Read Online Dream of Me: A Sweet Contemporary Romance by Delaney Cameron - Free Book Online Page B

breath, she began the walk back to the beach house. Corbin had done what he could to help her, and she’d thanked him by disregarding everything he said. The fact that he could read her so easily didn’t add to her level of comfort.  She didn’t want to be pitied. She just wanted to forget this ever happened.
    The house was quiet upon her return. Belatedly remembering Horace, Aubrey went to Corbin’s office hoping he hadn’t followed his inclination and put the kitten outside. The room was empty. A quick search downstairs turned up nothing. Taking the stairs two at a time, she tried her own room next, but no luck.
    Aubrey noticed Corbin’s door was ajar. She knocked lightly and waited. When he didn’t answer, she pushed the door open a few more inches. She heard the sound of water running. He must be in the shower. With any luck she could search his room and be gone without him ever knowing. Opening the door just wide enough to pass through, she paused to admire the spectacular view of the lighthouse before calling for Horace in a loud whisper.
    Unlike her own room, the ceiling was sloped and just managed to accommodate a massive four poster bed made of mahogany. Aubrey was on her knees peering under the bed when a door at the opposite end of the room opened. Corbin appeared wearing a pair of black athletic shorts, a white towel wrapped around his neck. When her startled gaze left his muscular arms and chest long enough, she noticed a tiny dot of shaving cream clinging to one side of his lean cheek. A tide of color washed over her face.
    He chuckled at her stunned expression. “When you come into a man’s room, you can’t be shocked at what you find.”
    “I, uh, knocked, but you didn’t answer.” This sounded feeble even to her own ears.
    “Were you planning to hide under my bed? I’ve never had a woman try that before, but who knows, it might work.”
    Her eyes flashed with anger. “Okay, I shouldn’t have come in here – I get that. But I was getting worried about Horace. I can’t find him anywhere.”
    “Lost track of your new pet already?”
    Aubrey came to her feet. “Have you seen him or not?”
    “When you stormed out of the house, he decided to follow me. He’s in the bathroom, tearing up the linen closet.” Corbin walked over to a tall dresser resting against the wall.
    Aubrey hurried across the thick carpet. All she wanted to do was escape a situation becoming more uncomfortable by the second. When her sandals hit the tiled floor of the bathroom, she slipped and fell awkwardly on her side. More embarrassed than hurt, she instinctively pulled at the short hem of her dress.
    “What are you worried about? It’s not like I haven’t seen your legs before.” Corbin lifted her gently to her feet.
    The warmth of his skin seemed to burn right through the thin material of her dress. When she would have moved away, she was turned around and brought disturbingly close to him again.
    “Are you hurt?”
    “Just my pride,” she replied somewhat breathlessly.
    “Then you’ll survive.”
    “You can let me go now,” she said stiffly.
    “Do you dislike me so much?” he asked softly.
    Her eyes couldn’t hold his any longer. In a voice she scarcely recognized, she said, “Please don’t start your teasing remarks. I’m upset with myself. I can’t seem to do anything right anymore.”
    “You do a few things very well. Like getting into trouble and ignoring good advice.”
    Aubrey did look at him then. “What do you want me to say?”
    “I don’t want you to say anything.” Corbin bent down and brushed his lips against her mouth. It wasn’t so much a kiss as a gentle caress, and it created a number of unwanted sensations in Aubrey.
    After he drew away, she said shakily, “I hope you’re not going to make a habit of doing that.”
    “I hope so, too. Once was enough.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “You’re making fun of me.”
    Corbin shook his head. “I don’t make fun of people. Why are you