Read Online The Bachelor's Bed by Jill Shalvis - Free Book Online Page A

his mind unable to forget the image of Lani in sheer bliss.
    â€œColin.”
    He nearly leaped out of his skin when she came close and set her hand on his. The top of her head barely met his chin. Her eyes were compassionate and full of things that made it hard to look at her, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away.
    â€œDon’t, Lani. Don’t say it. This is my doing, I know it.”
    She shook her head, her eyes warm and soft. And dammit, she continued to touch him in that comforting yet madly arousing way. It wasn’t difficult to imagine how it would be between them if he said the hell with his decision not to mislead her or hurt her, if he pulled her body to his and slowly stripped off those ridiculously ugly overalls until she wore nothing but a hot, needy look on her face and his name on her lips.
    â€œIt’ll work out,” she assured him with a little pat. “You’ll see.” Her fingers ran up his arm and then to his chest.
    He captured her wandering hand, but not before the sizzling connection aroused him. He’d slept that way, and after touching her, after watching her come in his arms, he just might sleep in that uncomfortable state for the rest of his life.
    Her sweet, beguiling smile never wavered. “I’ll put the ad in the paper announcing our engagement today.”
    How the hell had he done this to himself? he wondered, looking down into her eager-to-please eyes. “Lani, I don’t think—”
    â€œNow, I have to get to work, but don’t worry so much,” she soothed, gently pushing him out of the kitchen, dismissing him with an ease that was startling. “Being so stressed will give you wrinkles.”
    Wrinkles. He was about to blow the zipper off his pants and she was worried about wrinkles.
    â€œIf you’d like, after work I’ll cook dinner. We should sit around and talk.”
    â€œTalk.”
    â€œYes.” She seemed amused. “We have to get to know each other, remember? Your mother is coming tomorrow. And I’m not trying to criticize you here, but you really don’t have the look of a man madly in love. We’ll have to work on that.”
    He closed his eyes.
    â€œIt’s fine,” she insisted, again touching him, slipping her hands around his waist. “Everything is going to be fine.”
    He remembered those hands, remembered how they’d encircled him, driven him to the very edge with those slow, sure, mind-blowing strokes—
    His own groan vented the air.
    â€œColin—” She hesitated and he opened his eyes, looking over his shoulder to meet her unsure gaze. “Thanks for being there for me last night. You know, after my nightmare.”
    He’d worried about that, too. What haunted her? He hadn’t wanted to spend any more time than absolutely necessary thinking about her, but nothing had gone as planned so far—he shouldn’t have been surprised by the depth of his concern. “Do you have them often?”
    â€œDreams? Yeah. My favorite is the one where I get to go to Hawaii and snorkel.”
    â€œThe nightmares, Lani.”
    She bowed her head, studied her fingernails which were short and unpainted. “Not too much anymore.”
    â€œWhat are they from?”
    Her head tipped up at that, and amusement crossed her face. “What’s this? Genuine curiosity? Hmm, maybe you’re going to be better at this than I thought.” Her smile faded. “Are we going to share a bed when your family comes?”
    She looked suddenly unsure, vulnerable. He wouldn’t hurt or lead this woman on, not for anything, not even to save his sorry hide. “That wasn’t part of the original deal, was it?”
    â€œNo,” she whispered.
    â€œI don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Ever.”
    â€œYou won’t,” she said quickly. “And we really should share a bed— I mean bedroom. For your mom’s sake.”
    He