The crowd around them cheered. Shock broke through her careful façade, and her eyes widened, but she quickly recovered. “I don’t believe I was offering any kisses,” she said. “How about if you simply get to keep your dusty old map,” she added, tossing his words back at him.
Perhaps she knew more about him than she’d let on, or perhaps she knew more about the map than the average collector. He’d held on to that map for years despite several high-priced offers from other parties, and one attempted theft. The map hadn’t been the conclusive proof he’d once believed it would be. His quest for Atlantis stretched across his adulthood and still he had not found it. But he was getting close. He could feel it.
Miss Tobias sat quietly, but her pulse ticked impatiently in that sweet spot beneath her ear.
“I believe you have a bet,” he said. “You win this hand, and I will give you my map.”
She paused a moment, trying to gauge his meaning. “You know to which map I’m referring,” she said.
“I believe I do.”
“Then we have a deal.”
“But if you lose,” he said slowly, “I get that kiss.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but after a breath, she said nothing and merely nodded.
“The wager has been set, now let us see your hands,” the dealer said.
Silence surrounded them, and it was as if they were playing alone in his parlor. Miss Tobias flipped her cards, one by one, revealing three sevens and two queens.
“A full house,” the dealer said.
A slow, satisfied smile spread across the lady’s face, a cat with her bowl of cream.
The pleasure of her smile was so enticing, so seductive, he was almost sorry he was going to win. Almost.
First Max turned the two, the one card in his hand that didn’t matter, then just as she’d done, he slowly turned each card over.
“Four of a kind wins,” the dealer said.
The smile evaporated from Miss Tobias’s face. “Nicely done,” she said tightly. She came to her feet.
“I believe we will cash out for the night,” Max told the dealer.
Once they had stepped away from the table, Max put his hand on the lady’s elbow to direct her to a private room.
“What do you think you are doing?” she asked tartly. She pulled her arm free and eyed the door behind him.
He leaned against the door and allowed himself to take in the full length of her. She was taller than he would have guessed, though by no means would he consider her a tall woman. But he did imagine that her legs were shapely and long. From his vantage point at the table, he’d been able to see her voluptuous breasts, but he’d not been able to enjoy her narrow waist and full hips. She had the kind of body women envied. Whereas other women spent fortunes on all manner of contraptions to perfect their shapes, it did not appear that Miss Tobias had so much as a corset on beneath that glorious dress. She, it would seem, was perfect all on her own.
“You lost the hand,” he said.
Her lips pursed. “I realize that.”
“Which means I won.”
She swallowed and again his eye was drawn to that tender flesh behind her jaw line. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she asked. Her right foot tapped a random rhythm on the wooden floor.
He smiled. “Most definitely.” He shoved off the doorjamb and walked toward her. “Tell me, Miss Tobias, what part should I not be enjoying? That a beautiful woman shows up at my favorite club to pursue me?”
She held up her hand. “Not to pursue you, only your map,” she corrected.
“Perhaps, but instead of asking to purchase my map, you chose to negotiate a wager.” He took her hand and examined the satin-encased fingers. “I do appreciate a brazen lady.”
“There is nothing brazen about my behavior.” She withdrew her hand. “My lord, I see no reason to drag this on all evening. I realize you find this entire scenario vastly entertaining, but I do not have time to amuse you any longer. I agreed to a kiss. Now I shall give you one, then be on my way.”
“Indeed?”