Dancer in the Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

have so much ahead of you. I'm only an army engineer, sent wherever they need a bridge or a dam built. I don't have much to offer you."
    Valerie's eyes shone as she looked at his face. Sean wanted her!
    "This wasn't the way I had intended to propose to you," he said wryly. "I wanted to give us more time together, to let you find out about your feelings. But after seeing Anne's treatment of you tonight and the way other men looked at you..." His voice roughened with emotion. "I'll teach you to love me, Val. I know you're not indifferent to me."
    "Oh, Sean, I love you so much it hurts." Her voice trembled. "I don't care about anyone or anything else but you."
    He cupped her face tenderly between his hands, his eyes warm with love. "I don't want you to give up your dancing, Val," Sean said huskily. "You've worked too hard for me to ask you to. But before any of this gets any further, I want to meet your father and ask him officially for your hand."
    "My parents were killed in an airplane crash six months ago," Valerie whispered, the painful memory reflected in her eyes.
    His arms tightened convulsively around her. "That shows how little we really know about each other," he sighed heavily. "After we get the license we have three days before we can get married. I don't intend to give you enough time to change your mind."
    "I won't," she assured him, pressing her lips against his throat.
    "First thing Monday we'll apply for the license," he murmured. "I suggest you get plenty of rest, because you won't get much on our honeymoon."
     
    Chapter Three
     
    When Valerie next entered the house overlooking the sea, she was Mrs. Sean Hunter. She nervously twisted the plain gold band and diamond engagement ring that Sean had insisted on buying for her.
    Later, she sat at Janine's dressing table, brushing her hair, delaying her return to the living room. The white nightgown with narrow ribbon straps and matching lacy robe suddenly seemed very sheer. She dropped her hairbrush when a knock sounded at the door.
    "I'm going to put the car away," Sean called out.
    When Valerie heard the front door close, she wandered into the living room, unsure of how to act on her wedding night. She curled up in an easy chair, tucking her feet under her. When Sean reentered the house, he casually began unbuttoning his shirt.
    "Think I'll take a shower." He headed for the bedroom, adding wickedly, "Care to join me?"
    She flushed hotly, shaking her head rapidly. Valerie rested her head against the back of the chair, listening to the intimate sound of the shower running in the other room. She closed her eyes, feeling her earlier nervousness fade away.
    When next she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see Sean bending over her wearing a dark robe, his hair damp from his shower. She focused her heavy eyelids on his smiling face. "You dozed off, love," he murmured, gathering her unresisting form in his arms to carry her into the bedroom.
    Drowsily content in Sean's strong arms, Valerie wound her arms around his neck, resting her cheek against his bare chest, revealed between the open lapels of his robe. He had already pulled the covers back on the bed and she was carefully deposited on the cool sheets and her robe deftly removed. He sat on the edge of the bed, cupping her face in his hands, the fingers tangled in her heavy hair as he gazed thoughtfully into her face. Misreading his expression, she felt a moment's fear that he might already regret marrying her.
    "Although you look very seductive in that shred of lace, I still feel as if I'd be seducing a child," he muttered, reluctantly releasing her.
    Valerie's heart was pounding so loudly that she felt as if the vibrations were rocking the room. She wet her dry lips as Sean switched off the lamp and shed his robe before stretching his hard, lean length next to her. It was not long before her nightgown drifted to the floor next to his robe.
    She was unprepared for Sean's passion, but made up for her inexperience