Read Online Susan Johnson by Silver Flame (Braddock Black) - Free Book Online Page A

him. “My head’s slightly sore from the brandy.”
    “Champagne’s better for hangovers,” she observed with a studied wink. “Same as two women are better than one. And if you’re not going to move over, I’ll have to sit on her.”
    Trey rolled a swift half turn away, protecting Empress in his arms, and just narrowly averted being fallen on.
    “Hi there,” Flo said cheerfully, dropping abruptly beside him in a flow of red silk and lace. “You look awake now. Wake up the little lady and let’s all have a drink of the bubbly.”
    Sighing, Trey took the bottle held out to him and drank.
    “Give her some too,” Flo insisted, her voice gently slurred, and generously waved her arm toward Empress.
    “Let her sleep.”
    “Hell, no. Let’s see what fifty thousand buys. I’ve never seen a high-priced whore like that, Trey, honey. I want to see.”
    “You’re drunk, Flo.”
    “Well, so are you.”
    He probably was, but not as drunk as she. He had sense enough not to argue. “Good champagne,” he said instead, and handed the bottle back to her.
    “You gonna wake her?”
    He shook his head and smiled.
    “Since when don’t you like a menage à trois, Trey, lovey?”
    “Christ, Flo!” he exclaimed softly, at a loss for an explanation to her frank declaration.
    “She somethin’ special?” Flo asked, mildly pugnacious.
    “No,” Trey replied, thinking better of it. “Maybe,” he relented. Then, exasperated, he exclaimed, “Lord, Flo, I don’t know!”
    “Don’t
know
, don’t
want
to, everything’s ‘don’t’ with you tonight. Don’t ‘don’t’ me anymore, sweetie pie. If you won’t wake her, I will!”
    But he was out of bed with Empress in his arms before Flo could maneuver upright with her voluminous skirts, her tight corset, and the bottle she still held. Knowing what she wanted to hear, he said, “Stay there, Flo. I’ll be right back.” Lean, lithe, and naked, he carried Empress into the small adjoining dressing room. Disturbing her as little as possible, he put her to bed on the pastel brocade chaise. Satisfied she was tucked in and warm, he carefully shut the door between the tworooms and reached for his trousers from the floor where he’d dropped them. It wasn’t until he was buttoning the last button at his waist that he glanced back at Flo. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. She wasn’t going to be easy to handle—she never was, after drinking champagne, he recalled resignedly. This was going to require a certain degree of diplomacy, for Flo had taken the opportunity to undress while he put Empress to bed. She was drowsily lounging against the lacetrimmed pillows like a graceful houri.
    Her lashes lifted, and her gaze slowly focused on him. “Come kiss me, Trey, honey. I missed you tonight.” The bottle was gone, her voice was inviting, and she smiled like she had so many times before.
    “Flo, sweet darling …” he began placatingly, keeping his distance. “It’s … I’m … Blue’s likely … Blue’s waking me early in the morning, love,” he decided sounded best. “And I’m damned tired. Be a dear now and put on your dress. I wouldn’t be much good to you, anyway. I’m beat.”
    “She must be a hot piece.” Her throaty contralto was sweetly acid.
    “I didn’t mean that,” he explained hastily. “It’s just late.” Picking up Flo’s rumpled dress, he walked over to the bed, kneeled on the blush velvet, and held it out to her. “We’ve been friends for a long time, honey. Get dressed now and we’ll talk in the morning. How’s that?”
    “Don’t like it,” she said, pouting, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder with a flick of her braceleted wrist.
    “Let me dress you,” Trey murmured, moving nearer.
    “That sounds better,” she purred.
    He’d put her dress on, carry her back downstairs, and Lily could have Flo put to bed. He didn’t want to argue with her here. She was champagne-drunk and erratic. And oddly, with feelings