Card Sharks Read Online Free PDF

shirts and linen pants or jeans, and with his dark sunglasses on or off, either way there was something so completely male about him that he still had the power to knock Marianne backward on days when she was feeling receptive. He could fix things and plan things and pull things off. He could cook things and clean things and make you feel like the center of the universe.
    If he were so inclined.
    The biggest problem between Donny and Marianne was that he hadn’t been particularly inclined toward much of anything for a while, there, except for watching television anddrinking beer. And Marianne was too much of a doer to be okay with that for long.
    They’d met after he’d stumbled out of her neighbor’s apartment after waking up drunk on the floor. She’d tried to sneak out of the house to grab the paper before anyone saw her, while wearing a sexy elf costume (long story). Donny saw her. She saw Donny. And though they just couldn’t seem to make the resulting relationship stick, they could never find it in them to say good-bye, either.
    â€œHey, gorgeous,” Donny said, pulling out his chair and sitting back like a bronzed sun god, long legs crossed over each other. He adjusted his sunglasses. “I’m glad you got a table outside . . . so, I bought you a present.” He passed Marianne the shopping bag. “I was waiting for Valentine’s Day, but . . . whatever.” He shrugged, the subtext being something along the lines of who the hell knew if they were going to be together on Valentine’s Day.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œOpen it and find out.”
    Marianne reached into the bag, fished around in a bunch of tissue paper, and started to pull the contents out when she caught a glimpse. “Oh!”
    His smile widened.
    â€œMy coworkers eat lunch here,” she hissed. But of course, she was mostly pleased.
    â€œOne little French maid’s costume couldn’t possibly derail you from the career track you’re hurtling along.”
    Marianne stuck her face down in the bag. “It is little, isn’t it?” She giggled. “But it looks expensive. You really shouldn’t have.”
    He shrugged. “I figured you probably didn’t have anyone buying you bawdy gifts in inappropriate settings at the moment. And besides, I’m an optimist; I think I’m going to get that promotion.”
    Marianne gave another glance around her to make sure noone she knew was watching. “You find out today? They’d better give it to you. You totally deserve it.”
    He took a sip of water, nonchalant as usual about this stuff. In contrast to her totally obsessive vigilance regarding her own career, Marianne found Donny’s come-what-may attitude a bit disturbing. Especially because she knew that he was probably the one who had the right attitude. “It’ll be fine, either way. But I’ll call you tonight and give you the verdict.”
    â€œYou’d better. And thanks for the present, even though I still don’t really know what it’s for.”
    â€œConsider it a thank-you for all that nagging. I think it might have done me some good.”
    Marianne snorted. “I didn’t do anything.”
    â€œWell, now that you have that,” Donny said, pointing to the shopping bag, “you can.”
    7:56 P . M .
    â€œHey, Marianne. It’s Donny.”
    â€œHey! What are you doing?”
    â€œJust having dinner. You?”
    â€œSame. Burrito.”
    â€œChicken enchilada,” he said, with his mouth presumably full of the very same. “I heard back about the promotion.” There was a little pause as Donny swallowed on the other end of the line. “I got it. Can you believe it?”
    Marianne shrieked. “Oh, my God! I’m so happy for you. I mean, you’re crazy, but obviously . . . yay!”
    â€œI know. I don’t believe it either. This town, the more