Her High-Stakes Affair

“That’s right, you haven’t since…when?” she asked.

“A lifetime ago.” He remembered the day with a kind of fondness now. He’d been acting since he was nine months old. To say he’d chosen that profession was a huge exaggeration. He’d learned to act the same way he’d learned to walk and talk. Sometimes he wasn’t sure that he knew how to really live.

“What about gambling? Can’t deny that. You are being paid to play right now.”

“Ah, but that’s not really gambling, is it? I’m out there playing for charity and trying to outbluff the other contestants.”

“And you always do it.”

“Winning’s important to me.”

“Why?”

“Because losing sucks. Surely you’ve found that to be true.”

“I have. That’s why I play by the rules.”

“What rules?”

“My rules for safe living. It’s not that I’m not attracted to you. Who wouldn’t be? But you’re not worth the risk.”

“Risk? Honey, you’re safe with me.”

“Don’t call me honey. You call everyone that.”

“Okay, but don’t treat me like I’m nothing more than a list of professions or money. I want a chance to get to know the real Raine.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have time. And we both signed a waiver saying no fraternization with the cast or crew.”

“Live a little, Raine. Take a chance. We both have some free time.”

She bit her lower lip, and he realized that he was pushing her. He analyzed Raine and the situation. If he backed down now, she’d never let him get her alone again. But maybe… “I dare you.”

“What?”

“I dare you to go out with me. I dare you to see past the flashbulbs and the gossip-sheet rumors about me.”

Two

Damn him. That was all she could think as she stood there contemplating the dare.

She wanted to accept it. Not only to get back at him—because it would give her a chance to put her half-formed idea of making him fall for her into action—but also because she liked him. She was attracted to him.

But she wasn’t sure what was motivating Scott. Was it just the money he’d wagered with the rocker or did he want more? And was she really willing to risk her job just so she could one-up him? And she definitely was going to one-up this man. Did she really want to take a chance on another man hurting her?

A dare.

Still, it was hard to change her habits. She was a risk taker by nature, and every instinct in her wanted to take him up on his dare. To prove to him he wasn’t the hot stuff he thought he was.

A dare.

She’d spent a lifetime tamping down the urges of her wild blood. That was what Grandma Nan had always called it when Raine got into scrapes at school. And in her younger days she’d gotten into more than a few of them.

She’d never been able to resist a dare.

How had this man known? What was it about his dark-brown eyes that enabled him to see past the protective layers others never noticed were there?

In truth she knew it wasn’t arrogance. The man had a swarm of adoring people following him around day and night. She wondered how long they’d be alone in the alcove before one of his fans found him.

“What’s the matter? Scared you can’t handle me off the set where you’re not in charge?” he asked in that silky tone of his.

She realized he was so used to getting his way that it never occurred to him she’d turn him down. And it irked her that she was thinking about accepting his invitation. But she was definitely going to make him work for it.

“I think we covered this already,” she replied. “I’m not scared of any man.”

“Then I’ll pick you up in your suite at eight. Dressy casual. Be prepared for the night of your life.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist. His words, the delivery and tone, were exactly like her father’s. Every birthday he’d called her, promising her the moon, and for eight long years she’d believed him.

“You know nothing about me, Scott. How can you guarantee me the night of my life?” she asked carefully. Maybe going wasn’t a good idea, no matter how tempting he was. Actually, because of how tempting he was. She’d forgotten her own rules. No matter what spin he put on it, Scott Rivers was a gambler. He gambled every day on life, taking risks and issuing dares.

“Touché. That was arrogant.” He grinned at her.

“Just a tad.”

“I’d like to say it won’t happen again, but…”

This time she laughed at him. He was very charming, and she didn’t care if it was practiced. This was the man she had to be careful around. The one she’d find it so easy to fall for. For just this once, though, she wanted to enjoy basking in his laughter.

“How about a night of getting to know each other?” he asked, propping one hand on the wall behind her and angling his body closer to hers.

The heat of his body swamped her. She struggled to keep her pulse steady, but it had picked up the minute he’d put his hand on the wall next to her head. He captured one of her curls with his fingers and toyed with the strand. “Why is this important to you?” she asked.

He ran his finger down the side of her face, his touch tentative and very gentle. For the first time in her life she felt…special. Not the go-to girl or the can-handle-anything woman. But as if she was actually the one who needed to be treasured and pampered by a man. He’s just playing you, she reminded herself. But she liked the way he was treating her—which unsettled what she thought she knew about herself.

He leaned even closer to her. She inhaled his spicy aftershave and the smell of his breath mints. Her breath probably smelled like garlic from the scampi she’d had for lunch. This was why she didn’t do the fairy tale thing.

“I can’t get you out of my head,” he said.

She stopped thinking about her breath and stared up at this man who had to be putting her on. “Lust, eh? I’m not really cover-model material.”

“No, you’re not. You have something so unique. Something that’s just Raine.”

His words touched her and she had to swallow. She told herself he was a consummate actor, even though it had been a while since he’d tried his hand at that. A part of her wanted to believe him, but another part was afraid. She’d grown up with her father, the accomplished con man who could promise anything and make everyone including Raine believe it.

“Don’t say things like that to me. I prefer honesty.”

“As you pointed out, we don’t know each other. I just want a chance.”