Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (143 page)

'You're absolutely ravishing, Julia. I can't decide if you're Snow White or Red Riding Hood. You look like a fairy tale come to life, even with that wig.'

Julia gave a faux-pout. 'Little Red Riding Hood?

That makes me sound like a child.'

Paine leaned close to her ear and nipped the tender flesh of her ear lobe. 'No, not a child, Julia, a delicious ingenue,' he drawled. 'When I look at you, I see an intoxicating mixture of innocence and sensuality, a lady about to awaken to the pleasures of the world.'

Warm heat rushed to Julia's core at the images his low tones conjured. There was no doubt as to what those worldly pleasures might be and how they might be provided. The man flirted so well, it was impossible not to be taken in. 'Then perhaps you are mistaken. I am neither Snow White nor Red Riding Hood, but Sleeping Beauty.'

Paine laughed near her ear, enjoying her witty efforts.

'If you're Sleeping Beauty, what does that make me?'

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Julia bit back the first reply that sprung to her lips-that he was the prince come to awaken the princess with love's first kiss. That would never do for a man like him.

It implied too much. 'Why, that's easy,' she said instead.

'You're the wolf. You're always the wolf.'

Paine stepped back, his eyes dancing. 'Then let's away to my lair.' Her answer had pleased him. Julia wondered if the banter had been a test of sorts to make sure she wasn't entertaining any romantic notions.

The idea to go with Paine had been an exciting prospect in theory. Dressing up in a low-cut gown, donning a wig and becoming someone else altogether for the evening had been exhilarating-right up to the part where they arrived at the gambling hell.

Paine's coach lurched to a halt and Julia's stomach did a lurch of another

'Are you sure no one will

recognise me?' she asked tentatively. Paine had explained to her that Oswalt's man had come the night before asking about her and that it was possible the man might come again once Oswalt knew this hell was Paine ' s territory.

Paine offered her another round of reassurances and leaped down. He turned to hand her out of the

'Remember, Julia. This is not a fancy place. You'll stand out like a diamond among coal. But we're counting on that. If Oswalt's man is here, there's nothing better for throwing him off the scent than a glimpse of my dark-haired lady throwing dice. He'll report back to Oswalt that the woman with me didn't resemble you in the least.'

He shot her a dazzling smile, meant to reassure. 'It'll

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Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady

be fun, Julia. Relax. Tonight, you're not Julia Prentiss, you're Eva St George, an actress with many talents.'

That made her smile. Julia summoned her courage, telling herself she was on the brink of a grand adventure.

When would she have the chance again to visit a gaming hell? As Julia Prentiss, the niece of a viscount, such behaviour was beyond the pale but as the embodiment of the fictitious Eva St George, anything was possible.

An hour later, she was fully into her role as the adventurous Eva St George. She stood at the head of a crowded hazard table, giddy with the thrill of it all. It was her turn to act the part of the caster. She jostled the dice in anticipation. Near her ear, Paine offered a running litany of instruction.

'Call your main before you throw, that's any number you choose between five and nine. If that number comes up, you win the stake. If you throw a two or three, you lose-it's called "throwing crabs." If neither the main nor the crabs comes up, it's your chance and you neither win nor lose on it.'

'Seven!' Julia called out, tossing the ivory cubes on to the green felt table.

six turned up first and she bit

her lip, relieved to see a one showing on the other cube.

'I win!' Julia cried.

The men gathered around the table laughed good naturedly at her excitement. She picked up the dice again, prepared for another round. Paine bent over and blew on them for luck, taking a fair amount of ribbing from the other players.

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'Lady Luck is supposed to blow on the dice, Ram,'

one of them shouted.

'Are you kidding?' another j oked, 'With Ram's luck, I'd let him blow on my dice any night of the week.'

Julia called a six and threw her main. 'I won again!'

In her enthusiasm, she flung her arms around Paine's neck and pressed close against him. 'I love this game!

In reality, she thought she'd love anything that kept Paine by her side, whispering in her ear. The combination of his dark evening wear and the scent of his spiced soap was intoxicatingly potent. Tonight, he exuded a commanding aura of urbane control and powerful masculinity. He was a man in charge. He could just as easily have come from an elite club or
ton
ballroom.

Paine responded to her embrace wholeheartedly, sweeping an arm about her waist and capturing her upturned face with a full-mouthed kiss that had the table whooping. 'Let's see how that helps your luck,' Paine said with a grin, releasing her and handing her the dice.

'Third time lucky.'

'Looks like she already got lucky,' someone at the end of the table hooted.

Julia blushed. The public display from Paine had been unexpected until she remembered who she was supposed to be.

seasoned actress would not

at

such a display or at any comment made about it. Eva St George would take such a moment in her stride. Julia Prentiss would have to, too.

As he stood beside her, Paine's hand settled at her waist, steadying her as if he guessed her reaction.