Affair Of Risk Read Free

the pair moved around the promenade that circled the gambling floor.
    "I gather you managed to thoroughly disconcert poor Wolf by speaking genuine French to him at the door," Case remarked, slanting a speculative glance down at Kendra's deliberately impassive features as he led her along a plushly carpeted hall. "That wasn't very kind. He's worked hard on that accent."
    "I'm sorry, Mr. Garrett," she responded coolly, stepping past him as he indicated an open door. "But I wasn't in the mood to go along with the fantasy. I'm here on business."
    "Pity," he murmured dryly, shutting the door behind
    him, "considering how much money has been spent on the fantasy. May I take your coat?"
    She unbelted the expensive fur, submitting to his small act of gallantry in removing it from her shoulders. Kendra knew his eye moved with interest over the slender sheath of blood-red silk she wore, but she ignored the masculine glance, her own gaze taking in the elegantly restrained decor of his office.
    Thick gray patterned carpet flowed from wall to wall, the color repeated in the velvet-covered chairs. A heavy black glass desk dominated the room, and there was a designer's touch in the accents of white and tan elsewhere.
    Her dress made a splash of silky flame across the gray velvet chair as she took a seat. Without hesitation she unzipped the hidden pocket of the white muff and withdrew a check.
    "I've brought this on Donna's behalf. It's not the full amount she tells me she owes, but it's nearly half. The rest will be available in a couple of months."
    Case Garrett sank into the black leather seat behind the desk and reached for the check, scanning it quickly before glancing up to find Kendra's cool, faintly accusing eyes on him. The dark gaze narrowed and hardened as he took in her expression. Briefly Kendra found herself wondering how he'd lost his left eye. Then she put the question aside. It was no business of hers.
    "I get the impression this whole task has been somewhat distasteful for you, Miss Loring," he observed calmly, a hint of deliberate baiting nearly buried in the soft words.
    "Very. Now, if I may have some sort of receipt for the amount of that check, I will be on my way."
    "Why did Donna send you? Why didn't she come herself?" Case asked, idly leaning back in the chair and making no obvious move to write out a receipt.
    "There are reasons, Mr. Garrett. The receipt, please?"
    He glanced again at the check. "The amount Mrs. Rad- - burnowes is considerably in excess of this," he drawled
    "I'm aware of that. As I said, you'll have the rest in a couple of months."
    "The total was due last month," he told her flatly.
    "What are you going to do? Send Wolf out to beat her up?" Kendra inquired evenly, her dislike of the situation plain in her voice.
    "On the contrary, Miss Loring. There are other ways for a woman to pay her gambling debts. Don't look so shocked. That's exactly the sort of remark you were expecting me to make, wasn't it? I can see your opinion of my .. . er . . . profession quite clearly in those lovely hazel eyes!"
    "From what little I know of your line of work, Mr. Garrett," Kendra retorted acidly, "I doubt that you would allow one of your customers to pay off her debts in anything other than cold, hard cash."
    "There are exceptions to every rule," he mused, his dark eye glinting with mockery. "Do you gamble, Miss Loring?"
    "I have other uses for my money, Mr. Garrett."
    "Your own, perhaps, but would you have any serious objections to throwing away a man's money on my tables?"
    "This conversation is becoming a bit personal," Kendra said quietly. "May I please have the receipt for that check?"
    "You'll have to give me a moment to consider this," he drawled. "The debt is, after all, somewhat overdue, and you have only brought half of the required amount."
    "Are you going to refuse Donna's check?" she demanded coolly, wondering at the small shiver of apprehension that had just coursed down the length of her spine.