Gamble On Passion Read online

  From Back Cover…

  'The first man to walk through this door will be the one I date for a month...'

  Jacky's bet with her friend Liz was reckless - especially when that first man turned out to be Leo Kozakis. Jacky had gambled on Leo's love ten years before, but he had cruelly rejected her. The sensible thing would be to forget the wager, but Jacky found herself overpowered by desire. She told herself it was for revenge; she was more than a match now for the arrogant Greek tycoon, wasn't she, and couldn't possibly want him in any other way...?

  Excerpt…

  'What the hell is the matter with you?' Leo spoke furiously.

  'You think a few dinners and a show entitles you to a woman's body. When and if I have a lover I'll want a lot more than a couple of dates and into bed,' Jacy flung back at him.

  'My apologies. I forgot that all women have a price. But if it's marriage you're holding out for, don't hold your breath.'

  Gamble on Passion

  by

  Jacqueline Baird

  CHAPTER ONE

  'Quiet, everyone.' Replacing the telephone receiver, Liz glared threateningly around the crowded lounge of her apartment. 'Ssh. That was the porter. Tom is on his way up.' Her glance rested on the attractive blonde standing by the door. 'Dim the lights, quick,' she commanded, pushing her way through the crush of people to join her friend.

  Jacy switched off the light and glanced down at her hostess for the evening. 'Stand by for action,' she prompted reassuringly. Liz was petite, with short black curly hair and sparkling blue eyes, but tonight she looked decidedly nervous.

  'Do you think he will be pleased at a surprise fortieth birthday party?'

  'Liz, your husband worships you and the terrible twins; anything you do is great with him and you know it!'

  'Yes, you're right—I hope... But what about our bet are you still game?'

  Jacy glanced around the crowd of partygoers as­sembled in the large, comfortable room, all friends of Liz and Tom. 'Of course I am.' She grinned. 'But in all fairness to you I should point out that, as all the guests have arrived and all the single men here are my friends, it's no contest. The first one to walk through this door will be the one I date for a month. I'm bound to win.'

  Liz smiled mischievously. 'I don't mind. I'll take the chance if you will.'

  'Shake on it, partner.' Jacy grasped her friend's hand, shaking it vigorously, and couldn't resist adding, smugly, 'The netsuke is as good as mine.'

  The door swung open and Tom, a tall blond-haired man, strode into the room. 'What the hell-?

  The room erupted to the strains of 'Happy Birthday to You' as Jacy clicked the light back on, and she stopped singing in mid-note, her eyes widening in horror at the black-haired, dark-eyed man who walked in behind Tom. Oh, no, she groaned inwardly, it couldn't be... She tried to sidle backwards into the crush of people surrounding the birthday-boy, but in the enthusiasm of the moment, to her horror, she was pushed slap-up against the tall dark man she was hoping to avoid.

  A strong arm curved around her waist, and dark brown eyes glittered knowingly down into hers. 'Hello, Jacy, you're looking good.' A cynical smile twisted the hard mouth. 'But I admit I didn't think your sort would be a friend of Tom and Liz.'

  Jacy, numb with shock, managed to reply icily, 'I could say the same about you,' while registering the fact that the black eyes burning into hers did not look in the least surprised to see her here. She dismissed the thought as fanciful and pushed past him and out into the hall.

  She closed the door of the dining-room behind her and fell back against it. Her legs were trembling and the beating of her heart sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet of the room. Her glance slid across the dining-table, groaning under the weight of all the food she had helped prepare earlier and had been looking forward to eating. Now she had no appetite at all.

  Damn! she swore under her breath. What was Leo Kozakis doing here? The internationally known Greek tycoon, at Tom's party? A family birthday party was hardly his scene, she thought bitterly. She hadn't realised Tom even knew the man.

  Briefly she closed her eyes and ten years of her life were swept away. She swallowed hard on the lump that rose in her throat, feeling once again all the old pain and heartache of her much younger self. At eighteen Leo Kozakis had almost destroyed her, and now once again he had appeared in her life. The last man on earth she wanted to meet.

  Taking a deep breath, she straightened and crossed to the table. She was over-reacting, she told herself. So what if Leo was at the party? It didn't make any difference to her. She was no longer a naive teenager but a mature, successful career-woman of twenty-eight. Tom and Liz were her friends, and there was no way she was going to allow the unexpected appearance of Leo to frighten her into walking out on their celebration.

  An ironic smile twisted her wide mouth as she realised Kozakis had been the first unattached male to walk through the door. Well, that was it! She had lost the bet... There was no way she could date him for a month, or would even want to. It had been a stupid bet, but there was no escaping the fact—Liz had won. Jacy was going to have to spend eight weekends looking after Liz's twin five-year-old boys. Still, it was her own fault, and she didn't mind: she loved the two boys, and her social life wasn't that exciting anyway.

  It had all started earlier that afternoon. Jacy had promised to arrive at three to help prepare the food for the party. Liz hadn't wanted to use caterers, saying it seemed wrong to throw a surprise party for her husband and then stick him with a huge bill. Planning on leaving the office early, Jacy had been delayed by her office junior, Barbara, crying her heart out. The man from the assessors' department whom the girl had dated since the office Christmas party three months ago had finally talked her into bed. Unfortunately Barbara had been dreaming of wedding-bells until today. At lunchtime the poor soul had walked into the local pub in time to hear two of the male members of the staff talking to her boy­friend, and money changing hands. Seemingly, the man had only taken her out for a bet. They had laid odds on how many weeks it would take to get her into bed.

  Jacy had arrived at Liz's two hours late, fuming over what swine men were, and declaring that just once she would like to do the same to one of them. Plus, in a way, she blamed herself, as it had been she who had persuaded the girl to go to the office Christmas party, and encouraged her to mix socially with the rest of the staff. She had felt sorry for Barbara, fresh from the north of England and in her first job in London.

  Liz had listened to Jacy's angry tirade and then said, 'Well, why don't you?'

  Jacy would never have bet money, but Liz had been clever; she had known the one thing that would tempt her. Six years ago the two women had met for the first time at a country house auction. They had both been bidding for the same lot: a delightful ivory netsuke with unusual jade eyes. Jacy had a modest collection of the tiny figures and had set her heart on the tiny Buddha. But Liz had outbid her. After the sale Jacy had con­gratulated Liz, and the two girls had got talking. It was an unlikely friendship. Liz had never worked since her marriage a year earlier and was heavily pregnant with the twins, while Jacy was quickly climbing the career ladder as a loss adjuster with a large insurance firm.

  The sudden upsurge in the music and laughter brought Jacy back to the present with a jolt. The party had spread to the hall, and in only moments she would be forced to face the crowd again and Leo Kozakis... She couldn't do it. Her stomach churned sickeningly, and it was only with the greatest effort of will that she managed to straighten her shoulders and pin a smile on her face as the dining-room door swung open. She relaxed slightly when she saw who it was.

  'There you are, Jacy. I wondered where you had got to.' Liz, a smug smile on her pixie face, added, 'You luc
ky lady, did you see that Leo Kozakis? Aren't you glad you made the bet?'

  'No! And you win. Just tell me which weekends you want me to babysit.'

  Liz stood in front of her, her blue eyes narrowed on Jacy's sombre face. 'Come on, love, you can't chicken out now. In the six years I've known you you have never gone out with the same man more than a couple of times. What is it? Are you afraid you might discover you like men?'

  'No, of course not, but...' How could she explain how she felt? Liz would never understand. She was a happily married woman with a loving husband who had a good position as the director of a merchant bank. They owned a house in Surrey, and this apartment in town. They adored each other, and their twin boys were icing on the cake. Whereas Jacy had been deeply hurt as a teenager and had vowed never again to get involved with a man. She had a good job and was thoroughly inde­pendent, and that was the way she liked it.

  'I never had you down as a coward, Jacy,' Liz said bluntly. 'Let me introduce you to Leo; he really is a great guy. Tom brought him down to Surrey last weekend and I thought straight away that he was perfect for you.'

  Jacy eyed Liz with growing suspicion. 'Wait a minute... Tom rang to say he was on his way up,' she murmured, and watched the elfin features of her friend colour a delicate red. 'You knew... You knew he was bringing that man when we shook on the bet.'

  'Mea culpa,' Liz admitted unashamedly. 'But a bet is a bet, and he is gorgeous!'

  'It's no good, Liz, you're wasting your time, for the simple reason that the man would never ask me out in a million years!' Jacy knew it was true, but she had no intention of telling Liz how she knew. Some things were too painful to discuss even with her best friend.

  'Now you are being ridiculous.' Liz stepped back and surveyed Jacy from head to toe. 'You're drop-dead gorgeous, five foot five, gold hair, gold eyes, and that slip of a red sheath you're wearing clings to every luscious curve. Who are you trying to kid, pal? One flutter from those incredibly long eyelashes and the man will be kneeling at your feet. Your trouble is, you can't accept how attractive you are. Even my Tom said that when you walk across a room you're like a magnet, attracting every male eye in the place.'

  'Flattery will get you nowhere, friend. Take it from me, Mr Kozakis will not ask me out, even if I were to strip naked in front of him.' Jacy was not aware of the bitterness edging her tone, or the questioning look the other girl gave her, as she continued, 'I may be a lib­erated female, but when we made the bet you did agree that I don't have to ask the man. He has to ask me, and in this case it will never happen. So tell me when you want your first free weekend, hmm?'

  'Think of the netsuke, the exquisite Buddha, the jade eyes,' Liz tempted teasingly. 'A month dating Leo the Hunk wouldn't kill you, and I expect you to at least try and honour the spirit of the bet.'

  Jacy never had a chance to answer, as a voice broke into their lively exchange.

  'The two most beautiful women in the place.' Tom appeared beside his wife, curving an arm around her shoulders. 'But I should be angry with you, Liz; now everyone knows just what an old married man I am.' His blond head swept down, and he kissed his wife firmly before adding, 'Poor Leo here thought he was going to collect some papers and go.' Tom turned his sparkling blue eyes on Jacy. 'Jacy, let me introduce you to Leo, a business friend of mine. I want you to look after him and make sure he gets fed, while I deal with my scatty wife.'

  Jacy forced a smile to her stiff lips. 'Happy birthday, Tom.' And, leaning forward, she kissed him lightly on the cheek, studiously ignoring the man at her side.

  There was no way on God's earth she wanted any­thing to do with the arrogant Greek. But Leo had a dif­ferent idea. Stepping in front of his host, he quite deliberately caught Jacy's hand in his before she could object and, moving closer, he flicked his dark eyes coldly over her flushed face.

  'There's no need for introductions, Tom; Jacy and I are old friends. We met when she was a budding re­porter.' Dropping her hand, he deliberately turned his back on her to speak directly to Tom. 'Though given the sensitive nature of some of your work I was sur­prised when you mentioned that Jacy, a journalist, was a family friend of yours...'

  Tom threw his blond head back and burst out laughing, while Liz's inquisitive blue eyes darted from the Greek to Jacy and back again.

  'Jacy, a reporter?' She grinned. 'You must have the wrong girl. Jacy is a very valued member of the Mutual Save and Trust Company. In fact, she's their top loss adjuster. She can smell a fraud a mile off.'

  As far as Jacy was concerned, Leo Kozakis was the biggest fraud alive, she thought angrily; and what did he mean? He'd said, 'was a friend'. Had he known she would be here tonight? No, it was impossible; and at that moment her attention was caught by someone calling her name.

  'Jacy, darling, I've been looking all over for you. I've got your G and T.'

  Thank God for Simon, she thought gratefully, and with a mumbled, 'Excuse me,' she walked across to join the laughing crowd that had entered the dining-room.

  "Thank you, Simon.' She took the proffered glass from the hand of the tall ginger-haired fresh-faced young man, and urged him back out into the hall towards the lounge. 'Let's find a seat and gossip,' she encouraged, shooting him a brilliant smile. She could have hugged him for getting her out of an intolerable situation, but she doubted it would be appreciated, as she was one of the very few people who knew that Simon's taste ran to members of his own sex rather than females.

  They found a vacant armchair and Jacy sank down into it with a sigh of relief, and took a long swallow of her drink. 'You've no idea how much I needed that.' She turned her face up to look at Simon who was perched on the arm of her chair, with a glass of whisky in one hand and his other arm resting lightly along the back of the chair.

  'I don't believe it. Jacy the ice-maiden actually ruffled; and by a man, if I'm not mistaken.' And, lowering his head, he whispered in her ear, 'You can tell me about it, Jacy; your secret is as safe with me as I know mine is with you.'

  'Simon, don't ask me to explain, just stay with me for the rest of the evening.' She turned sombre golden eyes up to his. 'Pretend we're good friends.'

  'I don't need to pretend, we are good friends; and don't worry, I'll shield you from the Greek.'

  Her eyes widened in shock. 'How...?' She stopped herself, but it was too late.

  'It doesn't take a genius to work it out. He's the only new male in this crowd, and gorgeous with it. I watched him myself when he walked in, but I could tell instantly that he's not for me, more's the pity.'

  Jacy burst out laughing; she couldn't help it. The idea of Simon seducing Leo: now that really did appeal. Draining her glass, she settled back in the chair and pre­pared to be entertained by Simon's outrageous stories for the rest of the evening. But some inner radar told her the instant Leo Kozakis walked into the room. She couldn't actually see him from the depths of her chair, but she had the uncanny feeling he was watching her.

  Someone put the stereo on and the centre of the room gradually filled with swaying bodies, and then she saw him; he was dancing with a tall blonde. Dancing wasn't the word, she thought disgustedly. The woman had her arms around his neck, and Leo's hands were settled in­timately over the blonde's buttocks. Ten years hadn't changed him at all. He was still the lecherous swine he had always been.

  He looked over his partner's shoulder, his dark eyes catching Jacy watching him; and to her chagrin his lips curved in a knowing smile. She felt the blood surge in her cheeks and quickly looked away. Years ago she had ' thought herself in love with Leo Kozakis. A few magical weeks on the island of Corfu; the sun, the sea and the sand; a vibrant, tanned male body...

  Jacy drained her glass in one gulp, dismissing the memory from her mind. Of course it had only been a childish crush, and she had quickly recovered; but the hurt and humiliation still lingered. Abruptly getting to her feet, she caught Simon's hand in hers. 'Come on, Simon, let's find the bar and have another drink. Tonight I think I'm going to need it,' she concluded as
with Simon's arm around her shoulder they circumvented the dancing couples to arrive at the makeshift bar set up in one corner of the lounge.

  Grasping her second gin and tonic, Jacy deliberately kept her back to the room and drank the potent spirit much too fast. But she had the uncanny feeling that Leo Kozakis's dark eyes were watching her, and that he was laughing.

  'Take it easy, Jacy,' Simon remonstrated as she held out her empty glass for a refill. 'An hour or so and I'll take you home.'

  'Get lost, Simon. I want to talk to my friend,' Liz's laughing voice interrupted.

  Jacy sighed, and sipped her drink, eyeing Liz over the top of her glass. 'Lovely party, Liz,' she said politely, the warning in her dark golden eyes telling her friend more plainly than words that she was not going to discuss Mr Kozakis.

  'Don't try and intimidate me with your best "claim refused" frown. I want some answers. A: when were you ever a reporter? and B: how did you meet Leo? And the biggy: were you an item? That will do for starters.'

  Jacy's first thought was to refuse to answer. Then, whether it was the drink or because she had finally re­gained her self-control, she thought, Why the hell not? Liz was her friend and Leo Kozakis meant nothing to her.

  'I was never a reporter: that was a particular miscon­ception of Mr Kozakis'; something he is prone to. As for how I know him, I met him when I was eighteen and on holiday in Corfu for the summer. As for being an item, as you so crudely put it, Liz: what do you think?' she drawled scornfully, her glance slanting over the delicate features of her friend's face. Without noticing the warning look in her sparkling eyes, Jacy continued, 'Give me some credit! The man's affairs are legion and very well documented by the Press; the swine's repu­tation is as black as his hair.'

  'Does that mean that now I'm going grey my repu­tation will improve accordingly?' a deep mocking voice drawled in Jacy's ear.

  She swung around, the glass slipping from her hand, and with lightning reflexes it was caught by the man standing in front of her, only a few drops splashing on his immaculate business suit.