Deeply in the game

He watched her from across the Top star Hotel bar, his attention enthralled every move of her. Her every nuance. The sultry beat of a slow song filtered through the smoke-filled bar, resonating thrum of awareness dancing through his body. She shifted in her chair, her baby-blue skirt riding high…exposing long, sexy legs.

Legs he had love to have wrapped around his waist, her body massed close.

How he reacted to his target, the woman he’d been following for couple of days now, came as a surprise. He didn’t usually find his work distracting. But a woman as such is capable of making a man forget that business and pleasure didn’t mix. She could make a man debate the merits of crossing the line to do things he might later regret. A line he had no plans of crossing.

Anna Steve was sitted among a group of people, all there to congratulate her sister, Beatrice, for the success of the bar examination. His target’s sleek blond hair still in the prim-and-proper knot she wore at work. He was amazed as to what it took to get her to set it free, to let the woman run wild.

The idea of finding out appealed to him far too much.

He suspected she allowed the world to see only certain aspects of her life. To see the apprehensive federal persona who is devoted to the service of her job.

Even there, amongst a crowd, in the midst of celebration, she remained quite and well in check. There had to be another side to her…one she kept hidden. Probably to carefully. Perhaps hiding something she didn’t want explored.

Which was why he was here.

He has the motive to find out what was beneath her exterior.

Jerome Sandro knew everything that a file could tell him about Anna Steve, down to her shoe size. Seven. Narrow. She took two creamers in her coffee and drank at least three cups each morning, in place of breakfast, but not until she completed an hour in the gym.

She’d come straight out of the University of Texas here in Austin to work for her father’s law firm—a firm where money is the basis for decision making and not justice. A job she’d excelled at.Not long after joining the law firm, she’d married her father’s young protégé, Frank Parker. Divorced a year later, she retrieved her maiden name, and left the firm to join the U.S. Attorney’s office, and now fought for the masses rather than power and wealth. From his observations, thus far, he thought that was true, but he had to know for sure.

After all, this blond beauty could very well hold his life in her hands. In just a few days, she’d know what few did—that he wasn’t the drug lord Pedro’s right-hand man. What he actually was, was an undercover FBI agent who’d spent the past few years with Pedro, preparing to get him arrested.

Pedro could control people in high positions; the mighty dollar, his weapon. Ironic, considering it was also the weapon of choice that Anna’s father and ex-husband had chosen. When money didn’t work, Pedro could find other ways to be persuasive. Jerome had to be sure Anna couldn’t be influenced by money, as she once had been.

Tomorrow his team would arrest another big player in the cartel, and with that takedown, Jerome’s cover would be blown. Not a minute too soon, either. Just in time for him to testify against Pedro. Although the cartel would see him dead before that happened…if given the chance.

Jerome chugged his beer with that thought, images of some of the things he’d seen, some of the things he’d done, twisting his gut. Hating himself for the blind eye he’d turned to so many wrongs.

But it was all for the greater good, he reminded himself, setting his bottle down and swallowing the bile forming in his throat. He’d made choices he wasn’t proud of in order to save thousands. A few sacrificed to save many. The problem was, he wasn’t so sure he believed that what he did made a difference anymore.

He’d lost too much. Gambled too much. There was just…too much.

The final cards would be played soon.

Looking at Anna Steve, he caught her innocent gaze. Ah, but he had seen demons that looked like angels. He had a way of getting people to share their secrets, to get them talking. A little sweet talk and a smile and he would either confirm her honesty or reveal her evil side.

watched as she took a sip of her second Tequila Sunrise.The "Ice Princess," as she had been dubbed by federal investigators who failed to score with her, broke her own rule in one fell swoop. Did that mean he was comfortable?

Ah… but he didn't think they were cold, these ones. No problem. Jerome had seen her ex-husband's file.The man had a soft spot for kinky s*x clubs and a multitude of women. A habit that dates back to their marriage days.

Either there was a mischievous side lurking behind Anna Steve's conservative exterior, or she was badly burned when she found out about her ex's habits and withdrew. Jerome's instincts said he had a perverted side well hidden. And his instincts had never led him astray.

If he had ever seen a woman who needed love, this was it. She was hurt and ready to be released.He could tell by the way she crossed those beautiful legs and let her shoe dangle from her foot. She bet her toenails were painted red, not soft pink and cream. Red for temptress. A temptress who hadn't come out to play in a long time.

An innocent flirting game would make him overcome her defences.Too bad it had to stop at a little play on words. Even if Anna were actually innocent of a crime, she would be very angry when she met him again as her new witness. If he calmed down, he would understand. She had to. He had acted out of necessity, faced with what could be a life-or-death decision… his own. Jerome pushed himself off the bar stool and walked toward his goal. He had learned long ago never to look back.

Tonight I would play the game, to hell with the consequences.

SHOULD NOT BE HERE," Anna said, raising her voice to be heard over the familiar pop tune being played by the DJ. "I have a case starting in less than a week.

Beatrice took a sip from her straw. "Tonight is big for me, so you have to deal with it. Besides,' he added, 'it's about time you had some fun. She pointed two fingers at an American-looking football guy across the bar. "Oooh, he's cute. He's cute.""Now enjoy it," Anna said, trying to get Beatrice to take a different path. He had been trying for months to persuade her to reconsider her plans. "Working for dad means you have no life."

Beatrice snorted. “Unlike you, I will not give up s*x.I don't need a relationship, but darling, I need a good man and I need him often."

"Right," Anna said in disbelief. Beatrice really didn't understand how her father's world would consume her. How it would destroy his individuality and his being Steal life."You'll be so engrossed in the work that you won't remember what goes wrong.S*x will be a distant memory."

"You and Frank seemed to find time for s*x. I remember a long list of places where you "did it". The storage room, the elevator... said Anna, who hated this topic.Even after three years, she was preoccupied with the thought of what she had allowed herself to become. Don't remind me of Frank.

"Don't avoid the subject," Beatrice replied. You and Frank may not have talked, but you had a lot of s*x despite working at Dad's company. You found time and so did I. Admit it. You know it's true

Anna took another long drink out of her straw and suddenly needed a drink. Yes, he had had a lot of s*x with his ex. To. He had controlled her, just like money. “Life is not about s*x.That's my point." She added quietly, "Or money, as Dad would have you believe." "Uh-huh," Beatrice said, crossing her arms over her chest and nodding as if pretending to question a witness Blue eyes twinkled mischievously: "So you've had a lot of sex."That's all I had with Frank," Anna replied dryly. "I see." Beatrice pursed her lips as she sipped her tequila sunrise.Anna's eyebrows gradually rose. "One of these?"

"You know," Beatrice said. "The 'get away and turn around' guys."

Anna ran her finger along the rim of her glass and considered her answer, seeing no reason to hold back on this point."Actually, he was the 'f#ck me three times and turn around' type." They laughed together and suddenly, after speaking the painfully true words out loud, Anna felt better.

In a new, more relaxed mood, Anna enjoyed a fun chat with Beatrice and even found humor in her sister's continued flirtation with the athlete. Finally, when Beatrice had teased the man long enough, she approached the table. When the athlete asked Beatrice to dance, she accepted and then looked at Anna."I'll be right back." She squeezed the straw from Anna's Tequila Sunrise and leaned close to her ear. "S*x. I need it and so do you. Find something honey.”

Anna squinted at the ceiling as Beatrice ran onto the dance floor, her hand in the jock's. A second later, as if Beatrice's evil intentions called out to him on behalf of her sister, a stranger appeared.

And how strange he was. The man could heat an iceberg.

Shoulder length jet black hair, slightly wavy, frames a square chin and high cheekbones.The chocolate skin and dark goatee spoke of Hispanic heritage; the cleft in his chin and the small scar above his full upper lip, from a renegade.

"Hello," he said, his voice difficult to understand over the music.

But she didn't need to hear it. Her gaze met his and the impact was almost explosive. Consciousness sent a blast of heat right between her legs. Consciousness that spoke of the kind of instant attraction rarely shared between strangers. Powerful, electric.

She swallowed hard and looked into the deep dark eyes. The dim light hid its exact color, but again it didn't matter. They were touching. Rich in mystery and seduction, perhaps a hint of danger.

Before she knew his intentions, he closed the distance between them and knelt beside her. Cross-legged, her knee was bent toward him. His gaze fell on the sandal dangling from her toes, then he slowly slid down her calf, leaving goosebumps in his wake.