Page 5 of A Game with the Rakish Duke
Just one more play then I walk away with the lot.
But suddenly, the game turned. She realized, too late, that the tall, dark-haired, handsome stranger had played her. He’d withheld his best cards until the final moment when he laid them triumphantly on the table.
“I am afraid that you lose.” He grinned, gathering the small pile of coins and notes towards him. “Bad luck, chap.”
Catherine’s heart hit the ground. She felt tears spring to her eyes. How could she have been so foolish? She had gotten too cocky.
“Please,” she murmured, in a low voice. “Can we talk about it? I need that money. I won it fair and square…”
“My apologies,” he said, in a firm voice. “But I have won it fair and square now. That is just the nature of the game.”
Catherine’s face hardened. How could she get him to see that she needed that money more than he did?
Suddenly, she felt a lock of hair fall over her face. Hastily, she pulled it back, tucking it under her cap. Her face turned crimson.
The man gaped at her. He looked truly astounded, his eyes raking over her face.
“Are you awoman?”he hissed, his eyes looking more blue than green at the moment.
Catherine blanched. “Please…”
He blinked once. Twice. He was quiet for what felt like an eternity, simply staring at her face, the shadow of realization darkening his eyes.
Catherine was done for. She knew he would call one of the employees, and they would drag her outside—penniless andcompletely ruined. Worst of all, she had ruined all hope for her family.
“Take it,” the man finally growled, indicating the pile of money. “Before I change my mind.”
Catherine gasped. She didn’t need to be told twice. Hastily, she gathered the money, stuffed it into her bag, and ran away from the table.
She had barely managed to exit the gambling hell and round the corner when she felt a hand spinning her around. It was the handsome, dark-haired man.
And to her dismay, the motion dislodged her cap, causing more hair to tumble down her shoulders.
His jaw dropped as he stared at her. “Whoareyou?”
Chapter Three
“Take your hand off my arm,” the boy, who was actually a girl, hissed, glaring at him. Her eyes were bright green, glittering fiercely like cut emeralds. “I mean it!”
Thomas barely heard her. All he could think was that he couldn’t let her go before he found out who the deuce she was. He had just let her walk away with a pile of winnings that in truth belonged to him now, but he had been so shocked when that lock of chestnut-brown hair had fallen over her face like that
“Calm down,” he whispered, drawing her away from the main gaming hall and into a secluded room. “I am not going to hurt you.”
He studied her face. He should have realized instantly, of course, as soon as he sat beside her and saw her. Her face was fine-boned with high cheekbones, and she had the most luscious, bee-stung lips. A feminine face. Abeautifulface.
And then there were her eyes, those emerald-green eyes, flashing with intelligence as well as irritation. He had no doubt about her cleverness. She had just waltzed into a gambling hell, disguised as a boy, and managed to beat all the old timers to the ground, amassing a sizeable fortune.
It was audacious. It was impudent. It was brazen. It was also highly arousing when accomplished by such a fearless, beautiful girl.
“Who are you?” he whispered again, more urgently this time.
She shrugged off his hand, glaring at him. “Why do you want to know? Why do you care?”
“I just let you walk away with all that money,” he drawled, his eyes lingering on those delectable lips. “I think you owe me at least that.”
She bit her lip. He felt a stab of desire shoot through his body, just watching her.
As she contemplated his question, he couldn’t resist. With a quick flick of his hand, he removed her cap. That glorious chestnut-brown hair tumbled down in soft waves, framing her face.
