Deuce's Dancer Read Online Free PDF Page A

glared at him. "It is not!"
    Grinning, he nodded. "Don't lie, sugar."
    "You're impossible. This is impossible."
    Deuce shrugged and sipped his coffee casually, though he was concentrating hard on saying the right things as she teetered. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
    She frowned. "What has that got to do with anything?"
    "I'm re-thinking that sex thing."
    There was that little tongue again. It was obvious that she was torn.
    "But if you have to work, I don't want to keep you up all night."
    "No, I don't but-" She caught herself and sighed.
    Deuce felt a small surge of triumph. "But what?"
    "Am I so transparent?"
    "Yep, sugar. Like a crystal ball."
    A little bit of the Angie he remembered came back with the slow, sensual smile that played on her lips. "Can I be on top?"
    He laughed so hard that other diners turned to stare. "No, you cannot," he said, still chortling. "I intend to be lookin' at that red bottom as I have my evil way with you."
    She frowned, but it was playful. "You're serious about that spanking."
    "Not the fun kind, either."
    "They're all fun."
    They'd pretty much established that spanking turned her on while they were in Jamaica. He was only beginning to see the depth of that interest and he loved it. He stood and offered his hand. "You've been warned, sugar. Don't say I didn't tell you."
    "Hmph."
    She turned up her pert nose and flounced out like the queen of the world, utterly the opposite of the way she'd entered the place. Deuce watched her sashay away and he couldn't help a surge of pure, masculine pleasure at the mental image of her in his bed. He had been lonely there for way too long.
    * * *
    His house was big. Too big for one guy. He didn't even have a pet to share it with. And yet, Pilar noticed small hints of a woman's touch in nooks and corners. There was an unexpected flower vase, unused, but clean and ready, on one of his many bookcases. An embroidered pillow sat on his big, overstuffed couch. And, perhaps the most interesting thing was the large array of framed photos on the walls. Photos of all kinds, but mostly of the Texas countryside. They were exquisitely taken, too. Some were bright, colorful and cheery. Some were somber. All the seasons were on display, and more than a few horses and people. They were emotional and personal, even the landscapes.
    While Deuce fixed them margaritas, she looked over the faces she saw on the walls. Deuce's family was easy to spot. There was a strong resemblance among his four brothers and sisters and his parents. He had his mother's blue eyes, unlike the other Journeys, but the rest of him was modeled after his handsome father. So many smiles graced those photos.
    Pilar could tell by the hairstyles that only two of the pictures of people were recent. One was of the woman who must be Deuce's sister, Queenie. The musician. She was seated on a piano bench, the piano behind her, holding a pair of tiny babies in her arms. Deuce had proudly told Pilar that his sister had recently given birth to twins, so figuring out the photo was easy. But the other current-day photo was of a woman and a little boy. The woman was blonde, with light eyes. She was pretty, but her pose was a little contrived, unlike the other photos which were more candid. With the blonde woman was a little boy. He looked to be about five years old, and had dark hair and light eyes. She could easily see the resemblance between the boy and the woman who must be his mother, but the boy's dark hair and light blue eyes had Pilar wondering who the little boy's father might be. She stepped away quickly as Deuce came up with the drinks.
    "These are beautiful photos, Deuce. Did you take them?"
    He shrugged and nodded slightly. "A number of them. I like to take pictures of my family's ranch over by Sonora. There's always something different to see there, and always something warm and familiar, too." He raised his glass. "To starting over, Pilar. We'll get past your punishment and have a new