Rock My World (10 page)

“Not in public. But what about in private?” She turned to her friend. “Did you ever have a man lick you that way?”

Tanisha’s cheeks darkened. “Not with shots. But I did have a guy pour chocolate syrup on me once and lick it up.”

“How was it?”

She grinned. “Sticky, but fun. We used half a can of the stuff before the evening was done.” She laughed. “I had to throw the sheets out, though, they were such a mess.” She glanced over to where the man was finish
ing up the last of the shot, to the applause of onlookers. “Liquor might not stain as bad.”

“Hmm. I never thought I’d say this, but I sort of envy her.”

“What? You want that bodybuilder licking shots off you?”

She laughed. “No. But look at her. The woman screams sex. No man ever tells her she looks too young or innocent to know what she really wants. I mean, I’d never have the nerve to have a guy do body shots on me in front of a bar full of people, but I can see how much of a turn on it might be.”

“I get what you mean. Like one of those fantasies we have but would never do. Like getting it on with two guys at once.”

“I bet she’s done two guys at once.”

“I bet she’s done a guy and a girl at the same time. Maybe even two girls.” Tanisha’s eyes met hers. “You ever think about that? I mean, I’m not propositioning you or anything, I just want to know.”

Erica shook her head. “No. Doesn’t do anything with me. I’m pretty traditional in my fantasies.” All she wanted was one guy. The man she was sure could satisfy all her desires. If only she could make him see that she could satisfy his.

“G
OOD NEWS
,
you two.” Carl strode into the broadcast booth in the middle of Erica’s third week on the job. “According to the latest Arbitron ratings, the Hawk and Honey Show is second place in the four to 8:00 p.m. time slot in the Denver market. Up two places from last month.”

“Guess our listeners prefer you to me on my own,” Adam said to her. “Can’t say I blame them.”

“They prefer us together. Obviously we have smart listeners.”

“Does this mean we get a raise?” Adam asked.

Carl narrowed his eyes. “It means you won’t be looking for other work for a while at least.” He slapped a stack of papers down on the console between them. “I have a new on-location gig for you two. Next Friday you’ll be broadcasting from Outback Charlie’s Bar and Grill, over on Kipling.”

“Outback Charlie’s?” Erica picked up a flyer featuring a cartoon parrot holding a mug of beer. “Never heard of it.”

“It’s a new place. The owner figured a promo with KROK was a natural. We’re going to have you two set up there during happy hour, along with Ronnie.”

“Ronnie?” Erica traded skeptical looks with Adam. “You’re going to have a live alligator on location? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“The bar owner’s installing a sand pit and pool just for him. And there won’t be any problems. Ronnie’s a sweetheart.” He turned to Adam. “In fact, we could have you get in the pit with Ronnie, show everybody he’s harmless.”

Erica bit her lip to keep from laughing at the horrified expression on Adam’s face. “Absolutely not. No alligator wrestling.”

“Not wrestling. Just tussle a little. Any injuries would be covered by workers’ comp.”

“No.”

Carl shrugged. “It was just an idea.” He consulted the papers again. “It’ll be a beach theme, so we’re talking swimsuits, sandals, sunglasses. Think party music. We’ll have some contests. I’m thinking we can do rock trivia, so be coming up with some good questions, Adam.”

“I can do that.”

“Erica, I want you to come up with some games and activities to keep people entertained. Think beach party.”

“So, like, a limbo contest or dance contest?”

“That’s it.” He gathered up the papers again. “One more thing. Bonnie’s going to be on location with you. She’ll do her regular weather and traffic updates, mingle with the crowds, stuff like that.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Adam said.

Carl gave him a sharp look. “Outback Charlie wants it. He’s paying for it, so he gets her. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

“Of course not.” Adam’s jaw tightened.

Carl nodded. “Good job, both of you. Keep it up. Next month I want to see number one in the drive-time slot.”

“Sure thing,” Adam said to Carl’s retreating back. He turned to Erica. “A beach party. I can’t wait.”

“It’ll be fun.” She nudged his shoulder. “You remember how to loosen up and have fun, don’t you?”

“Let’s just say my idea of fun and Carl’s aren’t necessarily the same. For instance, mine doesn’t include alligator wrestling. Or Bonnie.”

“She’ll be okay. She should be in a good mood, getting her share of the spotlight.”

“You don’t know her as well as I do. Bonnie wants all the spotlight to herself.”

“And she’ll have it. When she shows up in a bikini, nobody in that bar—at least none of the men—will be paying attention to you and me. We’ll be able to do our show in peace.”

His gaze flickered over her. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’ll be getting your share of attention, too, I don’t doubt.”

“From you?” She studied him through lowered lashes.

The lines on either side of his mouth deepened. “Right.” Though his tone was less than enthusiastic, she didn’t miss the way his eyes darkened, as if he was imagining her in a skimpy bathing suit.

“It’ll be just like old times,” she said. “You and me on location for a promo. Only instead of lingerie, I’ll be wearing a swimsuit.”

“But instead of a bed we’ll have Bombshell Bonnie
and an alligator in a sandpit.” He shook his head. “Somehow it won’t be the same.”

She lowered her voice. “I have a brand-new bed at my place, remember?”

His expression grew serious, and he held her gaze so long she felt a flush rise to her cheeks. “You never give up, do you?” he said.

She shook her head. “Not when I know you still want me the way I want you.”

“How do you know that? I haven’t said anything.”

She put her hand on his chest, her fingertips brushing the triangle of hair showing at the open collar of his shirt. “You don’t have to. It’s in your eyes every time you look at me.”

He turned his head away. “You’re imagining things.”

“Oh, I imagine lots of things.” She dropped her voice to a whisper and leaned close, her lips almost brushing his ear. “I imagine you making love to me. Do you remember what it was like there, in the dark at the Furniture Gallery? How close we were? How it felt when you were in me?”

With a strangled noise, he turned away, and stormed out of the control booth, slamming the door behind him. She stared after him, hope fluttering in her chest. Adam might try to deny his feelings for her, but they were there. If she could only break past his fear of making a mistake.

A
S PREDICTED
, Bonnie showed up at Outback Charlie’s wearing a gold lamé string bikini and gold high heels. A short, ruddy man with thinning brown hair, Charlie Mattingly, or Outback Charlie, rushed to greet her.
“Miss Remington, it’s such a delight having you here with us,” he said, taking her hand.

“I wouldn’t have missed it.” Bonnie looked around at the large wooden deck decorated with fake palm trees, neon flamingos and colorful beach umbrellas. “Cool place you have here.”

“Could we get a picture together?” Charlie gestured toward one of the waiters, who held a digital camera.

“Sure.” She posed with her arm around Outback Charlie, chest thrust forward. Then she obliged half a dozen other men with their own cheesecake photos.

“Hello, Bonnie,” Adam said as he passed the photo session on his way to the stage set up at one end of the deck area, next to Ronnie’s sandpit. The alligator hadn’t moved since he’d been dropped off an hour ago. If Adam hadn’t known better, he’d have sworn the animal was fake, another prop adding to the outback theme.

Bonnie lowered her sunglasses and surveyed his board shorts and blue and white Hawaiian shirt. “Didn’t you get the memo. We’re supposed to be in Australia, not Hawaii.”

“Even Australians wear Hawaiian shirts.”

Erica passed them. Today, she wore her hair in dozens of tiny braids. “Hi, Adam. Hello, Bonnie. What a great setup, huh?”

Sure. Great setup. For the next four hours I get to work between a woman with a hair trigger who hates my guts, and a woman I want more than I’ve wanted almost anything, except this job
.

Bonnie lowered her sunglasses again. “Nice suit. Very…girlish.”

Erica glanced down at the bright red one-piece with
deep cut-outs on each side. As far as Adam was concerned, that peekaboo suit was way more sexy than Bonnie’s let-it-all-hang-out look. He was thankful for his own shades, so she couldn’t see how he was staring at her. “Thanks, I like it.” She flashed them both a smile and made her way past them to the stage. Adam followed her with his eyes, mesmerized by the way the red spandex clung to her perfect ass.

“Still mooning over Little Miss Muffet?” Bonnie nudged her sunglasses back into place.

He snapped his head toward her. “Leave her alone, Bonnie. I don’t want to referee any cat fights.”

She laughed. “What? You think we’d be fighting over
you?
” She swiveled away and spotted a quartet of workmen in the doorway. “Come on in, y’all.” She beckoned them. “Say hello to Bombshell Bonnie.”

He shook his head and joined Erica on stage. “What did I tell you?” Erica said. She nodded toward Bonnie and her adoring fans. “With Bonnie here, dressed like that, no one will even notice us.”

“Not every man falls for fake boobs and teeny bikinis.” He checked the setup for the speakers. “Some guys prefer a woman who leaves a little to their imagination.”

“That’s a sweet thing to say.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “It’s the truth.”

“Thanks.” She patted his shoulder. “You’re good for my ego.”

She picked up a box of T-shirts they used for giveaways and stepped off the stage. “I’ll see if Bonnie wants to hand out some of these.”

“Maybe you can talk her into wearing one.”

She laughed. “Not a chance. She’s enjoying showing off too much.”

She left with the T-shirts and he returned to checking the speakers. One of the waiters, dressed in a blue Outback Charlie’s polo shirt and black pants, approached. “The boss wants to know if you need anything to eat or drink. On the house.”

He looked up into a familiar face. He checked the name tag pinned to the polo. “Ray? Ray Kingston?”

“Hawk? Man, it
is
you.” Ray crushed Adam’s hand in his and shook it. “How you been?”

“I’ve been good? How are you?”

Ray shrugged and looked around the fake-Australian set. “Okay. I just started this job. Hope it works out.”

Adam searched his face. How long had it been? Two years? Maybe closer to three. Ray was clean-shaven, a little more filled out than he remembered. “How long have you been in Denver?” he asked.

“Couple of months. I got a sister out here, talked me into coming out.” He shrugged. “Thought it might be good to make a fresh start, you know? Took me a while to get a job, though. You know how it is.”

“Yeah. I know.” Adam hesitated, then asked. “You staying clean?”

Ray shoved his hands in his pockets, then took them out. “Yeah. I get tempted but my sister swore she’d turn me in herself if I got messed up.” He glanced toward the door to the kitchen. “So, do you want anything to eat or drink? Don’t want to give the new boss an excuse to fire me the first day, you know?”

“Sure. I understand. Bring me a glass of iced tea when you get a chance.”

“Coming right up.”

Adam watched Ray go, and couldn’t keep from smiling. It was good to see Ray doing so well. It reminded Adam again how lucky he was to be doing something he loved for a living, when he’d come so close to screwing it up.

His smile faded when, halfway across the room, Ray collided with Bonnie. “Watch where you’re going!” she snapped.

Ray goggled at her and stammered an apology.

“What are you looking at?” she said. “Go on, get out of here.”

Muttering about clumsy oafs, she joined Adam on the stage.

“If you’re going to dress like that, you ought to get used to people staring,” he said.

She fluffed her hair and adjusted the bikini top. “I don’t see you staring.”

He shook his head. “I’ve seen everything you have to offer and it doesn’t do anything for me anymore.”

He knew the minute the words were out that they were the wrong thing to say. Bonnie’s eyes flashed with anger and he silently cursed his big mouth. “You just don’t know how to handle a real woman,” she said. “You’d rather have a girl, like—what did you call her?—effervescent Erica. Or do you prefer ‘Honey’?”

He ground his teeth together, refusing to rise to her bait. “Are you ready to do the weather and traffic update at 4:10?”

She straightened her shoulders. “I’m always ready. I’m a professional.”

Professional what?
came to mind, but he didn’t say it.

Ray returned with a glass of iced tea, steering clear of Bonnie, who was on the phone with the traffic helicopter.

Erica returned to the stage. “Are we ready to start?”

At 4:00 p.m. sharp they went live. “Good afternoon, everyone. We’re coming to you live all afternoon from Outback Charlie’s Bar and Grill at Kipling and Hampden. We’ve got two-for-one margaritas, great appetizers and dinner specials from Outback Charlie’s fabulous grill, and we’ll have plenty of music and cool prizes coming your way all afternoon. With me are the lovely Erica and Bombshell Bonnie with weather and traffic.”

“Do you know how many men out there are jealous of you right now?” Erica asked. “Spending the afternoon with two hot women?”

“Get real,” Bonnie said. “He could never handle both of us. After all, he couldn’t handle me.”

“I’ll admit, I was no match for you, Bonnie. It takes a special man to put up with you.”

She gave him a look that made clear she’d like nothing better than to take a sharp knife to certain sensitive body parts. He took an involuntary step back and killed her mic, just in case.

“We’re all in awe of you, Bonnie.” Erica rushed to defuse the moment. “What’s the traffic like out there this afternoon?”

Adam gave her a grateful look and promised himself he’d avoid riling Bonnie any further.

When Bonnie finished her traffic and weather report, he addressed the crowd that had gathered. “Who wants to win some prizes?” he asked.

The two dozen or so people present cheered and whistled, egged on by Bonnie and Erica.

“All right. We’re going to play a little rock ’n’ roll trivia then. First right answer gets the new Ben Harper CD.” He consulted the list of rock trivia questions he’d put together the night before. “What was Pat Benatar’s job before she made it big?”

Erica took the remote mic into the audience. She approached a buff young construction worker who’d raised his hand. “Hey, handsome,” she said, eliciting an immediate blush from the guy. “Do you know the answer?”

“Uh, is it…?”

She looked to Adam, who shook his head. “Sorry. Anybody else?”

After three tries, during which Adam played music, and the bathing-suit-clad Erica left three men tongue-tied, a man wearing an Avalanche shirt and jeans gave the correct answer of waitress and won the CD.

“All right, everybody!” Erica hopped back on stage and clapped her hands. “Time for our limbo contest. Line up for a chance to see how low you can go!” While Adam played “Don’t worry ’bout a thing,” she enlisted two audience members to hold a bamboo pole while she demonstrated the proper limbo technique. Back bent, hair almost touching the floor, she shimmied backward under the suspended pole while onlookers whooped and hollered. “If she had any boobs, she wouldn’t be able to get down so low,” Bonnie groused.