And You, Virginia, Are No Lady

By Flame Arden

Readers of erotic romance are in for a treat in this first book of Flame Arden's Atlanta Burning Series about three financially secure sisters looking for love and sometimes finding it in the wrong place.
In And You, Virginia, Are No Lady Virginia needs the help of Gabriel Count, a man from her past who is now a successful private investigator, to help her find proof her client did not embezzle company funds.
She had a crush on Gabe in high school but turned down a prom date with him because her father would never have allowed his daughter to go out with the school bad boy.
Gabe wants nothing to do with lawyers, but is forced to accept Virginia's generous offer of employment to pay for his ailing mother's care. This former detective on the Atlanta Police Force resigned after a near-fatal gunshot sent him to the hospital and then rehab for three painful months while the gunman walked on a technicality.
While Virginia still wants Gabe, she has no intention of satisfying her erotic dreams about him until he sweeps her away to dinner on the back of his Harley to discuss the case. They agree on the terms of his employment and he winds up in her bed.
Knowing she wears sexy thongs beneath sedate suits while she addresses the jury is an unbelievable turn-on for Gabe, but he can't get his prim and proper lady friend in bed again without leaving town with her, which he does at every opportunity.
Her family ranks so high on the social ladder the former high school misfit is certain nothing will come of their sexual fling, but he plans to enjoy the comfort of Virginia's lush body as long as he can, which she turns into eternity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flame Arden
• Release date: Oct 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9780989494502

Flame Arden

Desert Breeze Publishing has released nine romance novels written by Toni Noel, among them a time travel, two romantic suspenses and a dark romance. http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/noel-toni/ Writing as Flame Arden she has written and published three erotic novels.

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all readers of erotic romance--hot novels with deep emotion and squirm factor on every page, and to all motorcycle enthusiasts and outdoorsmen.

Don't you love 'em?

Table of Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Upcoming Releases

About Flame Arden

Chapter One

Virginia Hampton squirmed on the leather seat of her bimmer. Seeing Gabriel Count again had her juices flowing and the crotch of her new thong damp.

She arrived at the newest restaurant in Buckhead, Georgia, before either of her sisters.

I always do.

She'd never consider eating at the Golden Swan if Atlanta was not the one responsible for paying the bill. Her older sister had the money to burn.

Virginia had better uses for her income. Investments, shoes, and perhaps a private eye for her law firm, Gabriel Count.

She smiled to herself. She enjoyed these fourth-Saturday of each month lunches where the three sisters caught up on their news over delicious food.

Good. I'm not the last one here, Paris, Virginia's younger sister said, settling across from her on the booth's comfortable bench seat. I'd never hear the last of it if I kept Atlanta waiting again. You'd think she is the only real estate broker in Buckhead, the way she carries on.

Speak of the devil.

Although nudging thirty-six, Atlanta strutted her stuff as she crossed the crowded restaurant with the confidence of royalty, pausing here and there to shake a hand, pass out a business card or wave to a good looking diner before arriving at their table, all smiles.

Virginia laughed. In fine spirits, I see.

And well I should be. I've sold ten houses this month.

Good for you, Virginia said, squeezing Atlanta's hand and meaning every word. Her older sister worked hard. Their father should be proud of her. Their mother? No telling. The lights in her mom's shimmering eyes had dimmed when their father moved out and Virginia doubted they'd ever shimmer again.

Paris leaned over and whispered something in Virginia's ear.

Heads together, both of them laughed.

Am I missing something? Atlanta asked, glowering at them.

Not really, Virginia said, straight faced. We were just wondering who you were doing the no pants dance with this week?

As if I'd tell you. Atlanta took the seat opposite Virginia and turned an inquiring gaze on her. Something has your panties damp. You're absolutely glowing. What's up?

Being thirty-one and the middle sister usually had its benefits, and her sisters ignored her. Not today. "Somebody, not something," Virginia said.

Who? Paris and Atlanta asked in unison.

Gabriel Count.

Atlanta gasped. The Gabriel Count?"

In all his hard muscular flesh.

How long have you been hanging out with Gabe?

Virginia raised her hands, palms out, hoping her gesture would fend off' questions. I haven't. Not yet, anyway. I interviewed him this morning, though, in hopes he'll join our staff. My firm is in need of a good private investigator, and I'm told he's the best.

Bad Boy Gabe? The same guy who raised your purple thong to the top of the school flagpole, then bragged about it when no one noticed it?

Yes, him. Now I'm wondering if I've made a mistake.

Atlanta winced. You made him an offer? Did he accept?

Not yet. He said if Hell ever freezes over he might consider going to work for a barracuda lawyer, just not me.

So what has you so uptight? Paris asked, stirring more sugar into her iced tea.

I need Gabe's help on the Baxter case. It goes to trial in a month.

Atlanta slapped her menu closed on the table. "You want Gabe. Why don't you say it like it is?"

That, too, but I've always put the needs of my firm first. Gabe is a damn good private eye, though he still has a cocky grin.

And you want him. So what's standing in your way?

If I knew that, Atlanta, I'd be home free.

Paris frowned. Why have I never heard about him?

His is not one of my fondest memories, Virginia admitted as her face heated.

Paris asked, Why don't you hire another PI to find out what this Gabe wants or needs?

Virginia blinked. Why didn't I think of that? Sometimes you astound me, baby sister, with the suggestions you make. Let's order, and while we're waiting for our food to arrive, you can both tell me what's new in your lives?

Paris, her parents' late in life surprise, looked worried.

Oh, dear. What now?

They ate quietly until Virginia asked Paris, How's the freelance writing coming? over dessert. Last fall her sister had successfully helped two school board members get elected, but since then had been reduced to writing PR for nonprofit agencies until the next election heated up.

Not as well as I'd like. You warned me freelance writing doesn't pay well, but no one warned me some months it doesn't pay at all.

Everything slows down before the holidays, Atlanta said, fluffing her shoulder length curls.

Virginia patted Paris' hand. Maybe you've just hit a dry spot.

I hate the thought of dipping into my trust fund this early in my career, but most nonprofits are as strapped for extra cash is I am, and if I don't land a wealthier client soon I may have to raid my trust fund to pay my mortgage.

Atlanta tossed Virginia a worried look. She shrugged.

Paris brightened. I'm thinking about sending the first of my articles on the Rich and Famous of Atlanta to one of the tabloids sold at grocery checkout counters. I--

Don't, Atlanta advised. Father will hit the ceiling if you even think about submitting to those slander sheets. That's why he set up healthy trust funds for us, to keep us from doing anything that might slander the Hampton name.

Cheer up, sweetie. Something you've written is bound to sell soon, Virginia said, hoping she was right. Nothing ever came easy for Paris. She'd always struggled to get ahead and spent most of her waking hours comparing her life to Atlanta's, but no one could match their sister's success as a realtor.

What are you going to do about Gabe? Atlanta asked as they waited for the check.

Nothing, probably. He hates my guts.

That's not nice. Any particular reason?

When he asked me to the senior prom, I laughed in Gabe's face because Father would never have allowed me to go out with him.

*****

Gabriel Count scratched his ear.

Don't panic.

If he'd read this damnable pay-up-or-else notice from his finance company right he was on the verge of losing his wheels.

How come I missed two payments and no one called me?

He booted his computer, went on line with his bank.

Sure enough, he'd messed up big time.

Two missed payments, and only $53.72 left in his account.

Hell has frozen over, and I'm going to have to eat crow.

He took more pains than usual making himself presentable for his hat-in-hand return to Virginia's office, so it was nearly seven when he climbed on his Harley and headed to downtown Buckhead where traffic never lightened. Don't these people have homes?

Virginia did, a big one in Peachtree Heights West, a ritzy area of Buckhead, a suburb east of downtown Atlanta. He'd driven by her house half a dozen times when the walls were going up. The girl he'd had the mother of all hard-ons for in high school had made a big name for herself in the legal world in the short time since she passed the bar, but he still remembered her as Skinny Virginy, the tallest student in ninth grade. His special name for her had made her furious, and was probably the reason he'd continued to think of her long after she'd told him to get lost at the end of their senior year. She had so much fire he'd once feared he'd burst into flames sitting by her in social studies.

Back then, she'd made it painfully clear she wanted no part of this bad boy.

She'd known exactly what she wanted to do with her life, even in high school, and was determined nothing and nobody would get in her way.

What makes me think I can stomach calling Skinny Virginy boss?

No question, she was no longer skinny. Nature had been far too kind to her as she'd filled out her heart-stopping curves.

Cringing, Gabe felt his safety helmet lift, then slowly settle back around his ears. He eased off on the gas, determined to keep his mind on using Virginia to secure his future, not share his bed.

He'd have to accept her offer or risk losing his Hemi.

He needed that truck to pull the Airstream he'd lovingly restored.

Thanks again, Gramps, but I'd much rather you were here to fish with than to own all your worldly goods.

The only way to avoid having to call Virginia boss was to sell something.

What?

The Airstream?

His Harley?

Not in this lifetime.

He gave his bike's gas tank a loving pat and gritted his teeth. If he had the least hope a new client would turn up at his door needing proof of adultery before his truck was repossessed he'd turn around. Go straight back to his dingy walk-up apartment. The building was scheduled for demolition at the end of the month, and he had to find another place to live.

Better wring a generous advance on his expenses out of no-longer-skinny Virginia, one big enough to cover first and last month's rent on a new place as well as those missed truck payments.

For the second time that day Gabe turned into the parking lot of V. Hampton, Attorney at Law, and swallowed the bitter taste of defeat.

I never should have bought this hog.

Wrong. His money troubles started long before he straddled a new Harley and fell in love with the feeling of so much horsepower between his thighs. He'd noticed his mother's failing health, realized she'd need his help, just hadn't expected her mental state to deteriorate so fast. A month of intense hospital therapy didn't come cheap, another month in a home specializing in individual care and she had been released. He'd wiped out his savings and hired someone to look after her, to see she ate regularly and took her meds.

He couldn't be that special someone. God hadn't given him the patience to look after his mom, just the ability to earn the big bucks necessary to pay someone else to do the job. The economic downturn had hit him hard and now he was nearly broke.

But not for long. If he played his cards right, he could do a little investigating for Virginia and make a run on her bank at the same time.

He locked his bike and headed for the elevators.

Judging from the shiny stainless steel and plate glass interior of these offices, Virginia could afford to put him on retainer.

Gabe stepped out on the top floor and glanced at his watch. Danielle, her sexy receptionist had left for the day, but the light spilling out of the corner office indicated Virginia was still at her desk poring over files. He strolled her way and stopped outside her door.

Glass walls made her office look huge, but no desk would look spacious beneath the mountain of legal files Virginia was sitting behind. She frowned, licked her lips, raked her graceful fingers through her long brown hair. As she picked up her pen and started to write she must have sensed his presence, for she lifted her head, her hazel eyes wide.

Game on.

Closing the gap between them Gabe strode across the plush carpet and halted before her desk. Burning the candle at both ends? Don't you know when to quit?

I'm busy Gabe. You had your say this morning.

About that--

Don't tell me you've changed your mind?

I think reconsidering your offer is a better way of putting it. Why don't we go get something to eat, and see if we can come to a beneficial agreement?

That's not a good idea.

Why not? You have to eat.

Not with you, I don't.

He took a step back. Are you still smarting over the way I ruffled your feathers this morning?

She frowned. Well, you--

I said a lot of things I now regret.

You've come back to make amends?

If you'll let me. He lowered his voice to a seductive growl. How long since you went to dinner on a Harley?

Never, and I'm not about to start now. I'll drive. I mean, if I decide to go, I'll drive.

When she reached for her purse a few minutes later, Gabe hid a triumphant grin.

Wait here, I need to freshen up.

He nodded, then admired the tantalizing swish of her hips as she sauntered down the hall.

No doubt about it, the lady had class, but he refused to let her turn his head. He had but one purpose in coming here, his financial gain. If the two of them couldn't come to a mutually beneficial agreement, he'd leave.

And let them repossess my wheels?

The ache in his chest reminded Gabe he had to get Virginia to agree.

He glanced at the top folder on her desk labeled Baxter7.

Okay. What did he know about the Baxter case?

Some joker claimed to have--

He heard Virginia sauntering back down the hall and did some sauntering himself so he could stand on the threshold and enjoy her approach while giving her an approving grin.

Man, oh, man. She was a looker, every teen's fantasy and every grown man's wet dream. Trouble for him with a capital T if he didn't watch his step.

Don't touch, don't even think