My Secret Life Page 6

  “You are a tough taskmaster,” Katie grumbled.

  “It’s for your own good,” Tanisha said sagely. “Builds character.”

  “Sure, I’d like to see how good you’d be at giving up sex.”

  “I’m not the one who was caught doing the deed with the wrong man at a masquerade party.”

  “Touché.” Yes, while initially Liam might have been the wrong man, Katie found herself wondering if fate, in its roundabout way, might have actually dealt her the right man.

  She thought of how he’d stared at her when she’d called him out into the hallway for their private chat. How very close his lips had been to hers. She felt hot and bothered all over. But before she had time to fully ride that train of thought Max marched into the office.

  “Winfield,” he barked.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “I don’t have to tell you what landing the James account means to this firm.”

  “No, sir.”

  “And if making you art director is what it takes to seal the deal, then of course, I’m agreeing to it.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “But I’m not happy about this development. I don’t know what you’ve got going on with Liam—”

  “Sir, let me assure you, there’s nothing going on,” Katie said.

  Max snorted. “Please, I saw the way the man was staring at you. If nothing is going on yet, then he’s looking to start something up.”

  Katie’s face heated. Was their attraction that obvious? “Nothing’s going on,” she reiterated. Hadn’t she just turned over a new leaf?

  Max impatiently waved away her denial. “Here it is. I don’t know what’s happening with you two and I really don’t care. All I care is that you pull off this campaign to his satisfaction. Personally, I don’t think you’re ready for the art-director position. You’re too young, too unmotivated.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but Max cut her off. “I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt. Do well with this project and the promotion will be permanent. But if you screw this up, you’re out on your can. Got it?”

  “Got it.” She resisted the urge to salute.

  “As long as we’re clear on this. Now, get to work.” Max turned and stalked out of the office.

  Katie slumped down in her chair. Talk about pressure.

  She only had three measly days to come up with a design plan that would blow Liam’s socks off. If she wanted to keep her job, she had to make sure their attraction stayed firmly under control.

  How to accomplish both goals?

  She spent the remainder of the workday pondering the question. On the way to her car that evening, she passed by the pet shop and noticed that the cocker spaniel was still in the window. The minute the pup spied her, he went up on his hind legs, pushing his front paws up against the glass, tail wagging madly.

  “Hey, boy.” She greeted him.

  The pup barked.

  Katie started to back up.

  He barked louder.

  Katie’s heart melted. She cupped her hands around her eyes, pressed her face to the glass. The lights were on inside and she saw customers moving around. The store was still open.

  The quaint silver bell over the door tinkled welcomingly as Katie stepped inside. The woman behind the counter greeted her with a New Englander’s slow, syllabled “Hey-ya.”

  “Hello.” Katie smiled at the woman, but her eyes were on the puppy. She leaned over the barrier keeping the cocker penned in the window and tickled her fingers over his soft fur. The puppy licked Katie’s hand with his warm, wet tongue.

  Katie giggled.

  It would be so easy to fall in love with him.

  Like there’s any room in your life for a pet. You, who’ve killed every houseplant you’ve ever owned.

  Yes, but she was doing things differently now. No more late-night partying. No more random hookups. No more impromptu weekend trips out of town. There would be room in her new lifestyle for a puppy.

  It was a nice thought.

  Better make sure the changes stick before you rush headlong into buying a dog.

  Yes, just because she was giving up men didn’t mean she could use a puppy as a substitute. Sighing wistfully, she left the pet shop.

  Twenty minutes later, she walked through the door of her condo, the daily mail tucked under her arm. She kicked off her stilettos in the foyer, tossed her sweater over the back of a kitchen chair, then made a beeline for the refrigerator and the leftover dim sum takeout Tanisha had brought over the night before.

  She heated the food in the microwave and ate standing over the sink as she leafed through the stack of mail. Catalog, catalog, bill, circular. She tossed those aside, but stopped when she came to a jazzy pink envelope with her name embossed with gold foil calligraphy.

  Hmm, what was this?

  It looked interesting. She glanced at the return address, saw it was from a nightclub called Chassys. Frowning, Katie tore into the envelope, trying to remember if she’d ever been to this bar.

  Dear Ms. Winfield,

  You are invited to join Martinis and Bikinis. We are a social club offering group encouragement and support for women seeking personal growth and empowerment through pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.

  You are exactly the kind of member we’re looking for.

  Smart, educated, influential. If you’re interested in joining our group, we meet the first Thursday of every month at Chassys nightclub. Please find driving directions enclosed. We’re looking forward to meeting you.

  Sincerely,

  Lindsay Beckham

  President, Martinis and Bikinis

  How timely. It was as if this Lindsay Beckham person had read her mind. Empowerment and personal growth. That was exactly what she needed right now.

  And the Martinis and Bikinis’ next meeting was this Thursday.

  What did she have to lose? She might as well go. Who knew? This group might be the thing she needed to stick with her new plan to tread the straight and narrow.

  WHEN THURSDAY evening rolled around, Katie dressed in black slacks, a blue-and-white angora sweater, black boots and modest gold jewelry. Following the driving directions that accompanied the invitation, she ended up in an older neighborhood of South Boston, currently undergoing an economic resurgence.

  Chassys was located at 431 Beaumont Street in an older brick building next door to the Yarn Barn. Just a few buildings down from a brand-new Starbucks. Here, apartments were located over most of the shops, restaurants and nightclubs. After circling the crowded block a couple of times, she found a parking spot on a side street and walked back to the bar. Her boots clacked with a clear, determined sound against the uneven sidewalk.

  This is it. The fresh start to my new life. Viva female empowerment.

  It was a high-traffic area. This time of the evening, there were lots of couples and groups of young singles milling about. The area was a far cry from the upscale establishments she normally frequented.

  But when she pushed through the mahogany-paneled door, Katie stepped into a dazzling oasis. Chassys was unexpectedly classy. The furnishings were sleek, new and thoroughly modern.

  The floor was constructed of a cherry hardwood, the bar and tabletops dark granite. The barstools were black leather with chrome trim. White Japanese lanterns hung from the ceiling, offering lots of subtle lighting. Chic, atmospheric music filtered in through a state-of-the art sound system, setting the mood with a rhythmic beat.

  The bar was packed with a hip, lively crowd and Katie, who was usually right at home in nightclub hot spots, suddenly felt intimidated. Clutching the invitation in her hand, she inched her way through the crowd and headed for the bar.

  “What can I get you?” asked the hunky, dark-haired bartender in black denim and a black T-shirt, who had to shout to be heard over the humming throng. Any other time, Katie might have been inclined to tease him. But she’d put aside her flirtatious ways.

  “I’m here for a meeting,” she shout
ed back and waved the invitation for him to see.

  “Then you’ll be wanting the Passion-tini.”

  “No—” she shook her head “—I got invited to join a group called Martinis and Bikinis.”

  “That’s right.” He nodded and flashed a white-toothed grin. “Chassys prepares a different Bikinitini every month. September is Passion-tini month. It’s a sassy mixture of passion fruit, mint, fresh lime juice and citrus vodka. Addictive stuff.”

  “Hook me up.”

  He made the drink and slid it across the bar. She reached in her purse for a twenty, but he held up his palm. “Drinks are on the house for Martinis and Bikinis first timers.”

  “Really?” Ooh, she liked this club already. “Thanks.”

  “The group is meeting right through there.” He jerked his thumb toward a curtain at the back of the room. “I think everyone’s pretty much here.”

  Suddenly, she felt a little weak-kneed with nervousness. Katie took a long pull of the Passion-tini. It was delicious and powerful enough to bolster her determination to change her life.

  Tentatively, she edged back the black silk curtain and stepped into a room with black upholstered banquettes on both sides and several small tables in the middle of the room.

  There were about thirty women in attendance, each holding a Passion-tini and clustered in small groups, engaged in animated conversations. Apparently the official meeting had yet to begin.

  Not knowing anyone, Katie felt out of place.

  A tall elegant-looking blonde standing in the front of the room caught Katie’s attention. Her hair was combed back off her forehead, revealing a stunning widow’s peak. She had high, beautiful cheekbones that put her in mind of Meryl Streep. Her eyes were deep blue and she had a smile on her face, but it was easy to see she was a reserved woman who held her real emotions closely in check.

  “Hiya,” said a short, breathy-voiced woman with curly auburn hair, snapping brown eyes and apple-dumpling cheeks. She stuck her hand out. “You must be new. I’m Tanya.”

  One look in Tanya’s eyes and she immediately felt welcome. “Nice to meet you, Tanya. I’m Katie.”

  “I just joined M&B a few months ago myself.” Tanya giggled. “I kid you not. These ladies saved my life after a lousy divorce. Are you divorced? A lot of women join M&B after a divorce.”

  “Never married.”

  “Good for you. That’s one way to avoid ending up with a louse.” Tanya giggled again and that’s when Katie realized the giggling was a dodge for her nervousness. Knowing Tanya was nervous, as well, soothed Katie’s own trepidation.

  “Who’s that?” Katie nodded her head at the sleek blonde.

  “Oh, that’s Lindsay Beckham. She’s the owner of Chassys and founder of our group. She’s quite the businesswoman and so daring. She’s an example for us all. She’s helped empower so many women. Including my best pal, Kim.”

  “Which one is Kim?”

  “She’s not here tonight.” Giggling, Tanya lowered her voice. “She’s recovering from getting a boob job that was part of her Martini dare.”

  “Martini dare?”

  “You’ll see. It’s the reason for the club. The group dares you to go beyond your comfort zone and then offers emotional support for you in the process.”

  “So let me get this straight. The group dared your friend Kim to get a boob job?”

  Tanya shook her head. “No, they dared her to do something she’d always wanted to do, but had been too afraid to take the leap.”

  “So what have you dared?” Katie leaned down closer to whisper to Tanya and her gaze strayed to the woman’s ample bosom.

  Tanya caught the look, giggled and wiggled proudly. “These are all me. I haven’t done a dare yet.”

  “How come?”

  “Lindsay doesn’t think I’m ready.”

  “Oh, so Lindsay gets to decide who takes a dare and when?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Lindsay sounds like a bit of a control freak.”

  Tanya’s eyes widened as she looked around Katie’s shoulder. “Um, Katie…”

  “She’s standing right behind me, isn’t she?”

  Tanya just giggled.

  Oh, gosh, when was she ever going to learn to keep her big trap shut? This certainly wasn’t an auspicious start to her first Martinis and Bikinis meeting.

  Cringing, Katie turned to face the woman and sheepishly wiggled her fingertips. “Hi, there.”

  “Lindsay Beckham, resident control freak.” A bemused look was in the woman’s eyes, but she wasn’t smiling. Katie couldn’t tell if she was pissed off or amused.

  “Katie Winfield.”

  Lindsay studied her with an appraising look and she took so long in responding that Katie began to think it might be best if she just slunk out of there.

  “I have an invitation.” She held it up. “See?”

  Lindsay looked past Katie. “You came alone?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well, it’s nice to have you. Please take a seat. The meeting is about to start.”

  Tanya plopped down at an empty table and patted the seat next to her. Kate sat down beside her.

  The program started with the women who’d completed their dares from the previous month regaling the rest of the audience with the details of their adventures. One woman had gone skydiving, and she rhapsodized about the experience. Another had dared to ask out her handsome new neighbor, only to discover to her disappointment that he was gay.

  The group gave them a rousing round of applause and then Lindsay stepped up again. “And now, we’ve reached the part of the evening where two members of our group are chosen to pick a scroll from the sacred Box of Dares.”

  A ripple of excitement ran through the crowd as Lindsay made a big production of bringing out a heavy wooden box.

  “As always, we recite the rules first.” Lindsay pantomimed unrolling a parchment and held up the invisible rules in front of her. “The members chosen for the dare must be approved by a majority of the membership present. As you swore when you joined Martinis and Bikinis, once you agree to pick a dare, there’s no backing out. Period. Even quitting the group will not exempt you from your most serious obligation.” She looked out over the gathered women. “Hands up if you understand.”

  Everyone except Katie raised their hands. She was only visiting.

  “Then by the completely nonimportant authority vested in me by the Martinis and Bikinis Organization, I announce that Sherry will take the first dare this month. Everyone agree?”

  It was a unanimous vote.

  Sherry, a thin but curvaceous blonde with short spiked hair and crimson lipstick, bounced up to the front of the room. Katie noticed her hand shook slightly as she drew out a scrolled piece of parchment wrapped with a red ribbon. These women took their dares seriously.

  After untying the ribbon, Sherry rolled down the scroll and read her dare aloud. “Take a ride in an expensive Italian sports car, but do it completely in the nude.”

  The women hooted and catcalled and craned forward with interest. “Go, Sherry!” someone shouted.

  Pfft, that sounded easy to Katie. She thought of the Babes Gone Braless video she’d appeared in during spring break her sophomore year of college. Now that was a dare.

  Remember, you’ve sworn off doing rash things. Maybe this group isn’t for you if they encourage people to do rash things.

  “Katie.” Lindsay held up the box and shook it. “Your turn.”

  She splayed a hand to her chest. “Me?”

  “Yes, you.”

  “But…but I’m new.”

  Lindsay looked around at the group. “Anyone opposed to Katie picking tonight?”

  Katie was the only one who raised her hand.

  “Majority rules.” Lindsay wagged the box. “You’re up.”

  “I’m not even an official member,” Katie protested.

  “You can join tonight.”

  Katie shook her head. “I’m not sure I’m ready to
make that commitment.”

  “What’s the matter? Are you too afraid to empower your life?” Lindsay challenged.

  Katie narrowed her eyes. She knew what this was about. Lindsay was getting even with her for that control-freak comment by making her choose a dare on her very first night.

  Not one to back down from a challenge, Katie shot to her feet. For a split second, a wave of panic washed over her. Here she was again, jumping headlong into something without considering the consequences. But she wasn’t about to let Lindsay see her hesitate.

  With a toss of her head, she marched to the front of the room, stuck her hand in the box and drew her first dare.

  She slipped the red velvet ribbon from the crisp parchment scroll, unrolled it and read out loud to the room. “You have drawn a three-part dare. Each of your dares is to be completed within one week’s time. The second and third dares will be mailed to reach you by the Thursday of each week. For this week, your dare is to make love to the man of your dreams in a forbidden place.”

  Stunned, Katie turned to gape at Lindsay. It was as if the dare had been tailor-made for her. Correction. Tailor-made for the old Katie. The one who used to do foolish things like make love to strangers in closets.

  “Ball’s in your court, Katie.” Lindsay smirked. “Are you all talk? Or do you dare?”

  ANTICIPATION.

  A heightened sense of expectation had been nipping at his heels for three days. Liam was so stoked about seeing Katie again that he pulled into the secure parking lot three blocks down from Sharper Designs fifteen minutes ahead of their scheduled Friday meeting.

  All week long, he’d kept thinking about Tony’s advice.

  Seduce Katie Winfield. Have a good time. Sow a few wild oats.

  His body tensed with the thought of her. His mouth filled with the remembered taste of her sweet lips as he hopped out of his Lamborghini, briefcase in tow and headed for Sharper Designs.

  And then, as if he’d conjured her from thin air, Liam spied Katie standing on the sidewalk, peering into the window of a pet store.

  Irresistibly, his eyes were drawn to her. Her sleek blond Boston Brahmin hair was capped off by a bright red beret. She looked incredibly jaunty as she raised a lithe hand, doffed the beret and lightly combed her fingers through her tousled tresses before putting it back on again.