Set Up Read Online Free Page A

bent back, her chin neared his.
    Encouraging. “In the elevator, you can look out over the lake while we ride upstairs. My suite is quiet and peaceful. One whole wall is windowed so when we’re in the dark, we can look out over the lights of Houston. They’re beautiful. You have to come up and see for yourself.”
    The champagne made her eyes gleam.
    “Please,” he coaxed.
    “Can you leave your guests?”
    “They're not my guests. They're guests of the resort.”
    Lips pursed. Forehead creased. For one long second, while he held his breath, she considered. “All right.”
    Later, he’d be sorry. He’d think of her, if he thought of her at all, as one more liability to be shed with a minimum of money and publicity. Once again, he would wonder why he’d let his prick make him forget everything he knew about women like Scarlet.
    But that would come afterward.
    Now he wanted her, and he’d do whatever was necessary to get her. Maybe he’d be lucky. Maybe she’d get him through the dreariness of Johanna's wedding, till he could go back to his normal routine.
    My stale arid routine .
    Damn this funk. Tonight Scarlet would make him forget. “Shall we go?”
    It was so easy for him.
    * * * *
    It was so easy for her.
    From experience, Amanda guessed his seduction wouldn’t take long. But when he’d clasped her wrist and she’d felt that jolt of recognition, her confidence had plummeted.
    And her conscience kept nagging.
    She hated feeling like a criminal, no matter how underhanded he’d been with poor Noelle.
    If he’d been devious, callous, calculating, she wouldn’t feel so bad. But he was engagingly frank about his intentions, delightful in his efforts to amuse her.
    Then there was his sleepy-eyed smile, reminiscent of a mischievous boy. Disarming, hopeful, eager. Endearing.
    He’s a womanizer, a cheat, a user. He deserves this.
    No need to suggest stopping for a bottle on the way to his suite. He plucked two glasses and a fifth of champagne from one of the serving trays as they left the ballroom, saying, “You wanted to wait till later for the bubbly.”
    “Yes, and this is later, isn't it?”
    He flashed a grin, the one that was jaded, appraising, and almost contemptuous.
    That grin disturbed her.
    “It will be.” Confidence oozed from him. He wore it like an entitlement and why not? He was a McIntyre, used to taking whatever he wanted.
    After she collected her cloak, they went out on the best of terms. He was taller despite her heels so she had to tip her head back to see the chiseled cheekbones, the upturned nose, and the strong chin. An oblong mirror by the elevator reflected a striking, well-matched couple. No one would have guessed tonight marked their first meeting.
    Waiting for the elevator, they talked about the play and its cast, but the game they played had nothing to do with the musical, and they both knew it. When he touched her back as they entered the elevator, she recognized the desire, naked and unabashed. For a terrible moment, her own appetite surged.
    She should pull back, escape while she could.
    Crazy. You're crazy. He's only a man like every other man you've ever known.
    In the hushed suite, he moved faster than expected. Once he set down the bottle and glasses, he pulled her to him and found her mouth. Before she could pull away, his tongue slid over her lips, opened them, delved inside.
    No time to think. She had to get control.
    Relax, relax. Keep him at arm’s length .
    His tongue lingered over each tooth before he came up for air. “God, I've wanted to do that all night. You have no idea how much I've wanted to do that, sweet Scarlet.”
    “I’d never have guessed.” She dropped her cloak and evening purse, and then wrapped her arms around his neck and a leg around his thigh, molding herself to him, feeling his muscles shift. His fingers touched her cheek, trailed lower till they skimmed the line of her neck to her breast. His lips followed, a beginning beard rough against