Found by Kimber Chin (100 books to read .TXT) 📗

"Good." He tossed the cards. "Let's play poker." He'd indulge in a couple of games to calm his mind. Then a night with the brat to settle his body.

His men flung money on the table, the dealer converting it to chips. "Nikky." Tatyana fingered her own chips, the exact same stack she started with.

His Walmart-shopping girl was so easy to read. Although it wasn't her own money, she didn't want to lose it. "You wanna be my good luck charm, Brat?" He patted his knee.

"The odds may be even then." Pavel's ugly face lit up. "It doesn't work that way." Tatyana cast the big man a dark look before moving over, reclining on Nik like he was a chair. The curve of her ass made him harden. She wiggled.

He groaned. "Brat," he warned.

She stilled, giving a contented sigh, as though she'd accomplished what she set out to do.

Which was to drive him crazy. Her frizzy hair tickled his neck. Her scent filled his nostrils.

Damn, he wanted her. Nik tried to concentrate on the game.

Tatyana concentrated on Nikky. After the first game, won by her fiance, the far superior player, she shifted so she could watch his almost emotionless face. Almost emotionless because he had a slight tell. When he bluffed, his brown eyes darkened similarly to how they did when he was aroused.

No one else seemed to notice. She touched his square chin. Because no one else knew that about him. She traced his lips. Nikky kissed her fingertips, not taking his gaze off the cards.

Only she knew Nikky.

For all her brave talk about tomorrow, she was scared. She'd lose him. That was guaranteed. If they were successful, there'd be no reason for him to continue on with this farce of an engagement, his commitment to the green-eyed woman done. If they weren't successful, he'd be dead.

Her heart seized. Her fingers trembled as she gripped his suit jacket lapels. She wouldn't survive his death. It would destroy her. "Nikky?" She needed him to reassure her.

"Brat." His gaze flicked to her. They stared at each other, Tatyana letting all her fears show.

His face softened. "We're out." Nikky tossed the cards on the table.

"Boss," Pavel protested. Groans erupted from the other players.

Nikky ignored them, gathering her up in his arms, as though he didn't want to let her go, either. As though he truly cared for her. They moved through the casino without speaking, Nikky nodding to people he knew, Tatyana nestled in his arms, thinking.

When they reached their room, she had reached a decision. "Nikky." She slid down his body to stand before him. "You shouldn't come tomorrow."

"I'm coming. Tonight, tomorrow, and the day after that." He tugged her top down.

He knew what she was referring to. Tatyana placed her hands on her hips, preventing the dress from slipping to the ground. "Pavel and Boris and Ivan can handle it. You don't need to be there." He didn't need to put himself in danger.

"You are my fiancee." Nikky cupped her breasts, kissing her neck. "I will be there."

"Your fake fiancee," she reminded him, forcing herself to remain strong. "There's no need to do this. You're too important to put yourself at risk."

That stopped him. Nikky stepped back, eyes flashing. "Too important to the family, you mean. Did Grandfather put you up to this? No way am I going to be chained up here like a damn dog while some assassin hunts down my fiancee. If he thinks that..." He headed to the door.

What the hell was he talking about? "This isn't about the family or your grandfather." She scowled at his back. "This is about me. You're too important to me." She rolled her eyes as he looked over his shoulder. "Me. Ass."

He stopped. "I'm important to you?"

"Didn't I just say that?" What was he? Hard of hearing?

He turned, grinning. "You care about me?"

"Of course I do. Why else would I still be here?" That grin spread. "If I didn't love you, I would have run long ago. Nothing you or your pathetic security team could have done would have stopped me. Believe me." His shoulders shook. "If you laugh at me, I'm going to punch you in the nose." She waved her index finger at him. Idiotic man.

"You love me." That imprudent confession set him off. He bent over, laughing.

Bringing his beautifully straight nose within striking distant. She intentionally missed, making a solid connection with his square chin, the smack of flesh against flesh loud in the quiet room.

"What the hell?" He rubbed the red mark.

"I warned you." She backed up as he straightened. "I will not have my feelings laughed at and my fears dismissed like they don't mean anything, like I don't mean anything." The long skirt hampered her movements so she pulled her dress down, stepping out of the circle of fabric.

"Oh, you mean something, Brat." His gaze swept over her heaving breasts.

Was sex all he thought about? "Pay attention." She threw a stiletto at him. Nikky caught it easily. "Tomorrow, you will stay here, let your men handle the psychopath."

"No one handles you but me." He took a step forward.

"I am not the psychopath." She threw the other shoe at him. He caught that one, too, dropping it on the carpet. "Damn it."

"Language, Brat."

Language? He was about to get himself killed and he worried about language? "You're staying here. I mean it."

"Only if you stay here." He backed her into a corner. "I'll be wherever you are."

"You'll get yourself killed." She used her bra as a slingshot, launched at his face. He caught that, too. "That'll really piss me off, Nikky." She couldn't deal with that thought.

"Language, Brat."

She ignored him, funneling all her fears into her anger. "You haven't seen me truly pissed off, but if you die, you will, I promise you. I'm going to beat you until you can't see straight."

"Because you love me." He was so close she could feel his breath on her skin.

She shook her