Affair Of Risk Read Online Free PDF Page B

"given that I rather coerced you into it." He stood up, tossed a last, speculative glance down at her, and then walked across the room. "I'll get your receipt."
    She watched him disappear down a hallway, and then concentrated her attention on the still-falling snow outside the huge window. What an evening this had evolved into, she thought. Somehow she didn't think she would ever forget it. And she had the good sense not to try and repeat it!
    "This will ease Donna's mind," Case said a few minutes later as he came back into the living room, a note with his signature on it in his hand. He held it out, and Kendra took it, folding it and stuffing it into the white muff.
    "My coat?" she said politely. It had been left in his office.
    "We can get it on the way out," he told her, opening a bamboo-trimmed closet and reaching for an overcoat.
    "There's no need to see me back to the hotel," she said quickly, forestalling him as she awakened to his intention.
    "Of course there is," he disagreed coolly.
    "Case, I don't want you taking me back."
    He must have heard the steel in her words, because he stopped in the process of shrugging into the coat and stared at her. Once again there was a short but intense battle of wills, and once again Case backed down.
    "You want everything to end right here, don't you?" he said with sudden understanding. His gaze hardened.
    "It's the only way."
    "Why?" he asked "starkly.
    "Case, I've already spent far more time with you than I had ever intended. I want to conclude our business and leave. Alone."
    He surveyed her rigid, determined stance, and then turned to replace the wool coat in the closet. "You will allow me to at least see you to the front door of the casino?" he drawled.
    It occurred to her that she had annoyed him, and Kendra relaxed, moving toward the door. "If you insist," she murmured.
    "The soul of gracious femininity," he muttered, opening the door for her.
    "Are you going to turn surly at this stage?" she inquired humorously, quite confident now.
    For an instant there was a look of warning in the darkness of his eye, and an almost infinitesimal flicker of fear coursed along her spine. It was over almost before it had begun, but not before it had served to remind Kendra that everything she knew about this man indicated a potential for danger. She could take care of herself, but it was foolish to play too long with fire. It was stupid to go looking for unnecessary trouble, even if it would be satisfying to prove to herself that she could handle it now.
    And then he was smiling; a cold, polite smile that barely changed the shape of his hard mouth. "I shall try to behave as far as the front entrance," he told her.
    The ride down in the elevator to the first level was accomplished in silence. In silence, too, her coat was retrieved, and in silence she was walked to the front door.
    Wolf Higgins glanced interestedly but politely at his boss and then at Kendra.
    "Do you want me to get the car, Case?"
    "No," Kendra interrupted. "I'll take one of the cabs out front."
    Wolf smiled at her but waited for Case's instructions.
    "I'm afraid she means it," Case informed the other man with a wry smile. "A very determined woman, our Miss Loring." He swung around to face Kendra. "Good night, Kendra."
    She thought he was going to kiss her, and to make certain that it didn't happen, Kendra stepped away.
    "Good night, Case . . . Wolf."
    Without a word Wolf stepped through the decorated glass door and hailed a waiting cab. She thanked him with a smile and, getting inside, settled back for the short drive. The smile lingered on her mouth as she gazed out at the cold, snowy night. After the warmth of Case's tropical island it was a shock to come back out into it. But she understood his fantasy retreat, she realized suddenly, surprised to find she had anything at all in common with such a man. She understood his home, because she had deliberately constructed such a gracious retreat for herself. True, her choice of