Read Online The Trouble With Paradise by Jill Shalvis - Free Book Online

make room for Dorie. “Brandy,” she said, holding out her perfectly manicured hand—with the exception of her thumb nail, which was chewed down to the stub. She caught Dorie looking at it and laughed easily. “That’s my nerve nail. Have a seat.”
    Dorie had no idea why such a gorgeous creature would ever need a nerve nail, but her handshake was warm, and in spite of wanting to hate her for looking like a goddess, Dorie couldn’t. So she sat.
    “Cadence Powers,” the other woman said, and offered her hand as well, which was much smaller, but strong and callous. “We’re just figuring out what we’re going to do with ourselves out here in the middle of heaven on earth.”
    “Whatever we decide,” Brandy said, “I plan to do it prone, while soaking up the sun, with any or all of the onboard stud muffins oiling up my back.”
    “No prone for me,” Cadence said with a shake of her head. “I came for adventures.”
    “Honey, there’s plenty of adventure to be had while prone.” Brandy waggled her brow at Dorie. “We’ve already had two drinks, each, and have jabbered for an hour. Let me put you on the fast track. Cadence here? An artist. In spite of that, she’s practical and pragmatic, and always in a hurry. Has a big problem with a little thing called relaxation.”
    Cadence nodded. “True. And don’t leave out the part where I tend to make bad decisions when it comes to men.”
    Brandy patted Cadence’s arm. “We all do that. Now tell her about me.”
    Cadence considered. “You’re tough and jaded on the outside, but soft and gushy on the inside—”
    “Soft and gushy?” Brandy repeated in shock.
    “A woman with a big heart,” Cadence insisted. “I saw you tip Bobby fifteen bucks just for getting you another drink.”
    “Trying to improve his attitude. He’s in the South Pacific, for God’s sake, and scowling like that. Can you imagine?”
    Cadence smiled. “See? Soft and gushy.” She turned to Dorie. “She’s a dancer in Vegas.”
    Brandy nodded, and Cadence continued, “Oh, and you like to eat bad boys for dessert.”
    Dorie choked out a surprised laugh. She’d seen her doing just that with Christian.
    “It’s a metaphor,” Brandy told her. “Although”—she looked over at the crew—“I’d gladly eat anyone on this boat. Anyone with a penis, that is.”
    Cadence blinked. “You’re also very honest.”
    “Yeah, most people don’t actually find that a bonus.”
    “I do,” Cadence said. “How about it, Dorie? Give us the Cliffs Notes version on you.”
    “Um . . .” Dorie tried to think. “I’ll go with the soft and gushy thing. I’m soft and gushy on the inside and the outside.”
    “What do you do for a living?” Brandy asked.
    “I’m working at Shop-Mart instead of starting up my own clothing line.”
    “Oooh, you design clothes?” Brandy asked excitedly. “I love clothes. How about men? Are you good at them?”
    “Good? Uh, no.” Dorie shook her head and smiled at Cadence. “I don’t choose the wrong men, I just don’t ever seem to choose at all.”
    “You batting for the other team?” Brandy asked.
    “What? Oh, no. I just haven’t had much luck in the long-term department, that’s all.”
    “Join my club.” Cadence looked out at the water. “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s go for a sunset dip off the swim platform.”
    “See? Relaxation issues,” Brandy said to Dorie.
    Cadence defended herself. “I just have a hard time sitting, that’s all.”
    So did Dorie, thanks to her splinters.
    “Well, I happen to enjoy sitting.” Brandy eyed Ethan as if maybe he were a lollipop and she was a sugar junkie. “It’s too bad he bats for the other team.”
    “You mean . . .”
    “Gay as a two-dollar bill, I’m afraid. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I just think it’s a waste of a good package, is all. And he’s quite the package, isn’t he?”
    Dorie took in Ethan. He was medium height, slim and trim, and to Dorie, he still