Bound by Tinsel by Melinda Barron Page A

Thompson’s money tomorrow, he would be one step closer to partner. And with White and Watson so close to retirement, that meant he was really close to the top, something that thrilled him to no end.
    He took another sip of scotch and listened to Caleb provide the operator with a credit card number, birth dates to verify the ages of the men in the room, and finally, a call back number. After he hung up the phone, Caleb picked up his own drink.
    “Ms. Serendipity should call us back within the hour.”
    “You seem rather pleased with yourself,” Burke said, finishing off his drink. He went to the bar and refilled his glass. That would be his last one of the night. They had Chinese food on its way, set to be delivered within the hour. He would probably be home around ten, or eleven, far too late for a night before court, but it couldn’t be helped.
    This was their last “audition.” Or at least he hoped it was; he wanted karma to work in their favor tonight and make this sex operator the one who could agree to Amber’s gift. Not that Burke thought it was much of a joke. He understood Amber’s reasoning, since her husband, Eddie, celebrated his birthday on Christmas it made it hard to find the proper present. She said Eddie had told her not to buy a gift this year but to surprise him with something special.
    That “something” was a call from a phone sex operator in the middle of a party, one that Eddie couldn’t walk out of for fear of upsetting his bosses, who were also Burke’s bosses.
    “I want to see his reaction,” she’d said when she’d explained the idea. “He told me once that he thought it would be hot to have me get him hard in the middle of a party. But I’ve tweaked it a little. I want the sex worker to do it while I watch. That will make it perfect.”
    Burke, Caleb and Jake had been reluctant at first, thinking that the stunt could go wrong, and get Eddie in a heap of trouble. Then they’d decided that, since it would be done at a party and Eddie was a jokester, he would get a kick out of it. They’d agreed to try-out the services, then instruct the woman they picked on what they wanted.
    The only problem, according to Burke’s viewpoint, was that he hadn’t thought finding a decent operator would be so difficult. The first one had turned them down flat, saying that, for all she knew, they could be trying to get someone fired. The second one had thought it would be fun. Then she’d giggled and laughed while trying to give Caleb a virtual blowjob.
    Hopefully Ms. Serendipity would be the ultimate and would prove that the third time’s a charm.
    The doorbell rang and Caleb jumped up, pulling out his wallet. He held out his hand and Burke and Jake placed twenty-dollar bills in his palm before he headed toward the door. He’d just opened it when the phone rang.
    “Damn,” Jake said, reaching for the receiver. “The number’s blocked, so I guess this is our girl. She’s quick.”
    “Hello.” Jake nodded, then licked his lips and mouthed the words, “It’s her.”
    “Put her on speaker,” Caleb said, setting the bags of food on the coffee table. “That way we can explain things. Burke, take first chair. Consider it practice for tomorrow.”
    Burke snorted out a laugh. “Like I need practice. But I’ll be happy to talk to our new friend.”
    Jake pressed the speaker button and a deep-throated, very sex voice floated out of the speaker. “Hello, gentlemen. I understand we’re a group tonight. How fun to have a little jerk circle. Are you sitting close enough to give each other a helping hand?”
    Burke cleared his throat. “We’re not helping each other out, Ms. Serendipity.” He quickly explained about his friends and the joke, changing their names to Jack and Jill. “Jill asked us to pick out a nice sensual voice for this joke. Are you up for the challenge?”
    The sexy laugh made his cock twitch. “Most definitely. I’m up for anything.”
    The three of them exchanged