Swept Away. Dawn Atkins

laughed, warmed by his praise.

      “How did you learn this, anyway?” he asked.

      “Some of it’s instinct, but I practice. Also, I’ve been going on client visits with one of our customer liaisons, picking up customer interests and ideas.”

      “I didn’t know you did that.”

      “There’s lots you don’t know about me,” she said, advancing her cause, she hoped.

      “I imagine so,” he said softly, studying her. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she had a feeling it was more personal than professional.

      “Anyway, now it’s your turn to try. If we were at a convention, I’d challenge you to collect twenty business cards.”

      “I doubt many of these people carry cards,” Matt said, watching two girls in bikinis walk by.

      “So collect phone numbers.”

      “Won’t the women think I’m coming on to them?”

      “Not if you give off a business vibe. Or you could just talk to the men.”

      “So they can think I’m coming on to them?”

      She laughed. “No man with functional gaydar would think you’re playing for the other team.”

      “It’s because I don’t layer, isn’t it?” He pretended to be sad, shaking his head in false gloom.

      “Definitely,” she joked, not willing to dwell on the details of his masculinity. “We’ll fix that tomorrow.”

      “Uh-oh,” Matt said.

      “Relax. I promise it will be as painless as possible.”

      “I’m in your hands.”

      Don’t I wish. A sigh escaped her and Matt’s eyes locked on.

      “What the hell is that?”

      They both jolted at the interruption. Jaycee was pointing at the booze boat, then crouched beside Matt so her breasts bulged up at him like grapefruit fighting for air.

      “It’s a Tsunami for Two.” Matt held out his straw and Jaycee sipped, leaning forward to emphasize her cleavage. Gentleman that he was, Matt kept his gaze trained on her face.

      “Yum,” she said, smacking her lips. An old Cars tune rocked through the bar. “Want to dance?” she asked him.

      “I can’t dance,” Matt said, shrugging.

      “After that, you can.” She nodded at the Tsunami.

      “Candy and I are talking business.”

      Jaycee looked askance.

      “It can wait,” Candy said. “Go on, Matt.” If he got busy with Jaycee, that would be a surefire end to Candy’s fixation.

      “Maybe later,” he said to Jaycee.

      She shrugged—your loss—then bounded back to her table, not wounded at all.

      “You could have gone,” Candy said in case Matt was trying to be chivalrous. “I’d be fine on my own.”

      “I’m sure you would be,” he said, “but we’re working, right? Isn’t that what you wanted?” He held her gaze, then seemed to catch himself and ducked down to take a long pull on his straw. “This tastes better and better.”

      “Maybe you should give it a rest. Want some?” She tilted her club soda at him.

      “I’m fine,” he said, waving her away, drinking deeply from the booze boat. “I feel more like slapping backs with every swallow. How many phone numbers should I get, coach?”

      “We should make it interesting. Maybe a competition? See which of us can meet the most people?”

      “You’re too good. You’ll win hands down.”

      “I’ll give myself a handicap…say I get two for every one you get. How’s that?”

      “Sounds fair. What are the stakes?”

      “Let me think about that for a while.” She should come up with something they’d both want.

      A roar rose as a woman was passed over the top of a group of guys, then lowered to the floor.

      “It’s kind of crazy in here,” Matt said. “Maybe we should find another place.”

      “You have to seize the moment. You never know where a contact will come from.” She watched five guys drop shots into beer mugs and guzzle them. Matt may have a point.

      “Hey, lady. You, me, there!” Carter pointed at her, then him, then the dance floor.

      She looked at Matt.

      “Go on,” he said. “I’ve got this to finish.” He motioned at the Tsunami.

      “I wouldn’t, if I were you,” she said, but Carter had led her too far away to be heard over the noise.

      On the crowded dance floor, Carter rested his hands lightly on her hips for the slowish song. She looked over at Matt, who was sucking down his drink way too fast.

      “So, what are you doing after this?” Carter asked.

      “Huh?” She looked at him. “After this?”

      “Yeah. After this.” He was clearly interested in spending more time with her, but with Matt around, she didn’t dare risk anything that might reinforce her party-girl image.

      “Working,” she said sadly.

      He looked at her questioningly.

      “Really,” she said on a sigh. She glanced toward Matt just as a curvy brunette in a teensy bikini was leading him to the floor. That was a surprise.

      When they were close enough, Matt leaned toward Candy. “I’ll be getting her number,” he said, sounding a bit boozy. The Tsunami seemed to have reached land.

      He turned to his partner, who promptly wiggled down his body, freak style, then up again. Matt’s eyes went wide and he froze.

      Candy almost burst out laughing. The girl turned her back, bent forward and rubbed her bottom in a deliberate circle against his crotch.

      Matt looked at Candy over the woman’s bent body and shrugged, hands up.