Wicked Game Read Free

to tell you, you have a nice ass, and my mother says to kick some Packer ass.”
    A light flickered behind the deep honey-colored eyes, and with a flick of his wrist, Jaime let the window down and leaned out. “I love you, Mrs. Perkins. When I come back home, I’m taking you out for a night on the town. Mrs. Pendleton, I vow to do my absolute best to grind those Packers into the ground. And I’ll take care of your daughter too.”
    Cass watched as Mrs. Perkins turned a very brilliant shade of red, but the smile on her face was infectious. As for her mother, well, all Cass could do was sink back in the seat and pretend she wasn’t related. “Jaime, dear, forgive me, but I don’t think you are man enough to take care of my Cass. She’s a special kind of difficult.”
    “Well, I’ll give it my best try,” he shouted in reassurance.
    “You do that, and remember about the Packers. I’m holding you to that.”
    “Your mother is a hoot. I always liked that about her.” Jaime was still smiling when they exited her street and pulled onto the highway.
    “Yes, well, we all have our crosses to bear.” Embarrassed to the roots didn’t quite cover how Cass was feeling at that moment. “And just in case you forget, I’ll remind you that you have a date with Mrs. Perkins next time you’re in town. When will that be exactly?”
    He just smiled that evasive smile of his. “Have you eaten? I have breakfast. Or coffee. It’s too early to talk agendas.”
    “Jaime…”
    “What happened to Mr. Dalton? I think since this is a business arrangement maybe we should stick to a more formal relationship in public.”
    “Well, we’re not in public, we’re in the back of a car. I can call you anything I want.”
    “I’ve been called a lot of things in the back of a car, but never ‘Mr. Dalton.’” The lewd meaning behind his words didn’t escape her. “Besides, Miss Pendleton, if we start now, there will be no slip-ups later.”
    “Lord forbid your people know we have a previous relationship. And since we are on the subject, will I be scheduling your private affairs as well? If so, pull over now and I’ll walk home.”
    “Are you implying we have had a previous relationship? Please, don’t flatter yourself. You were just the annoying girl I had to deal with every single day for thirteen years. We had no relationship. As for handling my privates, we’ll just have to discuss that later as well.”
    “You are a pig, Jaime…”
    He wagged his finger at her. “Mr. Dalton.”
    “Fine. You are a pig, Mr. Dalton.”
    “Why, thank you, Miss Pendleton. Now would you care for a cup of coffee or something to eat before we reach the airport?”
    “Do you have any bacon? I’d love some dead pig.” She knew it was a stupid retort, but damned if he didn’t bring out the child in her.
    “Ah, a woman after my own heart.” He opened a stocked buffet. “Help yourself.”
    * * * *
    Despite her taunt, Cass did little justice to the breakfast he’d picked up. She picked at the biscuit and nibbled on the ham before putting the sandwich down to concentrate on the scenery flashing quickly past. She turned down coffee in favor of orange juice, then asked for tea. He hadn’t thought to include a pot of tea.
    He quietly studied her for the rest of the trip. Several times, she caught him staring at her and gave him what he remembered as her death stare. Then she began to fidget in her seat, she shifted often, tucking her skirt or tugging at the cardigan she wore over an ivory-colored blouse. After thirty minutes of watching her, he couldn’t stand the constant fidgets any longer.
    “Are you always this jittery? Or do I make your skin crawl?”
    She turned those damned blue soul-searing eyes of hers on him as if he really were the devil incarnate. Did she actually dislike him?
    “I’ve never flown before. I’m just nervous and not hungry.” The heat in her eyes gave way to uncertainty. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be, I