EroticTakeover by Tina Donahue Page B

someone
had dropped a metal rod, then men’s voices shouting something.
    “Do you want us to do the work?”
    “Will the car run with only some of it done?”
    “’Fraid not. All of the problems are related.”
    Jodi’s stomach continued to churn. No way did she have
thousands to spend on anything. “Can I call you back?”
    “Sure, we’ll be here ‘til six.”
    Her hand shook as she lowered the receiver. For the rest of
the afternoon, she struggled with what to do. Without a car, she couldn’t get
here. No way could she ask Mac to pick her up indefinitely or pay so much for
the repairs. She’d thought they’d be eight hundred dollars, maybe a thousand at
most.
    She checked her bank balance and recalculated her expenses
until her eyes blurred.
    At five fifteen, the delicate blonde tripped on one of the
props and banged her elbow. She insisted on continuing despite her pained
grimace.
    Mac gave her a couple of Excedrin and told her to relax.
“Everyone take twenty,” he called to the others then padded to his office. Jodi
followed.
    When Mac noticed, he grinned, pulled her inside and kissed
her hard. “I’m glad you’re here. I want to show you something.”
    “What?”
    “What I’ve been doing.” He led her to his desk and
practically pushed her down into his chair. “Look at my screen.”
    Jodi gripped the arms of his chair. “I’d rather not.”
    “Come on, don’t be such a baby.” He stood behind her. With
his hands on either side of her head, Mac turned her face to the screen.
“Look.”
    Just what she needed, more bad news. On a weary sigh, Jodi
did what he asked. Her breath caught.
    Mac came around to the side of her chair and hunkered down.
“What do you think? Be honest.”
    What he’d done with her photos was amazing. They had a
brownish-yellow cast as though they’d been taken centuries ago. Somehow he’d
made her hair a mass of elaborate waves on top while also lengthening it until
the ends skimmed her breasts. He’d replaced the leather collar with a brown velvet
ribbon that had a cameo in the center. Her leather corset thingy was now made
of satin and lace with pretty bows trailing down the front.
    In dozens of pictures, he hadn’t changed her body or face at
all. She was still big compared to today’s ideal woman, but with the dated
outfit and tint she looked good, nearly hot.
    A tear skidded down her cheek. Oh hell. Jodi waved
her hand in front of her face so she wouldn’t cry.
    Mac touched her arm. “You don’t like them?”
    He sounded so uncertain, she threw her arms around his neck
and hugged him as hard as she could. “They’re gorgeous. I look good.”
    “Fuck that. You’re beautiful.”
    Jodi’s shoulders trembled with her sudden sobs.
    “Hey.” Mac pulled back and cupped her face in his hands.
“This was supposed to make you happy. To show you this is how you really look.”
    “I’m sorry. I love them. I’m just…”
    “Overcome with gratitude?”
    “Worried.”
    Obviously surprised, he thumbed tears from her cheeks.
“Why?”
    Jodi sniffed then told him how much she’d owe if she got her
car fixed.
    Mac shrugged. “No biggie. I told you I’d take care of it.”
    “No you won’t. I can ’t accept that much money from you.
I’ll never be able to pay it back. I thought about selling Avon like my mom but
I can’t depend on the commissions. I could get a part-time job at night but I’d
have to have a car to get there. Even if I use the bus, it’d take so long
that’d eat into the time I’d need to work. I—“
    “Jodi. It’s all right. In fact it’s great. I have an idea.”
    She wiped her nose off with the back of her hand. “What? Not
a raise,” she said quickly. “I don’t deserve it. I haven’t been here that
long.”
    Mac smiled softly. “No not a raise.” He eased her hair
behind her ear.
    “What then?”
    There was a loud rap on his door. Mac pushed to his feet and
turned. Cait popped her head inside. “Bethany said she’s