Millie looked down at her steak supper. Had she done the wrong thing?

Of course, she had.

She'd become thoroughly infatuated with Leo.

"You haven't touched your glass of wine," he observed.

They had an intimate table for two in the corner of Madame Kathryn's establishment.

"I've never had wine before. My family was against alcohol. I'm just not sure I'll like it."

"Why not? It's good. A little wine never hurt anyone."

He was teasing her.

No, he was tempting her.

Millie took a bite of her baked potato. "I've always wanted to be a little adventurous. I should not hold myself back now."

"I agree."

"Then there's no more excuses. My family would be shocked. Then again, I shocked them when I bought a pair of men's trousers, boots and a hat. Then I got a wagon and hitched Beauregard up to it. I suppose this is nothing compared to that."

"Not to mention being here, with me."

"You're right about that. You would shock the crap out of my uncle Fitzhugh, I bet. When he finds out what you did to me up in my hotel room."

He hung his head. "Don't even mention that. If he's still alive, I won't be able to look him in the eye for having my way with you."

"Well, here's to more of that. Bottoms up." She lifted the glass.

Liquid sweetness tumbled across her tongue.

"Wow. This is delicious. I like it."

She was learning she liked a whole lot of things she never expected to.

A man stepped up to the table. "Ryder. The fellows and I have missed you at our regular games."

"Been busy." Leo stood and shook the stranger's hand with great gusto. "It's good to see you, Rory."

"Who's the beautiful lady?" Rory studied her. "Are you turning into a regular human being?"

"I'm sure trying not to."

"None of us can remember you keeping the company of a woman."

"There's a first time for everything under the sun."

Millie liked knowing that at least Leo wasn't in the habit of sleeping around. That was some comfort, considering she had enjoyed their lovemaking experience very much.

Maybe too much.

"Howdy, ma'am." Rory tipped his hat. "I hope you don't mind if I take your boyfriend away from you. I was hoping he could play a few hands with us. Perhaps you will be understanding."

"Understanding?" Leo's gaze met hers. "Are there women on this earth who are truly understanding?"

"Not me," Millie teased.

"Rory, I'll let you know. Tell the men hello for me."

"Will do." Rory backed away.

"You have friends? I don't believe you're that civilized." Millie smiled at him over the rim of her wineglass.

"I can be that civilized. They let me in here, and this is a rather fine establishment. See, I'm not so bad."

"You're not so good either."

"That's the whole truth and nothing I can do about it. This is just who I am." Leo curled his fingers around the knife's wooden handle. "You must have figured out by now I'm not who I say I am."

"I'm getting that clue. Are you going to play poker tonight?"

"Not without you."

"Is that an invitation?"

"Sure it is."

"Well, I bet you are gambling that I won't take you up on that." She eyed him defiantly.

He chuckled. "Hell, you know I'm a gambling man. I'll take that bet. You're a surprising woman, Millie."

"I try to be."

She gasped when he reached out. His thumb caressed the back of her hand, soft circular strokes that made her remember how he'd touched her.

How he'd made love to her.

Heaven help her, she wanted to do that again. And never stop.

"You, Leo Ryder, have been a very bad influence on me."

"I'm trying." He leaned in closer. "I know you've never played cards before, but I'll help you."

"That's downright generous of you. How about we make a wager, Mr. Ryder?"

"Then we'll need something to wager with. Something of great value."

Her stomach fluttered. "What do you have in mind?"

"I think you already know. But I'll go ahead and spell it out for you. If you can win one single hand the entire game, then I'll give you a night of pleasure you will never forget."

"Oh, you think that's incentive?"

"It is for me."

"And if I lose?"

"Then you give me a night of pleasure I'll never forget."

"Well, I am not a woman who backs down from a sure thing. You're on, Mr. Ryder."

And they shook on it, laughing all the way to Rory's table.

---

"It's your turn," Leo mumbled in her ear.

"I know." She dramatically sighed. "If only I knew what to do."

She could bluff with the best of them. Millie hid her smile.

Four well-dressed men watched her carefully, amused that she had joined them. Oh, they were in for a little bit of trouble now.

Especially since they did not think she could win. Millie pretended to consult the scrap of paper Leo had given her. How thoughtful of him to write down the rudiments of the game.

As if she needed it.

She knew she had a flush. A consecutive hand of hearts from six to ten.

"Having problems?" he asked her.

He sat there with his own cards hidden from view, watching her face.

Why, he was trying to guess if she was bluffing or not.

The scoundrel.

"I'm not sure," she fibbed. "I might as well do what everyone else is doing."

"Maybe you want to sit out the hand?" Rory said with genuine concern.

She picked up three of the same color chips she'd seen Leo use and tossed them onto the growing pile in the center of the table.

"I'll see you," she challenged.

Now the betting had gone to the man at her other elbow, who raised the ante even higher.

Goodness. How much were those little chips worth? Leo hadn't said when he'd poured nearly two dozen into her hands.

"I'll call," Rory said, full of calculation and a look of possible triumph.

Leo laid down his cards. He had a pairs of nines.

Rory laid down his. A flush from four to eight.

"You're getting rusty, Ryder." Rory laughed as he reached for the pot.

"You forgot about me," Millie spoke up.

"What do you have, dear?" Rory asked.

She smiled. "A good enough hand to beat you."

"Really?" Leo's eyes sparkled. "Then, show me."

She laughed. Oh, the poker chips and the money they represented were simply not the thing she wanted.

His promise of a night of pleasure she'd never forget was the height of a woman's dream.

Well, a woman like her, anyway.

When she laid down her cards, the men—all but Rory—burst into laughter.

Winston at her left patted her on the back with bold congratulations.

Meeks across the table lifted his shot glass in a merry toast.

They had folded earlier in the match.

But Leo, he just looked at her with eyes so full of mischief, it made her heart skid to a stop.

"Don't forget my promise to you," he said. "And last but not least, don't forget to take your winnings."

"The poker chips?" She stared at the big pile of them.

But it was Leo who leaned forward and scooped up the chips for her. "It seems you were holding out on me."

"Who, me? No. Not at all."

"You tricked me."

"Tricked is a pretty strong word. You just never asked if I had any previous poker playing experience. Or skills."

"You've got me there. You won fair and square."

"Why, yes I did."

"Are you going to make me wait to collect your prize?"

"Why, yes I am."

Rory cleared his throat. "Our little lady is getting some attention."

Millie looked up. Others had stopped playing to watch the game. Some smiled at her. Others frowned at her.

She'd never had so much attention.

"It's just suffering beginner's luck." Meeks tapped the ashes from his cigar. "Don't worry. Most of 'em are rooting for you."

"I sure am." Rory shuffled the deck. "Don't worry. Eventually they'll go back to their games and they'll lose interest."

"They are all wondering if Millie can beat us twice." Leo watched Rory deal out the cards. "My guess is that she can't."

"Is that a challenge?"

"I win either way." Mischief flashed in his eyes.

She couldn't stop grinning.

When she looked at her cards, she was disappointed. It wasn't the best combination in the world.

"Two cards, please," she told Meeks, who dealt her two more.

She studied her hand. Much better.

And so much easier to fool her fellow players with.

She did her best to look really disappointed.

"You can stop anytime you want," Leo whispered in her ear. "But of course everyone will think you won just the once because you were lucky, not smart."

She laughed. "I'm no quitter, buddy. You'll have to wait until I'm done winning before you get your own personal winnings."

When everyone laid down their cards, she surprised them all again.

Her pair of queens had them all beat, even Leo with his pair of jacks.

Pride in her gleamed in his eyes. Truly happy, she sipped the sarsaparilla Leo had ordered for her.

---

"I haven't had that much fun in a long time." Millie walked through the hotel room door. "Not to mention, I won so very many poker chips, that my new handbag you bought me is too heavy."

"Hey, I offered to carry it for you." Leo's dimpled smile took her breath away. "But you wouldn't trust me."

She laughed. "Nope. Never trust a charming, shifty-eyed renegade prospector."

"Hey, I'm not shifty-eyed. Where did you learn to gamble like that?"

"My father was a professional gambler, wagerer, pan handler. He was everything but the kind of man who would work an honest job for a living. No work-a-day life for him."

"You don't sound too sad about losing him."

"Nope. He's out of prison on parole. There. That's what I think of him."

"Wow, I had no idea."

"He's no one I would ever want anything to do with. When I'm not having to deal with the family, I just tell everyone that he's passed away."

"I see."

"His being dead is easier than having to think about someone who is such a low-life and a loser. A big fat loser, by the way."

"Now I get this. This is about your pain." Leo closed the door with his foot and set down the champagne glasses he'd brought from the hotel bar.

"No one I've ever told the truth to seems to get how I feel."

"You're not ashamed of your father. You are simply more than eager to get away from the taint of him."

"He is a bad person. He is someone who is a very violent man." Millie shrugged and put down her purse. "But enough about him. He's not very important to my life."

"I can see why you're not afraid to be around an outlaw like me."

"You're no outlaw." She tipped her head back to look up at him. "I'm afraid I've gotten overly fond of you."

"You're not alone, babe." He swept off his hat and gave it a toss. It landed on the bed post. "Time to pay up on our wager."

"Hey, I won nearly every hand."

"That's what I'm talking about. I owe you a whole lot of pleasure. How do you like the sound of that?"

Her mouth opened, but she said nothing more.

She didn't have to. He could read it in her eyes. She wanted him.

The same way he wanted her.

The knowledge made him bold. He brushed her sweet mouth with his.

She tipped her head back, parting her lips. Moist and open, her kisses were passionate.

Oh, how passionate. His body responded to her. He went hard as a rock.

Desire and affection mingled together in a sweet burn. Hotter than fire, brighter than anything he had ever known before.

"Leo." Her warm breath fanned his neck just above his shirt collar.

Just when he expected her to tighten her hold on him, she took a step away.

"You don't like my kisses?" he asked.

"Why, yes I do. But I want to do that to you everywhere. That and a whole lot more."

She took him by the hand.

As if they were two lost halves found, he let her lead him to the bed.