Read Online Persuading Spring: A Sexy New Zealand Romance (The Four Seasons Book 4) by Serenity Woods - Free Book Online

light had appeared in his eyes when she’d
mentioned working with ladies’ underwear. It sent her heart hammering in a very
non-teddy bear kind of way.
    “It’s funny the reaction you get when you
tell guys you work with lingerie,” she said, trying to ignore the shiver than
ran down her spine.
    “Do you get free samples?”
    “Oh, we all wear the Four Seasons brand.
Rowan likes to try out her new designs on us. The torsolette I wore today was
from her Snow White range.”
    “The what now?”
    “Torsolette. It’s a camisole and a corset
thing with garters.” She started to giggle. “You should see your face.”
    “Sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve had
any connection with ladies’ underwear.”
    “Oh? You haven’t dated anyone since you
separated from your wife?”
    “No. She’s been the only woman in my life
for eight years.” He exhaled slowly, a sigh of resignation.
    “It’s kind of scary, isn’t it? The dating
game.”
    His lips curved up. “Yeah, a bit.”
    “It makes me wonder how many people stay
together out of habit, because they’re too afraid to step into the ring again.”
    “Or how many stay single because they hate
the process of making themselves vulnerable. To love someone you have to open
up, and if you’ve been hurt it makes it twice as difficult.”
    She rolled a Malteser around with her
finger. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to date again.”
    “You’re going to say that because you’ve
been hurt badly today. Of course it will take time for you to get over that,
but you will. One day you’ll meet someone. Maybe you’ll be friends first, and
then it will gradually develop into something more. You’re too lovely to be
alone for the rest of your life.”
    The unexpected compliment made her look up
to meet his eyes. His smile spread slowly. “I understand that you don’t want to
go back to your life as if nothing’s happened,” he said, “but I’m sure you’ll
feel better by Monday.”
    “I don’t know.” Her brow furrowed. “My
friend Neve is taking over the shop for two weeks, so I’m not needed there. I
was supposed to be going to Vanuatu for my honeymoon.”
    “Perhaps you should go anyway,” he
suggested. “Seems a shame to waste the holiday.”
    “I did think about it. I thought I might
have a torrid affair with an islander and have my wicked way with him in the
honeymoon suite.”
    He tipped his head back and laughed. “You
should.”
    She sighed. “I wish I could, but I’m not
that sort of person.” Frustrated, she rose and walked across to the window. The
clouds had parted to show a splash of stars clearly visible in the blue-black
sky above the city. The moon, three-quarters full, looked down on her with cool
disdain. “I don’t want to be like this.”
    “Like what?” He turned in his chair to face
her.
    “Reliable. Predictable. Dull.”
    “You’re not dull.”
    “No offence, Aaron, but you don’t know me.
I’m very dull. I can’t name one exciting thing I’ve done in my life. I’ve
worked hard to be a nice person, and I don’t regret that, but it’s hardly made
for a stimulating time. Everyone knows they can rely on me, and that I’m
supportive and will help out with anything they need. But if they wanted one
person to go to a party with them, they wouldn’t choose me.”
    “Perhaps you should travel,” he suggested.
    “I did a bit, when I was younger, but it
was on a package holiday, with everything organized, hotels, coaches. I’ve
never been courageous enough to do the backpacker thing and just venture out
into the great unknown. I’m not very brave or impulsive.”
    “Being impulsive is overrated, believe me.”
    She turned to rest on the window sill and
smiled. “It might not have ended in the best way, but I bet you don’t regret
proposing to Nita.”
    “No, I suppose not. As I said, she gave me
Mat, so I can’t regret it, not really.”
    “I’d like to do something impulsive for
once.” Her gaze