Free Game for Anything by Cara Summers

Noah Danforth was a graduate student at Georgetown who had worked part-time for her for the past year. She hoped he wasn’t calling in sick, because it was going to be a very busy day. “Noah, where are you?” She glanced at the digital clock next to the phone and her eyes widened. She always opened the doors of the shop at ten, and it was fifteen after.
    â€œI’m downstairs in the shop.”
    â€œI’m late! I…overslept. I’ll be right down.”
    â€œAre you all right? I was worried there for a minute when I arrived and you hadn’t opened up already.”
    â€œI’m fine. Any customers yet?”
    â€œNo, but I can see Mrs. Langford-Hughes through the window. She has Chris Chandler and another man with her. They know you’re getting that shipment today.”
    â€œKeep them busy until I get there.”
    Tracker released her hand at the same moment he replaced the phone.
    â€œI have to go down there.”
    He smiled at her. “I know.” He glanced down at the dice. “I think I can remember where we left off, and we can get back to it tonight.” His eyes held amusement and something much more dangerous when they met hers. “You can think about it while you’re showering and dressing and putting in a long day in the shop. Anticipation has a heightening effect on pleasure.”
    The grin he gave her was wicked, promising.
    â€œYou can think about it, too.” On impulse, she leaned forward and brushed her mouth against his. She was finding it difficult to draw back when a sudden thought had her frowning. “I can’t tonight. I have plans.”
    â€œA date?” he said, lifting one brow.
    â€œNo. It’s business. I have to go to a party at Millie Langford-Hughes’s house right after work. She’s a very important client.”
    â€œNo problem.”
    Sophie studied him for a minute and found it impossible to read his expression. He’d agreed to her deal. She should be able to relax now, but she was still worried that he would walk away from her again. That feeling was an old and familiar problem. She’d bared her soul and paid an outrageous sum to a therapist only to “discover” what she already knew too well. She suffered from abandonment syndrome.
    And she was still holding Tracker’s hand.
    â€œWould you like to come along?”
    She thought she saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
    â€œYour wish is my command, Princess. And I can give you an extra hand in the shop today if it will help.”
    â€œThe shop. I have to get down there.” Brushing her hair out of her eyes, she slipped from the bed and hurried to the bathroom. At the door, she turned back. “Thanks. Help yourself to coffee, anything.”
    With a wave, she vanished into the bathroom.
    Â 
    F OR FIVE SECONDS , Tracker debated following her. The Princess had taken control of his head and of another much less controllable part of his body. He was amazed that he’d been able to stop himself from indulging in round two with her—especially when she’d asked if he could manage the little maneuver with the ribbon. His mind filled with the image of having her that way.
    In truth, he wanted to have her any way he could, whenever she gave him the chance. His hormones were on a rampage, and that was dangerous. He was going to have to work very hard to keep both his libido and the affair under tight control if he was going to do his job.
    His job. Gathering up his clothes, Tracker pulled them on and headed for the kitchen. He didn’t believe in lying to himself. Part of the reason he’d agreed to the affair was that he hadn’t been able to stop himself. It wouldn’t have mattered a bit which way the coin toss had gone.
    After tipping coffee into two mugs, he lifted one and took a long swallow. The hot liquid scalded his throat. He could only hope that he hadn’t made the biggest mistake of his