Page 15 of Over Verdant Irish Hills

She glanced at the door he’d indicated. He had to be joking…

He laughed again. “That’s the bathroom, Bets. I’m fairly sure the Ritz doesn’t have a suite with a red room, but hell, who knows? I’ve never asked.” He walked over to the antique rotary pedestal-style telephone and picked up the receiver. “If you want, I can call down to reception and find out—”

“That will be the day,” she said in a terrible John Wayne accent.

“Hey, that’s usually my line,” he said, setting the receiver down. He tilted his head, studying her. “Your cheeks are flaming, Bets. Why don’t you put your carry-on on that gold velvet chair over there and pick out a walking outfit? I’m going to check out the bathroom.”

She watched as he disappeared through the fancy door in the corner and then put her nearly weightless carry-on on the cushion of the chair. She supposed she should thank Liam for packing for her. She unzipped it and popped open the front.

There was nothing but a single toothbrush inside.

“That little shit,” she muttered, putting her hands to her scalding cheeks.

“What’s the matter?” Linc asked, coming out of the bathroom as he dried his hands off with a plush white towel.

She slammed the top of her suitcase closed. “Nothing.” Her son probably thought he was being funny, but she was going to die right here. On this very spot.

“Your face is on fire, Bets.” He crossed to her quickly. “What did Liam do? Pack you some racy underwear?”

“Oh, my God, no!”

He threw back the cover of her suitcase and then burst out laughing. “Oh, Bets, your son has our number. He surely does.”

She slammed the top down again and stormed to the bathroom. “I guess I’ll just put on a hotel robe. You don’t think anyone will mind if I go walking in that, do you?”

He was bending over at the waist now, laughing so hard tears were pouring out of his eyes. “That would be a sight. Sugar, why aren’t you laughing?”

Maybe because her baby boy had decided her time with Linc wouldn’t involve clothes! While she and Liam had talked about sex before, this was just ridiculous. Seriously, what was she going to do for clothes? “I just found out I have no clothes to wear except the ones on my back. But let’s not be negative. I have my own toothbrush.”

Linc started laughing again. Bets walked into the bathroom and closed the door. The wrapped guest toothbrushes on the massive marble vanity mocked her. God, she needed to shake this off. She plopped down in a velvet-covered chair and put her hands in her face. None of this was going as she’d planned.

“Why don’t we start again?” Linc scratched at the door. “Do you want to go shopping? Were you planning on greeting me in some lacy negligee? Tell me what we can do, Bets, because seeing you like this is making me miserable.”

She tipped her head back and took some deep breaths. “I’m shaking it off.”

“How about I throw my clothes out the window? We’ll both go buck naked this trip.”

“That would be a sight,” she called back, a smile tempting her mouth. “Your wardrobe and underwear on display in the Place Vendôme.”

He laughed again. “People would probably think it’s an art installation. Now… How about you help me feel better? Like you said, you aren’t like other women, and I’m suddenly swimming in a sea of discomfort myself.”

She rose and eased toward the door. “You’re out of sorts too?”

“Why do you think I suggested a walk? It’s been a while since I’ve been with a woman, and I’veneverbeen with a woman as beautiful and wonderful as you. When I consider that, my chest starts to get knotted up. I mean, what if I screw things up? I’m not some young gun anymore. Maybe my body won’t be as pleasing to you as I’d hope.”

She traced the gold inset on the door, surprised by his admission. “Maybe neither of us are spring chickens.”

“Exactly, but we aren’t going to let a little thing like that stop us, are we? I figure it takes plenty of courage to take those first steps to make love to another person, especially at this age, although some might disagree.”

“Not me,” she muttered.

“Good. Because, Bets, there is nothing I want more right now than to make love to you. Whether it’s here in this suite or in some nylon tent out in the woods.”

She melted right then and there. “This suite is a whole lot better than some nylon tent in the woods. I can suck it up if you can, cowboy.”

His chuckle was dark and downright sexy. “Good, because I’m getting lonely out here.”

She was too, and it was time for them to move forward. There was no hesitation in her movements as she started undressing. Her sense of humor kicked back in full tilt, and when she was naked, she padded across the heated floor to the vanity and selected a toothbrush. Linc would soon get the message, and maybe her little stunt would erase any lingering discomfort he had.

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