Silver Linings, стр. 27
Hugh's mouth went dry. His gaze traveled down the length of her spine to where the red dress curved tightly over her hips. “There's no back to that dress.”
“I know. Good thing it's warm here on Brimstone, hmmm?”
Hugh took a step closer, eyes narrowing as she turned back to face him. He had never seen that particular expression in her eyes. “Mattie, have you been drinking?”
“Just a couple of rum punches.” She waved her hand in an airy gesture, and the rings on her fingers glittered like diamonds. “Don't worry, I'm in complete control. My friend Evangeline says you can't work drunk. Men tend to take advantage of you if they think you're tipsy. Men are like that, you know. Always trying to take advantage of a woman.”
“This Evangeline person. What exactly does she do for a living, or should I ask?”
“I told you. She's a working woman.” Mattie laughed up at him. “And she thinks I'm one, too. She took pity on me because I had to flee Purgatory without the tools of my trade.” Mattie tossed a handful of little foil packages into the air. They rained down over the bed. “Evangeline is a very nice person, Hugh.”
“I don't believe this.”
“I know.” Mattie giggled. “And neither would anyone else back home in Seattle. I wish I had a camera so you could take a picture of me. Evangeline says I look terrific in red.”
“You do,” Hugh admitted. “But you need a little more of it.”
“Now, Hugh, don't be a prude. Are you ready to go out to dinner?”
“Yeah, but I'm not taking you anywhere dressed like that.”
“Then I'll go out by myself.”
She was at the door and through it before Hugh realized she meant business. He swung around and went after her. “Now, just one damn minute, Mattie.”
“You can't come along if you're going to lecture me,” she informed him from the top of the stairs. “I'm sick and tired of your lectures. I intend to have fun tonight.”
“Mattie, hold on a second. Damn it, come back here.” Hugh started down the hall with long, determined strides.
But Mattie had already scampered down to the lobby and was waving at the clerk as she went past the front door.
Hugh was right behind her.
“Got a navy ship in the harbor,” the old desk clerk said as Hugh went past. “You'd better hang on to her or yer not gonna see her till morning.”
“Damn,” said Hugh.
He caught up with Mattie outside on the street. A beautiful scarlet butterfly flitting through the tropical night, she was already attracting too much attention. A young man in a white Navy uniform leered and let out a loud wolf whistle. Hugh glowered at him and reached for Mattie's arm.
“What the devil do you think you're up to, Mattie?” he demanded as he pinned her to his side.
“Just going out for a bite to eat.” She smiled at a man who was trying up a sailboat. The man's mouth fell open and he stopped work to stare. “Isn't this amazing, Hugh? Evangeline is right. Red is definitely my color.”
“Babe, the way that dress is cut, it wouldn't matter what color it was.” He realized she was enjoying herself. “Look, I don't want to rain on your parade, but it's not exactly safe for you to be running around in that outfit.”
She looked up at him with innocently widened eyes. “Why ever not, Hugh? After all, I've got you along to protect me, don't I?”
He exhaled on a low groan. Then he decided two could play at that game. “Who's going to protect you from me, babe?”
“No problem. You've seen me in less and you weren't exactly overwhelmed, were you?”
“If you misjudge other men as badly as you misjudge me, you're going to be in a lot of trouble.”
“Nonsense.” She patted his arm with condescending affection. “We both know you'll behave yourself. What would Aunt Charlotte say if I told her you'd gotten out of line?”
He tightened his grip on her arm. “You ought to know better than to wave a threat at me, babe,” he warned softly. “I only answer to Charlotte when it comes to business. She doesn't have anything to do with the rest of my life.”
“Tough talk.” Mattie gave a gurgle of husky laughter. “But I don't believe a word of it. What would you do if you didn't get all those nice, lucrative assignments to clean up little messes around the world for Vailcourt?”
“I'd spend more time on my own business.” Hugh abruptly decided against dragging her back to the room. A sexy, teasing Mattie was a wonderful thing. He had never seen her in quite this mood, and he realized he did not really want to squelch it. She was having too much fun and—if he played his cards right—so could he.
He steered her toward the open-air tavern at the end of the street. There was no absolutely safe place to take her tonight. Brimstone was full of sailors, and even at their best, the local taverns and bars tended to be rough. He would just have to make certain everyone realized she was private property.
“And just what is this mysterious business of yours, Hugh? It's got something to do with airplanes, doesn't it?” Mattie clung to his arm, practically draped over it as she gazed up at him with wide, inquiring eyes.
“I told you, I'm building up a charter business on St. Gabe.” He eased her through the tavern's entrance and was immediately aware of the sensation Mattie caused. Catcalls and whistles echoed from one end of the long bar to the other. Hugh wondered if he was going to get through the evening without a fight. “This is really stupid,” he muttered as he aimed Mattie toward a booth near the railing.
“It's fun.” Mattie slid across the vinyl seat, exposing another three inches of thigh. “I feel good