“I simply promised him that if he screwed you over, I’d return the favor. Only I’d get ugly.”
A gleeful giddiness spun through Natasha. Drew had come to fight for her. To fight for her dream. Could she love him any more? Color rose, warming her cheeks and Natasha figured anything after this was gravy. She’d already won the main prize.
“Thank you,” she murmured. Her eyes filled with emotion, and for the first time she didn’t care if Drew saw it or not. Hell, she wanted him to see it. To know how she felt.
A sound behind her had both men glancing over her shoulder. Natasha shifted her weight and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to cover any more noise Audra might make.
“Ruf, I’d appreciate seeing that design you plan to introduce today,” she said loudly. Both men’s gazes shot back to her.
“Sorry, Sweet Thing, but that’s confidential until the unveiling.” He had a trace of his habitual cockiness back. Maybe because he was dealing with her now. The idiot probably thought she wasn’t the threat Drew was. How wrong he was…
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that. You expect me to pull my design. A design I have arranged to present to half-dozen manufacturers and clients this afternoon. I can’t reasonably do that unless I assure myself that yours isn’t a copy.”
“Sweet Thing, how do you think you can prove anything like that? Creativity isn’t something you can claim.”
“Hmm, yeah. You’re right. But designs, fortunately, are.”
“Come again?”
“I’ve got a patent on my design,” she said with her cockiest smile. It was almost true, after all.
“No you don’t,” he dismissed. Then, narrowing his eyes, he turned a little paler. “Do you?”
“Oh, darn. Did I forget to mention that? I sure hope your design isn’t too close to mine. I’d hate to see you get in trouble for that.” She paused a beat, then smiled. “Unless, of course, you have your own patent.”
Ruf traced his index finger and thumb over his pencil mustache and glared at her. Nerves danced in Natasha’s stomach. She couldn’t look at Drew, she was too afraid Ruf would call her bluff.
“Who the hell gets a patent on a lingerie design at this level?”
“An engineer,” she informed him with a smirk she’d borrowed from Audra. “We like to dot our i’s and cross those t’s.”
He puffed out his cheeks, his glare still in place.
“You realize I’m a bad enemy to have, don’t you girl? You should just let this go.” He glanced over at Drew, then back at her. “Loverboy here won’t always be around to make threats. Do you really want to take me on yourself?”
“As opposed to letting you steal my design?”
“I didn’t say I stole anything, Sweet Thing. If your design fell into my hands—and I’m not saying it did—then it was dropped there by your own competition. You might want to rethink who you fraternize with.”
Natasha wanted to smack the man at his obvious inference that Audra had stolen the design, but Drew’s growl distracted her. He’d changed his mind? He didn’t believe his sister was a thief. She lifted her chin in triumph. If they’d already won that battle without even fighting, Rufus Randall and his sneaky games didn’t stand a chance.
“So, let me get this straight,” Natasha said before Drew could punch the guy in the face, as he so obviously wanted to do. “You’re saying that if my design was handed over to you, it came via someone else? And that person was Audra?”
“Now I didn’t accuse her of anything, but she’s quite the naughty girl.”
Drew’s gaze focused somewhere past Natasha’s shoulder. His brow furrowed, and he opened his mouth to say something. Then he closed his mouth and his face cleared—went miraculously blank. He leaned back in the couch and laid his arm over the back, looking as casual as if they were discussing what show to see on the strip instead of his sister’s nefarious propensities.
“Ruf’s right, Tash. Audra is wild. You know how she is, she’s liable to do anything.”
Natasha’s gaze shot to his face, searching. Had she been wrong about him? Did he still believe the worst about his sister? Then she realized Drew would never look this calm if he believed what Ruf was saying about his sister. He must have realized what they were up to.
“Well, yeah,” Natasha agreed with a show of reluctance. “But to steal? I mean, I can forgive Ruf for copying a design. After all, what good businessperson doesn’t make use of the tools that get dropped into their lap?”
“Exactly,” Ruf agreed. He lowered himself into the chair opposite Drew and smiled, obviously believing they were both coming around to his side of things. “And I’m just that... A good businessman.”
“I know how badly Audra wanted that account,” Drew commented. “What I can’t quite figure out though is if you’d put her up to stealing the design, or if she did it on her own.”
“Oh, Drew. You know Ruf’s not the kind to do something like that. It must have been Audra’s idea to take it.”
Ruf looked up from pouring a glass of orange juice from the carafe on the low coffee table and nodded. “Yup, all her idea.”
Natasha and Drew exchanged glances. She heard a hiss behind her. Audra might not have found the bra yet, but it was obvious she wasn’t going to take much more of this.
“Thank you,” she said accepting the glass of juice and sitting down. Natasha leaned forward with a friendly smile and asked, “It is my design then, hmm? And Audra stole it for you?”
Flustered, Ruf frowned. They watched him mentally reviewing the conversation. She saw him blanche as he realized where he’d screwed up.
“Okay, sure, it could be your design. But you’re going to have to show me the patent papers before I pull it from my lineup. In the meantime, I’ll hold off on the presentation.”
“And the theft?” Drew asked affably.
“Talk to your sister, Loverboy. Talk to your sister.” Ruf leaned back in his chair and smirked before he took a drink of his juice.
“Why don’t you talk to me, you old bastard?” Audra said from the doorway.
Orange juice splattered as Ruf spit and sputtered in shock.
“I didn’t steal a damned thing and you know it,” Audra snapped, getting right in his face. “The worse I did was let you shove your slimy tongue down my throat and put up with a few sloppy gropes.”
Ruf mopped at his face.
“If I were you, Randall, I’d drop any plans of using that design altogether,” Drew advised.
“If you don’t, my lawyer will be contacting you,” Natasha advised. She made a mental note to find a lawyer.
“I think Natasha’s being too easy on you,” Audra claimed. She poked him in the chest. “Me, I’m thinking you need to make this up to us. You screwed her over. You used me and tried to set me up as a thief. You promised me that account and then blew me off because you thought Natasha was easier to manipulate.”
“It’s your word against mine,” Ruf claimed coldly. “Who’s going to believe someone like you?”
“As long as you pay for what you did, I don’t give a damn who believes what.”
“Pay? You think you’re going to exhort money out of me over this?”
“No, but you will be making it up to us,” Natasha claimed. She pulled a tiny recording device out of her purse and smiled sourly when Ruf turned chalk white. “You might have danced all around it, but I’m sure there is enough here to interest the police. And I’d think quite a few designers would think twice about working with you once this becomes an official investigation.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Believe me, Ruf, I’m wild enough to dare anything. Any damned thing.”
He looked like he wanted to toss the three of them out the plate glass window. Fury colored his face an ugly maroon and sweat beaded his brow.
“What the hell do you want?”
Natasha and Audra exchanged excited looks. They’d done it.
“I want my bra b
ack.”
His jaw clenched for a second, then he gave a jerky nod. “It’s in the safe.”
He rose to get it, but before he could take a step, Natasha shifted.
“And I want your client list.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Absolutely yes. I want that list, both domestic and foreign. Complete with contact names. It’ll give me a solid referral base and, more importantly, it’ll allow me to check in with them from time to time. Just to make sure you don’t try to pass my designs off down the road.”
His throat worked. He spread his glare between the three of them. “Fine. It’s on my laptop.”
“We want hardcopy and disk.”
“I’ll get it to you this afternoon.”
“Nope.” Natasha leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs patiently. “We’ll wait.”
“Let’s go get it, bub,” Audra prodded. She poked at him with a sharp-nailed finger and steered him toward the door of the second bedroom that must serve as his office. Once at the door, she glanced back at Natasha and Drew and gave a gleeful thumbs up.
They could hear her ribbing him as he got to work. Natasha let the sound fade into the background as her gaze met Drew’s.
“Oh my God,” she breathed. “We did it. I can’t believe it worked.”
“Babe, I have total faith you can make anything work.”
She smiled. “I don’t know about anything.”
“Believe me, even though I recognized my little sister’s fingers all over this plan, you nailed it. God, what a piece of brilliance to go after his client list.”
“Well, I’m really not positive we’d have a solid case, but I needed to make sure he paid for what he did. Not just stealing and copying my work. But in lying to Audra and setting her up for this. And especially for coming between you two.”
Drew gave an uncomfortable shrug. “I don’t know that he gets credit for that. I’m a hardheaded ass sometimes. I get so caught up in the past, in trying to keep from losing things, that I blind myself to the present. And the future.”
Natasha tried to swallow past the sudden lump in her throat.
“Future, huh? You and Audra?”
“No. I mean she and I are fine. But my future includes a woman who is definitely not my sister.”
Natasha wanted to press him to say more. Wanted to scream at him to declare his feelings. But that old reserve held her tongue. That and fear.
“So what will you do next?” Drew asked.
She wanted to throw the juice carafe at him for stringing her along, but shrugged instead.
“Buy Sensual Supports. Expand the boutique, and use this list to start my own distribution. I’ve made a couple of contacts that might help me with the manufacturing. And, as much as it blows my mind, I have the interest of some major players. I really think once I bring in my new designer, I’ll be set.”
“New designer?”
“Yes. I’ve asked Audra to join me.”
His face went blank with shock, then Drew grinned. Natasha wasn’t sure if it was pleasure that she’d be giving his little sister a job, or that she’d be taking on the trouble his little sister was sure to bring.
“I thought she wanted out of the lingerie game,” he said.
“She just needs someone who is willing to work with her, to help her channel all that energy. I think her forte will really be in fabric design, but we’ll see. I figure if she lasts the first few months, I’ll find a way to help her get into the textile design school she told me about.
“She’ll do good by you.” Then he pursed those sexy lips and gave her a long look. “So, you’re hooking up with a Walker?”
“So it seems.”
“Have you ever considered expanding on that? Maybe take on two?”
“That depends.” She wasn’t giving in that easy. She wanted a declaration of some sort. Although the fact that he’d risen before eight a.m. to try and save her company did say quite a bit in itself.
“What if I told you I had made plans to chase a few dreams myself?”
She hid her smile and gave him a cool look.
“Dreams?”
“Yeah. I’m going to start playing pool again. Join a league, see if I can stay on the right side of the hustle this time. I have to work and the bar is my life now. I don’t regret that, actually. I kinda like the tradition of it. And the freedom.”
Natasha wasn’t able to hold back her grin any longer. Heck, it was all she could do to keep from launching herself from the chair and into his arms.
“I’m happy for you. Thrilled that you’re willing to go after what you want.”
Drew glanced toward the bedroom, where they could hear Audra still chewing Ruf out. He pulled a face.
“Well, this goes against advice I respect since it’s about as unromantic as you can get. But...”
He stood and came over to Natasha. Reaching down, he took her hands and pulled her to her feet. Excitement, as always, spiraled through her at the feel of his chest pressed against her breast.
“Tasha, I let you go once before. I don’t know, maybe I didn’t really believe I deserved you. But,” He brushed his hand through her hair. “I do now. I don’t want to give up this time.”
He grinned and curved his warm fingers over her hips. “I’ve grabbed on, Natasha. You’re my dream. Having you in my life. Having you to love.”
Her breath caught. “Oh, Drew, I love you.”
“Damn, you make it so easy.” He pressed his forehead to hers and sighed. “I guess real dreams don’t always come with a huge struggle, huh?”
“No,” Natasha agreed. “Just a huge amount of love.”
And that, they had plenty of.
THE END
About the Author
Tawny Weber
USA TODAY Bestselling author of over twenty-five hot books, Tawny Weber has been writing sassy, sexy romances since her first one hit the shelves in 2007. A fan of Johnny Depp, cupcakes and color coordination, she spends a lot of her time shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking and hanging out on Facebook.
Readers can check out Tawny’s books at her website, www.tawnyweber.com, or join her Red Hot Readers Club for goodies like free reads, complete first chapter excerpts, recipes, insider story info and much more.
You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
Email: [email protected]
Additional Books by Tawny Weber
DOUBLE DARE
A SEAL's SURRENDER
A SEAL’s SALVATION
WARRIOR’S BRIDE
by Nina Bruhns
Book 1 of The Warriors trilogy
Chapter One
Santa Susana Hills, California
Present Day
Katarina Herelius was suddenly surrounded by Indian warriors. Big ones. With fierce expressions on their painted faces and feathered headdresses flying in the wind. It was as if she had somehow been transported back in time.
Her carefree mood slipped precariously.
With a gnarled hand, the ancient leader of the warriors lowered the long staff he carried and pointed it right at Rini. A tingle of panic skittered up her spine.
She edged backward, out of the gang of wild-looking men, but her back bumped firmly up against a solid wall. Then the wall moved. It reached out and grasped her bare arms with warm, strong hands.
Letting out a gasp, she spun around, and was greeted by the sight of a porcupine-quill chest plate that covered a male torso so broad it nearly blocked out the hot California sun. The man it adorned was tall and lean, his ample muscles oiled and rippling under his sparse clothing. All he wore was the chest plate, a long, fringed breechclout, moccasins, and a few bells tied around his athletic legs.
Oh. My. God.
She shivered, tore her eyes up from the warrior's body, and looked into his face. His obsidian hair hung long, thick, and loose, braided on one side with beads and leather thongs, and topped with a small headdress bearing two upright feathers. A
pipe-beaded choker graced his powerful neck below his Adam's apple. Black stripes and dots had been smeared across his high cheekbones and square chin. Deep, brooding eyes peered back at her from behind a solid black painted mask.
The stranger was just about the most intriguing, sensual man Rini had ever seen in her life. He had the body of a dangerous warrior, but, oh, those eyes—they were the dark, fathomless eyes of a passionate lover.
Not that she’d know anything about lovers, passionate or otherwise. But this man...he stirred something hidden deep within her. Something she'd never felt before. Something almost...primal. Senses whirling, she nibbled her lip and took a calming breath.
"Hey, bro, no terrorizing the tourists!" an amused male voice called out from behind her.
Her warrior's somber face split into a saucy grin that did the oddest things to her pulse. He looked her up and down, as if considering whether or not to fling her over his shoulder and carry her off to an uncertain fate.
Whoa. She took a step back.
He glanced past her and, in a voice too dark to suit his finely chiseled features, he muttered, "Damn. No scalping, or flaming arrows?"
The solemn answer came from behind her. "Sorry, bro."
"No tying them to anthills?"
"Hells, no."
The handsome warrior folded his arms over his chest and slid a leisurely, flutter-inducing gaze down her body, all the way to the tips of her sandaled toes, and then slowly slid it up again. "No doing unspeakable things to their womenfolk?"
Her eyes widened and a small sound escaped her throat. The cap sleeve of her new sundress slid off her shoulder. Swallowing self-consciously, she tugged it up.
"Especially not that."
The warrior let out a sigh. "Well, shit. Things are getting way too civilized these days."
Just then a loudspeaker directly overhead blared out an announcement that the Grand Procession was about to begin from the east side of the dance ring.
Rini suddenly realized she was standing right in the middle of the queued-up dancers. Damn. How did she always manage to be in the way? She attempted to sidle past the warrior, aiming for the crowd of tourists behind him.
A gust of wind lifted the ends of her hair and his gaze followed the movement before settling back on hers. "Well, sweet thing, looks like I'll have to spare you this time." Then he winked.
Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set Page 50