Gambler’s Woman by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

the face of the stranger who had become her lover. Dear God, what had happened to her? How could she have been so incredibly stupid? Was she about to become the victim of a professional thief who made a practice of seducing Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    women who had won at the tables and then robbing them? The thoughts flickered through her mind as her hand tightened on the sheet at her throat.
    Jordanglanced up again from the driver's license, and his gaze narrowed as he took in the stark, uncomprehending expression on Alyssa's features. Her auburn hair was tangled from where he had run his hands through it during the night, and her mouth had a vulnerable, almost-bruised fullness about it.
    The sea-green eyes were wide and cautious, holding no sign of the hidden laughter that normally lurked just below the surface. There was a faintly reddened area on the soft skin of her throat, and the sight of it elicited a short, disgusted oath.
    "Hell, I should have remembered to shave before taking you to bed last night" He raised a hand to the shadow of an incipient beard on his jaw and simultaneously tossed the wallet down beside the money.
    "I'm afraid I've marked you, sweetheart. My only excuse is that I wasn't thinking very clearly by the time I got you back to the room!"
    Alyssa watched him warily as he came toward her. He seemed very much a lean, male animal in the morning sunlight. Without the sophisticated veneer of his evening clothes, there was little trace of last night's gentleman gambler about Jordan Kyle this morning. The fear that had awakened in her a few minutes before when she'd opened her eyes to find him systematically going through her purse went up another notch. Her body was a slender, taut length outlined by the gold sheet
    "Alyssa Meredith Chandler. Age thirty and a couple of days. Resides inVentura,California, and works as a statistician for a company called Yeoman Research."Jordanrepeated what he had learned about her as if savoring each small fact. He leaned down as he reached the bed, planting a palm on either side of her body to form a cage with his arms, trapping her. "And unmarried. ThankGod." The golden eyes burned over her tense face.
    "Do you always go through a woman's purse the morning after?" Alyssa muttered, trying for some semblance of bravado. A semblance was all it was. She didn't feel particularly brave lying there with him looming over her like some vengeful devil. Yes, devil. Hadn't they once called casinos "gambling hells"? And with those golden eyes and those hands.. . Her body heated uncomfortably at the memory of those hands on it
    "Last night,"Jordantold her carefully, "I wanted you too badly to risk asking too many questions. This morning, when I woke up, I realized just how little I knew about you. It occurred to me, in fact, that you might even be married. I had to get some answers, honey, and I wasn't too sure you'd be willing to part with them. That didn't leave me much choice. But you're not married, are you?"
    "Would it matter?"
    " Are you?" This time the question was dangerous.
    "No. Not anymore," she whispered starkly. "Are you?"
    "No. We're a little late with some of the more pertinent questions, aren't we? But I suppose better late than never."
    A sense of indignation began to eat away at the uncertain fear he had inspired in her. "Can I assume from the tone of this inquisition that you really are just curious about me? You're not planning to take my money and disappear?"
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    One dark brow lifted deliberately. "Is that what you thought I was doing when you woke up? Getting ready to steal last night's winnings?"
    "The thought crossed my mind." Alyssa struggled up onto one elbow, but he didn't remove his caging arms. The lean power in his nude body seemed to be reaching out to suffocate her. She felt trapped, and she was far too aware of the strength in