Billionaires Prefer Blondes Read Online Free PDF Page B

calf, because he desisted as well. Yes, perhaps she was overly aware of her surroundings—like that was a bad thing. Maybe it wasn’t entirely necessary any longer, but considering that in the five months since she’d met Rick she’d been nearly blown up, had her head broken, been in two car crashes, been shot, and had ended up on a first-name basis with at least one Palm Beach police detective, being aware seemed a pretty bright reaction.
    “Dessert, or gallery?” Rick finally asked, touching hisnapkin to his mouth in that very macho yet sensual and sophisticated way he had.
    “Gallery,” she decided, despite the sight of the decadent chocolates rolling by on the dessert tray.
    Rick stood, making his way around the table to hold her chair and assist her to her feet. “Then let’s get this show on the road.”
    “Amen to that.”

Chapter 3
    Tuesday, 8:21 p.m.
    “I suppose we have you to thank for this?” Richard murmured as he retrieved his keys and watch from the far side of the metal detection kiosk.
    Just behind him Samantha picked up her beaded red purse from the neighboring table. “Probably,” she returned in the same low tone, hooking her arm around his. “The security seems to get a little tougher every year. It was kind of fun, trying to figure out what they’d come up with next, and what I’d need to do to get around it.”
    The most recent Sotheby’s auction Richard had attended had been two years ago in London, and security had been adequate if low-key in deference to the clientele. Here in New York, he supposed the next step up would be a body cavity search. “And you’re absolutely certain no one here will recognize you from those ‘fun’ little encounters?”
    She leaned the curve of her body against his side, and hisheart accelerated in response. “They probably recognize me from being with you, or they think they recognize me from somewhere, but nobody’s going to make me for lifting paintings here.”
    God, she was so confident—but from what he’d seen of and learned about her, she had every right to be. “I’ll take your word for it, then—but I’m keeping my guard up, anyway.”
    Samantha shot him her quicksilver grin. “I have to admit, it’d be kind of cool to see you running interference for me while I make an escape.”
    “Just remember that you’re not going anywhere without me.”
    They passed what seemed like an absurd number of both uniformed and plainclothes security officers, though if Samantha Elizabeth Jellicoe had actually been on the prowl, he doubted all of Sotheby’s personnel would have been enough to prevent her from doing exactly what she intended.
    And anyone who didn’t know her would think Samantha was completely at ease and enjoying the evening. While he personally didn’t doubt the latter, he could see her alert gaze, the way she noted every camera, every exit, and everyone who stood between her and the street.
    Keeping in mind that Samantha’s self-confidence could on very rare occasions be exaggerated or misplaced, he seated them toward the back of the room and right on the center aisle. Unnecessary as it probably was, Richard had made it his primary job to keep her safe. And however much that task might distract him from some of his substantial business interests, it was also quite possibly the most exciting, arousing thing he’d ever done. For someone of his experience and background, that was saying a great deal.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Ian Smythe,” the thin,black-clothed man said from the podium at the front of the room, “and I will be your auctioneer tonight. Please be aware that in addition to the bidders on the floor, we have twenty phone lines and five Internet accounts set up for interested parties unable to attend in person this evening.”
    Samantha leaned up to Richard’s ear, the caress of her breath warm and intoxicating. “Or for those unwilling to reveal their identities to the IRS or to any cat burglars who