Page 137 of New Storm Rising
Someday, I was going to drag Mr Ambrose to a jewellery shop, tie him to the counter and tickle his feet until he bought the whole store for me.
Limpet number one jabbed her in the ribs. “Hey, I think that’s supposed to be a, you know…wedding ring.”
Somedayvery soon.
“Wedding ring? But that…that would mean…” A downright scary grin spread over the face of limpet number two. Whirling around, she jabbed a finger at my husband. “You sneaky guy! You got hitched without telling us!”
Mr Rikkard Ambrose gazed down at her with as much supreme, icy arrogance as he could project with several half-dressed young women still clinging onto him. Which was quite an impressive amount. It would have been even more impressive if those bloody females let go already!
Hands on hips, I sent a meaningful stare at where the hands of certain ladies still held on to what was one hundred percent, utterly and completely property of Lilly!
“Oh. Ehem.” Limpet number three retracted her hands, giving me a tentative smile. “No hard feelings, right?”
“Well, I don’t know.” Smirking with mischief, Limpet number four let her gaze travel over Mr Ambrose, until she reached a spot at the juncture of his trouser legs. “I’m fairly sure I could findsomespot that feels hard. Give me five minutes and—” Then she noticed the homicidal glare I was sending her way. Breaking off, she cleared her throat. “Um…never mind.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Err…perhaps we got off on the wrong foot.”
I raised an eyebrow. “If you get off on feet, that’s your business. I myself prefer a different part of a man’s body.”
The young woman nearly choked.
Ha! Take that! You think you can win against me in a banter contest? I can trade verbal barbs with a granite wall and win!
Working for Mr Rikkard Ambrose could be very educational.
Limpet number three grinned, her gaze sweeping up and down my figure. Leaning over, she whispered to the madam, “I think I like her.”
The young women exchanged glances—then nodded, as if seeming to agree on something. Their gazes zeroed in on me. My feeling of victory disappeared in a flash, replaced by a dark sense of foreboding.
“Now, wait a minute…” Taking a step back, I raised my hands. “Whatever you’re thinking about, I won’t—”
They pounced.
If I’d thought they’d been ferocious before, I had been very much mistaken. Interest in some new floozy was one thing. But interest in Mister Spend-Resister’s brand-new wife? That, apparently, was another thing altogether. One perfumed inquisitor appeared on either side of me, linking their arms with mine.
“Say…why don’t we chat for a little while? We have so many questions.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” I demanded, trying to struggle free. Not that it was working.
“Oh yes! Like, for example…what kind of dress you wore at your wedding.”
“Or what kind of presents you got at your bridal shower.”
“Or what sex toys you used on your wedding night.”
I suppose I should have felt apprehension about the pack of limpets who were slowly but surely surrounding me. They’d already invaded my suitcase and my privacy, after all. Who knew what they’d “invade” next?
However, that wasn’t really important right now. Because no matter what they wanted from me, I also wanted something from them. Rather urgently.
“What a coincidence. I must admit there’s one question I’d like to ask you as well.” I sent them a cheerful smile.
The women’s faces lit up. “Go ahead, go ahead. How can we help?”
“You can tell me,” I said, my cheerful smile redirected towards Mr Rikkard Ambrose, “how come my dear husband seemsvery familiarwith this place?”
The young women’s eyes started sparkling. “Oh, well…”
