"Laura Resnick - Fever Dream" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Laura)

Her flaxen blond hair was starting to wilt in the heat, its fine tendrils clinging to her neck and shoulders as
she pressed a lace-edged handkerchief to her cheeks and forehead. Her wide eyes were a rich, deep,
royal blue, fringed by long, curling lashes. Her skin was as fair as a pearl, as smooth and perfect as
alabaster, as firm and enticing as ripe, young fruit. She wore an expensive-looking dress of thin, dark
purple silk with a high neck and a belted waist. It left her shoulders bare, and the hem stopped just above
her knees, revealing long, shapely legs. Her simple bracelet and matching earrings were gold, and her
shoes had probably cost two hundred dollars.

He wondered what a woman like her was doing in a place like this. Her fine, aristocratic bone structure
and perfect posture confirmed his impression that she was a class act. What was she doing sitting alone in
Bar Tigre? She obviously wasn't a prostitute. No woman from the embassy staff would venture out alone
after curfew, Peace Corps workers didn't dress like that, and, as far as he knew, hardly any foreigners
did business in Montedora City anymore. They'd all pulled out after the last coup.

If she was a traveller, she sure didn't seem to be enjoying herself. He had seldom seen such a bleak
expression. What was she thinking about?

Whatever it was, it made her look into the mirror with a flash of cold fire. God, she was gorgeous!
Whoever she was, whatever she was doing here, he was half-willing to believe she had been sent by the
angels, expressly for him, to be his comfort and his reward. Except, of course, that Ransom's just
desserts were more likely to come from some place other than heaven.

Their eyes met in the mirror. He smiled slowly. No, this woman hadn't been sent by angels. There was
too much challenge in her gaze. She had been sent by someone who understood Ransom very well,
indeed. He never liked anything to be too easy.

Hot as hell, he loosened his tie, undid a couple of his buttons, and joined her at the bar.
****
Madeleine glanced askance at the man who had looked her up and down so boldly, then sat beside her
at the bar without even asking.

тАЬHi, there,тАЭ he said easily.

тАЬGood evening.тАЭ She held his gaze for a moment, letting him know that she wasn't shy or flustered, but
that she definitely wasn't interested in talking to him. Then she accepted another rum and coke from the
bartender.

тАЬIt's on me,тАЭ the man said when the bartender asked her for payment.

She said, тАЬNo, thank you. IтАФтАЭ

тАЬThen do you want to buy me one?тАЭ he asked.

She frowned. тАЬButтАФтАЭ

тАЬThanks! Senor, the lady's buying my drink. Make it a beer.тАЭ

She looked at the stranger with rising irritation. тАЬExcuse me, but I'mтАФтАЭ

тАЬYou're American, aren't you?тАЭ