Lingerie Wars (Invertary 1)

Lake heard his friend sigh down the phone.

“Look, I don’t think there’s a chance he’ll turn up in Invertary, but it might pay to warn Kirsty.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.” Although he had no idea how she would defend herself against a thug like that.

He looked around his workout room. The sooner he dragged her over and taught her how to fight properly, the better.

“Thanks,” he told John.

“Thank me by getting the money to me at the start of the year,” John said with a laugh. “By this time next year we’ll be rolling in babes and cash. I’m telling you Lake, this is it. We’re going to have a blast.”

Lake grinned. John was always going to have a blast at something.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Lake told him, but it felt like a lie.

Lake glanced out the window to the snow-covered road. Everything was peaceful in Invertary, but he couldn’t help feel that there was more than a snowstorm on the horizon before the winter was through.

“I’ve had an amazing day,” Kirsty said when she opened the door to Lake. “I know you’re the enemy, but I’m going to tell you all about it anyway. Plus, it might make you keep Betty on a tighter leash.”

Lake grinned at her. She was bubbling over. Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks were flushed and she was practically bouncing on the spot. Perfect. He stepped into her doorway, wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her hard. She even tasted good. When he’d finished kissing her, she smacked him on the chest.

“Stop it,” she said, but she was smiling. “People will see.”

Lake looked over his shoulder. The street had about an inch of snow covering it and the place was deadly silent.

“What people?” he said.

“That’s not the point,” she said as she hauled him inside and shut the door behind him.

Lake followed her up the stairs to her tiny flat. She wore blue jeans and a white version of that black ribbed polo neck he was over-fond of, and for some reason the fact she was barefoot was driving him wild. Her toes were painted the palest pink and there was a tiny silver ring on the fourth toe of her right foot. Lake honestly couldn’t remember ever finding feet this sexy before. She was weaving a spell over him and he wasn’t sure if he minded that much.

“What’s the big deal, then?” he said as he hung his old denim jacket in her closet.

“I’m back in the show!” she squealed.

Lake plopped himself into the corner of her sofa.

“I never thought you were out of it,” he said.

“Yeah, right.” She rolled her eyes. “I found a way to replace the stolen underwear.”

She paused and he wondered if he was supposed to mimic a drum roll.

“I’ve designed a new collection and mum has organised her friends to sew it. I’m showing my own work!”

“That’s great,” Lake said.

He reached out, tugged her hand and pulled her onto his knee. That was better.

“Can you believe it?” she said as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I’m showing my designs.”

“Good for you.” As thrilling as the news was for her, he was definitely more interested in how soft her jumper felt to his touch.

Kirsty chewed her bottom lip.

“What if it’s a disaster?” she said.

Lake shrugged.