Orchids to Die For (Jim Morgan Adventure Series) by Catherine Burr, James Halon Page A

temptation, and then -- feeling a little giddy, jumped into the conversation, “You aren’t a gambler are you, James?” Her dimples came out, as she looked Morgan square in the eyes with a knowing smile.
    Morgan looked back at Eunice, “What’s your big project this time, Eunice?”
    “Escort three of my people down to Brazil and bring me back a few rare orchids. Two weeks – tops. All expenses paid, first class. Your old salary...plus ten percent.” Eunice called the waiter.
    “More coffee please, regular, and get them another bottle of that wine, too.”
     Eunice smiled at Catherine, then asked, “You wouldn’t miss him for two weeks, would you?”
    Catherine looked at Morgan while saying, “Oh, I’m not so sure about that one, Eunice,” and gave him a sultry grin that was somewhat backed by her second glass of the Rothschild.
    Eunice saw this as an explicit show of wantonness, and although she didn’t like what she was seeing, she decided to use it as a lever – a lever to seduce Morgan down to Brazil, “I’ll tell you what, Jim. Take Catherine here with you. All expenses paid. My treat,” and the second bottle of Mouton Rothschild 1957 arrived, breathing hearty at Morgan’s side.
    Morgan refilled Catherine’s lead crystal goblet. As he was doing so, their eyes met for an ever so brief instant and as they did, a magical spark of sexual lust enveloped them both in a psychological collision with the whole expanding universe. And they knew... They both knew that this night was not going to end young.

Chapter Nine
     
    Morgan reached for a Camel and before he could place it between his lips a waiter was there extending his chrome lighter with a half-inch exposed flame, offered subserviently, at the ready to fire up his personal – idiocy.
    Eunice frowned, “When are you going to give up those stinky things, Jimbo?”
    “Oh, maybe on my way down to Brazil. That is, if Catherine agrees to take you up on your offer.”
    Jim and Eunice both looked at Catherine for an answer.
    Catherine had her wine glass up to her lips when they focused in on her. She was buzzed, as was Morgan, and she wasn’t quite ready to fly off below the equator with this, suave Adonis, without getting to know him a whole hell of a lot better. She set her glass down and reached Morgan’s arm, and with an on-the-tipsy-side laugh, told Morgan, “Well Jim, I’ll just have to sleep with you on that one...I mean – sleep on that one with you. Ah, I mean – think this over while sleeping.”
    And then she looked over at Eunice and saw an angry maternal figure with a set of demonstrative eyes glaring in on her, and she asked, “Can I bring my Teddy Bear?” And she giggled with a, I’ve had a little too much wine tonight giggle, and added, “Oh Boy!” While showing a beautiful, just being me, smile.
    Eunice looked back at Morgan; “So James, shall I put you back on my payroll?”
    Morgan, having had a glass or two more of the Rothschild than Catherine, was enjoying the way the room was pleasantly spinning and for a minute he felt the sensation that he was afloat on his father’s sailboat. And he recalled an old sailing cliché, about one being three sheets to the wind while drinking massive quantities of rum. The old adages made him smile with a broad grin as he answered pompously to his former lover, “My love, I will go to Brazil with Catherine sleeping with me on it.”
    Catherine laughed. Morgan joined her laughter. They reached out and touched each other’s arm. And they were close to being considered as – making a scene.
    Eunice stood, perplexed, and asked for the check. She had never seen Jim Morgan get so drunk so quickly as he obviously was. She looked at the bill and signed it off to her room without questioning the horrendous amount it had cost her for a fruit salad and a couple cups of black coffee.
    Shaking her head with a show of dismay, she promised, “I’ll talk with you in the morning, Jimbo.” Then,