Free Luck of the Dragon (Entangled Covet) by Susannah Scott Page A

fingers. A shiver danced in her belly at his touch. A gypsy had once told her that because her love line stretched to her index finger, she would have a passionate love life. She always figured it was nonsense. This man made her wonder.
    “I bet if I had my assistant book us at the spa for the day that you wouldn’t go along with it.” Alec released her palm and sat back with his fingers steepled on the table.
    Lucy cradled her hand to her chest. “You’re right.” She’d never even had a pedicure before. She didn’t have time for a bunch of frou-frou nonsense. Inside her briefcase, her phone rang, a nice old fashioned ring-ring . She looked at the phone face before silencing it and setting it on the table. It was Joey. Dammit. She’d told them to give her some time.
    “What do you want more than anything else in the world?” Alec asked.
    Lucy tried to follow his absurd conversation. “Lode Berken’s custom jewel loupe and cutting set.” It was true, she did want the set, never mind that it was secured behind three-inch thick bulletproof glass in a Tel Aviv museum.
    “Lode Berken?”
    “The creator of the diamond polishing wheel. It’s in the international jewel museum in Israel.”
    “Ahhh.” Alec smiled. “So it’s one of a kind.”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll bet you a replica of Berken’s set that even if you spend the day with me at the spa, you’ll still not be able to relax.”
    Seriously? Lucy’s mouth gaped open. He was still on the spa? He might as well have suggested she bake a cake and have a birthday party, with freakin’ candles and balloons and party hats.
    “You can’t deliver a set like his. Berken spent his lifetime collecting the jewels on it.”
    “What if I could?”
    What if he could? Lucy zeroed in on his face, noting his navy-blue eyes were leveled on hers. He seemed undaunted, a man who had pushed a pawn into her territory for her to sidestep or trounce. Her choice.
    “Let me get this straight. All I have to do is go to the spa with you—and relax— to win a replica of a priceless national heirloom.”
    “Yep.”
    “And what would I lose if I can’t relax?”
    “Dinner.” Alec smiled. “After the spa, of course.”
    “That seems like a very uneven bet.”
    “All the best ones are.”
    Her phone rang again, vibrating on the table. It was Gino this time. Lucy jabbed the silence button. Damn. Damn. Damn. Why wouldn’t they leave her alone?
    Fury, anger, hopelessness built in her chest until she felt like she would explode in an irrational tirade of Italian profanity. She took a deep breath, swallowed the words, and chewed on her lip.
    Alec took another sip of his juice, all relaxed and at ease, the smug king of his freakin’ kingdom. Lucy swallowed a shuddering exhale and took another breath. She held it and focused on his too handsome face. He deserved to pay up. It would be nothing to him.
    Why not?
    Why not go to the freakin’ spa with a man with more money than she could imagine and fewer worries than Zeus? Maybe she could nab his thumbprint while he was getting a facial. At the very least, she could hide out from Gino and Joey.
    Lucy stood up from the table and extended her hand to shake. “I’ll take your bet.”
    “Oh no, this kind of agreement requires a different binder.” Alec pushed himself to his feet and stepped around the table.
    Lucy stepped back. He was going to kiss her again.
    Her lips tingled and her gut tightened in anticipation. That kiss yesterday had been one of the best of her life, pulling her body into sharp awareness. She should stop him, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to feel her nerves come alive, one last time.
    Slowly, Alec pulled off her glasses. “I like these.” His fingers folded the glasses closed, and his thumbs pressed against the lenses. He smiled and set them on the table.
    Lucy stared at her glasses on the white tablecloth. Alec’s buttery thumbprint had smeared the lens. Elation swept from her belly to her ribcage.