“Of course. Go. I have a beautifully mounted, thrusting vibrator to finish designing.”
“I still can’t believe this is what you do for a living. I’m completely intrigued.”
“Well, I don’t test the product myself, if that’s what you’re thinking. I gather ideas and create specs, design the model, have it manufactured by a gentleman who handles the prototypes for me. Then it’s shipped off to the client for inspection—and of course they try it out. Afterward, they call me to discuss adjustments and we repeat the process, with a new model. I’ll show you more photos sometime. Any day now, I should have the patents secured on a number of them.”
“Which is what Chip’s been helping you with.”
“Yes. In fact, my niche is that several of my famous clients have agreed to lend their name to the replica of the toy I designed specifically for them.”
“That’ll keep Chip busy with paperwork.”
“Among other business-related things I have in the works. Now…go already. I don’t want to be responsible for holding you up.”
“You’re worth it.”
“Thank you,” she said, a bit breathless. “I’m hanging up.”
“Yeah…so am I.”
Neither did.
17
“Tague,” she lightly scolded.
“Right. I’ll talk to you later, baby.” He disconnected the call.
L.L. grinned.
What a charmer the man was turning out to be…
Tague texted her before his business dinner. Texted her afterward, too, as he and his client headed into the bar for a nightcap. He told her he’d love to meet for coffee again, which L.L. snickered at, since he’d admitted he didn’t even drink coffee. Had clearly just made the concession for her. Unfortunately, Tague informed her, he had breakfast meetings the rest of the week.
L.L. knew not to be disappointed over the lack of opportunity to see him before the Waldorf event, yet the consternation seeped in. She pushed it down, tried to pretend she didn’t miss seeing him.
Really, she shouldn’t miss seeing him. Certainly not this early in the game.
In fact, she shouldn’t be so obsessed with that devilish face of his and the sexy, sinful grin that lit her insides. Not this soon. Not after only a few exchanges.
But there was no denying that the brevity of their association didn’t matter in the least—the outcome of the time they’d spent together, however little, couldn’t be measured in minutes, but in significance. And what transpired between them certainly held a great deal of bearing in her life.
Not just in hers, she sensed. Which made their affair doubly dangerous. She wasn’t the only one ensnared. Tague apparently was, too. And L.L. couldn’t help but fantasize about him while she lay in her bed that night, contemplating what sort of sex toy she might create for both their pleasure. Most specifically, how to incorporate pearls into the design.
A few ideas and how they might play out between the two of them wove through her mind, until she eventually drifted off.
The next morning, Chip phoned her at the office.
“Hey,” he said in an excited tone, “I’ve got great news.”
Hope sprang to life. “My patents came through?”
“The first batch, yes.”
“That’s fantastic!” she trilled. “Chip, you’re a miracle worker.”
“I was able to use the Mason, Hoffman & Stein influence to expedite the process. But I have even bigger news.”
“I’m all ears.”