Page 6 of Rio

“Go on.”

“Full house?That’s three of a kind, two of another.”

Her fingers toy with the hem of her dress.“Okay, I get it.I’ve played this before, Knight.I’m no poker virgin.”

“I don’t take you for one, either.”

“Want another drink?”she asks.

“I’ll have another Jack Daniels.”

She gets up and walks over to the wet bar again, and I watch her intently, admiring her as she stands with her back to me.I’m still incredulous that I’m here.Playing strip poker.

Wait till I tell Dex.

She hands me the drink.For herself, she has a small bottle of water.

“You’re not drinking?”

“I have work to do.”

“What?Work,now?”

“I have a caseload.My sleazy, nasty, boss has cracked his whip.”

“Sleazy?”

She shrugs, sits back down on the floor again, takes a sip of water then puts the lid back on.There’s more to this than she’s letting on.Something I don’t like the sound of.

“How old is he?Is he married?”

“Why so many questions?”

“Just answer them, princesa.”

“He’s not married, and as for the “sleazy.”I can deal with him.”She picks at something on her dress.“I have work to do, Knight.So if you want to play, I suggest we get on with it.”

“Okay.”

“And once we’ve finished playing, you’re leaving soon after I’ve gotten you down to your boxers.”

I grin.“Who says you’ll want me to leave once you see me in my boxers?”

“You’re so sure of yourself.”

“You know you want me.This is just a tactic for getting me down naked.”

She chews her lower lip, then fans her face.I can see the color rising to her cheeks.She mumbles something about it being hot.

“You keep fanning yourself,” I say.“How about you change into something a little lighter?I’m sure that satin must be hard for your skin to breathe through.”

She flaps around with the high neck of her dress, as if trying to let in some air.

“You could get changed into your pyjamas or something more comfortable,” I suggest.

“I’m fine, but I bet you a hundred dollars that by the end of this evening, you’ll be in your boxers and I’ll be fully clothed.”

“You’ve played this before.”I suddenly realize why she wants to play this.“Do you cheat?”