Take Me If You Dare Read Online Free PDF Page B

admitted. He did have a stash, but he had no idea how long it would have to last him.
    She pulled out a purse from the dresser and put a lipstick and some other things inside. “Oh, that’s no problem. I brought some extra cash.” She pursed her lips as she walked toward him and he forced himself to stand still, instead of leaning forward and kissing the plum-colored softness before him. “Do you think twenty thousand will be enough? I can get more if we need it.”
    The thousand-dollar-a-night suite was his first clue that she had money, but who traveled with that much cash?
    “That should get us into the good tables,” he said, choking back a laugh.
    “Cool.” She looked down at her outfit again, pulling at a thread. “Um, I don’t exactly have anywhere to carry that much, so maybe you better hold on to it.”
    He realized how much she trusted him and a small pit of guilt opened up in Jackson’s gut. He didn’t deserve it, and when she found out, if she found out, who hereally was she would hate him for eternity. But for now, he’d help her with her job, and do his best to keep her happy. If he helped her solve her case, there was a great chance she’d feel indebted to him. That might come in handy over the next week or so.
    She seemed confident in her skin, but unaware of her beauty. Then there was her job. When it came down to tracking Gladstone, she really did seem clueless. It didn’t add up.
    As they entered the lobby, he couldn’t resist asking. “Do you always travel with that much cash?”
    She rolled her eyes. “You must think I’m insane. No. The bank delivered the money to the hotel this morning. Part of it is expenses for this case. I didn’t know how long it would take, and informants don’t take credit.” She fiddled with the purse.
    Pausing for a moment, she seemed to check herself. “And part of it was for shopping. I planned to have clothes designed for myself, and some friends, and most of the tailors only accept cash. I have this, um, sort of compulsion for silk suits, and they make beautiful ones here.”
    Jackson still thought that was a lot of money for a wardrobe, but he wasn’t one to judge. For him, money was a necessary evil of his job. Money equaled power, and he’d seen so many misuse both in his line of work. At least she was only buying clothes and not guns, which is what most of the people he’d worked with the last few years did.
    After checking the cash out of the safe downstairs they climbed into the hired car Jackson had ordered from her hotel room. Taxis weren’t always safe inBangkok, and he decided to rent a hired car in case they needed a quick getaway.
    The club wasn’t far, but the traffic congestion was intense even close to midnight.
    “Is it always like this here?” Mariska asked as she stared out at the crowds on the sidewalk.
    “Pretty much 24/7,” Jackson replied. “It really is a city that never sleeps. The massage parlor was at the edge of the red light district, but this place is dead center. There’s—” He stopped suddenly, trying to think of the best way to tell her.
    She gave him a curious look as if she wasn’t really ready for more surprises. He was sorry he had to disappoint her. “What?”
    “I guess the easiest way to say this is, be ready for anything. You never know what you’re going to see in these clubs. It’s okay to act surprised, that’s what they expect from tourists, which is what we’ll be for our cover. If that’s okay with you.”
    She fidgeted in her seat. “Do you think there will be snakes?” Her voice had gone soft again and his body reacted.
    “I don’t know what you mean?” Jackson really was clueless.
    “In the club. I saw this movie one time where these people danced with the huge snakes. I’m not a big fan of reptiles. They give me the squiggles.”
    Jackson couldn’t help but laugh, and accidentally knocked his elbow against the door of the car.
    “Um, I can’t say for sure, but I don’t