Luck of the Dragon (Entangled Covet) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the trusting sort.”
    Alec gave her what he hoped was a charming look. “You can trust me. I can help you.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding,” Lucy said in a voice used to stopping cabs.
    “Fine, don’t trust me, but I need you to start your appraisal tomorrow,” Alec said in a voice used to calling stretch limos.
    Lucy’s face flushed. Her collarbones rose and fell under her pale skin in elegant lines. So dainty and fragile, this one. She stomped toward him and pointed a finger at him. “Let me out of here right now.”
    Good. Come a little closer. Alec set his drink on the side table. “The exhibit has to open on time. You’ve reneged on our deal.”
    “ Testa di merda .” Lucy threw her hands in the air. “We had no deal.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “ Shit head , we had no deal.” Lucy bared her teeth, turning her kittenish persona distinctively feral.
    Alec shook his head, strangely put-off by her crudeness. “Such language from a lady.” He wanted to kiss her, to see if the zing of electricity was a fluke, or if the fates had gone mad and paired him with a human mate.
    She might bite him.
    He might like it.
    “You’re not going anywhere until we have an agreement on the exhibit.”
    Lucy stomped toward the exit. “Let me out of here!” She banged her closed fist on the solid wood door, and her furious action exposed her scantily clad backside to him again.
    Alec admired the view, tracing the lines of her body with his eyes, walking his gaze up her gold heels to her elegant calves, up the curve of her hip to the daisy tattoo, up the indent of her spinal column to the riot of dark red hair. Need clenched his gut, and he wanted to touch her soft, pale skin, discover all her hidden hollows.
    “ Culo !” Lucy turned back to him.
    “Ah, I know that one.” Alec took a deliberate drink and swallowed down his raging desire. He set down his glass on the side table, leaned toward her, and rested his elbows on his knees. “Luck. Culo means ‘lucky’ in Italian.”
    “It means ‘asshole.’”
    “A matter of interpretation.” Alec smiled. “I prefer ‘lucky.’”
    “Look, Mr. Lucky, I get it,” Lucy said. “Women just throw themselves at you. You are lucky, lucky, lucky.” She paused for a quick breath. “Lucky Mr. Casino Owner. The King of Las Vegas! But I’m not interested in you or your exhibit. Let me out of here.”
    “I can’t find another appraiser of your caliber before we need to open.” Alec was certain he could have five appraisers there by morning, but he wanted her. “It has to be you.”
    “Please. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding someone to satisfy your every whim.” She said in a level voice. “Just let me leave and we’ll call the whole thing even.”
    “My every whim?” Now that she was calming down, he perversely wanted to see the fire in her eyes again, hear a few more melodious Italian vulgarities. “How much will that cost me?”
    Luciana inhaled sharply, her jaw dropped, and she stepped to him and raised her hand to strike him. Alec stood in a fluid motion and grasped her hand in his as she swung. With her fist in his hand, Alec remembered his caution to Darius, to ask and not demand, with distant humor.
    “I’ll make you a deal.”
    “For the last time, I’m not interested in your deals.” Lucy tugged against him.
    “I would like to kiss you.”
    Lucy froze, pupils wide. “You’ll let me leave then?” The words were but a whisper.
    “Absolutely.”

Chapter Four
    One kiss. To get out of the office, away from the casino?
    “Okay.” Lucy said the word quickly and squeezed her eyes shut, her mind already out the door.
    Alec pulled her gently toward him. His lips against her neck paralyzed her thoughts. The smell of him so close was clean and strong. He nibbled at the juncture of her shoulder, and her skin went tight and trembled. His hand moved up her thigh, and she forgot to exhale .
    Alec lifted hooded eyes, the irises the darkest