Power Trip(3)

Their differences were physical too. Jake was dark, with swarthy skin and a stocky build. She knew most people considered him ugly since he was short and his smooth, bald skull flowed into his shoulders with no neck to speak of. He had a barrel chest, thighs as thick as his squat body and densely muscled calves. His shoulders were rounded, powerful, his lips fleshy, and his ears were small and curved. His eyes were his one truly beautiful feature, but he kept them covered by wraparound shades, even inside the club. Jake wasn’t a beauty, no doubt about it, but he was her brother and she thought he was perfect, even though she was going to tear him a new one when she finally found him.

She drifted through the central aisle, throwing spare glances left and right. She tried not to look shocked, or worse, like a pervert as she looked for her brother in the booths. Presumably, most of these folks liked to be watched. She couldn’t think of any other reason a woman would allow someone to clamp her nipples in public. Likewise, she guessed that the man crouched at his date’s feet didn’t want to sit in the open space across from her at the table.

She glanced up and squeaked when she saw someone gazing down at her from a cage. She picked up her pace. Jake wasn’t going to be suspended in a cage. His muscle mass would bring it crashing to the floor and kill someone. Plus, he couldn’t manage the bar from up there.

She peered into the last booth. A man with electric-blue eyes stared back at her. She nearly stumbled. Holy shit, he was hot. Absolutely arresting. Dark hair fell just below his chin in an unruly wave that emphasized the bold line of his jaw. His mouth was well-shaped and just beginning to curve in a smile as she dragged her eyes away from the table. There had been another man in the booth. What had he looked like? She couldn’t remember.

Not your type, Doc. You like ’em geeky and what was that word Jake always used? Vanilla. Completely vanilla. That hot guy in black leather wouldn’t give her a second glance anyway, even if he had been giving her a first one.

She hated feeling vulnerable and this environment put her decidedly on edge. Usually she avoided anything and everything that made her feel ignorant and awkward. She much preferred her research lab, where if she didn’t know the answer she could find it by focusing on one thing at a time. This scene had way too many variables for her.

She caught sight of Jake near the back of the bar and relief washed over her, calming her racing pulse. She walked toward him, undeterred by the fact that he was surrounded by mostly-naked women. He hated it when she intruded on his private space, and he was not going to be happy to see her, especially when she told him why she was here. She couldn’t care less. She’d given him ample opportunity to meet her on her turf. He should have answered his damn cell phone.

She squared her shoulders, gearing up to scatter his harem, but her effort was wasted. Jake saw her coming and waved his hand. She stopped in front of him, amused by the petulant looks on the girls’ faces. One of them shot her a venomous glare as she left. Audrey arched an eyebrow in response and wondered if her brother would make the girl pay for that later. Probably. She didn’t understand the satisfaction Jake garnered from this scene—well, other than that, obviously. She understood sexual satisfaction. It was all of the paraphernalia she didn’t get, but whatever.

“Jake.”

“Aud.” She couldn’t see his eyes behind his shades, but the curve of his mouth held laughter. “Dressing down for us, I see.”

“I don’t want to give your friends any ideas.”

“Good thinking. I won’t have to hurt them for touching you.”

She rolled her eyes. “No chance of that.”

He leaned up to kiss her on the cheek. “Can I make you a drink?” he asked, drawing her down the bar to a quieter spot.

She made herself comfortable on a bar stool and waited until he sat beside her. “I’m not here to drink, Jake. Did you read it?”

As she had expected, he shook his head. “Can’t find it.”

“I brought you another copy.” She pulled the letter out of her purse.

He bared his teeth. “It’s not a good idea, Audrey. Can’t you just let it go?”

“I want to meet him, Jake. He wants to meet us. I’m going to go with or without you, but I’d rather have you there.” Playing on his protectiveness all but guaranteed he would give her what she wanted, but it also drove a wedge between them—it was leverage she hadn’t wanted to use. She reached out to tug his shades down so she could see his eyes. “You must want to know.”

He looked at her with irritation. His gaze sharpened, intensified.