Deadly Odds by Adrienne Giordano Read Free Book Online Page B

how?”
    Ross shrugged. Good sense definitely lights out now. “It’s not. Except I like to consider myself fairly savvy when it comes to women.” Kate snorted and he grinned. “Please. Give a guy some credit. As I was saying , I’m fairly savvy when it comes to women and I’ve learned one vitally important lesson.”
    “I can’t wait to hear this one.”
    “I bet you can’t.”
    One of the waitresses cruised by, her uniform revealing enough around the chest area that the idiots behind him made a lewd comment. Ross turned, gave the one guy a look that shut his mouth. Before he left he’d tell the waitress to call security if these idiots got handsy.
    He brought his attention back to Kate and her hair that fell in thick waves he imagined wrapping his fingers around. The sharp emerald eyes only added to the drama. His body seized. This kind of want, this hunger , he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
    Working too hard.
    “The lesson,” he said, “is that I never leave a woman like you sitting alone in a restaurant. Or anywhere for that matter. Women like you shouldn’t wait and you sure as hell shouldn’t sit alone.”
    “I just waited for you.”
    “Is this a date? If so, we need to start over.” With her not working in his casino.
    Kate shifted, glanced over the railing at the casino floor where a shout rose from one of the card tables. “Someone’s a winner.” She came back to him. “Not that I owe you an explanation, but that call was my brother. He’s passing through Vegas on his way home. He’s used to being on a ranch, where his life isn’t ruled by meetings and conference calls. He gets sidetracked easily. Surely a man who works your hours understands that.”
    “Absolutely. I’m a guy who sleeps on a pullout sofa in his office when I want more than four hours of sleep. So, yeah, I get that more than you know. I’m also a guy who understands that my loved ones deserve my attention when I’ve set up time with them. Even if I screw it up sometimes, I try to let them know ahead of time.”
    Kate smiled. “He’s my brother and that’s life with him. When I’m home at the ranch, it’s not an issue. If I want to spend time with him, I go out and work alongside him.”
    The surprises from this woman kept coming.
    “You grew up on a ranch?”
    “I did. I lived there until I went to college. UCLA.”
    “From a ranch to UCLA?”
    “Yep.” She squeezed her thumb and index finger together. “Slight change in atmosphere.”
    He laughed. “I’ll say. Did you like Los Angles?”
    Kate shrugged. “Parts of it. I loved the opportunities. I wanted a career. I like challenging work. I know you understand that. I wanted to serve and needed the pace of L.A. I missed the ranch though. And my cowboy boots. The quiet at night, laying in the grass and staring up at a brilliant sky, that’s heaven.”
    Having grown up in Vegas, he couldn’t relate to ranch life. But after the insanity of the last few weeks, he wouldn’t mind trying it. “How’d you wind up in Vegas? And, by the way, there’s a wicked pair of cowboy boots in the promenade shop. You might want to check those out.”
    He wasn’t into cowboy boots, but those weren’t typical. Black leather with a snakeskin upper, those babies had a four thousand dollar price tag and were custom made for Fortuna. He could picture her in them. Classy and elegant, but with an edge. She nodded. “I saw them when I was with Don. And, Mr. Cooper, we’re way off topic here.”
    “Good. Then my evil plan is working.”
    That earned him a smirk. He was, after all, her client. Her work history was pertinent.
    “I was a special agent with the FBI for a few years.”
    “Really?” Somehow, he couldn’t picture Kate Daniels with her big green eyes and sweet face flashing a badge. Then again, he supposed those particular assets served her well in that line of work.
    “Don’t look so shocked.”
    “I guess I had another vision of FBI