Read Online Nellie (The Brides of San Francisco Book 1) by Cynthia Woolf - Free Book Online

arrangement is concerned.”
    “Thank you. That must have cost you a lot to admit.”
    “It did. Now if you will leave me, I’d like to dress for the day.”
    “Certainly.”
    He threw back the covers and stood, his back to her, put his hands over his head and stretched.
    A gasp escaped, and she planted a hand on her chest. “Blake! You’re naked.”
    He turned. “Yes, my dear, that’s the way I sleep, and I want you to start sleeping that way, too. I want to feel your body touching mine, even if I can’t make love to you.”
    Wide-eyed and mouth agape. She stared. Her cheeks heated and she knew she blushed but she couldn’t help it. He was fully aroused and magnificent. Much more so than Robert had been. She tore her gaze away and looked at his face.
    He watched her with a cocked eyebrow and a grin, arms crossed over his chest.
    “Like what you see?”
    “Uh, what? No.” Her hand fluttered in the air. “You should cover up. What if Violet came back in?”
    He stooped, picked up his robe and slid it on.
    “You’re right. This time. From now on, we lock the door. She can learn to knock if she wants us for anything.”
    Nellie nodded. “You’re right. It is past time she learned to knock when she wants me.”
    “Or me. She seems to have taken a shine to me, much to my surprise.” He grinned and winked. “Now if her mother would just do the same.”
    “Her mother has more sense and is older. She’s not taken in by a pair of beautiful gray eyes, like her daughter is.”
    “Ah,” he said with a laugh. “So, you do find something about me attractive.”
    She squared her shoulders. “I didn’t say that.”
    “But you did. ‘Beautiful eyes’ you said. I take that as a compliment. I happen to think all of you is beautiful.”
    Again, she felt her cheeks heat. This man could make her blush with just a word. It was disconcerting.
    No sooner had he put on his robe than the door flew open and Violet ran in followed by Henry.
    “See Henry. I told you Mama is sleeping with Daddy.”
    “They are not sleeping.” Henry planted his hands on his hips.
    Blake guffawed and put his fist over his mouth to hide his laughter.
    Nellie didn’t think there was anything funny about it. What if…dear God. “Stop laughing.”
    He dropped his fist and laughed outright. Putting his hands on his hips and leaning back he fairly howled.
    “Oh you!” She wagged a finger at him. “You just wait.”
    “I’m waiting, darlin’. Waiting until you ask.”
    He chuckled some more and walked toward the sitting room and his rooms beyond.
    “Good morning, children,” he said, then walked through the door and closed it behind him.
    Nellie shook her head. Damn the man. Then she giggled.
    “What you laughing at, Mama?”
    “Nothing, Henry. Not a thing.”
    *****
    The first night Blake was home, Nellie wore her emerald green suit to dinner. She knew the ensemble made her green eyes sparkle.
    Blake met her in the hall outside the dining room dressed in a three-piece black suit with snowy white shirt and matching cravat. So handsome, he nearly took her breath away,
    “You look lovely tonight, my dear.”
    “Thank you. You are quite handsome yourself. To what occasion do I owe the pleasure?”
    He held his arm out for her and she took it.
    “Just to the fact that I’m home to have dinner with my beautiful wife, who, whether she believes it or not, is actually quite pleased to be having dinner with me rather than the children. I assume they are taking dinner in the nursery?”
    She nodded. “Yes, they ate earlier. They are used to eating then.”
    “And you got used to it, too. Didn’t you?”
    Her stomach rumbled in response.
    Her hand flew to her stomach in an effort to quell the sounds.
    “I’m so sorry.”
    “No need. I should have realized you would be used to eating earlier. Beginning tomorrow, we’ll all eat together at about five o’clock in the evening. Will that work for you?”
    “Oh, yes. Thank you for