Read Online Mail Order Match Maker by Kirsten Osbourne - Free Book Online Page A

work.”  She wished she wasn’t so shy about everyone knowing what they were doing, but she wasn’t sure how she could help it.
    He pushed her off his lap and stood up, reaching down to help her to her feet.  “What are we waiting for then?”  He immediately started tugging her toward the sailboat. 
    “You’re not in a hurry, are you?” she asked impishly. 
    He laughed.  “Not at all.”  He helped her into the boat and climbed in after her.  “Hurry up now.”
    She blushed and giggled when he pulled her straight back to their bedroom as soon as they arrived home.  What would the servants think?
     
    *****
     
    One afternoon they spent the day at the park, watching the children play.  She knew her yearning for children was in her eyes as she stared at them swinging on the swings and playing with their balls. 
    “You never conceived with your first husband?” he asked.   He could obviously see the longing in her eyes as she watched the children play.
    She looked down at her hands.  “I was five months pregnant when I fell down the stairs.  I lo st the baby at the same time I hurt my leg.”  She couldn’t explain more than that, because she wasn’t ready to explain about her first marriage yet.
    He closed his eyes, unable to imagine how she must have felt.  “I’m so sorry.”  He squeezed her hand.  “I’ll do my best to give you more babies.”
    She stared at him for a moment.  “I really don’t think you could work any harder at it.”  He reached for her time and again during the nights.  She couldn’t complain, though, because he always left her feeling satisfied.
    He smiled, bringing her hand to his lips to kiss it softly.  “I’ll work harder at it if you want me to.”  His eyes met hers over their joined hands.
    She rested her head against his shoulder.  “I think we can just let nature take its course.  I’m not in a hurry.”  And she realized she wasn’t.  She didn’t want a baby to interfere with their private time together.  Sure, she wanted children and she didn’t want to wait until she was too old to have them, but she knew that a child would be demanding of her time.  For now she could enjoy her new nieces.
    He nodded.  “I’m not either, but I would like to have a dozen or so.”
    She shook her head.  “That may be a few too many for me.  Maybe three or four.” 
    He shook his head.  “I need to beat Fred.  He had eight, so I need at least a dozen.” 
    She sighed.  “I refuse to be part of that competition.”
    He wiggled his brows at her.  “I can’t compete without you.”
    She laughed.  “I like being with you.”  She was surprised by that.  She hadn’t enjoyed being around Arthur even before they married.  She’d always felt like he was watching her for something she was doing wrong.  With Max, she honestly enjoyed just spending time with him.
    He brushed his lips against hers, wishing they weren’t in a public park together.  He was wondering the best way to convince her to go home and to bed with him when he heard a familiar squeal.  “Uncle Max!”
    He looked over with a sigh.  “Lily and Jasmine,” he whispered to help Harriett remember their names.
    Lily ran straight to them and stopped at the edge of the blanket they were sitting on.  Harriett was surprised to see the young girl was running around in a boy’s shirt and pants.  Her mother really let her dress that way?  Jasmine was slower than her sister but she was right behind her.
    Jasmine put her hands on her hips and looked down at the newlyweds.  “Why were you two kissing in the park?  Isn’t that against the law or something?”  Her face was indignant.
    Max shook his head.  “No it’s not against the law to kiss your wife in a park.”
    Lily pushed Jasmine.  “Not against the law, stupid.  Just against the code of decency.  Husbands and wives should only kiss behind closed doors.”  She stared at Max, waiting for him to apologize to