Ivorie's Surprise [Golden Dolphin] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the rubber bracelets and saw that he indeed wore a green one together with several thinner, colored bracelets. She would have to read the information packet when she got back to her cabin.
    Drew ordered their dinners, and their conversation drifted toward more conventional topics. Ivorie had to admit that away from the office Drew could be very pleasant company, and he certainly was easy to look at. She was still a little nervous in his company, waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak, but he had definitely been humanized in her view. That was really a huge step considering she had never viewed him as anything but a beautiful demon in a three-piece suit.
    When they had finished dinner and shared a decadent “Death by Chocolate” dessert, he said, “Would you care to take a walk around the deck? It’s a beautiful evening.”
    “That would be nice. I would love to walk off some of that chocolate.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Drew offered his hand as she rose from her seat. They stepped out the starboard doors onto the deck. The sun had set some time ago, and the moon had risen. The sky was a canopy of sparkling stars. Drew pointed out some of the constellations. He took her hand in his, and she didn’t seem to be uncomfortable with the contact.
    “Do you know what that bright star is?”
    “That’s Venus. And that’s the Big Dipper and the North Star.” He continued to hold her hand, and they started walking. After a few times around the main deck, Drew turned her toward one of the wide lounges. “Let’s just sit for a while.” After they were seated and had relaxed in companionable silence for a few minutes, he asked, “How are you feeling about all of this? Not uncomfortable, I hope.”
    “No…more curious than I would have expected, but I’m not horrified or anything. I’m not planning on grabbing my suitcases and the next tender to the dock, if that’s what you want to know.”
    He smiled. “It was a concern. Believe it or not, I have some serious work to do while on board, and I really do need your help.”
    “Well, in that case, maybe we should call it a night.” He could see she was anxious about what his reaction would be. Even though he was not really ready to retire to his suite for the evening, he didn’t want to give her any cause to be more nervous than she already was, or he might still find himself without an assistant.
    Drew thought maybe cutting the evening short was for the best. Ivorie had been bombarded with a lot of unexpected information in a short amount of time, and she had to be a little on edge over the whole situation. He walked her to her cabin door. After she had put her security card in the door lock, he turned her around, pulled her into his chest and kissed her cheek. He was glad that she didn’t struggle or pull away. “I’ll see you for breakfast in my suite. How about ten o’clock? Tomorrow is Sunday, after all. I think we can relax the office schedule a little on weekends.”
    “Okay. Ten o’clock. Good night, Drew.”

Chapter Five
     
    Ivorie walked into her cabin and immediately leaned back against the closed door. Drew’s close proximity all evening, him holding her hand, and then the gentle kiss on her cheek had her heart pounding. She found herself wishing he had done more than kiss her cheek. Now that is just ridiculous. This is Drew Blessingame. I have to keep reminding myself of that fact because he certainly seems like someone else. She giggled. Who are you, and what have you done with Andrew Blessingame? She sobered again. Tigers don’t change their stripes that quickly, if at all . And he was definitely a tiger.
    Ivorie removed and hung her dress and then prepared a bubble bath. She really needed to relax and think. She had a feeling she also needed to armor her heart. It was easy to see how charming Drew could be when he chose to make an effort. She also knew from bitter experience just how cutting and cruel he could be for no good reason at the drop