Read Online Silver Linings by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page B

swim.”
    Hugh grinned. “Hey, I'm just teasing you. I'll turn my back and stare politely out to sea, if that's what you want. But it's not like I haven't already seen you in the buff.”
    “You were too drunk that night to remember anything you saw.”
    “Not quite,” he assured her, still grinning and totally unrepentant. “If I'd been that drunk I wouldn't have been able to get it up, and I don't recall any problems in that department. And I remember everything I saw. And touched. Believe me, I've thought about it a lot during the past year, and I don't believe I've forgotten a single thing. You were very tight and very wild. A real surprise, I got to tell you. Looking at you dressed for work, no one would have believed it.”
    “Must you be so crude?”
    “It's fun to watch you turn that nice bright shade of pink.”
    “Well, enjoy it because that's all you're going to see today. I can stand being hot, dirty, and sweaty another day, if you can.”
    “Oh, I can stand it. In fact, at the risk of sounding even cruder, there's something real sexy about you the way you are now. I think I like you best when you're not all neat and pressed and ready to sell expensive art to all those suckers you call clients.”
    “No wonder Ariel got fed up with you.”
    “Ah, ah, ah. We agreed not to talk about the past, remember? Ariel's not here. It's just you and me, babe.”
    “ Don't call me babe .”
    “Oh, right. I forgot. Slipped my mind.”
    “How could it slip your mind?” Mattie raged, skating once more on the ragged edge of her self-control. “I don't think you even have one.”
    “In that case,” he said with grave logic, “I don't see how you can hold me responsible for a few slips of the tongue.”
    Mattie bit off a muttered oath, vaguely aware that for some odd reason she felt better now than she had since she had walked into Cormier's mansion yesterday. Yelling at Hugh was apparently therapeutic. And she really did want a bath.
    “Look, I'll make a deal with you,” Mattie said, her hands on her hips.
    “Sounds interesting.” He was examining the Beretta. “What kind of deal?”
    “Promise me you'll go sit by the entrance and keep your back turned while I take a short swim, and I'll give you my word that I won't mention our unfortunate, extremely embarrassing one-night stand last year again. Okay?”
    Hugh appeared to turn the terms over in his mind. Then he gave a decisive nod. He never took long to make up his mind about anything. “Deal.”
    Mattie did not trust the too-innocent expression in his eyes. “Go sit out there on the ledge and watch sea gulls or something.” Her fingers went to the buttons of her silk blouse.
    “Right. Sea gulls.” Hugh obediently ambled toward the cavern entrance and sat down on the rock ledge that lined the opening. He lounged there, one booted foot drawn up, his back to Mattie. “Yell when you're done.”
    Mattie kept her eye on him as she quickly slipped out of the sadly wrinkled shirt and trousers. When she was down to her bra and panties she hesitated again, making certain Hugh wasn't going to spin around.
    She stepped over to the edge of the cavern pool and dipped a toe into the dark water. It felt comfortably cool and inviting. She sat down on the edge and dangled her feet in the seawater. Then she unhooked her prim little bra and slipped it off.
    Once into the water she bobbed for a moment, sliding the wet scrap of her modest cotton briefs down over her hips. She lifted them out of the water, squeezed them tightly and placed them on the rocky edge to dry. They would be damp when she put them back on but would no doubt dry quickly against her skin.
    She stroked hesitantly toward the far end of the dark pool, letting herself get accustomed to the feel of endless black depths beneath her. It certainly was not as pleasant as swimming in a sunny cove where one could see the white sand below the waves, but it did feel good. The exercise, itself, was soothing, of