Her voice was honey and feathers, her expression open and inviting. Taryn could almost see herself falling at her feet even if she hadn’t been nearly two decades older than her. That might be an age gap she could ignore for a woman quite so alluring. Taryn took her hand and shook it gently. Ms. Parks’ skin was softer than the most sensuous mix of suede and silk. Taryn held on longer than she perhaps should have, but she’d caught Andi’s nostrils flare at the prolonged contact and chose to poke the bear. If she was going to get Taryn here on false pretenses, then she deserved to be messed with.
Taryn did a little bow of her own and gave Ms. Parks her most luminescent grin. “That’s really nice of you to say. We’re all only as good as our last stunt.” She glanced at Andi and quirked her eyebrow. Andi hadn’t been an active part of their last show due to an injury sustained when they were practicing a trick with both of them on the same bike. Andi’s nostrils flared so wide, Taryn thought flames might emerge from them.
She released Ms. Parks’ hand and stepped back. “This office is amazing. Can I ask what your motivation was?”
She gestured to the ceiling. “I’ve never liked the idea of being trapped in an office but the business demands it. This way, I still feel close to nature and not enclosed. Would you like something to drink? You both look hot,” Ms. Parks said with an infinitesimal twitch of her lips.
Taryn couldn’t help her own twitch elsewhere in response, but she dismissed it quickly. God only knew the effect Ms. Parks was having on Andi. “Mineral water would be great, thanks.”
“Same for me, please,” Andi said.
Ms. Parks glanced around them to Polly. “Polly, would you mind?”
“Of course, Ms. Parks.” Polly excused herself, and the doors hushed shut behind her.
“Please, sit.” She returned to her desk, and they followed her to the oversized armchairs positioned on the opposite side of her desk.
Taryn hadn’t been in many offices, but she knew that standard practice was to place the desk between the occupant and their visitors as a symbol of power. This way, there was nothing between Ms. Parks and them other than the obvious sexual energy radiating from Andi. Taryn might not like this idea of a residency, but she was definitely warming to Ms. Parks and would like to get to know her. Not in the same way Andi wanted to, though she wouldn’t reveal that to Andi just yet—she still had to pay for dragging Taryn here under false pretenses. If they had a different relationship, Taryn might be offended that Andi hadn’t felt comfortable enough to talk about the real reason she wanted this gig. But Taryn knew that Andi herself would probably be struggling with the real reason, and until she’d reconciled herself with it, there’d be no way she could talk to anyone about it, even Taryn. They were kindred spirits that way, which was probably why they’d established such a quick and easy friendship from the start.
“Polly said you’ve been a fan of my work for a long time,” Andi said.
Taryn didn’t flinch at Andi’s deliberate omission. She deserved it after the stunt dig.
“Oh, I have,” Ms. Parks said and crossed her legs slowly. “Ever since you were a young rider emulating Evel Knievel’s stunts. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you come into your own to create your own show and team.”
In her peripheral vision, Taryn saw Andi’s jaw slacken at Ms. Parks’ deliciously seductive movements. Her ability to combine that with a professional exterior impressed Taryn, and anyone who brought Andi’s cockiness down a few levels was already awe-inspiring. No matter how slick and smooth either of them believed themselves to be, it occurred to Taryn they could be undone by the subtle power of an ultra femme. It was a strange coincidence that both she and Andi had met their living versions of kryptonite within twelve hours of each other.Cassie.Taryn resisted the urge to check her phone again since she’d set it to do not disturb. She might not be on board with this residency idea, but she wasn’t about to be a rude asshole.
“Thank you,” Andi said.
Taryn smirked when Andi blushed enough to rival the Vegas heat. Polly re-entered just in time to cool her off with chilled mineral water, which she gave Taryn and Andi before giving Ms. Parks a glass of something sage green. It looked thick enough to plant something in it.
“Thank you, Polly.” Ms. Parks took a sip slash chew of her drink and turned back to Andi. “I absolutely must have your team as my first residency at my new hotel.” Her dazzling smile lent a certain veracity to her words.
“How many hotels do you have, Ms. Parks?” Taryn asked when Andi didn’t respond immediately. Damn, it was taking her a while to regain her composure. Taryn would dine on this for a long time. She couldn’t wait to tell Banjo and the rest of the team, though they probably wouldn’t believe the great lothario Andi Sullivan could be rendered dumb by anyone.
“Please, call me Bernice. This is my fifth, but it’s the first one with enough real estate to be able to create the stadium you need, if that was going to be your next question.”
Taryn grinned at her astute assessment. “Iwaswondering why now.”
Bernice leaned back in her chair and nodded. “It’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to Andi about for many years, but there hasn’t been a suitable area of land available this close to the Strip for a long time.”
“I never liked the Excalibur,” Andi said. “It always seemed too immature to be in Vegas.”
“I agree completely.” Bernice rolled her eyes.
Andi leaned forward. “Were you present when they demolished it?”
Bernice matched her motion.The dance is on. Taryn relaxed back in her chair to watch while she sipped her exquisite-tasting water.
“Present?” Bernice chuckled. “I pushed the detonator. I would’ve laid some of the explosives if my safety team hadn’t deemed it too dangerous.” Her eyebrows raised almost imperceptibly.
Andi raised her chin. “And you like danger, I guess, since you’ve seen so many of our shows?”
“I do.”
Taryn wasn’t sure she’d be able to get Andi on her feet to get her out of the office. The more Bernice talked, the less solid Andi became. The transformation was almost visual it was so obvious.
“I find your willingness to risk your lives for the benefit of the audience absolutely intoxicating.” She shrugged, elegantly, of course. “I believe it’s the twenty-first century equivalent of the gladiatorial arena, don’t you think? Only the most courageous survive.”
