Scout's Honor Read Online Free PDF Page B

stated
my case more clearly, but lady, you do have a tendency to take a
man’s breath away.”
    With her curiosity barely edging out her
good sense, Anna allowed herself to slip back into her chair. The
muscles along his jaw relaxed slightly and a teasing smile flirted
with his mouth
.
    “You are beautiful, Anna Lange . . . very
beautiful. If
we can get beyond mutually offending each other, there’s still a
chance I can salvage my investment.”
    She
could tell his crooked grin was directed more at himself than at
her. She
lifted her
glass to her lips, trying to remind herself of his marital status –
and definitely not asking herself why that took so much effort
.
She did know
she was
becoming increasingly charmed by his self-effacing manner and the
semblance of honesty reflected in those soft brown eyes, despite
the facts.
    She forced her attention back to the issue
at hand. Her innate composure was reasserting itself, although she
still felt the heat in her cheeks. “I can’t help you, Mr. Summers.
I only
play for myself. Besides,
no one with any sense
would
try to beat Jacques Dumonde at his own game.”
    “Call me Mitch, please.” She could tell he
was being careful with her, wanting to win her over and not quite
sure how to do it. “How did you know it was Dumonde I wanted you to
play?”
    This time it was Anna’s gaze that shifted
away as she fiddled with the glass stem. “I had you checked out
while we were at the baccarat table. I’m aware that you lost
heavily to Dumonde and also that your name isn’t Mitch
.
You’re not only a lousy gambler, Stephen Summers, you’re a lousy
liar, too. The best advice I can give you is to go home and stay
away from the fast action.”
    “Well, you certainly have it all figured
out,” he drawled, relaxing his manner and his body as he slipped
farther back into his chair
. “It’s hot
tonight, isn’t it?”
    He
tugged at a corner of his tie and let the black silk dangle down
the white pleated shirt. He loosened the top few buttons, then
stretched his legs out in front of him and dropped his head on the
back of the chair.
    “You’re right, of course. I am a lousy liar.
. . .” His voice was directed at the stars studding the black
velvet night. “That’s why I never bother. My name is Mitch, Anna.
Stephen is my brother, and what he lost to Dumonde belongs to me.”
He lifted his head up a few inches to meet her eyes, a lock of
sandy hair falling forward, contrasting with the sable of his
brows. “And
I want it
back.”
    Anna carefully gauged her reaction to his
explanation, letting her attention wander to the party breaking up
on the beach. The last liquid notes of a steel drum floated through
the lush darkness, echoing against the sea, melting into the night
with the barefoot people. She wanted to believe him, wanted to
believe there was some blow she could strike for justice
.
To be swindled by your own brother must hurt, but he was no match
for Dumonde, and neither was she.
    “I’m sorry, Mitch. I can’t help you.”
    “Why not
?”
    She let out a sigh
,
lifting her
hair off the nape of her neck
for a moment’s respite from the heat.
    “Jacques Dumonde is a cheat, the best. I
wouldn’t go up against him for my own grandmother. Try to
understand. . . . You’d only lose more than you already have.”
    She could tell he was thinking about what
she’d said, and hoped he would accept her answer. If she’d been
completely honest with him, she wouldn’t have made their chances
sound quite so grim. True, she couldn’t beat Dumonde at his own
game, but she’d learned a few tricks since their last meeting.
    “I had you checked out too,” Mitch said.
“You’re good—some say one of the best. I’m willing to take a chance
on you
.”
    Anna was feeling worse for him by the
minute, but it didn’t change the facts. “Why me? There are other
people who would love a chance to beat Dumonde, especially with
someone else’s money.”
    “But you have an