Whatever is Margaret up to now? I thought another peek for the patient waiters while I wrap up the edits would be a good kick start to the hearts & flowers weekend. O’course…nothing hallmark about TRQ. ((apologies for the formatting, seems that we are having consistency issues from program to program))
SNEAK PEEK
The woman toyed with her hair and tried to up her stare, leaning back to stand with her hip kicked out.
“For you hot stuff? I’ll let you throw at me for free.”
Margaret laughed out loud, finished her drink and set it down with a nod to the bartender for a refill before locking eyes with the woman, crooking and curling her finger for her to come closer. When the woman finally leaned in, Maggie dropped her voice to the low rumbling timber that Thorne used on her.
“Darlin, if you think for a second that I pay anyone for their privilege of feeling my toys, you are sorely mistaken. I didn’t come to or court you. Pay up or shut up and walk away before I give you a freebie. Feel me?”
The woman’s eyes had grown wider with every word Maggie had spoken. By the time she got to ‘freebie’ the pupils were fully dilated. Maggie was glad she had the Cat or the bluff would have been a lost game as the woman pulled money from a pocket in her wrist cuff and handed it to Maggie.
“What will this get me?”
Maggie unfolded two Grants and looked blankly at the woman thinking. She didn’t want to stay all night. Maybe she could change her mind another way.
“Tonight? About twenty minutes.”
The woman didn’t flinch. Her breathy response made it clear she was sold even if it had been for five minutes.
“Deal.”
Put up or shut up genius. Maggie scolded herself. “Follow me.”
Maggie led the woman beyond the nearest drape to the hall of doors. Synchronicity prevailed and the room with the cross was vacant. The woman walked over and stood in from of it as Maggie closed the door. Was she really going to do this?
“Do you need to be restrained?”
“No.”
“Turn around please.” Guess so.
Her face fell. “But I want to do it this way.”
Oh hell no. “You failed to negotiate that term when you made your deal. Turn or we’re done.”
The woman turned. Someone had to be first. There was just no way Maggie was facing them. She had practiced for weeks, and earlier in the day with Wendy had worked on this scenario. It really was now or chicken. Channeling Thorne she gave the woman one last out.
“Final answer?”
“Final answ…”
Maggie didn’t wait for the second word to carry back to her before pulling back and rolling the Cat forward the way Wendy had taught her.
“…err.” Came out on a breathy, high-pitched, new air intake moan.
Maggie curled under, rolled it again and pulled back opposite the pink stripe of the first throw. The woman let out a soft whimper.
“More.”
Bart crashed through her thoughts and charged out her mouth.
“You like my toy?” Maggie sneered the last word as she threw again.
“Yesss.”
She continued as she crossed the pattern over again diagonally, “So, not just for show?”
The woman held the uprights tightly. “No. Not for show.”
“Good girl. I believe that answers your question. Now, not another word unless I tell you to speak.”