Free The Big Blind (Nadia Wolf) by Nicolette Pierce Page A

into my hand.
    “Care to wager now?”
    “You would wager your Porsche?”
    “If you win, you keep the Porsche. If I win, I want a weekend with you of my choosing, and I pick the location.”
    “Location?” I gulped.
    Caleb’s lips curled into a dirty sexy smile making me break into a hot sweat. “I have plans for you.”
    Crap! I was actually beginning to think this was a good idea. My car was broken and I had no money to fix it. Caleb was a temptation waiting to be explored.
    I swallowed. “Isn’t this a little close to prostitution?”
    He chuckled. “Don’t cheapen it. I want you, and I know you want me. There’s nothing wrong with this. I could easily get into your bed, but I want to win you.”
    “You can’t get into my bed that easily.”
    Caleb’s eyes sparked as he lifted the keys out of my hand and ushered me into his car. He drove me home as my foot nervously tapped.
    Why am I putting myself through this? Yes, he’s unbelievably mouth-watering hot, and he’s a likeable guy . . . for the most part. I don’t need a mouth-watering hot man. I have poker, Gus, and the chapel. My insides groaned at my life laid out on the operating table for all to dissect. As it laid there, it didn’t look very appetizing.
    Caleb pulled into a parking spot in front of the chapel and turned off the engine. He was out of the car and around to my side before I even realized we arrived. He opened the door, and I slid out to follow him.
    I could stop this right now. I could tell him that I didn’t want him or his car. I could tell him a lot of things that were untrue. As we stepped up the final stair to my apartment landing, he slid my keys out of my pocket and opened the door.
    “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove,” I said.
    Caleb shut the door behind me taking me into his arms. He leaned his head down and captured my mouth with his. His lips parted mine.
    I couldn’t let him win this. It’s a challenge to him. I’ll stay strong, I thought. Unfortunately, I moaned at the same time. His warm hand had traveled up the inside of my shirt where he cupped my breast. His thumb circled around my nipple. I can’t stay strong. This isn’t going to work. He’s going to win; he always wins.
    “Do you need more convincing?” he asked.
    I glared at him. “No.”
    “So, the wager is back on?”
    Damn, I wanted him and his car. I nodded.
    “Meet me at the casino tomorrow at three. I’ll be in the high stakes room. We’ll play one hand. Winner takes all.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Good. Walk me downstairs. I’m afraid of bumping into Frankie.”
    “Frankie is harmless.”
    “So you say, but he was eyeing me up like a candy dish last night.”
    So was I.
    I escorted Caleb to the door where he gave me a light kiss goodbye. He hopped in his car, hopefully to become my car, and drove off. I turned to hoof it back upstairs.
    “There you are,” Frankie said.
    I jumped and clutched my heart. “Did you need me?”
    “We need to go over your routine for the gig tomorrow.”
    I rolled my eyes. “What time is the show?”
    “It’s at seven, but you’ll need to arrive a little early for a walk through and short rehearsal. Everyone there is professional, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”
    “What did you need me to do?”
    “Just your crazy card tossing tricks.”
    “How many minutes do I have to fill?”
    “They said fifteen minutes but you should have a few tricks up your sleeve in case the magician needs more time.”
    “I’ll do the boomerang, cascade, waterfall, two-arm spread, the twirl, and I’ll finish up with the one handed twirl with the three-card juggle in the other hand.”
    “Have you learned any more tricks?”
    “Frankie, I learned these when I was a teenager and had no life.”
    He eyed me. “Nothing’s changed.”
    I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Don’t get huffy. You’re just mad because it’s true,” he said.
    “You’re probably right.”