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

Logan snarled low in his throat. He rubbed his lower belly in a gesture entirely too suggestive for her present state of mind and held out his hand.
    She hesitated a fraction of a second, studying his wicked grin, deciding in that instant to make the most of this teenager business while she had the chance. Ever-so-slowly she placed her palm against his. His calloused skin rasped over hers, man rough against woman soft. His hunger burned her; the palpable energy raced up her arm, begging for consent.
    She wanted to tug free, startled by the reckless sensation surging through her blood. But Logan refused to let go, entwining their fingers, rubbing his thumb in circles over her knuckles.
    "C'mon." He tugged her along at a brisk pace. "This place has shrimp kabobs like you can't get anywhere else."
    "This place looks like a shack," she answered from two steps behind, doing her best to recover what remained of her cool.
    "Lighten up. Don't you know not to judge a book by its deceiving appearance."
    "A book by its cover," she corrected with a private smile.
    "Hey, I warned you," he said, pulling her into the buffet line behind him.
    Minutes later, seated at a picnic table on an open air deck, she had to agree. "Mmmm," she mumbled around a mouthful of grilled shrimp, the smoky flavor of mesquite a perfect complement to the sweet shellfish.
    "Not bad, huh?"
    "Not bad? It's wonderful. The food. The air." She stopped, then on a bizarre whim, added, "Even the company."
    "Sounds like you're feeling better."
    "Yeah," she answered, an honest smile easing across her face. "I think I am."
    "I knew this would do the trick. Nothing like a breeze off the Gulf to put things in perspective. Loosens up all those stuffy inhibitions." He shoved a fry covered with a glob of tartar sauce into his mouth. "It's why I love living down here."
    "You live in Galveston?" she asked, sipping at her iced tea.
    Logan shook his head. "Not in the city. On the beach."
    "In one of those resort communities?"
    "No. I lucked out. I've got a thousand yards of beach on either side, free and clear. Plus a stand of shade trees in one corner." He laughed, a rumble of deep voice and appreciative humor. "I think I've got the only trees on the whole beach."
    "How'd you manage that?"
    "It was the only way one of my clients could pay me."
    She let that sink in, mentally balancing her checkbook. "So you live here and work in Houston?"
    "I work all over south Texas. I sleep in some of the cheesiest, flea-bag motels you can imagine. Sometimes I sleep in my car. But when I'm done with a case I take a break. Spend some time here. Until the money runs out. Then I check with Maggie and see what needs taking care of." He swiped his napkin over his mouth then licked each finger free of salt and tartar sauce. "You're lucky I happened into the office when I did."
    "Let me guess. You don't carry a pager."
    "Nope."
    "Too conventional?" she asked, trying to pigeonhole her response to him in a familiar category. Never having met anyone like him before made it impossible. She found him forgivably fresh, incredibly contagious. And found herself bewitched.
    "Convention is bor … ing," he drawled, drying his hands on a paper napkin then tossing it on the table. "I like the freedom to do what I want when I want as long as I have the money to do it with." He shrugged. "I usually don't."
    Hiding a shiver of reaction behind a long sigh, she propped her chin in her palm, still working to sort out what she felt about Logan Burke. "A true nomad, huh? No family or bills?"
    A deep frown creased his brow. His eyes darkened, their lackluster gold at odds with the glint she'd grown used to seeing. For a long minute he stared across the bay where fishing boats drifted in the wake of the sea. Finally, he returned. He shook off whatever he'd been thinking, picked up a fry and smashed it into the tartar sauce on his plate. "No family," he gnashed out, his jaw taut. "Plenty of bills."
    Slowly, Hannah sat up