Playing Love's Odds (A Classic Sexy Romantic Suspense) Read Online Free PDF Page A

different, to have a depth above shallow, and the ensuing disappointment rankled.
    He waited for half a minute, maybe longer, then shaking his head walked to the door. "After you, Ms. Fifth Avenue," he said, opening the door with a sweeping flourish.
    "Mr. Burke," she began, her voice conveying penitent chagrin and more than a touch of strain. "If I hit a nerve, I apologize. I don't generally insult men I've just met. Especially when I need their help." She bent to retrieve her purse, as if using the moment to collect her thoughts. When she straightened, she brought her gaze back to his with obvious reluctance.
    The fist around his throat tightened. "The nerve you hit is one that frazzled away years ago. Don't apologize. I brought it on myself. And I don't make a habit of insulting potential clients." Logan stuffed his hands in his pockets and shuffled back a step. "It tends to be bad for business."
    She gave no indication she'd heard his roundabout apology or his bad joke and instead, crossed her arms over her chest, one hand fidgeting with the shoulder strap of her purse in nervous agitation.
    Logan quietly closed the door and took a step towards her. "Hannah, relax. It can't be that bad. If it is—" he cocked one shoulder "—we'll take care of it."
    She glanced at the ceiling, blinking hard against the sheen of moisture glazing her eyes. Finally, she looked down, and in a weary voice asked, "Then you'll take the case?"
    Unable to stop himself, Logan reached up, and with the pad of his thumb, caught a single tear dangling at the corner of her eye. He lowered his hand, rubbing the moist drop between thumb and forefinger until it seeped into his skin.
    Her fear was definitely real. And no matter whether guilty or innocent, she deserved better than he'd offered. He made a tight fist, closing her tear in his hand. "We'll talk about it over dinner."
    She nodded. He turned to open the door, felt her hand on his arm and stopped. "Thank you again, Mr. Burke."
    "Logan," he corrected.
    "Logan. I'm usually not such a geyser of emotion. The strain of the past month has taken quite a toll."
    Logan looked at her hand and in that one timeless moment wished he'd cuffed his sleeves up higher. The friction of her hand on his arm, with only the barrier of rumpled white cotton between, crackled over his skin with a staggering voltage.
    He brought his gaze back to hers and she withdrew her hand to dig for a tissue in her purse. Against his better judgment, he stepped closer and with his palm in the small of her back, ushered her toward the door.
    He passed a gape-mouthed Margaret without stopping and called over his shoulder, "Lock it up and go home, Maggie," then pulled open the front door just as a crack of lightning split the sky overhead and raindrops the size of golf balls pummeled down.
    "I hate these summer thunderstorms," he grumbled, inwardly thanking the timing of the weather gods. He propelled Hannah out the door hoping the rain would be enough of a distraction for her not to notice his car parked on the other side of the lot. "Let's run for it."
    "Wait, let me get my keys." She stopped inside the doorway and fished the ring from the bottom of her purse. "Okay."
    "You're not the kind to melt, I hope," Logan said, steering her toward the driver's door of her car. Fumbling with the wet keys, she shook her head. Logan ran around to the passenger side, Hannah hit the locks, and he dropped into the seat.
    Jerking the door shut behind him, he took a deep breath of the coconut-scented air, cocooning himself inside the tiny, intimate car with the one woman who posed more danger to him than he wanted to think about.
    The one woman who had the power to destroy what little of himself he had left.

Chapter Two
     
    Wind buffeted the small car. Wipers slashed in a fury against sheets of water. The highway disappeared in a blur, the road and the horizon both a dismal, wet grey. Hannah's outlook wasn't much brighter. The gloomy atmosphere only put