Chapter 3 She frowned

She frowned, but then finally nodded. She reached behind her back, feeling for the zipper tab.

He smiled. "Want some help?"

"No," she said stonily. "I can manage."

She dragged the zipper down, feeling the cool air brush her back as the fabric parted. As she pulled the dress off her shoulders, she couldn't believe she was doing this.

She avoided looking at him as she slowly lowered the garment, pushing it over her hips and down her legs. Then she stepped out of it and held it out to him.

The moment their gazes locked and she saw the heat in his eyes, her cheeks flamed. His already dark blue eyes had darkened to the deepest midnight blue. She realized her hand was shaking as she held the dress. His fingers wrapped around the slinky fabric, brushing hers as they did, and for a moment, time froze, his fingers against hers, and a sultry heat simmered between them.

Then his hand drew away, the dress with it, leaving her close to naked, and feeling vulnerable in her lacy black bra cut low in front and her skimpy black thong. God, she didn't want to turn around. He might know women who would wear a bikini this scanty on a public beach, but not her. She reserved this level of sexy for the bedroom.

Or it seemed now, a high stakes poker game with a billionaire playboy.

He placed the dress on the table and sat down. He didn't leer, or even obviously peruse her body, which she had to admit was classy on his part.

But her skin prickled with awareness of his closeness and masculinity. And she knew that even though he wasn't being obvious, he was taking in every inch of her almost naked body.

She had to face it, if the man offered to bed her to give her what she wanted, she'd probably drop her panties right now.

She sat down as he dealt out the cards again and she picked up hers. Her hand was a mish mash... one king and the rest non-face cards. She kept the king and a ten, both spades, hoping for a flush, or at least another king.

"How many cards?" he asked.

"I'll take three."

He dealt her the three cards and she peered at them. There was no king, but she did get a pair of twos and another ten. That was two pair.

She schooled her features not to give anything away and glanced across the table at him.

"I'll hold," he said.

Usually, they would bet now, but the current wager was her dress against him allowing her to talk to him.

"So I reveal now?" she asked.

"You mean more than you already have?" His eyebrow arched as his gaze fell on her breasts.

"I mean my cards."

"No, we're not finished betting."

"I thought the dress..."

"Allowed you into the hand, yes. But now I'm going to raise."

"But I don't have any money. You expect me to fold?"

He shrugged. "If you want. But I think you're quite happy with your hand and would be willing to put more on the table, so to speak."

"I'm not taking off my bra," she said, eyes flashing. His lips turned up on the sides in a grin. "Or anything else."

He nodded. "All right. Then I have a suggestion."

She pursed her lips as she took in his handsome face, his intelligent gaze considering her.

"And what is that?"

"If I win, you let me touch you."

"Touch me?" Thoughts of his big hands cupping her breasts. Gently squeezing, then his fingers finding her aching nipples and stroking, then pinching them between his fingertips, took her breath away.

She'd like that. In fact, she'd like nothing more than to strip away her lingerie and lie back on the table to let him take her.

Except to have that talk with him. And walk away with some shred of dignity.

"We said no sex."

"I'm not talking sex. Just touching."

"Why would I let you do that?"

"I'll touch only bare skin. And let me make it more interesting."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"If you win, then we talk, just as you wanted."

"That was already the deal."

"But what if I promise at least one counter proposal."

"I don't understand."

"You want to talk to me. Which means you want something from me. I don't know what it is, but the answer will likely be no."

Her heart compressed at the word but he was right. This whole thing was a long shot, but it was the only shot she had.

"I'm suggesting that when you make whatever request you will be making, that I won't just say no. I will try to find a counter proposal that will work for us."

She pursed her lips. She didn't know what the counter proposal would be to putting her brother-in-law in jail. Maybe lowering the charges? Forgiving the debt? Maybe promising him a job once his sentence was done?

She had no idea, but Mr. Danner being open to more than just saying no was definitely a good thing.

Especially since she was sure he was bluffing. Or, at least, didn't have a hand that could beat two pair.

"All right."

He smiled, and at the predatory look in his eyes, she realized he was going to win. The blood drained from her face as he flipped over his cards... revealing a full house.

Oh, God, she'd lost her opportunity to try and convince him to help Ella and her husband.

"Come over here." His silken voice curled through her and she stood up.

Now he would touch her... probably cup her ass with his big hand. Maybe, if she seemed willing...who was she kidding, she was willing... to succumb to his touch, then maybe he would listen to her after all.

Shock vaulted through her at her own illicit thoughts. She wasn't going to sleep with him to help Ella.

No, just strip down to practically nothing. Then let him touch her.

Did she really know where her boundaries were?

He watched as she walked around the long table, then approached him, his gaze locked on the swell of her breasts above the lace cups. Her nipples puckered at the thought of him stroking her there.

He pushed his chair back from the table and turned sideways as she continued toward him. His intense male gaze sent heat shimmering through her.

Finally, she stood facing him.

"Let your hair down."

It had nothing to do with the deal they'd struck, but she reached behind her head and opened the clip, letting her long hair spill down over her shoulders.

He lifted his hand, and as it approached her, she calmed her breathing, readying herself for his touch. It would only be a moment.

But she wasn't prepared for the spark of desire that flared through her when his fingertips brushed against her arm, just above her elbow. Then his fingers moved. Upward. Trailing lightly over her skin, then stroked her hair back over her shoulder. She drew in a slow breath as he glided downward again, over the soft exposed skin of her breast, right to the lace of her bra. His fingertip grazed lightly under the scalloped edges, but not breaching the barrier of the satin cup.

Clearly, he liked to push boundaries.

And she was close to pulling back that boundary, by tugging the cup forward and inviting him to explore further. The thought of his big fingers gliding over her hard nipple sent her pulse fluttering.

Her own potent reaction to him startled her and she stepped back.

"I... uh... we're done now."

He arched an eyebrow. "I don't think so."

"You said a touch," she stammered.

"And you didn't say how long. I'm not finished."