Seducing Seven (What Happens in Vegas) Read Online Free Page B

that is good.” Opening his mouth for the last bite, his lips then closed over the tips of her thumb and index finger. A hot streak of awareness shot up her arm, followed by goose bumps.
    She fought the urge to jerk her hand back. Whoa. Time to up her game. She raised her hand to his cheek. “One second.”
    She leaned toward him, and he stilled. She was either all in or completely out. Her lungs seized in embarrassment, but it was either be bold and brazen or lose the bet—and she refused to lose to this man. Trailing her fingertips down his roughened cheek, she gave the slightest pressure to turn his face toward her.
    His pupils dilated as she moved closer. Now she was getting somewhere.
    And with a quick swipe of her finger, she removed sauce from the corner of his mouth.
    He blinked.
    Pulling her plate back in front of her, she continued to eat. She crossed her legs, and the high front slit of her skirt parted to make room for her upper thigh.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Blake glance down. He fisted his linen napkin tightly in one hand as he shoved another bite of sushi into his mouth.
    A deep warmth spread through Seven’s chest. Victory would be hers, and damn if she wasn’t going to have fun playing the game.
    Hot editor who? She had Blake Turner to focus on.
    “Do you like coming to these conventions?”
    She considered him and his question for a second. Asking her about the convention surprised her. So far she’d had him pegged for quite the narcissist, but his face showed absolute sincerity.
    She nodded. “I do. It gives me a chance to connect with my readers. Hear what they like and dislike, their dreams and fantasies. It all helps me figure out what I want to write next. I also gain really supportive friendships every time I come.”
    “But what about the intrusion, like with your new friend, Ted?”
    She winced. “Yes, well. There are always exceptions. Every now and then you run across someone who blurs the lines of fiction and reality. I felt bad lying to him, but—”
    “Ahhhh, so you admit none of it’s real. Finally.”
    Straightening in her seat, she shook her head and leaned forward. “I’ve done nothing of the sort. The story is fiction, of course. They are stories born from my heart. But the essence, what gives each story life, is love. And I believe in that one hundred percent.”
    “Then why aren’t you married?”
    She blinked. Twice. Wasn’t that the age-old question? The short answer was because she hadn’t found a man she really loved yet. The long answer had something to do with the fact that none of her relationships ever lasted more than a few weeks, which opened up a slew of questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.
    So instead, she answered the question with a question of her own. “Why aren’t you?”
    He leaned back in his chair. “Because unlike you, I don’t believe in love or happy ever afters. All I’ve ever seen is happy until you find something better.”
    “Ouch.”
    He raised his glass in salute, then emptied it.
    After the meal, they weaved through the crowded lobby back toward the elevator.
    Seven swore the desert heat was going to kill her. The sooner she could get out of her clothes the better. Ever since she’d met Blake she’d been burning up. How long had it been since she’d had a big O—with another person in the room? Too long to admit. Well, things were about to change. This bet seemed like an increasingly brilliant idea.
    Blake got off the elevator on her floor. She stopped walking and gave him a sidelong glance.
    He pulled on his tie to loosen it from his collar. “I switched rooms to make it easier on you. You’re going to need all the help you can get.”
    “How—”
    “Don’t underestimate me, Ms. Michaels. I pay attention, and I have my resources. It will do you well not to forget it.”
    Her initial feeling of concern switched to a rush of determination. She was going to make this man wish he’d never bet against her,