Risk the Night Read Online Free PDF

him.   “This
from a playboy?”
    He laughed.   “Why do I
bother you so much, cara ?   Haven’t you run into your share of playboys?   You’re part of the Banks family, aren’t
you?   The political dynasty that has
still managed to hold onto its money and power over the generations.   You must have had gigolos lined up at
your door.”
    She took a deep intake of breath.   “You’re very well-informed for someone I’ve never seen
before.   Is that what you are?   A gigolo?   I’ve told you, I’m already well-taken care of in that
regard.”
    “I wonder,”   he murmured,
and there was just the faintest taunt to it.   “In fact, I tend to have a very good memory, and I majored
in world politics at university.   The Banks family took up a fair amount of study time.”   He smiled at her, a guileless,
enchanting smile that she trusted not one whit.   And yet her skin warmed beneath it.   “And no, I’m not a gigolo.   Merely someone with too much money and
too much time on my hands.   And
Tessa is very beautiful, is she not?”
    Maddy glanced over at her.   Even in sleep she was exquisite, like some fairy princess, frail and
delicate.   There was a time in her
life when she would have given anything to look like that.   She hadn’t felt that way in years.   Not until tonight.   “She is.”
    “So why, then, am I so attracted to you?”
    She froze, turning her gaze back to him, expecting mockery.   There was none.   There was heat, strong and direct, and
she could feel it between her legs, on her breasts, everywhere.
    She let out a shaky laugh.   “Not that I’m not flattered, Mr. D’Angelo ,”   she began.
    “Just D’Angelo ,”   he murmured.
    “That’s affected.”
    “Yes,”   he agreed
courteously.   “You were
saying?   You are flattered but …?”
    Her annoyance should have put a stop to that treacherous thread of
arousal that was dancing through her body.   But then, it had been there all day, ever since being locked
in with a man who should have appalled her and instead seduced her.   “I’ve had a very strange day,”   she said.   “And while it’s lovely that you’re suddenly overcome with
lust for me, I think the smartest thing would be to decline whatever it is
you’re offering.   Even if I weren’t
practically engaged, I’m just too screwed up today to consider a one-night
stand, even with someone as pretty as you.”
    Still that lovely smile.   “Merci.   I think you’re
pretty too.”
    She didn’t snort derisively – that would have been fishing for
compliments.   She knew she was
reasonably attractive – just not when she was sitting next to one of the
most beautiful women in the world.
    “So I don’t think it’s a good idea,”   she ended, pleased with herself.  
    He shrugged, the gesture effortless in the beautiful dinner
jacket.   “Feel free to change your
mind.”
    “I’m hardly likely to.”   And if she did, how was she to tell him?   Send a bat signal out her fourth floor window?
    She suddenly realized they had stopped moving, and she had the absurd
notion that now that she had rebuffed his unlikely advances he was going to
kick her to the curb.   But the door
opened, the driver standing there with a large umbrella, and she recognized the
familiar shape of the small apartment house in the Marais district.   “We’re here,”   she said, feeling somewhat foolish.   She turned to D’Angelo ,
but he’d already slid out of the car and taken the umbrella from the
chauffeur.   “Watch over Miss
Parker,”   he said to the man, and
then held out his hand to her.
    She looked at it.   She
would have expected rings of some sort, but he wore none, and his hands were
large, tanned, graceful-looking.   Pampered playboy, she thought, wishing there was a way to avoid touching
him without being gauche, but she had no choice, and she put her smaller hand
in his.
    She controlled her instinctive jerk of surprise as he