High-Stakes Passion by Juliet Burns Page B

want…” she forced her gaze back to his “…you to…stop drinking.” Of course! That’s what she really wanted. For him to be the man he once was. That’s the story she’d write.
    His eyes widened. “What?”
    She braced herself for the storm. “And shave that god-awful beard!”
    Mark slammed his cards on the table and hollered, “What the hell kind of bet is that?”
    â€œWell, if you don’t think you can do it….”
    â€œI can quit drinkin’ any time I want!”
    Remembering that day in the barn with the mechanical bull, Audrey took a deep breath, lowered her chin and looked at him with an evil grin. “Come on, Mark. Show your sack!”
    She knew what part of the male anatomy this term referred to, and it took all her willpower not to run to her room and lock the door. For one terrifying moment, she thought he might reach across the table and grab her throat with his bare hands. His eyes narrowed to slits and his upper lip curled in a snarl.
    He took a deep breath as he slowly composed his expression. Keeping eye contact with her, he leaned back in his chair and one side of his mouth rose in a dangerous imitation of a smile.
    That frightened her more than the thought of being found out.
    He grabbed his beer and took a long, deliberate swallow before he said quietly, “Let’s see…” He studied the money in the middle of the table. “I calculate you got about seventy-five dollars there. That may be worth taking a razor to my throat, but not giving up my beer. If you want to play for high stakes, you’ll have to offer me something more.”
    â€œW-what do you mean?”
    Mark clasped his hands behind his head. He looked smug, as if he sensed her uncertainty. “I’ll see your bet by shaving my beard. And I raise you by pouring out the booze. Now you can see my raise with something I want, or fold.”
    â€œUh, maybe we shouldn’t….”
    â€œOh no,” he cut in. “This game just got real interesting.” He narrowed his eyes and jerked his chin. “You started it, you can finish it.”
    She was trapped. Surely he didn’t want…. “You, um, want me to go on a diet?”
    His eyes smoldered as he slowly shook his head. “I think you know what I want, Audrey. I want you in my bed. Tonight. Now, do you fold? Or play?”
    The room began to spin and she couldn’t breathe. She closed her eyes to escape those piercing blue ones. She’d come this far. She couldn’t quit now. She had her pride, too.
    She opened her eyes and looked at her cards. He couldn’t possibly beat her full house, could he? She straightened her spine, stuck her chin out and looked at him. “Okay.” Her voice wobbled and she cleared her throat. “I call. If I lose, I’ll sleep with you.”

Five
    D amn, the woman had spunk! Mark should’ve felt triumphant. He knew his straight flush was practically unbeatable. But she was acting like some sacrificial virgin standing at the edge of a volcano. Is this the only way you can get a woman, Malone? Do you really want her this way? His stomach burned.
    What did she really want? Was this because of the kiss in the kitchen? Would she really risk her precious virtue to get him to stop drinking?
    He’d wanted her since she’d smiled at him that first morning, her beautiful emerald eyes shining with excitement. But not like this. He had no doubt she’d pay up if she lost. That stubborn tilt to her chin would see her through. But there were tight lines around her mouth, and her eyes were filled with apprehension.
    Maybe if he became the Lone Cowboy again, she’dcome to him willingly. He wanted her excited, her eyes flaming with passion. His chances of that happening tonight were less than the chances of him ever getting another straight flush.
    Who was this force of nature who’d found a way to make