Burning Seduction (13 page)

He glanced to the side. “You’re right. You’ve gone to all this work and we shouldn’t waste the food.” He stabbed a hand through his hair.

Poor Trent. She almost gave in and told him it was all part of her plan to make him fall in love with her, but she refrained.

She licked her lips, inhaled, and guzzled half her glass of wine. Attempting to appear cool, she located two bowls, finished making her salad, and then held them out. “Want to dump your tomatoes on top?”

“Sure.”

Perhaps breaking the kiss hadn’t been the smartest move, as it now seemed the tension between them had escalated. Planning everything so carefully might not have been the right path to take. Darn.

She needed to say something. “Mom and Dad come home tomorrow.”

“Great. Have you heard how things went?”

“Mom texted only once to say Hawaii was beautiful. I think they were probably too busy having fun to call.” Her mom never came out and said it, but from all the giggles and whispers that had come from their bedroom while Charlotte had stayed there, her parents certainly enjoyed making love. She visibly shivered, not wanting to think about
that
.

He laughed. “I’m a bit surprised your dad took the time off to go on a honeymoon.”

“He’s changed since he left the FBI.” The oven timer sounded. “Fish is ready.” Thank goodness, as it would give them something to do.

Once he helped her take the food over to the table, she dug in and moaned. “This is so good.”

Trent seemed to inhale the fish. “Really good. Next time I see Sharon, I’ll thank her.”

“Me, too. So how did the move go with Harmon?”

“Fine.”

She was disappointed he didn’t elaborate. “How is he adjusting to being a free man?” She thought about stopping by Italiano’s and seeing him, but if he had been in the back, she wouldn’t have been able to speak with him.

Trent drank half his glass of wine then set it down with too much force. “I’m worried about him.”

She stopped eating. “Did something happen?”

He twisted in his seat to face her. “That’s just it. He seems the same as before he was arrested.”

“This is bad?”

“Fuck, if I’d been in prison for three years because someone framed me, I’d be spitting mad, yet Harmon seems to be taking this framing shit in stride. Assuming he’s as innocent as he claims.”

“When I spoke with him, he thought the person who framed him could only be one of three people, and now one of them is dead.”

Trent leaned back in his seat. “I really wanted Harmon to be innocent, but maybe he really did do what he was accused of. It’s the only thing that would explain why he appears so…calm.”

“Perhaps prison changed him. Sometimes in life you have to accept things and just move on.”

Trent jammed a lot of the fish in his mouth. When he finished, he nodded. “Maybe.”

She ate her fish and was halfway through her salad when an idea struck. “You want to know what I think?”

Trent pushed back his chair. “Hold that thought. Let me bring the bottle over here. I want to hear this.”

As he was getting the wine, Charlotte gathered her thoughts. As soon as he sat down she held out her glass for more fortification. “Don’t you think it’s a little coincidental that the day your brother is released from prison that his accuser is murdered?”

A flash of fear crossed his face. “It occurred to me, but Harmon was in my house when Mr. Goddard died.”

“I know, but the killer doesn’t know that. This person might be the one who framed Harmon before and is trying to do it again. Maybe three years of his life wasn’t enough for this guy.”

“So you think the murder has something to do with wanting more revenge against my brother?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. My dad says there is no such thing as a coincidence.”

“Usually that’s true. Do you have a suspect in mind?”

“I’m not privy to the details of the case, but from an outsider’s point of view, I’m agreeing with Harmon—in part. It’s either the other boss, or the young man who worked alongside Harmon.” She raised a finger. “Or it could be Mrs. Goddard.”

He glanced aside as if he was trying to formulate his next question. “I’ve spoken with the other boss, Frank Hamilton, and I will be speaking with the man who worked alongside my brother, but Mrs. Goddard was at her sister’s house the night of the murder.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m not sure of anything. Why are you pointing the finger at her? I thought you liked her.”

“I do, but I think it’s odd that she wants to ditch all of his possessions. It’s like she didn’t really love him.”

“You might be right. I’ll check into her some more.”

Charlotte was thrilled that Trent took her opinion so seriously. “I can see you have your work cut out for you.” Once they both finished, she picked up her plate and stood. “Would you be interested in a game of chess?”

He sucked in a breath, and the concern regarding his brother that had filled his face a moment before had disappeared. “I don’t think my ego can stand losing again.”

She laughed. “If I recall, I won two games and you won two.”

“I’d like to leave it that way. I could be persuaded to play a game of cards.” He raised his brows.

He’d played right into her hands. “We never did get to play strip poker at the cabin, now did we?”

“Did I agree to that?” Trent grinned. “How about I clear the table while you scrounge up the cards?”

“Deal.”

She rushed into her office and removed the deck from her desk drawer, having anticipated they might end up playing. She’d also collected a ton of buttons over the years, and thought they could use these as chips. With only six pieces of clothing, she figured she’d be naked soon.

*     *     *

Trent wanted to
kick himself. What had he been thinking agreeing to play strip poker? It might be what he wanted, but he could see disappointment ahead for them. At some point in the near future, he’d agree to come over and have dinner with her, and then something would come up at work, and he’d have to cancel. Just because Charlotte would understand, didn’t mean it would be fair to her. Whether he wanted to be with her or not, his work had to come first—or so he always believed.

He would have played chess with her like they had at the cabin, but when Charlotte was adamant that his brother was innocent, he wanted to do something more intimate. That kind of faith was hard to come by in a woman—or in anyone. He’d give anything for this relationship to work, but common sense told him it wouldn’t.

“Got them.” Charlotte strutted toward him, pulled up the chair across from him, and sat down. “Five card stud?”

“Your game, your deal.”

“I hope I remember how to play.” She placed the bag of buttons between them. “You want to split these in half?”

Only Charlotte would think of using these as markers. “You got it.”

While he counted them out, she shuffled the cards then stretched out her long legs, looking all too enticing. Trent didn’t know if he wanted to lose on purpose or actually try to win. He had a feeling she’d like it better if he played fair. No matter who lost, they’d both be naked and doing what they wanted in the end.

She placed the first card face down in front of both of them then followed it with one face up. She had a queen of hearts showing and he had a ten of spades. Since he had the lower valued card, he picked up a button and placed it in the center. “I bid one.”

She lifted up her downed card and bit her lower lip. Damned if she wasn’t doing that on purpose to distract him. “Here’s my one and I’ll raise you one.”

He was game. Trent tossed in another button. His pair of tens would probably win in the end anyway. She dealt each of them another up card, but none of the ones showing matched.

“Do you have anything good?” she asked.

“I’m not telling. Let’s see if you get something good with the third card.”

She placed another card face up. When she checked her down card again, she grinned, but he couldn’t tell if she was faking it or not. If she was, she was good. He bet two buttons this time and she matched him. By the time she dealt the fifth card, he believed he’d win unless she had a hidden queen.

Charlotte flipped over her downed card. “I’ve got nothing. Let’s see yours,” she said, acting defeated.

He turned over his ten of clubs to show her he had a pair and then smiled. “I win.”

“Darn. You want to take off my shoe?” She lifted her leg and wiggled her foot.

He didn’t buy her disappointment. “Can I take both of them?”

She tilted her head and raked her gaze up and down his body. “You can if I get to pick which item to take off when you lose,” she said with a delightful gleam in her eye.

“Deal.” He slipped off her right shoe and then her left, but instead of letting go, he massaged her instep and she moaned.

“Are you trying to end this game quickly?”

Yes
. “Is that what you want?” he asked.

“I think it depends on how long you’re going to keep rubbing my feet.”

He chuckled. He’d never met anyone like Charlotte before. She was good for his soul.

Trent released her foot. “I like a challenge. I want to see if I can have you naked before I lose one piece of clothing.” He didn’t believe he would, but it was fun to tease her.

“Not a chance.” She picked up the cards, shuffled them, and then handed the pack to him. “Your turn to deal.”

He might have chosen a different game but five-card stud only took a few minutes to complete. He dealt the two cards—one face down and one up. Once more he had the lower hand, and tossed in his button. Charlotte glanced at her second card, and then threw in three more.

“You’re that confident?” he asked.

“Yes.” She almost giggled. So much for her ability to bluff.

With two cards, the best she could have was a pair of jacks, but he was willing to see it through. After he’d dealt a total of four cards, she had a potential of two pairs, and this wasn’t looking good for him. He blew on the cards for luck and then dealt the final one. When he placed that Jack of Diamonds on her side, he couldn’t believe it.

Charlotte jumped up. “I won, I won! Stand up so I can take something off.”

He had a feeling that she wouldn’t just stop at one piece, and that was fine by him.

Chapter Thirteen

C
harlotte couldn’t believe
her luck. She debated whether to remove his jeans first or his shirt. Because his shoes were in the way, she took the easy path. “Stand up, please.”

Trent obeyed. “What’s it going to be?”

It was more fun if she strung him along, so she stepped in front of him, ran her gaze up and down his body, and then walked around him. “Your shirt.”

Not wanting him to help, she moved in front of him, eased his shirt from his jeans then slid her hands underneath the material, enjoying the sensuous feel of his hard body.

Trent placed his hands on her hips. “Do we have a time limit?”

As much as she wanted to explore him at her leisure and drive him crazy, if she lost the next round, no telling how long he would take. Then again, the whole purpose of playing was to have foreplay before enjoying each other in the most carnal way.

“Should we?” She’d like to know what he thought. If she assumed he was interested in sex, and wasn’t, she’d be devastated.

He grinned, providing her with his answer. “I’m game.”

Lust pooled in her veins. Since she wasn’t sure what he meant, Charlotte decided to do what she wanted. As slowly as she could, she undid each button, making certain to drag her hands up and down his chest after each one.

His groan came out long and loud. “You do realize the longer you take, the more time I’m going to spend on you.”

Yes!
“That so?”

Once Charlotte opened his shirt, she eased the material down his muscular shoulders, and the urge to nibble at his biceps overwhelmed her. Leaning over, she took a mock bite, and then laughed.

“I like a feral woman.” Trent shrugged out of his shirt. “Be forewarned. Turnabout can be a bitch.”

“You can lick and bite me all you want.” She really only meant the lick part.

He chuckled. “Since you took so long removing my shirt, I think it’s only fair that I take off your top.”