Read Online Trouble With Harry by Katie MacAlister - Free Book Online Page A

ocean’s worth of desire.
    â€œHarry, dear Harry, how silly you are.” Silly? She thought he was silly? Was that good? She was smiling at him, it must be good. Hurrah! “How could you possibly think I wouldn’t want to know about your son?”
    It was on the tip of his tongue to ask which son she meant, but he remembered in time the grand scheme he had concocted just that morning for easing Plum into the knowledge that she was now stepmother to five hellions, a plan necessitated by the fact that said children had set the vicar’s carriage alight while the vicar was examining the special license Harry had presented him. She seemed to be pleased with McTavish—then again, it wasn’t her shin the little monster had assaulted—which boded well for the future. If he spread out introductions to the children over the next few weeks, relying upon Gertie and George and the rest of the staff to keep the children out of sight, perhaps she wouldn’t be too upset with them. And him. He particularly wanted her to be happy with him, because a happy wife was a wife who allowed her husband to do all sorts of wonderful things to her delicious, desirable person.
    â€œHe’s adorable, he really is. How old is he?”
    Harry looked down at the hand that was now softly caressing the middle of his chest, and was struck with a sudden desire to take each dainty fingertip into his mouth. “How old is who?”
    She giggled. It was such a delightful, joyous sound, Harry wanted to giggle with her. He probably would have, except he’d never giggled before and wasn’t sure if he knew how.
    â€œMcTavish. How old is he?”
    â€œHe’ll be six in December.”
    â€œHe’s sweet, and he looks just like you. You must be very proud of him.”
    Proud? Of McTavish? Harry dragged his mind back from the vision of what else Plum possessed that he’d like to taste, and thought about what she had said. He owed her that much. Gentlemen did not feel lust for their wives. A gentleman might desire his lady, but he also appreciated her keen intellect. Lust was for lesser people, men who thought solely of their own base needs, and never those of the enticing woman before them. “The lad likes animals. Doesn’t care if they’re alive or dead, he likes them all. I suppose that’s an admirable trait. Yes, I’m proud of him. Underneath the surface clay, there’s good soil in him.” Harry gave her a curious look. “You’re not angry that I didn’t tell you about him?”
    â€œAngry?” She smiled again, one of those lovely, charming smiles that captured his heart and filled him with utter and complete lust… desire . And joy. There was lots and lots of joy, too. Much more joy than base physical desire. “No, I’m not angry. After all, you didn’t know that Thom came with me when you offered to wed me.”
    â€œBut I knew about her before we were married. Temple told me what you’d told him about your niece. You had the decency to tell me everything about you, whereas I—”
    A sudden frown diminished the lust… joy running amok inside him. She nibbled her strawberry-ripe lower lip. “About that—”
    He couldn’t resist. He had to taste her lips just one more time. Her breath caught and held as he plunged into her sweet mouth, feeling himself harden even more as she moved against him, sliding her fingers into his hair, tasting him as he tasted her. She was heaven, she was bliss, she was—
    â€œThere you are. What are you doing in here? Gertie says I can’t wear my hair up until I’m fifteen, but I think—oh.”
    Harry could have cried, he could have sat right down on the floor and cried. He tore his lips from Plum’s, smugly satisfied by the misted passion in her eyes, then released her so he could glare at his daughter. She wasn’t supposed to be here. He had her down for