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Nick handed her the frivolous looking item and took her hand,
leading her out onto the patio. "Lady, you're going to enjoy this."
She shivered when he lifted her up into his arms and started down
the shady pathway to the river.
"What the hell's in that bag?"
"My lunch."
"I notice you didn't say our lunch."
"Today I'm royalty. I worry about no one but me." She laughed at
his playful growl in her ear. He purposely jostled her the last few
steps to the sandbar where the canoe waited. He let her down slowly,
gazing at her all the while she slid over his hard belly and thighs. He
touched her cheek and played with her earlobe before gesturing in a
courtly fashion.
"Your conveyance, madam."
"Nick. How elegant." Could she help it if plain old love for the
man turned her into a hand puppet?
He held the small craft steady while she climbed in and settled
down against the pillows he had piled at one end of the canoe.
"Lay back, your highness." Nick paddled away from the quiet
sandbar and looked back at her. "You will be still, won't you?"
 Quiet as a mouse. The devil seemed to take up residence in her
body when he continued to gaze at her. She parted her legs wide
enough for him to see Canada before she plopped them on the seat
next to him.
His smile said everything. He wanted her and was thinking about
getting in her bed. She smiled secretively and lolled her head back,
laughing softly. Movement at the helm of the canoe made her sit up
and take notice. Nick pulled his shirt over his head and ignoring her
while she licked her lips. She thought the situation damned ironic, the
best day of her life in months and it was to be her last. Well, it wasn't
over yet.
112 Betty Womack
While he worked his shoulders and cast out over the water, she
mentally licked the golden olive flesh of his strong back. She worked
her way over his lean rib cage and hard pecs. She imagined her teeth
toying with them and she smiled when he rubbed his chest. He sat so
near she could have touched him. Her tongue knew the texture of his
skin, the way it tasted, the scent of it. Six foot three of more sexual
pleasure than one woman had a right to enjoy. But, she always wanted
to let him add more to his repertoire of excitement and driving
passion.
She drew the parasol down to conceal her grin in case he turned
around. If she had become pregnant, one more night of ecstasy would
do no harm. In fact, she needed it so badly she ached.
The idea she would never share joy or intimacy with Nick, ever
again took her breath. The thought of such terrible loss struck in a
wave painful as grief. The awful emptiness in her soul stilled the beat
of her heart.
The true warmth of her life sat in the bow of her barge, beckoning
her to feast on his wonderful beauty. The only desirable place to be
was in Nick s world and she didn t want to miss a second of it.
Her gaze touched his strong jaw with a kiss. She grew quiet,
listening to the soft splash of the oars, lounging much as Cleopatra
must have, trailing her fingers in the cool water. She knew the weight
of being under siege and not even Cleopatra could have withstood the
agony.
The source of her misery looked absolutely native, leanly
muscled, with a trim waist and skin bronzed from his heritage and the
sun. While his long fingers worked the rod and reel, her plan
cemented. Nick the savage would be hers.
She jumped in her guilty pleasure of ogling him, and veiled her
thoughts with the parasol lace when he turned to look at her.
 Shel, you re having dirty thoughts, aren t you?
 I don t deny it. Must be the company.
Hot For Nick 113
His smile went straight to the pale gold triangle of curls in the
fork of her legs.  So, what s the remedy for your nasty girl thoughts?
 Best worry about your own dirty secrets, Mister Fisherman.
He clamped his fingers around her ankle and gazed intently at her.
 You know every secret I ve ever had. Do I know all of yours?
What was he hinting at now? Oh, hell. The plans again. She threw
a cherry at him and harrumphed.  No, you do not. Do you really want
to know all my secrets?
He ran his palm up her calf and squeezed firmly.  I don t think so.
It might hurt.
With a calm she didn t feel, Shelby lifted her foot to press it
against his warm chest.  Good boy. She let him hold her foot in his
wide hand.  By the way. What kind of little boy were you, Nick?
 Mean. Very mean. He stroked the bottom of her foot.  Why are
you so damned gorgeous? Must be that hot dress.
She held down the squirm of desire that worked its way up her leg
directly to her crotch. She smiled in her most coquettish way.  You
noticed.
 Yeah. I also noticed that you re not wearing anything but skin
underneath that dress. His brows raised a fraction.
Her heart thundered like a storm while she slowly pulled her foot
from the protection of his broad hand.
 We re not discussing me. So, you became a devil early in life?
 Born with a pitch fork in my fist. I probably got more ass
warming s in a week than you had in your entire life.
 Remarkable.
 Yeah. Remarkable. He traced her kneecap with his finger.  And
I can only guess you had to be mean as hell.
 Heavens no. I was the model of decorum until my thirteenth
birthday. She laughed and shook her head.  Poor Dad.
 Um-hmm. I knew it. Badass and started early.
Her gaze kissed his firm mouth that smiled at her.  I still am.
114 Betty Womack
 I know. He turned back to his fishing, tossing a second warning
back over his shoulder.  Stop squirming around or you ll tip this tub.
 Yes, sir. She quieted for as long as she could stand it before
spotting a wild grape vine hanging overhead.  Oh, got to have those,
she mumbled and stood up.
The canoe tilted to the left, then the right. Nick shot her a look of
warning, then reached for her.
 Christ s sake, Shel. Sit down.
He stared in mute fascination while she ignored him to yank on a
bunch of grapes that dangled above her head, just out of her reach.
She tried to steady herself, but only succeeded in capsizing the canoe.
Her shrill scream echoed up and down the river before she
plunged backwards into the water. She surfaced, sputtering and
laughing. Her eyes widened with dismay when she spotted Nick
sitting on his rear, neck deep in water.
He got to his feet and grinned at her before running after his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]