Dante's Ultimate Gamble by Day Leclaire Read Free Book Online

deliciously biting that carried the label from a Sonoma vineyard. She sipped it while considering her options and organizing her points. While he waited, he poured himself a second drink, but didn’t down this one. Instead he swirled the combination of liquor and cubes. It took every ounce of effort to yank her gaze from his hand and those long, clever fingers, fingers which had done shocking and delicious things to every part of her body.
    She cleared her throat, suddenly aware she’d somehow sipped her way through most of the glass of wine. “Here’s the problem,” she announced. “The reason we’ve been forced to work together is because I’m so distracted trying to juggle the pressures of my job and family life. We can’t afford to have both of us distracted by this…” She lifted an eyebrow. “What did you call it? An inferno?”
    “ The Inferno,” he corrected. “With a capital ‘T,’ capital ‘I’ and a whole lot of fire and brimstone in between.”
    She smiled at the name. Clever. “You said earlier that The Inferno, capital ‘T,’ capital ‘I,’ fire and brimstone, etcetera, is a family legend?”
    “Yes,” he replied, making it clear by tone and attitude that he didn’t want to discuss it. “Or at least, that’s the claim. Never having experienced it before—”
    “Until today,” she inserted smoothly.
    It was like prodding a panther. Those incredible gold eyes narrowed in warning and if he could have snarled, he would have. As it was, he came close. “Hell, Téa. If it makes everything tidier to call a bad case of lust by a more acceptable name like The Inferno, go right ahead. It sure as hell makes it more acceptable to me.”
    “Lust.” She chewed on the word for a moment and decided she didn’t care for the flavor. “I thought you said your cousins all married because of The Inferno.”
    “They did.” He threw a lot of emphasis on the word “they.” Underscore. Italics. Highlight. Red flashing lights. The works.
    She gestured with her glass. “I gather you don’t intend to.”
    “I’m not very good husband material. Too much commitment for my taste.” The panther sheathed its claws and he flashed her a smile that practically had her clothing melting off her body. If they could have stripped themselves, they’d be puddled on the floor at her feet. “But, I do make a terrific lover.”
    It was the unvarnished truth, spoken simply and without pretension or bravado. And one she readily conceded. Considering she’d been the most recent recipient, there was no point in denying facts. Unfortunately there was also no denying the fact that she would have loved to have him prove his words all over again. It took a moment, but she managed to pull herself together again, though she did spare a quick downward glance to make certain all her buttons were still safely in their holes.
    Reassured, she couldn’t resist provoking him one final time. “Just out of curiosity, how do you plan toavoid The Inferno when none of your other relatives have?”
    She could see he’d never even considered the question before. She could also see he didn’t care for her asking it…or for the fact that he didn’t have a ready answer. To her amusement, it only took a moment for him to come up with one.
    “I’m thirty years old and I’ve had extensive military training, as well as the skills I picked up running my own security business. We’ll either satisfy whatever urges we’re experiencing and move on, or…” He shrugged. “It’s a simple matter of intellect over inclination.”
    She couldn’t decide whether to be amused or insulted. “I believe that brings us back to our main problem. I have to confess, I can’t decide which will be more distracting, indulging in an affair with you or trying not to indulge in an affair with you.”
    “Just out of curiosity. Do I get a vote?”
    “Just out of curiosity. Which way would you vote?”
    He approached, graceful despite the limp. He