"Trina," Eve managed, and her stomach clutched with dread.
"We came by to give you the scoop and poop up close and personal," Mavis announced. "Trina got the line on the products and all, like you asked me. Right, Trina?"
"Right, and right down the line."
"That's great." It's going to be okay, Eve thought. It's just business. "What have you got?"
"Tell her, Trina. Oh, wine! Roarke, you are total." She plunked her pretty butt in its crotch-shot skirt on Eve's desk and beamed at him as he handed around glasses of wine.
"Okay," Trina began. "You got your Youth supercover foundation, burnt honey tone, your mocha, same product. You can get them at any high-end department store or salon. Then you got your unisex powder, in both loose and compact. He went for Deloren there – that's mostly sold in salons and spa centers, 'cause it's too pricey for the regulars."
"How many spots in New York?"
"Oh, two, three dozen easy. He's got fine taste in enhancements. Cheek color's are Deloren, Youth and a nice rose quartz from Salina. The eye stuff – "
"Trina, I appreciate all this, but can you fine it down to whichever products you tagged that have limited distribution? Any stuff in there only sold wholesale maybe?"
"I'm getting to it." Trina curled her lips, currently painted vampire black. "Here's a guy who likes to experiment with enhancements, and isn't afraid to pay top dollar. Gotta admire that. From the looks of the video, he took the basics, and a few fancies. He keeps them all organized, so I could deduce…"
She held on to that word a moment, savoring it. "I could deduce he favors Youth and Natural Bliss. NB's hypo-allergenic, all natural, and costs two left arms. Can't buy it over-the-counter. Can't get it unless you're a licensed consultant. Salon use only, not for resale. So this guy either has a license or a source 'cause he's got some of those salon-use-onlys in his drawer."
As did she, Trina thought smugly. "Happens I get it from Carnegy Enhancement Supplies on Second Avenue when I've got a client who can pay the fee."
She paused, sipped. "And it happens I took the trouble to call my pal there and ask her, on the quiet, about her customers for the products your guy had, or I figured were missing from the drawer. She said it was funny I should ask, 'cause she just got in an order for those exact products from one of her regulars. A big bald guy who comes in once or twice a year and picks up a supply. Pays in cash. Says he's got a salon in south Jersey."
Eve got slowly to her feet. "Did he pick up the order?"
"Nope. Coming in for it tomorrow, before noon. Told her to have it all put together as he was pressed for time. Ordered twice his usual, too."
"Roarke, get this woman some more wine."
"We did good?" Mavis asked, bouncing.
"You did fantastic. Trina, I need the name of your pal. I need her cooperation."
"Fine by me. But I got a question. How come you insult me?"
"Insult you? I was about to kiss you."
"How come you don't take care of my work? Look at you." Trina aimed a finger, tipped by a one-inch sapphire nail. "You look like something dragged under a maxibus. Skin's all tired, circles under your eyes."
"I've been working."
"What's that got to do with it? You can't take five minutes twice a day to show some respect for my work? When's the last time you used that exfoliant I gave you, or the pump lotion, or the stress repair?"
"Ah…"
"Bet you haven't had time to rub on the breast cream either." She turned on Roarke. "Some reason you can't slap some on your hands before you feel her up?"
"I do try," he said, throwing Eve to the wolves without a qualm. "She's a difficult woman."
"Let me see your feet," Trina demanded, rounding the desk.
Eve Dallas, who had faced death and spit in its eye, went into full retreat. "No. My feet are fine."
"Haven't used the pedia-care kit, have you?" Then Trina's eyes, with their rainbow lids and gold lashes, widened in shock. "Did you cut your hair?"
"No." Eve grabbed it with a protective hand, nearly stumbled over the chair.
"Don't you lie to me, girlfriend. You took the scissors to it, didn't you?"
"No. Not exactly. Hardly at all. I had to do it. It was getting in my eyes. I barely touched it. Damn it." She decided it was time to plant her feet. "It's my hair."
"It is not your hair, not once I've had my hands in it. Do I come down to your police station and strut around with a badge on my tit, or go out on the streets and hunt up bad guys so I can kick their ass? No! And this is what you do not do. You do not, ever in this lifetime or the next, mess with my work."
Trina heaved a breath. "Now, I'm going down and getting my kit so I can deal with the mess you've made of yourself."
"That's nice, really, but I don't have time for – " Eve winced as Trina fisted her hands on her hips. "That would be great. Thanks."
When Trina strode out, Eve stepped up to Mavis, gave her a hard look, and took her wine. She downed it, then scowled at her friend and her husband. "The first one who smirks eats this glass."
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
She was up by six, and dove into the shower. She intended to round up her troops by eight, report to Whitney, then contact Karen Stowe.
She intended for Yost to hear the cage door clang behind him by noon.
"You're looking pleased with yourself, Lieutenant," Roarke said as he stepped under the spray behind her.
"I will be in a few hours."
"Perhaps we can make it sooner." He moved in, slid his hands up her body, over her breasts.
"Wanna play water games, hot shot?"
"I'll spot you ten points to the goal," he offered and nipped her shoulder.
"Keep your handicap." She reached around to run a hand down his flank, then felt a hard pull in her belly as his fingers slid over and tugged her nipples. "You got that gunk on your hands?"
"Trina assures me hot water only enhances the benefits. God knows you've got it hot enough."
"And I was here first, so don't even think about changing the temp." She breathed deep, let her system relax. "I have to admit, it feels better when you put that stuff on than when she does."
"It's flavored." He turned her around, dipped his head, sucked her in. "Apricot."
"Yeah." Eve let her head fall back. "You definitely have the superior technique. Keep going."
Her blood hummed, and her mind, which had been razor-sharp on wakening, clouded. Steam billowed around them, thickening the air until her lungs clogged with it.
Then his hands were on her face, and his mouth crushed to hers.
He wanted to fill her, had to fight back the urge to take quickly and sate that need that had woken with him that morning. She was wrapped around him, her mouth open and avid. Her hips moved against his, a steady invitation.
Yes, he wanted to fill her. And instead, let her fill him.
Long, slim, sleeked with wet, she aroused him. He could live on the taste of her, the sharp heat of it. And when he used his fingertips to urge her up, to nudge her over, he swallowed that heat, and the strangled cry of pleasure that rode on it.
Every inch of her body throbbed. He could bring her that. Did bring her that, time and again. And she could feel his muscles quiver and know she brought the same to him.
Damaged, he'd said he'd been, and God knew so had she. Yet somehow they continually managed to heal each other.
There was no past when they came together.
Swamped with love, aroused beyond reason, she roped her arms around his neck. "Now, now, now!"
He drove into her, drove hard as they both seemed to need it. She cried out again, fisted her hands in the wet silk of his hair. When he lifted her hips, she hooked a leg around his waist.