Wicked Game Read Free Page B

took it and slid out into the bright sunlight. “I’ll have Alicia put your things in the guest suite, and after lunch we’ll get down to business, if that’s all right with you?”
    “I’ll be living here, then?” Somehow she imagined a little apartment nearby sort of arrangement, not an on the premises deal.
    “Do you have a problem with that?” Jaime turned to her, real concern on his face. “Believe me, Cass, this is a big house; I have plenty of room. It’ll be almost like you have your own apartment, and the doors lock. Not that there is any danger of midnight visitors.”
    “I guess it will be fine. I won’t have to learn to drive in a strange city; that’s a plus … I guess.”
    “And you won’t have far to commute to work, just down the hallway.”
    He thought that was a plus? The enormity of the situation was starting to overwhelm her. What exactly was he wanting of her? What were the hours? Did he really mean available to him twenty-four seven? Maybe she should have gotten a contract before allowing herself to be hauled halfway across the country to be at her worst enemy’s beck and call.
    “Ah, Alicia, mi corazón .” A beautiful dark-skinned woman stood in the door, her smile huge as she hugged Jaime as if he were the conquering hero returned from war. Her eyes sparkled with affection, and after she spotted Cass, her gaze became territorial. His live-in lover? Great. This was going to be fun. “Alicia, this is Miss Pendleton. She’s my new personal assistant, and will be living in the guest suite. Cass, this is Alicia, my personal chef and housekeeper. Anything you want, Alicia will be happy to get for you.”
    “You didn’t tell me to expect two for lunch, Jaime.” She pronounced his name with an h sound; her hand rested on his upper arm, clearly marking him as hers.
    “Didn’t I?” Jaime patted her hand and swirled her back into the house. “Oh well, we’ll just have to scare Miss Pendleton something up, won’t we.”
    “Yes, Jaime, as you wish.” However, her body language said differently as she flounced away into the house.
    “Don’t mind Alicia; she’s very protective of me.”
    “Oh, is that what you call it? Looked more like proprietary to me,” Cass said as the driver set her bags on the landing. Jaime tipped him, grabbed her larger bag, and guided her inside.
    “She’s just seen too many women try to take advantage of me, that’s all.”
    “Like I have any urge to do anything with you.”
    He smiled, his lips stretching into a predatory-type grin; she’d seen that grin before, and if memory served, whatever prompted that grin would not be nice.
    “You have nothing to fear on that count, Miss Pendleton. I’d rather play with one of the gators in the canal.” He left her standing in the large, open marble foyer, her mouth hanging open.
    * * * *
    “But Jaime, you hired me to cook only for you. I won’t cook for one of your tramps. And what do you see in her anyway? She is frumpy and bland.” Alicia waited until Cass left the kitchen before she lit into him, her accent, usually very light, seeping into her rant. “And she didn’t like my vaca frita . I don’t like people who don’t like my food.”
    “For what it’s worth, Cass isn’t one of my tramps. Since when have I brought a woman here anyway? I hired her to help me keep my suddenly overflowing life in some sort of order. In her defense, she threw up three times on the plane. Give her time to get over the trip before you have her drawn and quartered.”
    “She is still frumpy, and her hair is frizzy. I don’t like her.”
    “Jeez, Alicia, don’t pull this jealous crap with me, okay? I’m not going down that road with you … again. You are a talented cook, but my life is my life. Don’t butt in where you aren’t needed.”
    “Do you feel that way, Jaime? I mean, you are choosing that … that … that thing over me.” Alicia whipped off her apron and flung it at him.
    “Wait a minute,