Rules of the Game by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

the mountains, a coyote called to the moon.
    A dizzying excitement raced through him. He could have her now—feel that long, willowy body beneath his, tangle himself in that wild mane of hair. But he wouldn’t have all of her. He needed more time for that.
    â€œParks.” His name came throatily through her lips, arousing him further. “Kiss me.”
    Gently, he pressed his lips to her shoulder. “I am.”
    Her mouth felt as though it were on fire. She had thought she understood hunger, having felt it too often in the past. But she’d never known a hunger like this. “Really kiss me.”
    He drew away far enough to see her eyes. There was no light in them now; they were opaque with desire. Her lips were parted in invitation, her breath shuddering through them. He bent close, but kept his lips an aching whisper from hers. “Next time,” he said softly.
    Turning, he left her stunned and wanting.

Chapter 3
    â€œOkay, Linda, try to look like you’re enjoying this.” Brooke cast a look at her lighting director and got a nod. “E.J., sweep up, starting at her toes—take your time on the legs.”
    E.J. gave her a blinding white grin from his smooth mahogany face. “My pleasure,” he said affably and focused his camera on the actress’s pink painted toenails.
    â€œIt’s so hot,” Linda complained, fussing with the strap of her tiny bikini. She was stretched out on a towel in the sand—long, blond and beautiful, with a rich golden tan that would hawk a popular suntan lotion. All Linda had to do was to look lush and lazy and purr that she had an
Eden
tan. The bikini would do the rest.
    â€œDon’t sweat,” Brooke ordered. “You’re supposed to be glowing, not wet. When we roll, count to six, then bring up your right knee—slow. At twelve, take a deep breath, pass your right hand through your hair. Say your line looking straight at the camera and think sex.”
    â€œThe hell with sex, I’m roasting.”
    â€œThen let’s get it in one take. All right. Speed. Roll film, and . . . action.”
    E.J. moved up from the manicured toenails, up the long, slender legs, over a rounded hip, golden midriff and barely confined bosom. He closed in on Linda’s face—sulky mouth, pearly teeth and baby blues—then went back for a full shot.
    â€œI’ve got an
Eden
tan,” Linda claimed.
    â€œCut.” Brooke swiped a hand over her brow. Though it was still morning, the beach was baking. She thought she could feel the sand burning through the soles of her sneakers. “Let’s pump a little life into it,” she suggested. “We’ve got to sell this stuff on one line and your body.”
    â€œWhy don’t you try it?” Linda demanded, falling onto her back.
    â€œBecause you’re getting paid to and I’m not,” Brooke snapped, then clicked her teeth together. She knew better than to lose her temper, especially with this one. The trouble was that since her evening with Parks, she’d been on a perpetual short fuse. Taking a deep breath, Brooke reminded herself that her personal life, if that’s what Parks Jones was, couldn’t interfere with her work. She walked over and crouched beside the pouting model. “Linda, I know it’s miserable out here today, but a job’s a job. You’re a pro or you wouldn’t be here.”
    â€œDo you know how hard I worked on this tan to get this lousy thirty-second spot?”
    Brooke patted her shoulder, conveying sympathy, understanding and authority all at once. “Well then, let’s make it a classic.”
    It was past noon before they were able to load up their equipment. E.J. reached in the back of the station wagon he used and pulled two iced drinks out of a chest cooler. “Here ya go, boss.”
    â€œThanks.” Brooke pressed the cold bottle against her forehead before she twisted