GAMBLING ON LOVE (Travis Series) (4 page)

“What is it that you do
, Sam
?
”

“
M
arketing and shipping
.
The clients I’m p
itching
to
this evening
have developed a new computer chip that I believe will revolutionize the industry
.
If I’m successful, my company will be selected
to market their product
as well as handling shipment of it worldwide
.”

“Sounds
as though
there’s a lot of money involved,” Beth commented.

Sam glanced at her
.
“Yes, it could mean billions actually.”

“And you think a
Barbie
doll on your arm is going to help?”

Sam grinned
.
“It couldn’t hurt.”
 

At the hotel entranceway
he climbed out of the car, his long stride insuring he reached the passenger door to help Anne out before the valet could usurp the honor. And it
was
an honor, Sam thought as h
e held out his hand
,
helplessly
captivated by
the beauty of the woman who took it
.
After tossing his keys to the attendant,
Sam
wrapped
a
possessive
arm
around her waist
.
He
never left anything to chance
,
and tonight was no different. There would be
no
doubt in anyone’s mind that Anne belonged to him.

Beth had never been inside the Beverly Hills Hotel and couldn’t seem to move her head fast enough to take in the majestic beauty of it
.
The Crystal Ballroom was already filled with men and women in elegant
 
attire
,
chatting and laughing as they waited for the presentation to begin
.
A
b
aby
g
rand
piano
was off
to one side
,
an older gentleman
playing
soft tunes
,
and behind him was a band setting up
on the stage,
as well as a dance floor
.
French doors stood open
, allowing
the sweet scent of the floral gardens beyond
to permeate the air
.

Sam kept a firm arm around her waist as he propelled her to
their table at
the front of the room
, where
Beth removed her shawl and draped it across one of the chairs
.
She
turned back to Sam and felt her knees grow a little weak when his gaze swept over her with undisguised desire
.
A heated blush began to work its way up her neck and for one breathless moment she thought he was going to kiss her.

The spell was broken when three men approached the table to shake hands with Sam, giving Beth
a few moments
’
grace
to gather herself
.
It was a short reprieve
,
however, and the blush that had just begun to dissipate returned with a vengeance when Sam wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled her close to his side.

“Gentlemen, this exquisite creature
is
Anne Dawson.
”
His arm remained around her as he introduced the men
.
“This is
John
Peterson, the co-owner of P & J Industries, and his partner, Scott Jordan.
”
A third man stepped forward, his eyes raking over Beth in a way that made her feel
as if
she should cover herself
.
“This is P & J Industries’ private attorney, Evan Drake.”

Beth shook hands with each of them in turn, still feeling uneasy at the way Evan Drake was eyeing her
.
She glanced up at Sam
,
who smiled reassuringly and tightened his arm around her
.
Relaxing a little, she leaned into the protective shelter of his body while the men spoke briefly
and
then excused
themselves
to find their wives before the presentation began.

She was introduced to countless others and
,
for the most part
,
remained silent while Sam worked the crowd
.
Shortly before seven
thirty, he escorted her back to the table
.
Beth took her
seat
,
her heart thumping wildly when he leaned down so close their lips would have touched if she’d moved only a few inches.

“I’m going to the podium now for the presentation
,” Sam’s warm breath whispered across her skin
.
“
I don’t suppose I could get a kiss for luck?”

She lifted her eyes to his, not quite sure
whether
she was going to say
yes or no
.  T
he option was taken from her
when
Sam
lowered his head to capture her mouth, sending spheres of tingling pleasure
pulsing
through her. F
or a moment
,
the room and everyone in it disappeared
.
Her heart slammed again
s
t her ribs
as
the
kiss deepened
;
the taste of him was so divine she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and lock him there
forever
.
Her eyelids fluttered open when he drew his head back
and
caress
ed
the side of her
face
with
his fingertips.
Anne could almost feel her bones liquefying.
Behind the soft smile on his lips was a silent promise for something far more intimate than a kiss, and the vision it evoked left her
burning inside
as she watched him walk away
.

Gradually, her table began to fill as the people whose names were on the cards took their seats
.
John
Peterson introduced his wife, Linda
;
a pretty woman with an infectious smile who greeted her warmly
.
Scott Jordan’s wife, Krista, was just as pleasant and Beth was elated she’d been left in such good company
.
If it hadn’t been for the unfortunate placement of Evan Drake’s seating card next to hers, she would have enjoyed Sam’s speech immensely
.
As it was, Drake’s furtive glances in her direction every few minutes made her extremely uncomfortable.
 

Sam’s presentation, complete with slides and a surprising sense of humor, was applauded loudly when it was over
.
Both
John
and Scott stood to shake hands with Sam when he returned to the table and told him what a wonderful job he’d done
.
Evan Drake remained silent
, giving
Beth the distinct feeling he was not nearly as impressed as his employers were.

“I didn’t understand a word of it,” Linda Peterson laughed, “but if
John
says it was great then I’m sure it was.”
 

She couldn’t help smiling at the adoring look Linda gave her husband or the way his hand closed over hers and squeezed
.
Beth turned her attention back to the conversation
,
listen
ing
attentively as the men discussed the presentation until dinner was served
and
the discussion turned to the chip itself.

“Our
primary
competitor is a corporation in Scotland,”
John
said
.
“We’re fighting hard to get our product out before they release the actuator they’re working on.”

Evan snorted derisively
.
“I can’t believe you’re worried about a country whose main export is whiskey.”
 

“Actually, their main export is electrical and instrument engineering products,” Beth stated absently as she cut a piece of steak
.
It took a moment for her to realize everyone at the table had gone quiet and was looking at her
.
She glanced nervously at Sam
,
who arched an amused brow
.
“Well, it is
.” She
lifted her chin
.
“It accounts for almost thirty
-
five percent of their total manufactured exports.”

“Don’t mind them,” Linda laughed
.
“
It’s
just the first time Sam has brought a woman with a brain and they don’t know how to react.”

Sam choked on the food he was chewing while
John
Peterson gaped at his wife with a mortified look on his face
.
When Linda finally realized what she’d said, her face turned
a furious
red.
 

Beth smiled broadly
.
“I guess that puts Sam on the same level as your company; trying something that’s never been done before and praying it doesn’t backfire.”
 

Linda beamed gratefully at Beth when her husband started to laugh along with the others
.
“You need to hang on to this one,” Scott said
.
“She
has
very wisely endeared herself to the wives
.
I
believe
that just about cements the deal,
don’t
you,
John
?”

John
looked at his wife
,
who nodded
.
“Sam, my friend, it looks like the vote is unanimous.”

Sam took Beth’s hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers
.
“I’d say Anne is definitely my good luck charm.
”
He continued to hold her hand while the men arranged a time to get together and go over the contracts
.
With that
settled,
h
e
rose and pulled her up with him
.
“Dance with me,” he said softly.

Warmth and desire enveloped her at once as he drew her into his arms
and swept her onto
the dance floor
.
He held her firmly against him with one arm while clasping her hand to his chest with the other, the seductive sway of his body adding fuel to the fire already raging inside her.
 

“Thank you, Anne.”

“For what?”
 

“For coming with me tonight and for saving Linda from being embarrassed over what she said.”

“Is it true what she said?”

Sam chuckled
.
“Sadly, yes, but I have a feeling that’s going to change.”

H
e pulled her closer
, the raw desire in his eyes so
transparent
, Beth gasped
.
The rush of blood to her head drowned out the music as he pressed his hips into her, and the only thing she was totally cognizant of was the state of his arousal
.
She could feel him, hard and firm against the softness of her belly, and it sent a scorching heat ripping through her
like nothing she’d ever felt before
.

“Sam…”

That was as far as she got before he lowered his head and
took possession of
her mouth
.
Beth’s free arm had been draped loosely around Sam’s neck and she used it now to pull his mouth down for a harder, deeper kiss
.
Her body melted into his as they continued to sway to the music, falling prey to the slow seduction of his kisses
.
When the dance ended, Sam continued to hold her until a new song began, the gentle massaging of his lips
obliterating every
from her mind, including the fact
they were in
the middle of a room full of people
.
Lost in a world of spiraling sensations, Beth nearly cried out with disappointment when his mouth abruptly left hers.

Sam’s expression was pained
.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he growled softly.

Beth felt his big body tremble against hers and suddenly the aching need between her thighs was so strong she could barely stand on her own
.
If it wasn’t for the strong arm that held her so close against him, her knees would have buckled beneath her
.
Her breath
came in ragged gasps
, and the hunger in his eyes did nothing to calm
the erratic thumping of
her heart.

“Anne,” he rasped, “I have a room…”

“Yes,” she whispered hoarsely.
 

It didn’t matter that she’d only met
Sam
that day or that she barely knew anything about him
.
She wanted nothing more at that moment than to feel his heated skin touching hers
, to share the intimacy his smile had promised earlier.
 

“After the party…” he started, but she shook her head.

“Now, Sam
.
I need you
now
.”
 

Beth was shocked
by
her boldness but the deep growl of desire from Sam told her just how much he wanted her
,
too
.
Grabbing her hand, he
pulled her off the dance floor
, his long-legged stride forcing her to double time it in order to keep pace.
The lobby was a blur and so was the elevator ride
.
Only
as she waited for him to open the door to his room
did
she
have
a moment of trepidation
.
Then they were inside
where
Sam pull
ed
her roughly
against
hi
s
broad
chest
, crushing her mouth with a passionate kiss, and Beth was lost once more.