Licked (L.A. Liaisons Book 1)

by Brooke Blaine

  “Huh.” Shayne didn’t bother asking for more details about what that visit had entailed. She could probably guess them by now. “Cleans up well, doesn’t he?”

  Nope. Wasn’t touching that. I was keeping my lips shut. If I didn’t, I’d launch into how good he looked when he was dirty, and then that would have me thinking of other ways he could get dirty—

  “Ry?” Shayne asked.

  “Yeah?”

  “I said how’s Cameron?”

  Yeah, Cameron—the guy you’re crazy about. “Cameron…he’s good, I think. I got a message from him saying he’d made it to Hong Kong, so I’m sure he’s having a blast.”

  “Uh huh.” Shayne raised an eyebrow before turning back to check Val’s status. She was draped all over two of the male clients, and they looked appropriately horrified. “Oh what the hell is she…fuck me, I’ll be back.”

  The next half-hour passed in a blur, making drinks and tending to Val’s nagging requests: Could we change the music to something not so old-fashioned? I’m sweating like a whore in church, could you turn the air down? Way down? One thing I was actively not doing, though, was keeping tabs on Hunter. He’d been hopping from group to group, Shayne having organized the whole thing like a round of standing musical chairs. He was currently in a circle that included the annoying blond I’d waited on earlier, and to say she had goo-goo eyes for Hunter was an understatement. Actually, it looked like the other two girls standing by her did as well.

  I looked him over with a more critical eye. I guessed I could see the appeal if you liked the ruggedly handsome type. The way he was giving each person one-on-one attention as if they were the only ones in the room could also be seen as a plus, I supposed. He wasn’t as tall as Cameron, but he still commanded attention, but probably because he was so bossy. The way he took control of every situation and handled it might be something other women would like. But not me.

  The blond bimbo laughed at something Hunter said, giving her an excuse to lay her hand on his arm. I stared daggers at her ugly orange fake nails. Who wore orange outside of October, anyway?

  Rolling my eyes, I made myself look away and grabbed the almost-empty container of whipped cream and took it to the kitchen. After pulling out the new batch I’d made this morning, I went back out to the front and stopped when I saw Hunter standing at the bar. I gave him a tight-lipped smile before putting the container in the fridge.

  “How’s date night going?” I asked.

  “Best night of my life,” he said with a smirk. Up close I could smell the faint hint of whatever sex-in-a-bottle cologne he was wearing. That had to be it. Pheromone cologne, making all the girls stop and drool. Cheater.

  I nodded at the women behind him who were stealing glances to make sure he was coming back. “Looks like you’ve got an adoring fan club already. You must not have opened your mouth yet.”

  His grin grew wider. “They don’t leave a lot of room to say much. But that’s the trick. Let the woman talk, and you come off as a great listener.”

  “Ah, spoken like a true playboy.”

  “Is that how you see me?”

  Shrugging, I said, “I don’t really notice one way or another.”

  “I saw your reaction when I walked in. Didn’t think I owned anything fancier than jeans and t-shirts?”

  “Was just surprised to see you here, that’s all. Didn’t think this was your kind of thing.”

  “It’s not.” Hunter shook his head. “I just thought after meeting that crazy woman in charge maybe you wouldn’t want to face the love fest alone.”

  “I’m doing just fine, but thanks.”

  “Yeah, I can see that.” He looked as though he wanted to say something else but stopped himself.

  Well of course he wanted something else—I hadn’t even offered him a drink.

  “Sorry, can I get you something?”

  He leaned over the counter like he was going to tell me a secret. “I’d love whatever your friend took a shot of earlier.” Looking back over his shoulder at the hungry women still eyeing him, he said, “Make that two.”

  I poured him two shots of the Rattlesnake concoction, and then made him an alcoholic Shirley Temple chaser, heavy on the grenadine so it turned bright pink. Then I topped it off with a straw and a purple umbrella. His brows were knitted as he took the drink out of my hands.

  “You’re too kind,” he said, holding the glass as if there were some sort of growth coming out of it.

  “Try it. You’ll like it. And besides.” I leaned over the counter like he’d done a minute ago. “Women love a man who wears pink.”

  There was a fire in Hunter’s eyes when I pulled away. His lips wrapped around the bendy straw I’d stuck inside the drink for an amusing effect, but as he sucked the juice into his mouth, there was nothing funny about it.

  No, funny was not the right word. Figures he could make tasting a girly cocktail look sexy as hell. My face was getting warmer, and Hunter must’ve noticed, because his lips left the straw and he grinned again.

  “I do love it pink and juicy.” He backed away as my eyes grew bigger, and I threw my towel in his direction. Laughing, he turned away and rejoined his group, the women gladly welcoming him back to the fold.

  Cocky shit. Next time I was spiking his drink with Drano.

  IT HAD TAKEN Shayne and me a good half-hour to kick out the last of the stragglers—and that included Hunter, who’d insisted on helping move the tables and chairs back in order. I couldn’t complain too much, though, because after a long day I was dead on my feet.

  As I untied my apron, a buzzing in the front pocket had me jumping. When I pulled out my cell, the screen showed Cameron was calling, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. After turning out the lights in the shop and opening the door that led to my apartment, I hit the answer button. “Cameron.”

  “Hey, I caught you. It’s not a bad time, is it?”

  Making my way up the stairs, I pulled the phone away from my ear to glance at the time. Almost midnight, which meant it was—I counted on my fingers—about three p.m. or so there. “Not at all. Just closing up shop. How’s everything going over there?”

  “Eh, could be better. Negotiations have been a bit intense and things are running behind schedule, so I apologize for not calling sooner.”

  “That’s okay. It’s been crazy here too.”

  “Hunter taking care of you?”

  I froze. Uh…no, of course not. I mean…not like that.

  A burst of static came through the phone and then I heard, “Can’t get a decent connection here to save my life. You there?”

  Swallowing, I said, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m here.”

  “I asked how the construction is coming along.”

  Ohhhh that. Right. Of course that was what he meant by Hunter taking care of me. I mean, what else would it be?

  “Going great so far, except for the furniture order the other contractor decided not to put in,” I said. “But Hunter told me about a specialty place near Palm Desert that can do custom designs in the time frame I need them. My fingers are crossed that they’ll turn out better than the ones I’d settled on originally.”

  “Oh yeah, Mitch is great, but damn that last guy was a nightmare. I’m glad Hunter’s got everything under control. I knew he would.”

  Yeah, control is definitely the word that springs to mind when I think of that guy.

  “So when are you coming back?” I asked.

  A heavy sigh came through the phone. “I was supposed to be back by the weekend, but the way things are going, it looks like I’ll have to be here a little longer.”

  Well, dammit. I was glad he couldn’t see my frown through the phone. Flicking on a lamp in my living room, I said, “I’ve heard the food there is interesting.”

  “That’s an understatement. I had chicken feet the other day. Looked crazy but didn’t taste too bad. Crunchy.”

  Wrinkling my nose, I said, “I think I’d have to pass on that one.”<
br />
  “I bet I could get you to try it. There’s also something called snake soup we could check out.” I could picture the smile on his face as he said it, so sure I’d be up for an adventurous food tasting. But no. Hell no. Despite my wild sense of style, my palate for anything not a dessert was actually a little…well, vanilla.

  “I think I’d rather live vicariously through you.” I kicked my shoes off into the closet and then collapsed onto my bed.

  “You sound tired.”

  “It’s been a bit of a long day. Had a matchmaking event tonight that ran a bit late. Your buddy was there.”

  There was a pause. “Are you talking about Hunter?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He was there? At a matchmaking thing?” He sounded skeptical.

  “Is that surprising? Seems like another way to meet women, right?”

  “Uh…yeah, I guess so. Hang on one sec.” Cameron’s voice became muffled, but I could hear him speaking with someone and then a door shut. “Sorry, my three thirty is here early, but I’ll call you soon?”

  “Looking forward to it.”

  “Oh, and uh…don’t you go to one of those matchmaker things. Please.”

  Please. Hanging up with a huge smile on my face, I stretched out on the bed. He didn’t want me to date anyone, did he? Well, since he’d asked so nicely…

  “THERE’S A REASON you have that walking orgasm in a creamery called Licked, right?” Paige was chewing on the end of her straw as she sat on the edge of the barstool Wednesday afternoon, her gaze on Hunter, who was clearly outlined through the clear tarp. “I mean…fuck me, please.”

  “Tell me about it,” Shayne said. “I’ve gained five pounds this week from coming to watch him nail that wood with his thick hammer.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh my G—”

  Paige held up her hand. “Admit it. You may be crazy about his friend or whatever, but you can’t tell me he’s not drool-worthy. I will seriously question our friendship and your eyesight.”

  Ignoring her, I smiled at the customers who’d just walked in and took their order, even though they seemed to be more interested in what every other woman in the shop had their eyes on.

  It was week two of Hunter’s crew at the After Dark, and the daytime crowd was becoming noticeably larger. And predominately women, who all wanted a view of the so-called walking orgasm next door. I’d considered putting back up that hideous black tarp, but business was business, and if offering sweaty construction guys as a way to kick up sales was working, I was not about to complain. Much.

  When I was finished making their sundaes, I headed back to the girls, who had been taking extended lunch breaks this week just to come visit my little shop. Hah.

  “Shayne, what’s the word after the mixer the other night?” I asked.

  She groaned. “Apparently Val went home with the two guys she was draped over all evening. It’s a wonder we even have male clients with the way she buggers around. And get this, she set me up with this skeez-o next week, which she says isn’t a date. It’s a ‘client meeting.’”

  “That seems to happen a lot with her,” I said.

  “I can’t tell if she’s using me to bring in big-name clients, or if she just wants me married off because an office of single matchmakers isn’t good business.”

  “And being a matchmaker with a reputation for being a psychotic slutbag pill-popper is good business?” Paige asked. “Tell her to fuck right off.”

  I retied my loosened apron strings. “Hey, have you guys seen Quinn this week? She hasn’t returned my messages.”

  “She told me she had to jet and would be back Sunday.” Paige shrugged. “Don’t ask me where. One of these days, we need to tie her down and force her to admit she’s really a KGB operative.”

  “You know,” I said, “I heard her speak in a language that sounded like Russian on the phone once, so that’s entirely plausible.”

  “I knew it.”

  “Speaking of out of town,” Shayne said, “what’s the latest on Cameron?”

  A grin spread across my face. “He’s called and messaged a few times. The time difference makes it hard to have a conversation, since it’s usually seven a.m. when he calls, but we’re talking. I’ll see him when he gets back.”

  “Any idea when that will be?”

  “Not really. Work is taking a little longer than he expected, so…” I shrugged.

  “Well, what about…” Shayne paused, and then said, “You know. The good stuff.”

  “The good stuff? What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “Phone sex,” Paige said, and then took out her straw to lick off the whipped cream.

  “Excuse me? I can’t have phone sex with him. We haven’t even kissed yet.” I shook my head. “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “The guy is in Hong Kong, where he could be taking advantage of the five-dollar prostitutes on every corner. Give him a little something to tide him over and have him dying to come back and straight into your bed. This is a no-brainer.”

  Shayne twisted her lips and shrugged. “She does have a point.”

  “How would I even… I mean, how do you even bring that up?”

  “Just call him and say hey, I’m touching myself, now take your pants off,” Paige said, and then her gaze darted between Shayne and me. “What? That’s what I’d do.”

  “Oh my God, would you keep your voice down,” I said, looking around to make sure no one was paying attention. I shouldn’t have worried, though, because they were otherwise occupied by watching my hired Chippendale workers.

  Paige pushed her empty glass toward me. “I’m telling you. You need to give him something to look forward to when he gets back. Sex it up. Trust me, he’s not gonna say no.”

  “And if he doesn’t go for it?” I asked.

  Shayne nodded next door. “Then I would jump all over that quick hot.”

  “I am so gonna need a lot of alcohol for this,” I muttered.

  “And that,” Paige said with a big smile, “can be easily arranged. Zoe’s closing tonight, right?”

  “Yes…”

  “The new Boca Lounge is opening downtown. Let’s get you smashed.”

  PAIGE HAD DONE her friendly duty and handed me more shots than I could remember doing in a long time, so I had enough liquid courage in me now to probably attack Cameron in person if he’d been around.

  After kicking off my heels, I flopped onto my bed, the room spinning slightly. If I was going to do this, it would have to be now, otherwise the night was a waste and I’d pass out in two minutes flat.

  Reaching over, I grabbed my cell off the nightstand and scrolled to Cameron’s number. Hitting the call button, I sat up and leaned back against my headboard as I waited to see if he’d answer.

  Two rings, and then, “Ryleigh?”

  “That would be me,” I said with a hiccup. Covering my mouth, I waited to make sure another one wasn’t coming before saying, “Are you busy?” I hoped the answer was no, but I couldn’t remember what time it was there, and I wasn’t about to count on my fingers to figure it out.

  “I just got back to the hotel to grab a few things before our dinner meeting.”

  “So you’re in your hotel…alone?” I asked.

  “I am.”

  “And what are you doing aaaaall alone?”

  I could hear the amusement in his voice when he said, “Nothing that can’t wait. Is there something I can help you with, Miss Phillips?”

  “I wish you were here,” I said, the alcohol pushing me out of my comfort zone.

  “Oh yeah? You want to take advantage of me?”

  “Mhmm.” I scooted down the bed until I was lying flat on my back. “Or maybe you could take advantage of me.” Even though I could hear the words coming out of my mouth, I couldn’t believe I was actually saying them. Damn those chocolate cake shots.

  “Where are you right now?”

  “On my bed. You wanna join me?”

  His voice was husky when
he answered, “I’m on my way.”

  I sighed. “Tease.”

  “I won’t be teasing when I get back and we pick up where we left off.”

  A shiver ran through me, and I ran my hand over my stomach. “I’d like that. Maybe we could play now?”

  I heard the background noise fall silent, as though he’d turned off the television, and then he was back. “Are you still in one of those sexy dresses you always wear?”

  “For the moment. Is there something else you’d prefer?”

  “No, stay just like that. I’d want to pull it off you myself.”

  Oh hell yes.

  “You should do that,” I said. “You should definitely do that.”

  When I closed my eyes, I imagined Cameron’s face hovering above me, his fingers trailing down my neck, between my breasts, over my stomach, and then lower…

  “I want to touch you,” he said, and I moaned.

  “I want that too.” My voice came out breathy, and I moved my fingers lower, pretending it was his warm, rough fingers reaching down to cover my—

  My eyes flew open and I moved my hand away. Fuck. Those were not Cameron’s fingers I’d been thinking of.

  “Where’s your hand, Ryleigh?”

  My hand was…not where he wanted it to be. Dammit, why was his stupid roommate invading our attempt at phone sex?

  Mentally flicking off Hunter, I ran my fingers between my thighs and called to mind Cameron’s face once more. Only I couldn’t find it. It was like his file had been replaced with a gorgeous, but right now pain-in-the-ass, dark-headed man that had no right to be there.

  Images flipped through my mind like a carousel: Hunter’s grin when he caught me watching him at the mixer, the way his hair flopped over his forehead as he concentrated. I tried to shut him out, but he was like a fungus—he just kept fucking growing.

  “Ryleigh?” Cameron said. “Did you fall asleep?”

  I was gonna kick my own ass for this tomorrow. Or in about one minute. Holding up the covers to the receiver, I ran it across so that it hopefully sounded like static on his end, and said, “Sorry…bad…connection…we’ll try…again,” before hitting the end button.