Harlequin Desire January 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: Beneath the Stetson\Pregnant by Morning\Project: Runaway Bride by Janice Maynard

Author:Janice Maynard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Nine

“Let’s go out,” Evangeline announced late one afternoon as they watched a movie, snuggled together on the couch.

Convinced he’d misheard, Matthew hit the volume, almost dropping the remote. “Out? As in out in public?”

Other than an occasional rooftop visit, they hadn’t crossed the threshold of Palazzo D’Inverno since the dinner party a couple of weeks ago. He was on a first name basis with the grocery store delivery guy, who delighted in correcting Matthew’s poor Italian.

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Take me on a date tonight.”

“You hate dating.”

“But I like you.” She fluttered her lashes, coquettishly. “So I’m willing to make sacrifices. I might even let you talk my clothes off after.”

“What’s going on? Cabin fever?”

It was certainly starting to get to him. As much fun as Evangeline was—and really, was there such a thing as too much sex?—a slight sense of restlessness wouldn’t go away, no matter what he did.

“I don’t know. Maybe. I haven’t worn makeup in forever. I’d like you to see me in something other than one of your T-shirts.”

“I like you in my T-shirts. I like you best in nothing at all,” he threw in. “But I could go for some dinner with a beautiful woman.”

“Dinner and maybe a show.” She leaped off the couch, suddenly animated. “Ooh, I have the perfect dress. I haven’t worn it yet. I’m going to hog the bathroom. Do you need anything out of it?”

“Nah.” He grinned at her enthusiasm and flipped the channel to a cable news station since the movie clearly wasn’t of interest any longer. “I’ll be here. Waiting. For a long time, I suspect.”

An hour later, he’d donned a button-up shirt and ironed some pants, the most effort he’d expended to get dressed in ages. Evangeline still hadn’t emerged from the bathroom so he flopped on the couch to amuse himself by flipping through the channels.

She called his name from the stairs.

He glanced at her and his heart locked up.

Evangeline La Fleur had put on yet another mask. She’d transformed into a fantastical vision in a clingy blue dress, honey-brown curls loose around her shoulders, sultry eyes full of mystery and promise, legs shaped by spiked heels that made his mouth water. And he’d kissed every inch of that gorgeous body.

How could she still punch him so hard without a word when they had few secrets between them any longer?

A button-up and kakis were far too casual to have that on his arm. Actually, the man in the clothes left a lot to be desired, as well. The glittery superstar walking down his stairs had nothing in common with Matthew Wheeler.

“Ready?” she asked, her gravelly voice raw and thrilling. Like always. It jump-started his lungs again as he stood to meet her. She was still the same person underneath the mask.

“I’m not sure. I think you’ve stolen my ability to walk. You’re...I don’t know what to call you. Beautiful is too simple a word. You’re exquisite.” Flustered, he straightened his belt and smoothed his hair. “Sure you want to be seen with me?”

She laughed, throatily, with her head thrown back.

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