Revenge for Hire (The Get Even Agency) (9 page)

She sucked her lower lip into her mouth, watching him with
troubled eyes. “You shouldn’t make promises you don’t have the power to keep.”

“I’d never intentionally hurt you,” he clarified, wondering at
the look in her eyes.

She shook her head. “My answer is still no.”

“Because of last night?”

“There was no last night.”

“The hell there wasn’t. Shall I remind you?”

“I don’t need a reminder.” She crossed her arms, and he
wondered if she was turned on. She tended to cover her breasts when she was. He’d
noticed that about her last night. Along with dozens of other nuances that were
uniquely Angela. Like how she had golden flecks in her eyes that almost
disappeared when she came. Like how responsive she was. Like how much he
enjoyed pleasuring her.

“Me neither.” He didn’t need a reminder. He’d thought of
nothing else. “I couldn’t sleep for thoughts of making love to you.”

She sighed. “You shouldn’t say such things. It isn’t
appropriate.”

“Mrs.
Sedwick
will be back soon
enough. Then you’ll no longer be working for the company. What will your excuse
be then?”

“After Mrs.
Sedwick
comes back I
won’t need an excuse because you’ll no longer be a part of my life.”

“You’re wrong,” he said the words low. He hadn’t meant for them
to come out quite so much as a threat as they had, but she was wrong.

“Wrong?” She laughed. “Jude, after your assistant returns from
sunny Florida, I’m out of here. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

Did she really believe that? If he wanted her at Playhouse, the
magazine would get her. With time, his Angel would learn that he got what he
wanted. Always. Except perhaps on Marcus’ sex life, which was proving a more
difficult task than Jude bargained for.

“I’ll contact the temporary agency. Ask them to keep you here
longer.”

“They’ll never allow it.”

“Everyone’s available if the price is right.”

“You think you can buy me?” she scoffed, her eyes flashing with
indignation.

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“That I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep you in my life.
I want to see you after Mrs.
Sedwick
returns.”

“As in date me?” Angela gnawed on her lower lip. He found the
direct contradiction to her overabundant confidence appealing.

“As in look into your eyes last thing before I go to sleep and
first thing when I wake up.”

Her eyes widened, and he realized what he said could easily be
mistaken to mean more than what he’d meant. Why had he said such a corny
statement? He wasn’t given to purple prose and dropping lines he didn’t mean. More
take me as I am or not at all. He opened his mouth to clarify, but she shot him
down before he could.

“Thanks, but I’m not interested.”

“What?” His brows met in a
vee
above
the bridge of his nose. She wasn’t interested? He didn’t buy it. “You were
interested last night.”

“Only because I drank too much.”

“That’s odd. I recall seeing you drink one sip and that was out
of my longneck.”

A forced smile curved her mouth. “You must not have been paying
attention.”

“To the fact that you put your lips on the rim of my…longneck?”
His lips quirked. “For the record, when it comes to you, I pay attention to
every little detail.” His gaze dropped to where her arms crossed over her
breasts. “Like the fact that you’re wet for me right now.”

“I am not.” She hugged her breasts tighter.

He grinned. “Prove it.”

She gasped. “Oh, that’s a nice one, Jude. Well, just get over
it because I’m not bunching my skirt around my waist so you can play in my
panties.”

“Actually,” he moved closer to her. “I had something simpler in
mind, but I like how you think.”
 

“Don’t you have work to do? Because you are annoying me, and I
do have work that needs done.”

“Drop your arms, Angel.”

“What?”

“Prove to me that you aren’t turned on. Uncross your arms.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her full lips pulled tight. “Go to hell.”

“That’s about how hot you make me, lady,” he admitted, raking
his gaze slowly over her features, knowing instinctively she burned hot enough
to qualify for a pitchfork and pointy tail, too. “But if that’s how you feel,
I’ll leave you alone.”

He walked to his door, turned, grinned when he saw that she
still hugged her breasts.

“For now.”

* * *

Avery did a mental run down of what formal gowns her New York
closet held. Several that would work for any occasion, but none that made her
think, “Yeah, that’s the one I want to wear to a party where Jude will be.”

She pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed Randi. “I
need Claire Davis’ number.”

“The fashion designer?”

“Yes, the one who’s ex stole a bunch of her designs and sold
them as his own line, that Claire Davis. Now give me her number.”

“Why?”

“Since when did you start asking twenty questions every time I
need a number?”

“Do you need Claire’s number for business or pleasure?”

“Are you going to pull her number for me or not?”

“Are you going to tell me why?”

“For a party tonight. And, yes, I’m going with Jude. His boss,
at any rate. It’s business, not pleasure.” She gave Randi the details.

“Just a sec, Mom.” TGEA kept only encrypted records of their
previous clients. Nothing that could ever be traced or link the women to the
agency in any way. Randi kept the encrypted address book on her laptop and a
few special clients’ numbers on her cell phone. The other three agents could
only access the information with fingerprint and voice identification. Claire
was a special client.

“Ready?” Randi rattled off the number. “And here’s her cell. And,
for the record, if tonight’s only about biz, you’re a damn fool. You want him. He
apparently knows how to ring your bell. Let him. Enjoy him. Then give him a
kick in the behind when you shove him out the door of his comfortable life.”

Avery didn’t comment on Randi’s advice, just called the fashion
designer.

Claire Davis’ studio was in New York and she had measurements
from when Avery needed a gown for a drop-in on a certain Senator. Perhaps the
designer could whip up something magical for tonight. If anyone could, Claire
could. The woman was simply amazing.

“For tonight?” the designer screeched. “Tonight? These things
take time, you know. But for you, sure, I’ll have something gorgeous ready.”

Avery gave her what details she knew on the party. “I want
something that will take a certain man’s breath away. Classy, yet sexy. Stunning,
but not trying too hard. You get the idea.”

They discussed the gown a few more minutes. “I have just the
thing. I actually thought of your eyes when I started the dress. I’ll alter to
your measurements immediately. Where shall I have your gown delivered?”

“To Playhouse Magazine.” She gave the address. “Before five,
please, with the statement attached and made out to Angela Greene. I’ll have cash
payment delivered by courier in the morning.”

“You know I prefer not to charge you.”

“You know I prefer to pay.”

Claire was one of the few clients since college who they’d met
face-to-face. At least, Randi and Avery both had. Courtney and Cassidy avoided
showy parties and had no need of formal gowns. Avery figured Cassidy avoided
them because of her past and Courtney hated dresses period. She’d much rather
be in vinyl jumping out of an airplane or black leather while riding a Harley.

Ha, now there was a thrill-seeking woman who got off on
adrenaline rushes.

Avery spent her day loosening threads that would unravel and
leave Jude without a safety net to fall back on when his world crashed around
him.

Simon thought it important for Jude to be at the party, so
Avery would ensure he didn’t stay long and that he caused a commotion.

“You’re looking pleased,” Jude said when he returned to the
office. He’d had a busy morning, then a working lunch with several of the
marketing staff and Avery had been given a reprieve from having to fend off his
charm for most of the day.

“I am.”

His gaze dropped to her chest. “I’ve seen you more pleased.”

She rolled her eyes. “Is sex all you ever think about?”

“As my marketing department just reminded me, it is what I get
paid to sell.”

Avery’s gaze shot to his face. “You don’t sound as if you like
it.”

“Sex?” His lips twitched. “Don’t think that for a moment. I
enjoy sex as much as every other man in this country. Possibly more. However,
I’m striving for Playhouse Magazine to be about more than just nudie pictures. I
want there to be class and education amidst the photos.”

Avery frowned. “I don’t think class and education are why men
buy Playhouse.”

“Have you been talking to the marketing department?” His tone
was teasing, but she picked up on real vibes of dissention.

Uhm
, she might use
that to her advantage.

“No.” She sent him a look purposely full of mixed signals. “But
I have changed my mind.”

“On?”

“Tonight.”

“You’re not going?” He looked disappointed.

“I’m going.”

He raised a brow, and made her want to come on the spot with
the way his eyes danced. “You’re going to save me a dance?”

“No.”

“You’ll go with me?”

“Yes.”

He grinned, as if whatever stressed him about his meeting with
marketing vanished into thin air.

“Pick me up at eight.”

Eight would make them about an hour-and-a-half late arriving. Not
too late, but enough that Mrs. Yamaguchi would take note.

“Eight?” He grimaced. “Can’t we go earlier?”

“No. I’ll be here till five. I’ll need time to shower and
change and do my hair and make-up.”

“For the record, you already look beautiful. Don’t worry about
spending a lot of time getting ready.”

“I won’t be ready until eight.”

“Angel, you can take off early.”

She sent him a scalding look.

“I don’t want favors like that.” It pleased her that he’d been
thoughtful enough to offer to let her leave early though. “I’ll work till five.”
Later if at all possible and she’d come up with a hundred reasons to keep him
at the office late, too. “It’s eight or not at all.”

He shrugged. “Then eight it is.”

It surprised her that he let her manipulate him. She hadn’t
expected to hold him to eight.

Not really.

Which begged the question, why had he?

Chapter Seven

Green silk gathered across Avery’s breasts then fell in a
smooth fall over the rest of her body, perfectly caressing every curve without
sticking to her. The top of the dress was strapless and Avery wore borrowed
from Tiffany’s emerald and diamond earrings. The store manager once used their
services. They had an open offer of jewelry loans.

Avery had never taken the woman up on the offer, but the dress
needed something. The manager insisted upon Avery taking the matching necklace,
but Avery liked the uncluttered smoothness at her throat and left the necklace
in its velvet box.

“Whoa,” Randi said when she glanced up from her computer game. “You
look hot.”

“Yeah, it’s quite unfair that I get to go play waitress while
Miss Gorgeous here gets to look like Cinderella on her way to the ball,”
Cassidy teased. Cassidy was going in disguise as back up. She’d never joined
their table at the bar, so Jude never got a good look at her, but they were
taking no chances.

“Where’s he meeting you?” Cassidy asked.

“Downstairs.” She’d made a mistake when giving Jude the name of
the apartment building. She’d left strict instructions with the doorman to not
let Jude inside the building. He didn’t know their apartment number and she
preferred to keep it that way. She planned to be waiting for him when he
arrived.

“Here?” Randi looked up from the laptop again. “You have him
coming
here
?”

“Just to the building. He doesn’t know our room number or
anything like that. He doesn’t even know that I live with you guys.”

“You’re taking a lot of chances with this one, Av,” Randi
warned. “Sexing him is one thing, but bringing him to the apartment?”

“I’ve got everything under control and plan to be out of here
by Friday afternoon.”

“Just two more days?” Cassidy said. “I thought you’d want to
stick around longer than that. What if we can’t create enough havoc tonight?”

“Friday was the initial date set for everything to fall into
place, besides I’m ready to go home.”

“Me, too,” Cassidy agreed. “I’m going to take that mark in
Texas. I finished the ground work this morning and plan to knock over the first
domino Monday morning.”

“This one requires onsite work?”

“I can probably do it from home, but plan to fly out to make
sure things go as planned. Plus, there’s another mark in Dallas I want to check
out.”

“What’s on tap for you next week, Randi?”

“Smear campaign for a professional football player, a stock
broker, and a used car salesman who’s been letting female customers earn deep discounts
on their knees. Wife caught him in the act.” Randi never glanced up from her
laptop. “Oh!
BigBen
just signed in.” She smiled
maliciously. “I am so going to kick his
hiney
tonight.”

“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 how 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.