town as well as Id like, though.
The brunette gave a little hiss. Caleb ignored her. Despite her clear message of a free-and-easy good time, he wasnt interested.
Hed only come in to check the place out. Not because he was interested in He looked around, wondering what the hell they sold here. This store shared the alley with what was apparently his fathers motorcycle shop. His dad had still been on the take when Caleb had lived in Black Oak, so his shop was new, and Calebs familiarity with this side of town sketchy.
So this weird store was going to be his new home away from home. By hanging here he could scope things out. Get the lay of the land, keep low for a few days and see how much intel he could scout. Then hed decide if he wanted to let Tobias know he was in town or not.
Some people arent as important to know as others, the brunette said, trying her luck again by nudging close enough to press one impressive breast against his arm. Caleb was grateful for the extra protection of his leather jacket. Why dont you and I go to Micks for a drink and Ill introduce you around.
Caleb wanted to sigh. God, he was tired. Undercover standard operating procedure said take her offer. She was the perfect cover. A resident who probably liked her gossip, she could fill him in on all the townspeople. As blatantly sexual as she was, she might even have an in with the ecstasy crowd.
Shed obviously be happy to offer up any manner of information, favors and probably kinky acts, and walk away with a smile and no regrets the next morning. But he was tired of using himself, losing himself, like that.
Shed obviously be happy to offer up any manner of information, favors and probably kinky acts, and walk away with a smile and no regrets the next morning. But he was tired of using himself, losing himself, like that.
And, dammit, he was supposed to be on vacation. A man shouldnt feel guilty about turning down cheap sex while he was on vacation.
Im good, he said, stepping away to make his rejection clear. From her glare, she got the message loud and clear. Color high on her cheeks, she shot an ugly look at the girls standing at the counter before heading for the door.
You might want to slow down on testing your wares from the café, Pandora, the vamp warned over her shoulder as she teetered out of the store. Not only is that aphrodisiac crap in danger of making you sound like a slut, but youre gaining weight.
Calebs eyes cut to the women behind the counter, noting the shocked horror in the blondes eyes and the sneer on the redheads face. He grinned, liking her screw-you attitude.
Whats she so bitchy about? he asked, keeping his smile friendly. Nothing connected with a mark-or suspect-faster than sympathy. Besides, facts were factsthe woman had been a bitch. He wandered the store ostensibly looking at merchandise while eyeing the back wall and its bead-covered doorway.
Thats her default personality, the redhead said.
Pandora, is it?
He wondered why she was looking at him as if he was a wolf about to pounce. Sure, hed been a troublemaker as a teen, but hed been gone almost twelve years. Was his rep still that bad in Black Oak? He didnt recognize her. Younger than him, she was closer to his sisters age.
Hello? he said, giving her a verbal nudge as he picked up a clear rock shaped like a pyramid, pretending to inspect it. Her worried stare was starting to bug him.
Ill go make sure everyones out of the café since its closed now, the blonde murmured.
Yes, Im Pandora, the other woman said, grabbing the arm of the blonde before she could move away. Im the, um, owner. Can I help you?
Owner? You dont sound so sure.
Im still getting used to the idea. Pandoras smile was as stiff and fake as the blow-up doll Caleb had shipped off to Hunter the previous day. What can I do for you?
God, so many things. Let him taste those lips to see if they were as soft and delicious as they looked. Slide that silky-looking hair over his naked body. Tell him about all her favorite sexual positions and give him a chance to teach her his.
Im just looking around. Youve got a nice place here.
Thanks. Was there anything specific you were shopping for?
His grin said it all. A sweet pink flush colored her cheeks, but he saw the flash of reciprocated interest in her eyes. Then, for some bizarre reason, she slammed that door shut with an impersonal arch of her brow.
What the hell? Unlike his brother, Gabriel, he didnt expect women to fall at his feet. And the hard-to-get game did have appeal sometimes. But to totally deny the attraction? What was up with that?