Cherry Adair - T-flac 03 Read Free Page A

attitude. The feel of his cool, hard skin, liberally matted with crisp, dark hair, made her suck in a sharp involuntary breath.
    Oh damn.
    "Jesus," he said under his breath at the same time.
    They stared at each other in alarm for a split second before Delanie released his arm, and said quickly,
    "Ramon likes guests to dress for dinner. We have a few minutes before I have to change."
    "At least you dress for dinner," he muttered as they passed beneath a pergola covered in a thick canopy of lush vines. Magenta flowers spilled in a delicate, sweet-smelling carpet onto the brick patio. Set into the thick adobe walls, French doors led to the living room. A soldier, eyes averted, rushed ahead of her to swing them open.
    "I admire your self-control, amigo ," Kyle said, as the man, eyes locked on his boots, backed away.
    Scorching white light changed into the blessed dim coolness of the house. Chill air immediately raised goose bumps on Delanie's skin. "Beer? Soda? Iced coffee?"

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    "Coffee's fine."
    She removed her sunglasses and shivered as she crossed to an intercom, where she gave orders to an unseen servant. Then she nonchalantly picked up the flimsy beach cover-up she'd left draped across the back of a chair. Drawing it over her head, she remembered belatedly it was about as effective as wearing an ounce of Saran Wrap.
    Kyle strolled over to the far wall to inspect a metal sculpture on a marble pedestal. "Fascinating. Who's the artist, do you know?"
    He ran his hand down a smooth curve of copper. "Looks remarkably like the Leggett in the Louvre.
    What do you think? Is it real, or is it Memorex?"
    Delanie stared at his back and shook her head. Here she was, practically naked, pretending she wasn't humiliated and scared out of her wits, and he wanted to know her opinion on a chunk of metal that looked like something one of her six-year-old students had done? Men.
    He glanced around at the expensive dhurrie rugs covering the glazed terra-cotta tile floor of the vast room. Half a dozen butterscotch-colored leather sofas were arranged between lush plants. The combination drew the rain forest inside. Ceiling fans moved the languid air; an enormous three-tiered fountain in the center of the room splashed water onto lacy ferns and tiny yellow orchids. On the whitewashed walls, in full view of several surveillance cameras, hung part of Montero's extensive, priceless, and no doubt stolen, art collection.
    The cameras were everywhere. The only way a thief could get on or off this peak of Izquierdo was by helicopter, parachute, or transporter beam. There wasn't a doubt in Delanie's mind that even the small airfield behind the sprawling hacienda was constantly monitored. Obviously Ramon Montero didn't even trust the friends he invited to his private retreat. But then a guy like Ramon didn't have friends. Only acquaintances who hadn't bumped him off yet.
    She gave Kyle an assessing glance as she swept her hair out of the neckline of her cover-up. A house servant came in and set a large tray on the elegant rattan sideboard across the room. When the man left the room Delanie poured two iced coffees, then floated dollops of sweet, heavy, whipped cream on top.
    After liberally sprinkling both cold drinks with grated, bitter dark chocolate, she handed Kyle a tall frosted glass and took her own with her to the sofa by the window overlooking the pool.
    Except for the hot and cold running servants, she and Kyle were alone in the house until Montero returned. She wasn't sure that being alone with Kyle was the lesser of two evils.
    Licking cream off her upper lip, she settled in the corner against the scrolled, curved arm, and crossed her long, bare legs. "Do you have a clue just how powerful Ramon is? If not, let me give you a friendly warning, Kyle. He doesn't suffer fools lightly."
    A single dark, mocking eyebrow rose. "You've known him how long?"
    "A couple of months." A