Pure Sin by Susan Johnson

Author:Susan Johnson [Johnson, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-57504-3
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2012-09-19T16:00:00+00:00

After a profitable day at the races and an early supper with Lucie, Adam was in his dressing room changing into evening attire of white tie and tails. Lucie was in attendance, seated on a chair beside the cheval glass, swinging her buttoned green leather shoes, keeping up a running inquisition.

“Where are you going first?”

“To Morrissey’s Club on Matilda Street.”

“The little redbrick house?”

“That’s the one.”

“Are you going to lose money?”

“I hope not.”

“Can you take me there someday?”

“Only to the dining parlor, darling. There are rules against ladies inside the card rooms.”

“That’s stupid.”

“You’re right.” He smiled down at his daughter, still dressed in green-trimmed muslin to match his racing colors.

“What’s the difference if I see the cards? I see your cards all the time when you play poker with me.”

“Exactly, it’s very odd, I agree.”

“If there are no ladies there, why are you dressing up?”

He shrugged. “More rules.”

“I hate rules.”

Adam grinned into the mirror as he adjusted his white tie, his daughter’s perceptions of constraint much like his. “There are entirely too many,” he said. “It’s better back home on the Musselshell.”

“But our horses are running really good, aren’t they, Papa? So the long trip was worth it. And Magnus has won every race he’s run.”

“Every one. I can’t get profitable odds anymore,” he added with a grin. “But he’s a joy to watch,” he went on, reaching for his coat. “Next season we’ll run him in the Grand Prix.”

“And I’m going with you this time.”

“Absolutely.” He settled the finely tailored garment onto his broad shoulders.

“I’m old enough not to need Cloudy all the time now.”

“You certainly are, sweetheart,” he said, brushing her dark curls, her presence in his life like breath to him. “You’ll like Paris.”

“Will Maman be there?”

“I’m not certain, darling. She doesn’t like racing as much as you and I,” he blandly replied, avoiding the more pertinent reasons they weren’t likely to see her.

“Are you going to see Uncle Caldy tonight?”

“He’s coming to fetch me.”

“Can I stay up until he comes? He always brings me candy and he laughs really loud. It makes me giggle.”

“He makes everyone laugh, and yes, you may stay up.”

“You’re so easy, Papa.”

He looked down at her from under his dark lashes, his faint smile genial. “Am I really?”

“You always let me have my way.”

He grinned. “Should I say no more often?”

She looked up at him with identical dark eyes, her gaze open and artless. “I like having my own way.”

“That’s what I thought,” Adam gently said. “Give me a kiss now, because Caldwell will be here soon, and I won’t see you again until morning.”

Kneeling beside her chair, he hugged her, and she gave him a wet kiss and a glowing smile.

“Are you going to kiss any ladies tonight?” she asked as he stood upright again.

He hesitated for a moment. “I don’t think so.”

“Rosie says you kiss lots of ladies, and Flossie says she wishes you’d kiss her.”

His eyes widened briefly, and he carefully said, “You probably misunderstood.”

“Uh-uh. They say it ever so much.

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