The Winning Hand Read Online Free PDF Page B

better.”
    “Okay, let’s deal with the basics. I can’t distribute the money yet. You don’t have any identification for one thing, and that makes it sticky. You’ll need to get some. Your birth certificate, driver’s license, that sort of thing. So we’re back to a lawyer.”
    “I don’t know any. Just the firm back home who handled things for my parents, and I wouldn’t want to use them.”
    “No, they wouldn’t do, not for a woman who wants to start a new life from scratch.”
    Her smile bloomed slowly, drawing his attention to the shape of her mouth, the full bottom lip, the deep dip centered in the top one. “I guess that’s what I’m doing. I want to write books,” she confessed.
    “Really? What sort?”
    “Love stories, adventures.” She laughed and leaned back in the cushions of the chair. “Wonderful stories about people who do amazing things for love. I suppose that sounds crazy.”
    “It sounds rational to me. You were a librarian, so you must love books. Why not write them?”
    She goggled first, then her eyes went bright and beautiful. “You’re the first person I’ve ever told who’s said that. Gerald was appalled at the very notion that I’d consider writing at all, much less romance novels.”
    “Gerald’s an idiot,” Mac said dismissively. “We’ve already established that. I guess you’d betterbuy yourself a laptop and get to work.”
    Staring again, she pressed a hand to her throat. “I could, couldn’t I?” When her eyes began to fill, she shook her head quickly. “No, I’m not going to start that again. It’s just that a life can change so completely and so quickly. The best and the worst. In a blink.”
    “You’re handling this very well. You’ll handle the rest.” He rose and missed the startled look she shot him. No one had ever expressed such casual confidence in her before. “I’m not sure it’s ethical, but I can contact my uncle. He’s a lawyer. You can trust him.”
    “I’d appreciate it. Mr. Blade, I’m so grateful for—”
    “Mac,” he interrupted. “Whenever I give a woman almost two million dollars, I insist on a first-name basis.”
    Her laugh burst out, then was quickly muffled by her hand. “Sorry. It’s just strange hearing that out loud. Two million dollars.”
    “A fairly amusing number,” he said dryly, and her laughter stopped instantly.
    “I never thought—I mean, about your part. What it means to you, this place. You don’t have to pay me all at once,” she said in a rush. “It can be in installments or something.”
    On impulse he reached down, cupped her chin in his hand and studied her face. “You’re incredibly sweet, aren’t you, Darcy from Kansas?”
    Her mind washed clean. His voice was so warm, his eyes so blue, his hand so firm. Her heart did one long, slow twist in her chest and seemed to sigh. “What did you say? I’m sorry?”
    He skimmed his thumb over her jawline. Fairy bones, he thought absently, and catching himself wondering about her, he dropped his hand. Don’t go there, Mac, he warned himself, and stepped back.
    “The Comanche never makes a bet it can’t afford to lose. And my grandfather doesn’t really need that operation.”
    “Oh, God.”
    “I’m joking.” More delighted with her than ever, he roared with laughter. “You’re easy. Much tooeasy.” They’ll eat her alive, he thought. “Do yourself a favor, keep a low profile until my uncle starts the ball rolling. I’ll advance you some cash.”
    He moved behind the desk and unlocked a drawer where he kept the petty cash. “A couple thousand should hold you. We’ve arranged for credit at the shops here for you. I imagine you’ll want to make arrangements to have your car towed in.” Expertly he counted out hundreds, then fifties.
    “I’m having a little trouble breathing,” Darcy said weakly. “Excuse me.”
    Mac glanced up, watched in some alarm as she lowered her head between her knees.
    “I’ll be all right in a