Calculated Risk Read Online Free PDF Page B

delicate ripple of muscle that
flowed along her slender arms when she lifted her glass.
    His gaze found pleasure in viewing the
tall, well-curved feminine form beneath her designer gown. The
metallic ruffles that formed the provocative décolletage only
succeeded in heightening the impact of her full creamy breasts.
Quintin’s hand tightened around his glass, his body growing hard,
remembering how enticing Stephanie Brandt had looked on the bed
upstairs.
    The scotch was quickly
tossed down a parched masculine throat. He hoped the liquor would
dull and depress this surprising libidinous reaction. Quintin
looked into his empty glass then to the earthy female intruder. The
tremors were still reverberating, his body was hardening. Stephanie
Brandt had to go!
He slammed the glass on the mantle and strode purposefully across
the room. “Allow me to escort you to your coat.”
    Despite the harsh voice that growled in
her ear and the pressure from a hand on the small of her back,
Stevie’s smile never wavered. Gold-shadowed eyelids lowered to let
black lashes flutter against an ivory complexion. “If it isn’t our
charming host.” She turned her head, the cascade of titian curls
catching him full in the face. “The Mayor and I were just
discussing your talents.”
    Quintin looked over her shoulder and
somehow found the courage to smile a greeting at the politician.
“Good evening, sir, glad you could make it. Would you excuse Miss
Brandt for a moment?” His palm cupped her elbow and steered her
forward.
    “Please, Quintin, you’re making me drop
my shrimp puffs!”
    His broad, elegantly clad torso moved
to block her path. “You were supposed to leave.”
    She feigned confusion. “Now why would I
want to do that? I’m having a wonderful time. Good food –“ she
lifted her plate “—good liquor –“ she toasted him with her drink
“—and such a congenial host.” The glass balanced on her plate,
Stevie raised her thumb and forefinger and pinched his cheek. Hazel
eyes flirted. “Now I see where Bobby inherited his charm.” It was a
cheap shot, she silently admitted, but the man had it
coming.
    Watching Quintin’s face grow ashen, she
suddenly felt contrite. Hell! If she were the parent with the
overactive teenager, she’d probably act the insane fool herself.
She took a deep breath, her expression serious. “Look, Mr. Ward,
why don’t we adjourn to your study and talk. I really think
–“
    “Stevie! Stevie Brandt, is
that you?” Her good intentions were interrupted by a music
publisher. “Congratulations.” Darren Newman grabbed her free hand
and pumped her arm. “I see you’ve got a nominee in every category
of the Grammy awards.” His elbow nudged Quintin’s. “This lady is
dyn- o -mite.” He
cocked his forefinger at Stevie. “Are you going to LA for the
awards?”
    “I usually do. My clients will be
there.”
    “Has Quintin showed you his new digital
audio system?” Darren inquired, looking toward his host. “Stevie
was one of the first to have her clients’ record on laser
disks.”
    “I only have the classics,” Quintin
resumed coolly. “Is Pavarotti or Bernstein one of your
clients?”
    “No, but Brandt Associates
just handled the laser recording of Handel’s Messiah by the London Symphony
Orchestra,” came her equally icy rebuttal. “I’m always amazed at
the superior technical quality of the disks; the dynamic range is
unsurpassed, and of course, they are impervious to
wear.”
    “Well, it was a brilliant move.” Darren
grinned at her. “While the recording companies were handing out
their standard repertoire, you jumped to Europe and beat them. I’m
going to be calling you to set up an appointment; I know we can
talk some business.” When she nodded in approval, Darren slapped
Quintin on the back, muttered “great party” and disappeared into
the crowd.
    Before Stevie could resume her
conversation with Quintin Ward, two more acquaintances discovered
her presence. She