The American Earl (Elbia Series Book 4) Read online

  After arranging with Maria, his cook, for a light supper on the veranda, he went in search of Abby and found her sitting on a wooden bench at the far end of the garden, overlooking the cove. Sailboats tacked across sparkling blue-green water, while snorkelers took advantage of the last few hours of evening light to investigate submerged coral where tropical fish swam in abundance. Her red hair fell loosely around her shoulders, catching the sunlight.

  “Pretty view,” he commented.

  She jumped and turned at the same moment. “I didn’t hear you coming.”

  “Sorry, didn’t meant to frighten you.” He stopped close behind her and inhaled, catching a whiff of her scent above the natural perfume of the garden.

  “Ready for something to eat?”

  “I’m famished,” she admitted.

  He offered his arm, and she hesitated only a moment before lightly tucking her fingers in its crook. They dined on the stone patio, sampling island dishes—conch prepared in a sweet papaya sauce, fresh fruit, potato rolls and coffee with a touch of cinnamon in it. He felt as nervous as a teenage boy, bucking up his courage to ask a girl out for their first date. He waited until they had finished eating and Abby leaned back in the white wicker chair to admire the sunset. Then he began the speech he’d been practicing all day.

  “I have an idea I’d like to run past you, Abby.”

  “Moving corporate headquarters to Bermuda?” She grinned. “Fine with me.”

  “No. It involves your personal, rather than professional life.”

  She gazed at him solemnly across the table. “I didn’t think my personal life was of concern to my employer.”

  “Not to your employer…to a friend.”

  She raised a brow. “Now we’re friends?”

  She was making this hard on him, but he supposed he couldn’t blame her. She must be terribly confused about their relationship by now. “I’d say that two people who strip naked and propose to make love have crossed the outer boundaries of a business relationship.”

  “True,” she allowed. “Go on.”

  “You were open with me about your past and about your pledge to yourself. I appreciate that, although it came at a rather awkward moment.”

  “For both of us,” she murmured.

  “Yes,” he quickly agreed. “What I’m trying to say is, I don’t think I handled it very well.” Moving his chair around from his side of the table to be closer to her, he took her hand in his. “I guess that’s because you scared the hell out of me.”

  “I scared you?” She looked amazed. “I was terrified I wouldn’t live up to your expectations in bed. When you left the room that night, I was sure you were disappointed in me.”

  “Not disappointed in the way you think.” How to explain? “You see, some men look on deflowering virgins as a kind of sport. Others of us view it as a responsibility…a pretty serious one. What happens that first time for a woman can determine how she feels about sex for a very long time, perhaps even for the rest of her life. It’s a lot for any man to take on.”

  She blinked at him. “I never thought of it that way.”

  “I nearly ran out of the penthouse that night. I wanted you, but I didn’t want the responsibility. And I was angry because I felt you were using me.”

  “I was using you!” She stared at him in disbelief.

  He nodded. “You’d decided that you no longer wanted to be a virgin. I was the convenient male. I don’t like being viewed as a tool.”

  She muffled a laugh behind her fingertips, then made an effort to face him with a solemn expression. “Sorry. It was just—”

  “Poor choice of words. The thing is, I decided that I shouldn’t leave you dangling like this. If you are serious about wanting to learn about making love, I’m willing to offer myself as a safe partner.”

  It must have taken a moment for his meaning to sink in, because her eyes didn’t focus on him for several seconds. “You’re kidding, right?”

  He shook his head and didn’t smile even a little bit.

  “I—I don’t know what to say.” Her eyes glittered as if close to tears, before sharpening to bright points and fixing on him with sudden alertness. “If this is your way of poking fun at me, I don’t find it amusing.”

  “Not poking fun.” He touched a finger to the tip of her nose and smiled. “Wouldn’t do that to you.”

  She fidgeted on her chair, looking pensively toward a distant island.

  “Listen, Abby,” Matt continued, “I won’t pretend that making love to you will be a chore. I’m very attracted to you. You already know that. You’re a very special woman, and I want you as much as, I believe, you want me. But if we do this, if we follow our instincts and become intimate, I’ll be making a substantial sacrifice.”

  She frowned prettily, and more than anything he wanted to kiss her then and there. “I don’t understand,” she murmured.

  “Our professional relationship will change, probably for the worse. It might end completely because of the strong emotional issues involved.” Her eyes grew wide as he lifted her fingertips to his lips and brushed them lightly. Her answering shiver vibrated through his own body. “I will probably lose the most effective hostess I’ve ever had, and that’s no small thing to me.”

  “Your offer…” She ran the tip of her tongue nervously over her upper lip. “I want to take you up on your offer. I do.” Her eyes shone eagerly, but something was holding her back. He listened hard to her next words. “I can’t afford to be without a job if this suddenly turns sour and we find it impossible to work together.”

  He let out a long, held breath. If that was all that was bothering her… “Already taken care of,” he said with a smile.

  “Oh?”

  “Your contract. It states that you are guaranteed at least a full year’s work, or severance pay to cover the same.”

  “You mean, you can’t fire me for a whole year?”

  “You get paid even if you quit tomorrow. Enough security for you, Abby?”

  She nodded. “That’s more than fair.” He noticed a subtle trembling in her hands as they lay on the table.

  “One night, if that’s all you want. I won’t press you for more.”

  She gave a grim little smirk. “No strings. Isn’t that the perfect sexual encounter from the male perspective?”

  “Not always,” he said softly. “I want you to be sure. Really sure that this is what you want.” He touched her cheek gently. “This isn’t about me, for once. It’s whatever is right for you. Take some time to think about it.”

  She smiled gratefully up at him. “Yes…yes, I will.”

  That night, as Abby lay in bed, she felt a restlessness she’d never known before. At one time she’d been proud of the control she had over her life. The freedom to reject sex had been liberating. She would decide when and where it would happen for her—and with whom. No man could take that away from her.

  Yes, young men had tempted her. Particularly Richard. But not so much that she had trouble telling them no. In her heart, she knew she could never tell Matt that she didn’t want him to touch her. Fate, destiny, something more powerful than human will had taken over, and she felt helpless to change what must be.

  Abby pulled the sheets up to her chin and stared wide-eyed at the white ceiling and the slowly turning fan. As if he were in the room with her, she could feel Matt’s hands gliding over her body, soothing and exciting her all in the same moment. Her heart was racing, although she lay absolutely still. She wanted him desperately.

  Six

  Bristol Cove was an intimate pink-sand beach on the south shore of Paget Parish. Unlike the famous Elbow Beach or Horseshoe Bay, which attracted large numbers of tourists in season, the secluded cove was visited mostly by locals and often remained completely deserted. “I discovered this place a few years ago,” Matt explained the next day as he helped Abby down the steps cut into the limestone cliff.

  The path was narrow, edged in blooming shrubs. The arms of the cove c
losed in an embrace, sheltering the beach, keeping the water calm, offering a haven for the colorful little fish that darted in and out of the submerged coral reef.

  Abby wished she were one of those little fish, hiding in among the lovely branches of coral. The simple fact that she and Matt had discussed sleeping together had set her on pins and needles. Could she actually do what Matt proposed and she had assured him she wanted to do? Could she simply have sex with him as an educational experience, then return to business as usual?

  He had made no promise of a future for them; he’d implied much the opposite. But she’d approached this same point in her life once before, with Richard, and later wondered if she’d done the right thing by turning him away. She cared more about Matt, surprisingly, than she had ever cared about the man she had promised to marry. Now she wondered if she ever let Matt possess her body would she be letting him take her heart, too? And once that happened, would she find the strength to walk away from him when the time came?

  Shivering despite the warm tropical breeze off the water, she followed Matt onto the pale crescent of sand. “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” she whispered.

  “It’s a favorite of mine,” he admitted, dropping towels onto the sand. “There are others that come to mind, though.”

  “Where?”

  “Castle Donan. Haven’t been there in years, but it’s a breathtaking estate. You should travel to Scotland someday. You’d love it.”

  She smiled at the fantasy. Did he really think she would ever have that kind of money? He must, having said it so casually.

  “Then there’s Elbia, just the other side of the mountains from Austria,” he added. “That’s where my other brother and his wife live.”

  “Another castle?”

  He chuckled at the skepticism in her voice. “Believe it or not, yes. But only one good-sized private suite belongs to Thomas. I think I mentioned that he’s employed by King Jacob. The mountains there are amazing. You feel as if you’re ten miles in the sky.”

  Abby let out a long breath. “Your family sounds pretty amazing.” She nibbled at her lower lip. “You must miss them.”

  He shrugged, but the gesture was anything but casual.

  “How long has it been since you’ve seen your father?” She waited for a response, but none came. Perhaps she shouldn’t have brought up the subject.

  Instead of answering her, Matt faced the water, pulled his shirt off over his head and marched with purpose toward the turquoise wavelets. Forbidden topic. She decided to give him some space to work out whatever was bothering him.

  Abby flipped a towel flat on the sand and stretched out on it. The sun was warm and yellow above her. Its heat toasted her skin pleasantly. She had smoothed on sunblock back at the house and wouldn’t worry about burning. Wedging her hands beneath her chin, she watched Matt dive into the waste-deep water and swim away from her. The muscles across his shoulder blades kneaded and stretched with each stroke. Her stomach did a funny little dance in appreciation of his fine male physique.

  She smiled. This was nice. No pressure to make a decision yet. No need to do anything but laze in the sun. She let her eyes drift closed.

  “Time for a swim,” a voice from above stated.

  “Uh-uh,” she grunted contentedly, not bothering to open her eyes. “I’m perfectly happy right here.”

  “Last warning. It’s in the water or else.” His nononsense tone told her she’d better pay attention. She rolled over and squinted up at him. Matt was standing over her, a child’s plastic bucket dripping water.

  “You wouldn’t,” she challenged him. After all, he wouldn’t drench their towels, would he?

  “Try me, lady.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him.

  He tipped the bucket.

  Abby squealed and braced herself for the cold splash. But the water was a pleasant lukewarm and actually felt good after the sun’s heat. Nevertheless, she leaped up and gave chase, as that was one of the time-honored rules for beach play. Matt dropped the bucket and lit out for the water.

  “You’ll pay, Lord Smythe!” she shouted, feeling like a teenager again.

  “Have to catch me first!” He dove beneath the mirror of blue water.

  Beneath the surface, Abby could see his body cutting through the shimmering liquid. Then he was gone…without a trace. She looked around in astonishment, growing worried when he didn’t pop up in any of the places she thought he might. The first clue that she’d been duped came at the moment she felt both of her ankles being grasped. Her feet were pulled out from under her. Down she went.

  Abby resurfaced, sputtering, laughing and shrieking at Matt in mock indignation. “You scared me to death!”

  “Good.” He shook the water out of his eyes and grinned wolfishly at her. “Meant to.”

  “Why?”

  “So you’d cling to me for safety.”

  She laughed. “Fat chance.”

  He lifted a dark brow. “When I was under, I saw a sand shark.”

  Abby threw her arms around his neck and drew her feet up to her chest. “Out! Get me out of here this minute.”

  He was laughing at her. “It was just a baby, harmless. Come on, let’s go back for the masks and fins. I want to show you my pets.”

  She scowled at him as he slid an arm under her knees and started carrying her toward shore. “If your pets are larger than a bread box and have teeth, forget it.”

  He grinned. “You’ll love them.”

  A few minutes later, they were back in the water, and Abby was enjoying the ease and speed of swimming with big blue flippers on her feet. Although she wasn’t a strong swimmer, she had no trouble keeping up with Matt as they kicked toward the reef. She dipped her face into the warm water as they neared the coral outcroppings that sheltered the cove, and breathed through the snorkel.

  The water was clear and she could see bright flashes of color flitting here and there ahead of them. Matt pointed out and named them for her. Blue and yellow butterfly fish. Black with white angel fish. Silvery needle fish almost as clear as the water. Comical Sergeant Majors, so curious they swam right up to her mask.

  She lifted her head and treaded water while pushing the breathing tube from her mouth. “Your pets?”

  Matt lifted his mask. “Mine and everyone else’s. There are dozens of species living in the waters around Bermuda.”

  “They’re so bright, they don’t look real,” Abby said. She replaced her mask and swam a little farther, fascinated by the graceful little creatures. This was a dreamworld she never wanted to leave.

  They swam for another hour. Eventually her legs began to feel wobbly, and hunger made land look appealing again.

  “Had enough?” Matt asked softly. There were underlying meanings in his tone. She looked away, unable to meet his dark eyes.

  “For now,” she said. “Can we come back in after lunch?”

  “If you like.” He took her hand in his as they swam back toward the beach. When they were in shallow enough water to stand, she put her feet down in the soft sand. The water lapped delightfully around her, lifting her breasts with each subtle undulation.

  Matt stopped in front of her. “You seemed to enjoy yourself.” He pulled off his mask and snorkel then tossed them along with Abby’s and the rest of their equipment up onto the sand.

  “I loved it.” Abby’s eyes sparkled up at him. “Thank you.”

  He couldn’t imagine why he hadn’t thought her the most beautiful woman on earth the first moment he’d set eyes on her. Without makeup, her hair slicked back from her face, droplets clinging to her eyelashes—she was no less than perfect.

  He had no alternative but to kiss her. Moving his free hand quickly behind her neck, he brought her forward to meet him. He kissed her deeply, savoring the taste of the sea on her lips. He was lost.

  In the next seconds, only scattered thoughts registered in his mind. The beach was deserted but for them. He moved her a few feet farther away from s
hore, into deeper water. Her eyes widened questioningly but showed no fear. Good, he thought, if she’d been afraid of him, he would have had to stop.

  He only meant to play…just a little bit, for a short while. To kiss. To touch beneath the water. To give her a brief preview of the sensations she might look forward to when…if they slept together. He didn’t think of what he was doing as seduction until his hand slipped beneath the warm water, touched her breast and felt the nipple harden and raise beneath his thumb. She looped her arms up and around his neck, and he eased her closer, then still closer until their bodies pressed one against the other. Matt felt himself swell and grow rigid against the flat of her belly. He looked down into her eyes and saw that she had felt it, too. She didn’t pull away.

  “Pretty easy to see where my thoughts are,” he whispered.

  She nodded, dreamy-eyed in the shoulder-deep water.

  “But I’m not going to make love to you here. Not now.”

  “Why not?”

  “You need more time to consider what you’re giving away.”

  “I’m more concerned about what I might lose,” she murmured. “And I don’t mean my virginity.”

  “What about that husband in the future? He’ll know.”

  “Maybe he’ll have to accept me as I am.”

  As she was. Beautiful. Abby was pure joy to look upon, to be with. She made him feel all male. She dragged him out of his world of business deals, competition with himself and with others, even out of the pain of the past. He could see need in her eyes, desire, and he wanted more than anything to give her the pleasure she so longed for.

  Yet, did he dare take from her the one treasure she’d safeguarded all of her life? She claimed she was ready. But could he believe her?

  If only there was a way to…

  He smiled at the unexpected thought. Why not?

  “Watch for intruders,” he said huskily. Before she could ask why, he ducked beneath the water, pushed her swimming suit top up over her breasts and closed his lips around one nipple. He felt her tense, then wiggle with pleasure as she clamped her hands on either side of his head beneath the water. He suckled her as long as his breath held out, then broke the surface to gasp for air.