Cast in Ice Read Online Free

another card.
    Ice Lady slid another card across the table and the female player picked it up. With a painful moan, Lady Woodpecker dropped her hand face up to the table. With no show of emotion, the banker took Lady Woodpecker’s chips, then placed the losing cards to the bottom of the pack.
    Nick studied the Ice Lady’s controlled reaction. Nothing she did indicated she was pleased that one of the players had lost to her. It was almost as if she expected to defeat her competition one by one.
    Next, Ice Lady turned to The Rabbit . Like the player before him, he indicated that he wanted another card. Ice Lady dealt him a card and pushed it across the table. With a twitch of his nose, he lifted the corner of his card up enough to see what it was. Then he slowly placed it with the two cards in his hand and began his deliberation. His nose twitched nervously as he debated what to do, then he indicated that he wanted another card.
    Ice Lady dealt the card, and the twitching began again. A sheen of perspiration rose on his forehead. He placed his cards on the table and wiped his sweaty palms on his pant legs more than once. It was obvious his decision wasn’t an easy one. Finally, after much deliberation, the player indicated he wanted a fourth card.
    Ice Lady lifted a card off the top of the deck and placed it on the table.
    Nick knew he was mistaken, but he saw a slight hesitation in the dealer’s movements, as if she wanted to take the card back. His curiosity was piqued. It was almost as if she knew The Rabbit’s decision to ask for another card had been a mistake.
    Nick watched the dealer’s reaction with closer scrutiny as The Rabbit lifted his card, then dropped his cards face up to the table. Like before, the banker took The Rabbit’s stake and added it to her own, then placed the losing cards on the bottom of the pack.
    With a light turn of her head, Ice Lady turned to Nick. He saw the deep brown of her eyes through the mask all the players were required to wear. There was nothing special about the color of her eyes, but for an instant, Nick thought he’d seen that sharp intelligence before. For one fleeting second, there was a flash of recognition, and he was sure if he watched her long enough, he’d remember where and when he’d seen those eyes before.
    She tilted her head in silent encouragement to continue their play. That slight tilt of her head was another indication that she wasn’t a stranger to him.
    Nick looked at his cards, then placed them face down on the table, indicating he would stand with the cards in his hand. Ice Lady hesitated, then placed the deck on the table, indicating that she, too, would play the cards she’d been dealt.
    Nick smiled behind his mask. He wasn’t sure that he’d won, but it was likely. He had two tens.
    When Ice Lady indicated she didn’t want another card, Nick turned his cards over. The Rabbit and Lady Woodpecker both released audible sighs, then turned their rapt attention to Ice Lady’s hand.
    Without lifting her gaze from his, she turned over her cards. Two queens.
    A smile lifted the corners of Nick’s mouth. “Well done, my lady,” he said, surprised that he truly meant it.
    “Thank you, sir,” she answered as she reached for her winnings, then placed both their cards on the bottom of the deck.
    But Nick wasn’t paying attention to her actions. He was struggling to recall where he’d heard that voice before. Struggling to match a face with that low, sultry voice.
    And when he did, his breath caught as if he’d taken a punch to the gut. Because knowing who he was playing against changed everything.

CHAPTER 3

    Winnie could barely keep her eyes open. She sat in a chair against the wall in the Rummery ballroom and prayed no one was watching her. Perhaps if she could successfully escape the ton’s notice, she could close her eyes for a few moments and rest. She was that tired.
    It had been nearly dawn before she’d returned home this morning. It had