"I know the rules, Mr. Templar," she said thinly. "And the first rule is to win. Before you're finished you're going to wish you hadn't boasted so loudly."
"You're not worried?"
She moved one jewel-encrusted hand indicatively.
"Did you notice those two men at that table in the corner?"
"Yes — have they been following you? I'll call a cop and have them picked up if you like."
"Don't bother. Those are my bodyguards. They're armed and they have orders to shoot at the drop of a hat. Are you sure you aren't worried?"
He laughed.
"I never drop my hat." He buttoned his coat languidly, and the impudent scapegrace humour danced in his eyes like sunlight on blue water. "Well — I've got to go on with my conspiring, and I'm keeping you from your friends…"
There was a chorus of protest from the other women at the table, who had been craning forward with their mouths open, breathlessly eating up every word.
"Oh, no!"