She Who Dares, Wins Read Free

remember the last time I hada—” He’d been about to say date, which wasn’t the right word. “A good meal with a beautiful woman.”
    She blushed. Now, that was unexpected.
    â€œI wish you’d let me walk you to your next destination. It can be tough to get a taxi this time of night, and some of the streets can be a bit dodgy.”
    She put her hands on her hips. “Mac, are you hitting on me?”
    God, she was forthright. “Yes,” he answered honestly.
    She laughed out loud. “What if you’re some kind of ax murderer and you’re only saying pretty things to get me alone?”
    â€œOh, I want you alone, but there are no axes in the picture. Besides, Timothy will vouch for me. Right?”
    Timothy grunted and rolled his eyes. “He’s better than most.”
    â€œNow, that’s a rousing referral if ever I heard one.” Katie smiled.
    Macon knew he should tell her who he was, but he had a feeling if he did, this connection with her would be broken. He wanted her, and if it meant withholding information for the greater good, who was he to complain? It had been so long since he’d felt any kind of connection with anyone. For the past six years everything had been about his work. He deserved some fun.
    Okay, he was an ass. But he wanted this woman, and the feeling persisted that if she knew the truth all bets would be off.
    He grabbed her bag with one hand and held her hand with the other.
    â€œSo where are we off to next?” he said as they stepped out onto the sidewalk.
    â€œTo the Dorchester,” she replied breathlessly, another blush creeping up on her cheeks, but not connected with the London chill.
    She’s so tough, but blushes. This woman intrigued him and he had to know more about her.
    Macon had several blocks to convince her why spending the night with him would be the best thing that ever happened to her. And then he would tell her the truth.

2
    K ATIE STOOD BESIDE M AC on the elevator chewing her lip.
    What am I doing?
    When Mac had offered to take Katie’s bags upstairs to her suite at the Dorchester, she’d known what he meant, and she wanted it. She wanted him. Knowing him for less than two hours didn’t matter. They had a connection unlike any she’d ever experienced.
    When she left New York, she’d been determined to change her life. She would no longer be consumed by work and she’d start dating again. It hadn’t happened that way. The move to Texas to help Mariska settle in at the agency had left Katie with less free time than ever. Not that she minded at first. It had been exciting picking up the pieces and helping her friend keep the agency running.
    Stonegate Investigative Agency was stronger than ever, and Katie didn’t have to carry the success of the business on her shoulders. Well, she’d never been alone—her friends Chi and Makala had been there,too—but Katie had been responsible for the day-to-day operations.
    The only time she’d kissed a guy in the past six months had been on a case when she’d gone undercover with a DEA agent. Sad, that was the only way she could get a man to touch her, but it was the truth. She was like some kind of social pariah when it came to the opposite sex.
    Her mother had always said she was too tough, but Katie couldn’t help it. That was her nature, and if a guy couldn’t handle it, well, to hell with him.
    But Mac was different. He saw her as a woman. He didn’t have any preconceived notions about her past and he didn’t seem to care about anything except the now.
    The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.
    Could she do this? Could she have a one-night stand in a foreign country with a man she barely knew?
    His hand touched her back to lead her off the elevator and a shiver of delight warmed her.
    Yes. She most definitely could spend a night with this stranger.
    Everything about him, from his tall, lanky