Enticing Winter Read online

  “Oh, Winter, that would be awesome. I was worried—”

  “I was not being serious,” Winter said, cutting off the rest of Angelique’s sentence. “I’d rather have a root canal than tell a client we can’t deliver on what we promised. I’ll have to figure something else out.”

  “Why don’t you have another model wear that piece?”

  Winter quirked one eyebrow and blinked several times. “I’ll pretend like you didn’t just say that my customized piece that was made to fit your measurements exactly could be worn by another model. Those chic black pieces are the signature look for our European-inspired lingerie collection and you are the only model who can pull off the look.”

  “I’ll make it up to you when I get back to Chicago,” Angelique said, rushing Winter off the phone. “It’s the last boarding call. Talk to you soon!”

  Winter dropped her head to the floor as she listened to the silence on the other end of the call. “Ugh! Must be nice to get whisked away on a trip to Paris.” She knew she sounded bitter, but at the moment, she didn’t care. Angelique was one of her best models. Also the first model who had signed up when word spread through the Chicago fashion industry that Bare Sophistication had decided to throw masquerade lingerie events to promote signature pieces from their store. Winter had been in business with her sisters for over two years now and she was really excited about the direction Bare Sophistication was taking.

  She and her sisters had immediately developed a great business model. Winter handled all the visual merchandising and design for the lingerie store. Autumn managed the business and sales, while Summer handled all public relations and advertising despite the fact that she was currently residing in Miami. Their newly appointed manager, Danni Allison, assisted in the daily operations and staff management.

  Last month Winter had decided that it was time to bring their boutique to another level. She’d come up with the idea of throwing upscale masquerade lingerie events that offered customized pieces that weren’t available in-store and therefore only available if purchased at an elaborate masquerade lingerie party. In addition, they also offered sexy European-inspired nightwear and robes to complement the lingerie.

  With the help of her friends at Elite Events Incorporated, Winter had been able to gather a list of Chicago’s most influential women. She’d then sent the group of women a special invitation so that those interested could schedule an informational one-on-one meeting to learn more about hosting a Bare Sophistication masquerade lingerie event. Within a week, she had ten events lined up.

  “Winter, are you in there?”

  Winter cracked the door open and pulled Danni inside the closet. “Angelique can’t make the lingerie fashion show tonight.”

  Danni’s eyes grew big with panic, mirroring exactly how Winter felt. Tonight was their first event and Winter’s first client, Kaya Reed, was extremely excited to have Bare Sophistication host a lingerie party for her best friend’s bachelorette party. Despite the fact that Winter had an adamant dislike for Kaya’s older brother Taheim Reed, she had eagerly agreed to help Kaya, who happened to be a sweetheart, throw a party her friend would never forget.

  Unfortunately, that included a top-notch lingerie fashion show that ended with the signature piece Kaya was convinced her bestie would appreciate as a bachelorette gift. Which was why it was imperative that she have a model actually try on the best piece in the collection.

  “There’s absolutely no way she can make it here in time?” Danni asked.

  “Nope, her boyfriend surprised her with a trip to Paris.”

  “Aww, how romantic. I wonder if he’ll propose on the trip. I bet Angelique is hoping he proposes. If you had seen the two of them in the store the other day when he picked her up for lunch... They were so cute...”

  “Danni,” Winter said as she waved a hand in front of her to cut her off. Winter hated being rude, but she had little time to put together a backup plan now that Angelique was a no-show. “Sorry to cut you off, but we need to focus. Can we switch out any of the models to have them try on the special piece?”

  Danni quirked her mouth to the side in thought. “I’m sure we can, but we also chose Angelique because she was similar in size and build to the bride-to-be. That way the bride would have a visual of how she would look before Kaya surprised her with the customized set we made for her.”

  “I understand, but we may have to make do with another model.” Even as the words left her mouth, Winter found it hard to believe them. Oftentimes her sisters teased her about being a go-with-the-flow type of woman. But when she wanted things to go a certain way and plans didn’t work out, she could never hide her disappointment.

  “You know there’s another solution to this problem,” Danni said.

  “I’m all ears.”

  Danni averted her eyes as if trying to find the right words. “There’s only one woman who is similar to Angelique.” Hopeful eyes met Winter’s.

  “I know you’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting.”

  “Oh, come on, Winter.” Danni tugged on her arm. “You’d look amazing in the piece and you definitely have the shape for it.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.” Winter knew that there would come a time when one of her models would flake on her. But there was absolutely no way she was modeling the lingerie herself.

  “I have an image to uphold and modeling in little to nothing isn’t exactly the visual I want to leave for the women in that room.”

  “Angelique was going to wear a masquerade mask anyway that covered half her face. Even if some of the ladies know it’s you, they won’t say anything. Plus, half of them are tipsy anyway.”

  Of course, Winter knew all about the mask since she was the one who’d decided on the look for Angelique. But that wasn’t the point.

  “Danni, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Do you have a better one?” When Winter remained silent, Danni continued. “Okay, then. Let’s get out of this closet and get you ready. The other models are preparing in the bathrooms and spare room on this level, but Kaya said we could use the bedroom upstairs if we need more room.”

  Reluctantly, Winter let Danni drag her down the hall. She passed a few ladies who spoke about what a great time they were having so far. The minute they walked into the bedroom in the corner of the second level, Winter knew it was Taheim’s.

  “Is there another room we can use?”

  Danni squinted her eyes in confusion. “Don’t be silly—this is fine. I have to make sure the ladies are ready since you’ll now be in the show instead of running the show.” She ushered Winter into the room before turning quickly on her heels. “I’ll grab your lingerie outfit and I’ll be right back so you can change. Don’t worry—you’ll be great.”

  She didn’t have a chance to respond before Danni was out the door, leaving her alone in the last place she wanted to be. Large black-and-gray contemporary furniture filled the confines of the spacious bedroom, which was equipped with a water wall and sunken living space.

  Of course Mr. Too-Arrogant-for-His-Own-Good has a bedroom to die for. She wouldn’t put it past him to have a walk-in closet bigger than her bedroom either. The closet she’d been hiding in earlier was already half the size of her bedroom. As if her feet had a mind of their own, they carried her in the direction of the closet, which began to slide open the minute she stepped in front of it.

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” she said aloud as her hand grazed over the first row of clothing hanging on the lower pole. Just as she’d predicted, his closet was bigger than her entire bedroom. Whenever she thought about Taheim Reed, all that came to mind was complete and utter frustration. The man was a walking nuisance and even though she seemed to be the only woman in Chicago not falling for the playboy, it didn’t ease her irritation.

  The first time she’d hear
d about Taheim, she’d been attending an annual networking event thrown by Elite Events Incorporated. While she’d met the Elite Event ladies through her cousins Micah and Malik Madden, that day she’d really bonded with them and had been surprised when they mentioned that they had a friend she would be perfect for.

  Winter would rather have had a full-body wax than go on a blind date, but with a little coaxing, she’d agreed to the setup. Fortunately, since she’d been busy getting her company off the ground and Taheim had been promoting his clothing line, they hadn’t immediately gotten a chance to go on that date. She’d thought she’d dodged a bullet until her new friends suggested they go out before the first practice for the Elite Events Charity Date Auction, which both she and Taheim were a part of. If she’d known then what she knew now, she would have told them there was no way in hell she was going on a date with Taheim Reed.

  Winter left the walk-in closet—which conveniently closed right after she’d exited—and ran her hand across a couple cologne bottles sitting on the top of his dresser. She then moved her hands over his watches. She tilted her head to the side and admired the black watch box, which seemed big enough to hold more than fifty watches. When her eyes landed on the watch he’d been wearing when they’d gone out, her stomach stirred with awareness and something she refused to acknowledge. She thought back to the moment he’d entered the restaurant wearing a business suit, clearly having just come from a meeting. Even though he had been almost an hour late and she’d been ready to leave, she had called her sister Autumn, who’d convinced her to stay.

  She’d been caught off guard by his good looks. She’d seen pictures of him, but those photos hadn’t done the milk-chocolate Adonis justice.

  “Here’s the outfit,” Danni said, causing Winter to jump, as if Danni could see the direction her naughty mind was going. “If you head down in about fifteen to twenty minutes, that should be fine.”

  “Okay,” Winter mumbled as Danni closed the door behind her. She glanced at the black lace material lying on the bed and the stylish black-and-white masquerade mask that would complete her overall look. She hadn’t really modeled since she was in college, but desperate times called for desperate measures. There was no doubt in her mind that the group of women downstairs were ready to purchase one-of-a-kind Bare Sophistication pieces.

  * * *

  “I can’t believe I forgot the spare key,” Taheim Reed whispered to himself as he tiptoed through the door of his condo and quickly made his way to the flight of stairs leading to the second floor.

  When his sister, Kaya, had asked if she could use his condo for her best friend’s bachelorette party, Taheim had immediately agreed. Kaya was his heart and there was nothing that he—or his older brother, Ajay—wouldn’t do for her, even if that meant having a bunch of tipsy women in his place. So he’d packed an overnight bag and headed to his friend Jaleen’s condo so that Kaya could have the freedom to do as she pleased. But forgetting the spare key to his friend’s place wasn’t part of the plan. Especially since Jaleen was out of town. Now he was sneaking into his own home, attempting to go unseen by his sister or any of the other women in attendance.

  When he hit the top of the stairs, he briefly looked over the banister to see if his eyes were playing tricks on him. What the hell is going on? he thought as he observed several women strutting around his place in lingerie. He expected to see half-naked women at a bachelor party, but a bachelorette party? It didn’t make sense. When he caught a glimpse of Kaya talking to another attractive woman in lace lingerie, he figured it was best if he got the key and exited as quickly as possible.

  As he made his way down the hall, he thought about the fact he had never asked Kaya what type of bachelorette party she was throwing. He trusted his sister to be responsible and the last thing he wanted was to hear the details of the type of night she was preparing. Seeing as his condo had turned into a scene right out of a late-night adult reality show, he probably should have asked a few more questions.

  He opened the double doors of his bedroom and immediately stopped in his tracks. Standing in the middle of his sunken living room, slowly pulling up a pair of thigh-high stockings, was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  Her back was completely bare with the exception of a pearl thong delicately placed between two plump cheeks he was dying to get his hands on. Her long hair was delicately draped to one side in soft brown curls. The black heels adorning her feet were the type meant to stay on in the bedroom...the kind that appeared in every man’s fantasy. Similar to the type of fantasy Taheim was witnessing right now.

  He didn’t know who this seductress was in his room and damned if he even cared. Obviously, like the other women downstairs, she was participating in whatever was going on for the bachelorette party. But unlike the other women he’d seen, this one made every fiber in his body come to life. What man wouldn’t be standing on high alert upon finding an attractive woman half-naked in his bedroom? But that wasn’t all that had him salivating over her as if he were a starved man who’d just been told he could have anything on the menu. It was the crazy notion that this woman was in his bedroom for him and him only, his for the taking.

  Taheim could definitely have his share of women, but looking at the tempting beauty oblivious to his arrival made him feel as if it had been months since he’d had sex instead of weeks.

  She lifted her right leg and slightly bent her back as she tied the black ribbon at the top of her thigh-high stockings. When she lightly adjusted the pearls at the top of the thong, Taheim sucked in a breath, unable to hold back his lust any longer.

  He let out a slow whistle as he took a gradual perusal of her body from her thighs and up her back, lingering at the delicate slope of her neck.

  At the sound of his voice, she began to slowly turn her head over her left shoulder to the door where he was standing. His heart began beating faster as he waited for her to completely turn around to face where he stood. When she finally did, she gasped in surprise. He was sure her gasp was nothing in comparison to the groan that had escaped his lips.

  The black-and-white mask covering half of her face only enticed him more. Who was this woman? And how did he get so lucky as to find her in his bedroom? He was so busy taking in his fill of her that he almost didn’t realize that she was removing her mask. He waited in anticipation as inch by inch she revealed herself. Once the mask was completely removed, it took every ounce of energy he had to try to maintain a neutral face.

  Of course it’s her. It had to be the world’s idea of playing a cruel joke on him. Was she the worst date he’d ever had? Hell yeah. Was she still extremely beautiful? Absolutely. Did she still elicit feelings inside him that he wished would just go away? Of course she did. Was she the last person he wanted to see in his bedroom? Not really.

  How, out of all the women in the world, was she the one standing in his bedroom wearing barely anything? Then she bit her lip, obvious desire in her gaze...and he lost his train of thought completely.

  Chapter 2

  Cover yourself, Winter thought to herself. She wanted to grab the blanket draped over the sofa so that Taheim would stop looking at her as though he wanted to cross the room and drag her to the bed. Even worse, she was sure she would willingly let him drag her anywhere.

  She’d seen him at a couple events in Chicago since their blind date and had learned a bit more about him. But they had both managed to avoid each other most of the time, and when they didn’t, they’d just ended up arguing about unrelated things. Even when they’d caught each other’s gazes on occasion, it hadn’t been anything like the sexual chemistry currently floating through the room.

  “Kaya said I could come in here to change,” she said nervously. She didn’t even know why she was so nervous. One thing Winter didn’t do was get nervous around men. Especially men she couldn’t stand.

  “No problem.” She waited for
him to say more, but his eyes trailed down to her body, reminding her that he had an unobstructed view of the most risqué part of the lingerie.

  She quickly moved her hands to cover the front part of her thong and was rewarded by Taheim sucking in his breath in admiration.

  “You look beautiful,” he said as he brought his gaze back to her face. She blinked several times, caught off guard by his sincerity.

  “Thanks.”

  “I just forgot something.” He walked over to his dresser and pulled out what looked like a key. When he turned back to her, he didn’t say anything.

  She didn’t know what was more awkward: the fact that he couldn’t seem to find his voice after seeing her in little to no clothing, or the fact that she usually had a lot to say, but she, too, couldn’t find the right words at the moment.

  She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn’t realize he was walking toward her until he was only a few inches away.

  What is he up to? And why wasn’t she backing away from him instead of moving closer?

  When he reached her, he studied her eyes before his gaze dropped to her lips. She didn’t want to mess up her lipstick, but she couldn’t help but lick them. The groan that escaped his mouth made her bring her eyes toward his lips, as well. In her spare time, Winter often liked to paint, and the shape of his lips was the perfect subject.

  Focus, Winter! Don’t forget he was the worst blind date of your life. It wasn’t that she’d forgotten that tidbit of info, but more like she was just choosing to ignore it.

  “May I?” he asked, the deep timbre of his voice causing her nipples to harden instantly.

  “Sure,” she said, surprised that her voice was so breathless. Wait, what did I just agree to?