The Invitation (Matchmaker Trilogy) by Barbara Delinsky

Author:Barbara Delinsky [Delinsky, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

6

SHAYE TRIED TO WIGGLE AWAY, but Noah hooked his legs around hers. When she continued to squirm, he made a low, sexy sound. “Ooh, that feels good. A little more pressure … there … lower.”

Abruptly she went still. “This is not a good idea, Noah.”

“My back sure feels a hell of a lot better.”

“Mine doesn’t.”

“That’s because you’ve got a rod up it—” He caught himself and backed off. “Uh, no, that came out the wrong way. What I meant was that you’ve stiffened up. If you relax and let me cushion you, you’ll be as comfortable as you were before.”

That was what Shaye feared, but the temptation was great. It was a peaceful night and she’d been interested in what he’d been saying. Would it hurt to relax a little?

“Better,” he said with a sigh when he felt her body soften to his. Though his legs fell away, his arms remained loosely around her waist. He’d thrown on a shirt after dinner, but it was unbuttoned. Her hair formed a thick pillow on his chest, with wayward strands teasing his throat and chin.

Having made the decision to stay in his arms, Shaye was surprisingly content. “Have you ever been married?”

“Where did that come from?”

“I was thinking about your work. You said there was pressure, and I assume the hours are long. I was curious.”

Curious, again. Okay. “No. I’ve never been married.”

“Do you dislike women?”

“Where did that come from?”

“One of the first things you said you didn’t like about me was that I was a woman.”

“Ah. That was because I hadn’t known there were going to be women along on this trip until a few minutes before you and your aunt arrived.”

“And it bothered you?”

“At the time.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to get away from it all. Before Samson drafted me I’d planned to spend two weeks alone in Normandy.”

“Normandy.” She slid her head sideways and looked up at him. “A château?”

“A small one.”

She righted her head. “Small one, big one … it sounds lovely.”

“It would have been, but this isn’t so bad.”

“Would you have done anything differently if Victoria and I hadn’t been along?”

“A few things.”

“Like…?”

“Shaving. I wouldn’t have bothered.”

“You don’t have to shave for our sakes. Be my guest. Grow a beard.”

He’d been hoping she’d thank him; after all, stubble looked grubby, and then there was the matter of kissing. But she wouldn’t consider that. Not Shaye.

“I don’t want to grow a beard,” he grumbled. “I just didn’t want to have to shave unless I felt like it.”

“So don’t.” She paused. “What else would you have done if we weren’t along?”

“Swam in the nude. Sunbathed in the nude. Sailed in the nude,” he added just for spite.

Forgetting that she was supposed to be prissy, she grinned. “That would be a sight.”

“Oh God, are we onto that again? Why is it that everyone’s always insulting my manhood?”

She shaped her hands to his wrists and gave a squeeze. “I’m just teasing … though I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a naked pirate before.”

“This is not a pirate ship,” was his arch response.

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