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“Something wrong, Lady Masterson?”
“No, nothing whatsoever.” She picked up her bourbon, cradling it in her hands.
Leo filled his own glass, easing back into his chair with a friendly smile. Perhaps he meant to discuss the theater or the weather before playing a game of cards in which Georgina had wagered herself. How civilized.
A half-smile crossed his wide mouth, and the small dimple in his cheek appeared. A wave of leather-brown hair fell over his forehead, which he didn’t bother to push away. The muscles of his thighs, apparent through the fabric of his trousers, bunched as he crossed his legs.
“Beechwood Court must mean quite a bit if you’re willing to wager your honor.”
She shot him an annoyed glance. “You know that it does. I’ve mentioned Beechwood Court to you often enough. While you were teaching me cards and pretending to be my friend. Why didn’t you just bed me then?”
His smile faltered just a bit. “I should have.”
Georgina looked away. She didn’t understand him. He hadn’t so much as flirted with her in all this time. If lifting her skirts was all he wanted, why hadn’t he just done so? “You should have, and we could have avoided this chain of events for which I might never forgive you.”
A scowl crossed his beautiful mouth. “You’re very dramatic, Georgina. I’ve often thought so.”
A knock on the door sounded.
“Come,” Leo said, his eyes never leaving hers. There was heat in the blue depths, but something undefinable as well. “Good evening, Larkin.”
The young man entered. “Sir.” He nodded to Georgina. “My lady.”
If Larkin was curious to find Georgina in Leo Murphy’s office, he gave no indication. For all she knew, Leo held card games with his paramours every night of the week.
Dear God, I will not be one of those women.
“Here will be fine.” Murphy pointed to the table between him and Georgina. “Unless you object, my lady.”
“Not at all.” Georgina tossed back the remainder of her bourbon.
Leo tracked her movements, his gaze caressing the line of her neck with a sort of savage hunger. Apparently, he was no longer bothering to hide his desire.
Good. Maybe it will make him careless.Men often became witless at the sight of her bosom. Leo was probably no different. Though he’d never paid it much attention until tonight.
“Another bourbon, if you please.” She slid her glass across the table.
“I don’t want you to become lightheaded, Georgina.”
“I won’t be.” She shot him a defiant glance. “I’ve a high tolerance for a great manner of things.”
“I’ll allow you to choose the game.” Leo waved one of those graceful hands in her direction.
“How kind, considering. I choose poker,” Georgina stated without hesitation, knowing the game wasn’t played in London or anywhere in England. At least as far as she knew. Certainly, it wasn’t offered as a choice at Elysium. Playing a game Leo wasn’t overly familiar with might be the only real advantage she had to best him. His unerring ability to recall every card played made winning against him incredibly difficult.
“I’m not familiar with the game, Lady Masterson.” Her detested title rolled out of him. “As you likely know.”
“It’s fairly simple. I could teach you.” She gave him a look. “You’ll pick it up in no time. Brilliant man such as yourself.”
“Larkin is not familiar either.” Leo’s tone grew bland. “I suggest vingt-un. Fairly simple and to the point. Though I must admit,” he leaned over the table until she caught sandalwood and leather in her nostrils, “I admire your strategy. Were I in your situation, I would have done the same.”
Damn.“Fine.”
“Unless you’d prefer whist?”
He’d taught her the technique of how to keep track of her cards and those of the other players. She barely had a chance at vingt-un. “No. Thank you.”
“We’ll each start with ten chips as our stake. We play for one hour. Whoever has the most chips at the end of the game will be declared the winner. Does that suit you?”
