Sexy in Stilettos

by Malone, Nana

  “Why would you give me a job of that magnitude? You don’t even know me. I could be a crazy person. Or worse, suck at the event thing.”

  It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her he knew every inch of her—from what made her smile, to the fact that she talked in her sleep, to what she looked like when she came—but then she probably wouldn’t take that well. “I’m not doing you a favor. All I’m getting you is an audition. Adele Westhorpe needs an event planner and she’s tasked me with finding her one. It won’t be a walk in the park. She’s a tyrant. In exchange, I go to this wedding with you.”

  She swiped a hand across her forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m floored. People don’t do this kind of thing for total strangers. I could be a total flake. You’re putting your job on the line to help me.”

  “My mother always did call me impetuous. So is that a yes? Can we go get breakfast now?” His stomach rumbled a second to his request.

  “I—wait. I need to be sure. Can we have some kind of contract or something? You know, saying you don’t expect sex in return?”

  His grin was instant. She drove a hard bargain. “Do you want to tell me why sex isn’t on the agenda?”

  “You mean, besides muddy waters and I need my total focus on the job at hand? Contrary to my behavior last night, I don’t just sleep with random guys. I’m the get-attached girl and clearly you’re not a get-attached guy, so it’s just easier.”

  And it won’t allow you to have control. But he knew better than to goad her with that tidbit of truth. “Okay, fine. What I will say is this. When you decide you want to sleep with me, it’ll have nothing to do with our deal. Can you live with that?”

  “You’re so sure of yourself.”

  Why was he pushing so hard? So what if she said no? So what if he never saw her again? He gritted through the pang of loss. It was worse than he thought. Which was why he had to get her out of his system. She wasn’t the first woman he wanted or who threatened to become a major distraction for him. He just needed some time to work through it. The added bonus was he could also make Adele happy.

  “You’d be surprised, but I’ve heard that before.” He cocked his head. “So, what do you say? Am I date material?”

  She eyed him as she worked her bottom lip. It was all he could do to tell her to forget the deal and coax her back to bed.

  She let out a long sigh. “Why do I have a feeling I’m going to regret this?”

  “I don’t know. Why do you?”

  “You’re too charming for your own good. I’m sure you’ve heard that before. The way I see it, the charm can either work against me or for me.” Jaya pressed a hand to her chest like it was her panacea. “You know I need the job. I just don’t know why you’re being so nice to me. You don’t know me.”

  He shrugged. “Let’s just say, I saw you rock out to old-school Jackson Five, Rihanna and Jason Mrahz. Your musical taste is eclectic and you blow my mind in bed.”

  She blushed.

  “So even if you say it was a one-time thing, and you aren’t going to let that happen again, I'm inclined to help you. And you’ll be saving my ass. Adele Westhorpe isn’t a woman who takes disappointment well. All you have to do is come to breakfast. Then we’ll head up to LA.”

  “LA? That’s a two-hour drive. I’m not just going to drop everything I'm doing and go somewhere with you. You could still be an axe-murderer.”

  “Well, if I were, wouldn’t you already be dead by now? And if you worry I'm going to strand you in LA, you can drive.”

  “Look, this just feels really impulsive and rushed. You don’t know me, but I do not do impulsive and rushed. I’m a planner. I’m not heading to Los Angeles on a moment’s notice. Besides, what’s up there?”

  “Adele’s in LA. She’s interviewing other event planners at the Westhorpe up there. And let me point out that you've planned out every inch of your life and see where you are now. Maybe it's good to be a little impulsive.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip and Alec temporarily lost focus. When she sighed, he knew he had her. “Okay. But first I need to send some emails in case this Westhorpe thing doesn’t work out. I’ve got some feelers out there. This condo won’t pay for itself.”

  He grinned. “Now that we’re in agreement that I make a wonderful date, can we go eat?”

  “Is that all you can think about?”

  “You took sex off the table.” He shrugged.

  Rolling her eyes, she hitched up her shorts again, hiding the strip of flesh under the cotton fabric. “Okay. Fine. I figure we need to—” The jangling of keys in the lock had her head whipping around. Using her whole body to barricade the door, she whispered, “This will sound crazy, but—”

  “You need me to hide in the bathroom, closet, or bedroom?”

  Her eyes bugged. “How did you know?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve had enough encounters that ended this way while someone had to explain to a boyfriend, or husband or lesbian lover.”

  She giggled as she slapped a hand over her eyes. “Incorrigible. But somehow I believe it.”

  He grinned. “I'll just make myself comfy in your bedroom.”

  “Thank you.” She nodded in the direction of the hallway and he reluctantly complied.

  “Okay, but I will ask some questions later.”

  She shoved her full weight behind the door again. Whoever was on the other side couldn’t have been much bigger than she was, as the he or she couldn’t budge her from the door frame. “I promise you, it’s not a husband or anything. Just something too awkward to explain and deal with. Please,” she whispered.

  He sauntered down the hallway, straining to hear. He opted to stop in the bathroom. It was closer and would probably afford a better eavesdropping spot. And to think, he almost walked away from all this intrigue.

  Chapter Eight

  Jaya braced herself against the door once more. Could she really do this? Have this show down with Tamara when she knew Alec was down the hall eavesdropping? Tams was the only other person who had a key. Another hard knock resounded through the wood. Whether she wanted to have the conversation or not, Tamara was coming in.

  “Jai, it's Tamara. I need to speak with you.” For a second, Jaya considered climbing out the window, but she’d never been that much of a coward. Drawing in a deep breath, she muttered to herself, “You can do this.” She stepped back, allowing Tamara in.

  Her sister stumbled in, carrying a medium sized box. “Damn it, you need to get your door fixed. I know it’s summer, but there’s no excuse for a swollen door in a building like this. It’s not like you have some really old prewar building or something.”

  As usual, accompanying Tamara was an air of disorganization and chaos. Jaya reigned in her already crackling temper. What the hell was her sister doing here? Here, when she had Alec in her apartment. She didn’t need Tamara reporting back to her father how Jaya had some one night-stand staying at her place. “What are you doing here, Tamara? I’ve got a busy day.” Her eyes made an involuntary dart towards the hallway. What was he doing in her bedroom? Before her imagination could gallop off with that thought, she focused on her sister. “It’s early.”

  Tamara barged past her. “Sometimes, I swear you think I’m your enemy.”

  “Come on in, why don't you,” Jaya muttered under her breath, refusing to feel the twinge of guilt. Tamara had already proven she didn’t care about her feelings.

  Placing the box she carried on the couch, she turned to face her Jaya. “You left this at the office. It's your personal stuff. Derrick had me clean it out for you. I offered to bring it by instead of sending a courier.”

  As her Tamara scrutinized her, Jaya shifted under the gaze. “Thanks. You shouldn’t have bothered.” If everything went the way she hoped, she’d have to cart it right back to the office anyway.

  Tamara’s gaze shifted from Jaya’s. “I wish you'd said something before you left the office. I was really gutted when Derrick told me. I never thought he’d go through
with something like that.” Tamara shifted from one foot to another. “I mean, I know you two have your differences and everything. If you want, maybe I can talk to Dad and—”

  Jaya's brows drew up. “Exactly what would you say in my defense? ‘Geez, honey, go easy on my sister—we owe her after all?’”

  Tamara ignored the jibe. “Well, you probably didn’t need to disobey Dad and do that specific presentation. You could have done the one Dad and Derrick approved.”

  Weary, Jaya rolled her shoulders. She didn’t need to rehash her greatest failure over and over again. Especially not with Alec in ear-shot. But she couldn’t let it go. “In the office, I was an equal employee. It was my account and my client, so I had the right to give the pitch any way I wanted. And it got us the client’s business, if today’s newspaper is correct.” Jaya could hear the tone of her voice and the increasing decibels, so she forced her breathing into an even cadence. “You’re not here to talk about how I got fired, so what do you need?”

  Tamara shifted again in her Prada loafers and adjusted her purse strap. “I, um, wanted to see if you'd still be at the wedding.”

  Jaya cocked her head. “Tamara, I—”

  Tamara held up a hand. “Look, I know you hate me. You have every right feel that way and to not come, but I’d hoped maybe you'd still be willing to support me. Since mom's not here you know. You’re the only one I have close to a mother and—”

  There it was. The familiar guilt. Because, even though she was younger, Jaya had always been the one to take care of her sister. There’d been a point when they were inseparable. Right before Tamara swiped Derrick out from under her nose. But Tamara was still her sister. “I don’t hate you.” Just your leech of a fiancé. “I told you I’d be there. I'm not happy about it. I wish I could be happy for you, but considering the circumstances, I’m not that altruistic.” She sucked in a breath, because that was what you did for family. “But you’re my sister. I'll be there.”

  Tamara nodded her thanks, knowing better than to offer a hug. Jaya had tried for almost a year to let go of some of the anger. After all, it wasn't as if she still wanted Derrick. He was an asshole. But the betrayal of her sister still didn’t sit well. And her father's acceptance of it all, as if nothing had ever happened, bit the big hairy one. But she was an adult. She could get over it—well, mostly. This was her sister and family was everything. She’d promised her mother.

  “Oh.” Tamara turned on her heel. “Are you sure you won't be bringing a date?”

  Jaya opened her mouth to say she wasn’t sure--after all, nothing was set in stone until Adele Westhorpe said yes to the hiring her. But before she could answer, Alec and his sexy shoulders ambled through her bathroom door with a grin.

  “Yep, she’ll have a date.” He thrust out a strong hand. “Alec Danthers, nice to meet you.”

  Tamara's jaw hung open as she did the stare-and-ogle thing up at Alec. Not like Jaya could blame her. She knew how beautiful he was to look at from all angles. Her sister’s jaw was flapping so hard, she only managed a soft stutter. “T-Tamara.”

  There was no shock in his face as he looked back and forth between the two of them. They looked enough alike that most people assumed they were twins. Only someone paying enough attention would know they weren’t.

  “You must be Jaya's sister. I've heard a lot about you.”

  It took several attempts, but Tamara finally found her voice. “I—we—um.” she cleared her throat. “Jaya hasn’t said anything about you.”

  He nodded in understanding, making Jaya want to slap him. “Well you know your sister. Keeps things close to the chest. Jaya wanted to keep me quiet for a bit.”

  As Jaya watched their exchange in disbelief, she had a hard time working her vocal cords. She wanted to clock Alec with something, shove her sister out the door, and burn the box of her office things, but somehow that didn’t fit in with the behavior of a full-grown adult, so all she said was, “Um, yes, been keeping Alec under wraps.”

  Alec continued. “We’re actually heading up to LA today if you want to join us. I’d love to get to know Jaya better through you.”

  Tamara blinked, as if she couldn’t fathom the god talking to her again. “N-nice of you to offer, but I have wedding planning.” She glanced back at her sister and mouthed “Wow,” then stumbled on unsteady feet toward the front door. “I’ll check in later, okay?”

  She turned with a scowl to Alec. “Well, I guess you answered for me.”

  He grinned back at her. “I guess I did.”

  ***

  It wasn’t like he kidnapped her. Okay. Maybe a little like he kidnapped her. At the very least, he coerced her with a heavy hand. But he needed her if he wanted to be on his way in two weeks. Ends and means, Alec. End and means. He slid a glance in her direction. Her lithe frame lounged against the door frame of the Lotus. “You know, I’m not so bad.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Says the man who manipulated me into coming to Los Angeles with him.”

  A grin spread across his face. He liked spunky. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun. You know I’m a good time.” He winked.

  “And incorrigible,” She said with a laugh. Shaking her head, she added. “Do you do things like this all the time? Just take off?”

  “Sure. Drives you nuts, huh?”

  “You might not have things to do, but I do. What if your supposed lead doesn’t pan out? Then I wasted a perfectly good day going off the plan.”

  He navigated around the suburban going sixty in the fast lane. “Did you just say ‘off Plan’? Can’t plan out your whole life, sweetheart. Just doesn’t work that way.”

  “Says the Jack-of-All-Trades for the Westhorpe family.” She sat up straighter in her seat. “How do you expect to do anything without a plan?”

  “Tell me, Jai, do your plans ever leave time for any fun? You seem uptight.”

  “I’m not uptight.” She said as she sat up prim and stiff in her seat. “I’m practical. You strong-armed me into coming with you. Why couldn’t you just ask me out like a normal guy?”

  He barked out a laugh. “You think this is because I want—”

  The piercing tone of an incoming call broke off his thought. The caller ID said Mimi. His mother always had impeccable timing. He opted for the Bluetooth in his ear, in case she was in one of her moods. His mother could be difficult. But you didn’t choose your family. Especially when they took you in.

  “Mimi, how are you?”

  “Don’t use that smooth-talker tone with me. I know you. Hell, I raised you. It didn't work then, and it's not working now.”

  “I can’t help that I’m naturally charming.”

  “Sometimes you act like you're your father’s son. But I know better.”

  Ouch. He sucked in a breath, casting Jaya a glance out of the corner of his eye. She studiously ignored him. “What can I do for you?”

  “Are you on your way up here? I want to debrief on where we are with the Maxwell situation.”

  “I'm heading there now. I've got a lead I want to follow up. I'll debrief you afterward.”

  “Are you going to tell him why you're looking for him? I suggest—”

  “I got it.” He interrupted. “I'll deal with him and will let you know. It'll be fine. He'll be safe and sound at home in no time. Trust me.” As usual, his mother would try and control the situation. But this time she needed to let him handle things.

  Ever since he showed up on the doorstep and declared Royce Westhorpe his father, Adele had taken him in. She'd read his father the riot act when he'd wanted to throw the scrawny boy out on his ass. After his birth mother died, he'd taken the only things he had of value, his birth certificate and letters from Royce to his mother that were a decade old. He'd taken a cab and two buses from El Cajon, determined to find his father before CPS could toss his ass into the system.

  The old man had called to security to cart his ass out, but Adele stood firm. After some blood work and attempts to find other family member
s, plus a quick call to social services, she'd had him tucked into the Westhorpe's elaborate mansion. At the time she didn’t have any children, so she'd been in full mother-lion protective mode. While the tests were running, she'd given him a place to stay and looked out for him, kept Royce away from him, keeping him safe until the truth could be determined. She'd never wavered that he should be looked after. And when the happy news had arrived that he was, in fact, a Westhorpe, she’d declared he was living with them instead of at boarding school, like Royce suggested.

  Even after Max had arrived, she still treated him like her own. Groomed him, educated him, and loved him.

  “Don’t sound so flippant, Alec. This isn’t one of those situations where you can reason with Max to come home. He’s in a world of trouble if you can’t find and contain him.”

  As she scolded him, he wondered when she’d started to sound so weary. An invisible fist squeezed his heart. He needed to keep her calm and in decent, if not necessarily good, spirits.

  “Mimi, have I ever let you down?”

  She sighed. “No, but—”

  “I won’t let you down now, either. You can count on me. So, relax. I’ll call you when we get in.”

  She may have been old and ill, but she was still as sharp as ever. “We?”

  “That’s right. I’m bringing you a present.”

  Chapter Nine

  This was what happened when Jaya didn’t follow script. She ended up in the poshest waiting area she’d ever seen, with its sleek, outrageously expensive, contemporary furniture, staring up at a photo of dragon lady, vying for the job of her life. Not to mention, she was sitting next to a man she barely knew who’d given her the best sex of her life. Jaya shifted uncomfortably in the low backed, white leather, waiting room seat and tried not to show her nerves—pretty hard to pull off, since her knees were doing their MC Hammer impression. She needed this job. So far, it was her only lead in case operation-get-Daddy-to-rehire-her didn’t work as expected.