Read Online From the Heart by Nora Roberts - Free Book Online

you.”
    He wasn’t sure why her approval pleased him, but he knew it did. She tilted her head as if trying to see him from a new angle.
    â€œThis is your room,” she murmured. “Like the study.”
    â€œI suppose you could put it that way.”
    â€œGood.” She sipped at her drink. “I’m beginning to like you, Jordan. I almost wish I didn’t.”
    â€œWe seem to have the same problem.”
    With a nod, she moved away. “Pool, huh? Don’t let me interrupt you. I’ll just finish my drink before I head back into the maze.” She glanced around the room again. It was the only room in the house, other than the study, where she felt comfortable. “I’d like to talk to you about the book when you’ve finished it, Dr. Rhodes.”
    â€œOf course.” Her smile, he thought, was indeed very appealing. “Perhaps you’d like to join us for a game, Miss Wyatt,” he offered, surprising himself.
    â€œThat’s very nice of you.” She smiled again and watched with affection as he straightened his shoulders. “I’m sure you’re betting, though, aren’t you?”
    â€œThat’s not necessary,” Harry said.
    â€œOh, but I wouldn’t want you to change the rules for me.”Kasey sipped again and eyed a pool stick. “What are the stakes? Perhaps they’re in my range.”
    â€œI’m sure we can accommodate you, Kasey.” Jordan paused to light a cigar. “How about a dollar a ball?”
    â€œA dollar a ball,” she repeated and approached the table. “Let’s see, how many are there?” She frowned and counted. “Fifteen. I suppose I can handle that. How do you play?”
    â€œRotation might be simplest,” Jordan commented and glanced at Harry.
    â€œFine.” The older man began to chalk his cue.
    â€œRotation,” Kasey repeated, then smiled as Harry handed her his cue. “What are the rules?”
    â€œThe object is to sink the balls into the pockets in chronological order,” Jordan explained. She was wearing earrings tonight, he noticed. Small silver hoops that caught the light. Even across the table, her scent reached out to him. He brought himself back. “Or hit the next ball in order into another and sink that one, or as many as possible. Hit the cue ball, the white one, knocking it into the other balls from the lowest number to the highest. The object is to clear all the numbered balls from the table.”
    â€œI see.” Kasey frowned down at the green baize and nodded. “It certainly sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?”
    â€œYou’ll catch on, Miss Wyatt,” Harry told her gallantly. “Would you like to practice first?”
    â€œNo, why don’t we dive right in?” She sent him another smile. “Who goes first?”
    â€œPerhaps you’d care to break,” Harry continued, feeling expansive as Jordan racked the balls again. “Just hit the cue ball into the rack. Whatever drops in is yours.”
    â€œWhy, thank you, Dr. Rhodes.” Kasey walked down to the end of the table.
    â€œHold the cue this way,” Jordan instructed, positioning her fingers. “Keep it steady, but let it slide through. See?”
    â€œYes.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m to smack it into the ball marked one, right?”
    â€œThat’s one way to put it.” He could kiss her now, he thought, right now, and send Harry into apoplexy. He could smell her hair as he stood over her, feel the smooth skin of her shoulder under his hand.
    â€œI won’t be able to hit anything on the table if you keep looking at me like that,” she murmured. “And Dr. Rhodes is beginning to blush.”
    He stepped away. Kasey took a moment to steady herself, then bent over the table and shot.
    She sank three balls on the break. Moving around the table, Kasey positioned and shot again.