Silver Linings, стр. 99

“You've got a deal, Mattie,” the second man announced. He glanced at his friend. “Right?”

“A deal,” the first man agreed, putting down his cup.

Mattie started to say something else but paused when the hair on the nape of her neck stirred. Instinctively she turned her head to see Hugh striding through the small espresso shop. His gray eyes simmered with a vaguely annoyed expression.

“Suzanne told me you were down the street having coffee with a couple of collectors,” Hugh said, surveying the two exquisite young gods sitting on the other side of the table. “Just what do you two collect?”

“Anything Mattie says we should.” The first man returned Hugh's gaze with interest. His eyes started low and traveled slowly upward to Hugh's broad shoulders. “She has absolutely fabulous taste, you know. We've never gone wrong when we've been guided by Mattie. Do feel free to join us.”

“Thanks. I was going to do that,” Hugh declared, sounding thoroughly disgruntled now. He dropped onto the seat beside Mattie and glowered at everyone.

Mattie grinned. “Hugh, I'd like you to meet Ryan Turner and Travis Preston. These two gentlemen are currently making a killing as stockbrokers. They have wisely decided to get out of the market while they're ahead and go into something with a little more class.”

“Is that right?” Hugh cocked a brow. “Just what are they going to do now to keep themselves in those spiffy duds?”

“They're going to take over my gallery. Meet the new owners of Sharpe Reaction.”

“A pleasure, I'm sure,” said Travis, his gaze lingering on Hugh's shoulders again.

“Yes, indeed,” Ryan murmured. “A great pleasure. Mattie, dear, you do have such wonderful taste.”

“Well,” Hugh said philosophically, “that's one less thing for me to worry about.”

“What's that?” Mattie asked.

“When Suzanne told me I'd find you sitting here with a couple of real hunks, I'll admit I had a few brief qualms. It occurred to me I might find myself having to defend your virtue.”

“Oh, God,” Ryan said, “I really do love the machismo, don't you, Travis? So utterly primitive.”

“Didn't you know?” Travis said to his friend in feigned surprise. “This is the one from Ariel Sharpe's Elemental period.”

“That explains it, of course,” Ryan said with a sigh.

Hugh looked at Mattie. “You know something? I think I've finally had enough of the wonders of life here in the sophisticated fast lane of the big city. It's time to go home.”

“Yes,” said Mattie. “I think it is.”

Mattie woke before dawn on the morning she and Hugh were scheduled to leave for St. Gabriel. She stretched and slowly opened her eyes, aware of Hugh's heavy, masculine warmth beside her. She glanced at the clock and reached out to touch her husband's shoulder.

“Hugh?”

“I'm awake, babe.” He curved his arm around her, drawing her down onto his bare chest. His gaze was sleepy and sexy and full of a very male contentment. “What time is it?”

“Four-thirty.”

“Time to get up. We've got a plane to catch.”

Mattie smiled and the fateful words she had spoken nearly a year ago came back to her. She said them again. “Take me with you, Hugh. I love you so much. Please take me with you.”

His hands caught in her hair, and he dragged her mouth down to his. “Don't you know I couldn't leave without you, babe? You're my whole world.”

This time they both caught the six o'clock flight to St. Gabriel and the future they would share together.