Read Online Joy by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page B

starkly evident in his face. Virginia raised the brandy snifter to her lips.
    But Ryerson reached out and stayed her hand. „Does it really take another dose of alcohol to make going to bed with me seem like an interesting thing to do? I’m your friend, Virginia, remember? You can tell me the truth. If you don’t want to go to bed with me, just say it.“
    Instantly Virginia was swamped with despair. None of this was his fault. She struggled for a weakly reassuring smile. „I guess I’m a little nervous.“
    He answered her smile with a faint curve of his hard mouth. But his eyes were full of understanding. „If it’s any consolation, so am I. Under the circumstances, I don’t think that’s so strange. This is beginning to feel like the first night of a honeymoon, isn’t it?“
    Virginia stiffened and then forced herself to relax. It was not the first night of a honeymoon, she reminded herself. Ryerson hadn’t really meant that. Just a poor choice of words. „You’re nervous, too?“
    „Yeah.“
    For some reason she found that vastly comforting. „We have a lot in common, don’t we?“ she asked wistfully. „Right down to getting nervous about something like this.“
    „I think we’ll both be fine once we get started,“ Ryerson said gently. His eyes were bottomless pools of silvery moonlight.
    Virginia moistened her dry lips. It was going to be easier knowing Ryerson was a little uncertain, too.
    She tossed down the rest of the brandy with a flourish. The time for action had arrived.
    „Well, if you think we’ll both do all right once we get started, then by all means let’s get started. Let’s get the whole thing over and done with and see what happens,“ she said with brisk determination. She shot to her feet and imperiously held out her hand to Ryerson. „You’re right. It’s time to go for it. No pain, no gain. Onward and upward. I’m ready if you are.“
    Ryerson eyed her summoning fingers for a few seconds and then looked up at her with a strange expression. „This isn’t the Charge of the Light Brigade, you know. If you’d rather wait…“
    „No, absolutely not. Never put off until tomorrow what should be done tonight,“ she declared in ringing tones. Her decision was made. It had been made from the moment she had accepted the ticket to Toralina.
    Her courage was as high as it would ever be. „It’s now or never. No more waiting. You invited me on this trip for a specific reason and I came along knowing that reason. I’m sick of being a coward. It’s time we both found out the truth once and for all.“ She grabbed his hand and tugged him to his feet.
    „The truth about what?“ Ryerson asked as she pulled forcibly on his hand. He allowed himself to be drawn slowly to his feet.
    „Never mind,“ Virginia said as she swept him out the door and down the stone path that led to their suite. „The main thing is to keep the momentum going. Ride the wave. Go with the flow. Mustn’t get cold feet now. It’s do or die. Now or never.“
    „I was wrong. This does seem to be turning into the Charge of the Light Brigade, after all,“ Ryerson observed warily as he obediently let himself be dragged down the path. „I can’t help wondering why. Is there something we should talk about first, sweetheart? Are there cannons out there in the valley that I don’
    t know about?“
    „This isn’t a time for talk; it’s a time for action,“ she told him stoutly.
    „If you say so. But, Ginny, there’s no need to rush into this. You said yourself it’s still early. We’ve got all night.“
    She came to a sudden halt and whirled to face him. „This was all your idea. Have you changed your mind?“
    Ryerson barely avoided colliding with her. He stared down into her fierce expression. „No, honey, I haven’t changed my mind. But I’ll admit I don’t understand your attitude.“
    „There’s nothing to understand,“ she told him aggressively. „I’m ready. You’re ready. Let’s go do