Page 3 of The Decadent Gift (The Gift 3)
A sexy little purr.
Nina arched a brow above the frame of her red glasses. “Only you could make the phrase talking points sound deliciously sensual.”
I grinned, then blew on my burgundy fingernails. “That’s my job, girls. Make everything sound enticing.”
“You are the best at leading the denizens of this city to the enchanted forest of naughty,” Lily added.
I winked at her. “Because everyone wants to be led. I’m a tour guide into the magical land of dirty fairy tales.” That was an apt description of the type of marketing work I handled. Plenty of my clients wanted the typical splash and fanfare of a marketing campaign, like the casinos, celebrity chef pop-up restaurants, and new designer boutiques we handled. But others, such as the occasional gentleman’s club or high-stakes players’ games, required a more unconventional approach to reach the right clientele.
“What’s the game, then? And what are the rules and the stakes?” Lily asked as she dipped her roll in soy sauce.
I tipped my forehead in the direction of the bride squad. “The game is this—what are they up to tonight?”
“The bride and her posse?” Nina asked.
“Yes. Let’s make our best guesses as to the agenda for their Thursday night,” I said in a low voice. “The rules are simple. Whoever makes the best case, wins.”
“You and your love of bets,” Nina said with a smile and a shake of her head.
“Me and my bets,” I echoed.
“What are the stakes?” Nina asked, a skeptical note in her voice. “Better not be a free latte, because I already have one of those coming tomorrow thanks to my coffee-shop loyalty card.” She preened. “I got my tenth punch today. It’s okay to be jealous.”
I laughed at the pun she might not have intended. “You’re all about getting cards punched lately, aren’t you?” I teased, unable to resist tweaking my good friend, who shed her virginity mere months ago with her next-door neighbor.
She’d chosen well. Adam was now her fiancé.
Nina shot me an oh no you didn’t look. “You really went there?”
“She really went there,” Lily added as she laughed.
Nina rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine. Yes, after I punched my V-card, I set to work on my coffee-shop bucket list,” she said in a singsong voice. “I’m working through latte drinks now instead of sex positions. Anyway, back to your game, dirty fairy godmother.”
I set a hand on my chest. “C’est moi.” I exhaled, returning to the rules. “For stakes—how about winner chooses dessert for us to share?”
“Dessert is a vital item on a girls’ night out menu,” Lily said, and Nina nodded her agreement.
I set down my chopsticks, nodded to the bride pack, then imitated the Jeopardy! countdown clock. “For choice of dessert, Alex, this is what the crew will be doing tonight . . .”
Nina whipped her gaze around, studying the ladies, a serious look in her brown eyes.
Lily stared too, her brow furrowing as she seemed to take mental notes on the women, her reporter’s radar surely firing. “What is a bar crawl, a limo ride, and a nighttime pool party?” she declared.
Interesting picks. But why had she chosen those? The why was critical in any marketing pursuit. “And your reasoning?”
“One of the ladies is wearing a bikini,” Lily said, stating the facts. “But the series of drinks tells me it’s going to be a long night at the bar, and long nights at the bar usually involve limos. And limos are fun with friends.”
“True that.” I pointed to Nina. “Your turn.”
“I’m rolling the dice in a different direction. Since they’re giving off a man-candy vibe, I say, what is Magic Mike Live, Chippendales, and a round of slots along the way? Probably at the Aladdin slot machine.”
I raised my brow at Nina’s addendum. “That’s oddly specific.” I wiggled my fingers, urging her to serve it up. “I need more detail on the Aladdin bit.”
“Have you seen Jafar on the slot machine by the roulette table? He’s hotter than a desert day,” Nina said, a naughty glint in her brown eyes.
Picturing the villain on the machine, I hummed my appreciation—for her answer, and the slot machine hottie. “Jafar doesn’t always get his due. Of all the villains, he’s probably the most bangable,” I admitted.
“Live-action Jafar, that is,” Lily put in, licking her lips.
“Yes,” I said, laughing as I pictured the recent flick. “I’m definitely talking about live-action Jafar. I can resist the cartoon one easily. But Mr. Tall, Dark, Handsome, and Decidedly Nefarious is hard to look away from.”
“Let’s raise a glass to all the hot villains,” Nina said, then turned the game back to me. “Your turn, Kate. What do you imagine they’re up to?”
I drew a deep inhalation, putting on my observation hat. The one I loved wearing. Because this was my world—what-ifs and scenarios.
I rolled through some in my mind. Would they go for a traditional bachelorette party–style night, with bawdy girl-centric activities? Perhaps a night of dancing and clubbing? Or something a little wilder?
