Playing With Trouble (Desire Bay 1)

“Enjoy your night,” he said. And the child in him wanted to hope she didn’t.

Chapter Six

Laura needed to talk to her dad. This business with Jake was getting . . . complicated. It had been three days since the truck incident. And by incident she meant crazy, amazing sex. But it was a new week, and she had gone as far as she could with the shop on zero dollars.

She needed some investment money, and since Baughman was a business, which included both the warehouse and the shop, she was hoping her father would see reason and let her use some of the company money to buy flowers.

She already had a slam dunk with this order from Hannah.

The sun was just starting to set over the ocean as she walked down Main Street, toward Bubba’s Subs, where her father had told her to meet him.

Only when she came to the sandwich shop, she realized quickly that Bubba’s Subs was no longer in business. Rather, it was now Berta’s Britches and Brassieres.

“Oh no. No, no, no,” Laura muttered to herself as she stared down the front window display of lingerie. A mannequin wearing a sequined bra with cups sewn to look like beach balls was waving at her.

This was an ambush.

Laura turned to walk—run—away, but the jingle bell of the door opened and a familiar voice rang out.

“Laura! Get your skinny behind in here. Your daddy said you were coming by!”

Laura turned to find Roberta in a black leather tank top, arms wide-open in greeting, standing in the doorway.

“Berta’s lingerie. Of course,” Laura said, slowly walking into the giant bosomy hug that was waiting for her.

“And you’re just in time,” Roberta said, switching over the CLOSED sign in the window and tugging Laura inside. “My Lusty Ladies book club is here, and as promised, there’s plenty of Chex Mix and Merlot for one more lusty lady.” Roberta winked and gave Laura a side hug as she ushered her through the store and toward the back.

The sounds of chatty women came from the back room while Laura couldn’t help but take in the amazing store. Beautiful displays of intricately sewn lingerie were proudly displayed, and Laura caught herself staring at a red lace number hanging on the far wall. The place was bright with colors, but the room was soft and glowing, as if lit by candlelight. Just really good dimming, it seemed. Everything was classy and lovely and unique. That’s when it hit Laura: Roberta loved color and had a shop full of creative fabrics, just like Laura’s mother had loved color and had a shop full of creative flowers.

Maybe Roberta was better for her dad than she’d realized.

“You like it?” Roberta asked as they swayed past a rack of garter belts, the soft clicking of the clasps ringing through the air as they shrugged past them.

“Roberta, this is really an incredible shop,” Laura admitted.

But as they came to the back and Laura saw three ladies sitting around a small wood table littered with copies of Cowboy Kink and—yep—a bowl of Chex Mix, Laura had a flare of nerves.

“My dad said to meet him here?” she asked.

Roberta laughed. “Oh, honey, your daddy never comes to my ladies’ night. Besides, he’s avoiding you.”

“What?” Laura said in surprise. “But he said—”

“Yeah, I know, but he wants you and Jake to work out your issues these next few weeks. Besides, this gives you and me a chance to hang out.”

He could have just said that. But then again, Laura wouldn’t have shown up. Cunning old man. She just needed a plan B, because she was running out of time and options and didn’t want to go to Jake for money for the business. One, because he wouldn’t give it to her, and two, the man was stubborn and she hated the idea of asking for something that should be part of the business already. Not because she was trying to be a brat, but because she really did want to do this on her own. Not with Jake holding her shop in his hands. His strong, rough, incredible hands.

No way was she asking him for money. It was bad enough she was already considering going to him for another orgasm or two. But she had to get flowers for Hannah’s order.

“Roberta, I really need to speak with my dad.”

“Sorry, honey. He’s out looking at the plans for one of those custom log cabins.”

“What?”

Roberta nodded and handed her a copy of Cowboy Kink and pulled out a chair. “Cal James is building this subdivision of sorts on the outskirts of town, only all the homes are supposed to look like log cabins. We’re looking into buying one.”

Laura’s brows shot up. Not just because she knew of Cal James. She’d gone to high school with him, and though they’d never hung out, she’d thought he was one of those genius types in the AV club. She was more shocked that her father really was moving on. Buying a house with Roberta and all.