Bailey's Irish Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

tonight, would he?  Nah.  She’d said dinner.  Nothing more.  After she refused his offer for more coffee, he gathered the dirty mugs, put them in the kitchen sink, and rinsed them.  “Anything else we need to rehearse before tonight?”
    She grew pensive, bringing her forefinger to her temple.  “Well, there is one more thing.”
    “Yeah,” he said, looking over his shoulder.  “What is it?”  He picked up a dish towel, dried his hands and tossed it aside.
    “The fact that we’re virtually strangers could be a dead giveaway to my family.”  She shrugged one shoulder briefly.  “So, I thought, maybe we should get to know each other a little better before tonight.”
    “I thought that was what we were doing.”
    “I didn’t mean psychologically.  What I’d meant was,” she said pausing momentarily, “that we should get to know each other in a more . . . physical way.”

CHAPTER THREE
     
    Quinn’s eyebrows shot up.  “How physical?” he asked, anticipation and dread filling his senses at the same time.
    A faint light twinkled in the depths of her eyes.  “Maybe we should kiss and touch.  Couples who are engaged to be married usually feel comfortable kissing, touching, holding hands, that sort of thing.  A person’s body language can say so much.” 
    Quinn swallowed hard.  “Uh, huh.” 
    Chewing on her bottom lip, her gaze implored him.  “I’d hate for you to touch me during dinner tonight and then have my family sense my awkwardness.  They’d know right away that something wasn’t right.”  
    He hadn’t thought about that.  She was pretty smart.  “You’re right.  That wouldn’t be good.” 
    “So, what do you think?” she asked, moistening her lips.  “Do you want to give it a try?”
    “Sure.”  The word had escaped before he had a chance to stop it.  Of course, he wanted to kiss her.  He wasn’t a fool.  But rather than move around the bar, he stayed where he was, watching her as she squared her shoulders and sat up straight, her eyes growing huge with anticipation.
    “Well, what are you waiting for?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Did you want me to come over there?”
    “No!” he said, clearing his throat.  “No, I’m coming.”  He was behaving like a nervous teenager, and he had no idea why.  It was just a kiss.  Something he’d done hundreds of times, maybe thousands. 
    Rounding the corner of the breakfast bar, he came to stand in front of her.  Leaning forward he pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her gently . . . slowly . . . thoughtfully.  Her lips were silky smooth, and he felt the flutter of her thick lashes against his cheek.  The faint traces of some exotic perfume clung to her skin and worked its way into his system.  Jasmine , he thought, reveling in the scent. 
    When he broke away, Bailey’s eyes opened slowly, and she smiled.  A pulse beat at the base of her slender throat.  “That was pretty good.  Do you think we should try it again?”
    “Most definitely,” he groaned, reclaiming her mouth, and burying his hands in her silky hair.  Raising her arms she rested her hands on his shoulders.  Quinn forced her lips open, and with his thrusting tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, tasting and teasing her. 
    Moaning softly, the pressure of her hands grew firmer until she dug her nails into him.  Occasionally her knee brushed his thigh, giving him a jolt, and her small breasts were crushed to his chest.  He wanted to touch them in the worst way, but Quinn didn’t think that’s what she’d meant by “kissing and touching”.  Feeling his jeans tightening in front, he knew he should stop before things got out of control.  His lips left hers to nibble at her earlobe.  “Do you think that was enough,” he whispered, “or should we go for broke?”
    With the palms of her hands, Bailey pushed at his chest.  “No,” she gasped, “that was definitely enough for me.”
    Quinn gazed into her eyes, then stepping