Deadly Embrace by Jackie Collins Read Free Book Online Page B

freakin' nuts."
    "How old are you?" Vincent asked.
    "Old enough to do what the fuck I want," Andy Dale replied
belligerently.
    "Nobody does what they want," Vincent said. "There are always
compromises." He rose from behind his desk. "Now, you're coming back
to the table with me like a good boy, and when you get there you'll
behave yourself. Because if you don't..." His words trailed off, the
threat implicit.
    "Whaddaya think this is, a freakin' Pacino movie ?" Andy
Dale exploded, red in the face.
    "Care to test me?" Vincent said, heading for the door. "Go ahead.
Only, you'd better believe me, Andy. One more hand on my wife and
we'll see whose balls get crushed."
    "Where have you been ?" Jenna asked, directing her question
to Andy Dale, not her husband, which was a big mistake on her
part.
    Ignoring her, Andy clicked his fingers at his exotic model
girlfriend, who was sipping an apple martini and wondering who a girl
had to fuck to get out of there.
    "Up!" Andy Dale said, glaring at her, his voice tense.
    "What?" Anais said blankly.
    "We're going."
    "Where?"
    "For crissakes !"
    Getting the hint, she slid from the booth, flashing plenty of
well-toned, chocolate-hued thigh in the process, plus a whisper of
well-trimmed pubic hair because wearing panties was so out.
    "Why are you leaving?" Jenna asked, her voice a plaintive
whine.
    Anais shrugged. Andy Dale glowered. Jolie gave a knowing
smile— she knew why they were leaving. Vincent had no
doubt given the studly movie star the "hands off my wife" speech.
    "They have someplace to go," Vincent said brusquely, sitting down
next to Jenna.
    "Where?" Jenna persisted, her pretty face pouting with
disappointment.
    "Do you care?" Vincent said, fixing her with a steely look.
    She opened her mouth to say something, thought better of it, and
shut up. Vincent was in one of his moods.
    Andy Dale stormed off, girlfriend in tow.
    "Nice work, Vincent," Jolie murmured, caressing the stem of her
champagne glass with elegant hands. "I'd bet money on you
anyday."
    "Where does Nando find these punks?" Vincent asked, shaking
his head. "And not only does he find 'em—he dumps them on
me."
    "Jenna didn't seem to have any complaints," Jolie said, stirring
the pot.
    "Jenna's too young for her own good."
    Meanwhile, Jenna had transferred into sulky mode, and was tapping
her freshly manicured nails on the table, preparing to throw a fit.
She didn't know what Vincent had said to Andy Dale, but whatever it
was, it wasn't good. After all, what harm was there in talking to a
movie star? How many times did she have that kind of
opportunity?
    Damn Vincent and his jealous streak. She wasn't his
possession, she was his wife—big difference. And Jolie was so
annoying with her smug smile and knowing expressions. Jolie was
simply jealous because Andy Dale hadn't come on to her .
    "I'm going to the ladies' room," Jenna announced, getting up.
    "Don't be long," Vincent said.
    "Want to come with me?" she responded in a challenging tone.
    "Y' know, sweetheart, a smart mouth doesn't suit you," he
answered, thinking it was about time he knocked his wife up, got her
good and pregnant so she'd stop this nonsense.
    "So...," Jolie said, once Jenna was out of sight. "What did you say to him?"
    Vincent shrugged.
    "Having movie stars around is good for business," Jolie remarked.
"Nando won't be pleased if you've frightened Mr. Dale all the way to
another casino."
    "Perhaps if your husband had joined us, this wouldn't've
happened," he said, ordering a scotch on the rocks. "Where is Nando
anyway?"
    "He had a business meeting," Jolie said, wondering if Nando was
telling her the truth. Perhaps "business meeting" was a euphemism for
"assignation." Vegas was crammed with beautiful, ambitious, easy
women. She should know, she used to be one of them. And Nando was a
big catch.
    "Business, huh?" Vincent said, and their eyes met for a long
moment.
    "Oh dear," Jolie sighed, trying to decide if Vincent was in on
Nando's infidelities.