Read Online The Golden Valkyrie by Iris Johansen - Free Book Online Page A

I discovered the peculiar effect it has on my tongue. It causes it to waggle excessively.”
    “Fascinating,” he murmured. “I must remember that. A few drinks and I’ll know all your secrets.”
    Suddenly, a well-manicured hand cut through the space between them and slapped down a fifty-dollar bill. They both looked up, startled, at the woman standing beside the table.
    “That’s for you, darlin’,” the woman slurred, swaying slightly and smiling at Rubinoff with a smug alcoholic leer. “And there’s more where that came from. No one can say that Joanie Jessup’s not willing to pay generously for what she wants.”
    “I beg your pardon?” Lance said blankly. “Were you speaking to me?”
    “You bet your boots,” Joanie Jessup said, laying one unsteady hand on his shoulder and beaming at him. “You’re the lucky man tonight, Red. I’ve had my eye on you since you came into the place. Damn, you’re a handsome brute.”
    “Thank you,” Lance said warily. “That’s very kind of you. Now, if you’ll excuse us?”
    Honey had first been so taken by surprise that she could only stare open-mouthed at the boldness of the woman. Joanie Jessup was in her early fifties, on the plump side, and sported an elaborate bouffant blond coiffure. She was expensively if a trifle garishly dressed in a pink décolleté cocktail gown. She was also very obvously under the influence. Then, as Honey gazed from Lance’s stunned, wary face to the woman’s drunken leer, she suddenly giggled helplessly. Lance shot her a glance of extreme displeasure.
    “It’s not enough?” The woman reached into her purse and drew out another fifty and slapped it down on top of the first. “I should have known you’d be expensive, you big gorgeous devil.” She bent lurchingly, and nibbled seductively at his ear. “But you’ll be worth it, sweetie. Redheads are always such passionate lovers.”
    “My premise exactly,” Ben Raschid murmured, leaning back in his chair and observing his cousin’s discomfort with every evidence of enjoyment.
    “Very funny,” Lance said caustically, trying to detach the woman’s hold from about his neck and glaring at both Ben Raschid and Honey’s grinning faces with profound disgust. “Miss Winston, I believe you’re supposed to be my bodyguard,” he said icily. “Well, guard my
body,
damn it!”
    Honey hastily smothered her smile, but her eyes were still dancing as she said solemnly, “Right away, sir.” She quickly got to her feet and leaned forward to whisper in Joanie Jessup’s ear.
    The plump blonde slowly straightened, her expression ludicrously disappointed. “You’ve got to be kidding,” she pleaded almost tearfully, reluctantly releasing Lance’s shoulder and gazing gloomily from him to Ben Raschid and then back again.
    Honey shook her head silently, her expression equally mournful.
    Joanie Jessup slowly picked up the two fifty-dollar bills and stuffed them back into her evening bag. “You’re sure?” she asked despondently, gazing yearningly at Rubinoff.
    “Positive,” Honey said firmly.
    “What a God-awful waste,” the woman murmured. “But, then, all the best-looking ones are.” She turned and lurched uncertainly away.
    “Are what?” Lance asked, his eyes narrowed suspiciously on Honey’s face.
    “Gay,” Honey said simply. “I told her that you and Alex were lovers.”
    “You told her what?” Lance asked explosively, and Ben Raschid muttered a brief, explicit obscenity.
    “Well, you told me to get rid of her,” Honey said defensively, trying to hide the giggles that persisted in welling up despite her efforts to stifle them. “I knew that would be the quickest way. Alex’s remark about passionate redheads gave me the perfect lead-in.”
    “Oh my Lord,” Alex groaned, burying his face in his hands. “If you don’t murder her, I will, Lance.”
    “It’s my privilege,” Lance said grimly, standing up and pushing back his chair with barely restrained