Double Dealing (2013) Read Online Free PDF

of his tuxedo, and she could feel the hard muscles of his shoulder through the snugly-fitting material. Her other hand was clasped tightly in his. Somehow she couldn’t force her gaze away from his hazel eyes. He seemed to be looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. A pulsing began in her belly and spread outward at an alarming rate. This is crazy, she told herself, deliberately relaxing the hand on his shoulder. There was nothing she could do about the other sensation, short of turning into a mannequin.
    “What are you doing here, Jed?” she asked in as formal a voice as she could muster, attempting to dispel his effect on her.
    “I’m dancing,” he said matter-of-factly. “Why are all the women dressed in red gowns?”
    “It’s traditional to wear red to the ball,” she said automatically, while deciding his mustache made him look devilishly wicked. She shook her head to try and clear it. “Why are—”
    “So that explains all the red. At first, I thought I’d wandered into a …” He grinned at her. His gaze drifted downward, and she found herself nearly quaking as he focused on her strapless gown, scalding her bare flesh. Even though she knew he couldn’t see further, she was grateful for the yards of flowing chiffon that kept the rest of her hidden. “You look beautiful, Rae.”
    He drew her fully against him. His hard chest pressed into her breasts, his strong fingers strokedup her sensitive spine, his hips brushed rhythmically against hers for long hypnotizing moments. She found she couldn’t have pulled away, even if she’d wanted to. It was only a dance, she reasoned. One little dance.
    Jed attempted to ignore the innocent torture she was perpetrating on his body, but it was as if he were being enfolded in the gossamer wings of a delightful angel. He had only wanted to see her again—just once, and without the estate between them—and the Ruby Ball seemed like a perfect opportunity. He read about it in the morning paper, and noticed that her mother was listed as the ball’s organizer. It was a sure bet that Rae would attend, so he called a few people he knew and got himself a last-minute invitation. He had to talk himself into dragging his old, rarely worn tux out of the back of the closet. It was a tight fit—almost too tight—and he felt a like a trussed-up turkey in the hellish thing. But if wearing it to the ball meant he’d have a good chance to repair some of the damage to his relationship with Rae, he admitted he’d gladly suffer through one evening. To actually have her pliant in his arms was like wishing for paradise and getting it. A tight tux was a small price to pay for paradise, he decided. Not questioning his good fortune any further, he smoothed his right hand down her back in a tender gesture …
    At least he tried to. Frowning slightly as something pulled at his wrist, he glanced over her shoulder to discover that his cuff link was caught on the sequins that adorned her bodice. Damn tux, he thought. His steps unconsciously slowed,as he gave a gentle tug, trying to disengage his wrist. Nothing happened. Afraid of ripping the dress, he tried wiggling his wrist to get it loose. He didn’t want to draw attention to them by using his other hand to maneuver the cuff link free. After all, they weren’t at a high school prom, where the kids danced all wrapped up in each other.
    “Jed, what are you doing?” Rae asked.
    “I’m stuck on you.”
    “You’re what?”
    “My damn cuff link’s tangled in your dress.” He lifted his hand away to demonstrate his point, and her dress gaped open, exposing even more of the dreamy flesh of her back.
    “Don’t do that!” she exclaimed, reaching around and pushing her dress back into place.
    “You’re no fun,” he complained, as she cut off his gorgeous view.
    “This is not fun, Jed Waters. I feel like I’m about to be caught with my dress down!” Her fingers groped blindly behind her in an attempt to find the