Sudden Pleasures by Bertrice Small Page A

briefly. He had just met this girl yesterday, and he was behaving like a damned pervert. Ryan Mulcahy couldn’t remember a time when he had had such a strong reaction to a woman. Her fragrance had drifted up briefly from between her breasts. It was elusive, sensual, and clean-smelling. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “Nice perfume,” he said casually. “What is it?”
    “Do you like it? It’s Vent Vert by Balmain. I’ve always loved it. It was my first real French parfum . My brother, Ben, bought it for me the summer we were in Europe. He was based in Germany, and got leave to meet Grandfather and me in Paris. It was the last time we were all together. He was killed the following year in Iraq during Desert Storm. I always think of him when I spritz it on,” Ashley said sadly.
    “Then why wear it?” he asked her practically.
    “Because I like it,” she told him. “And not wearing it won’t bring Ben back.”
    “Mrs. B. makes a great chicken salad sandwich,” Ryan said, changing the subject. He had seen the glint of tears in her eyes, and was touched by the love she still bore her late brother. He couldn’t have cared less if his five older sisters were blown off the face of the earth. Now, Frankie was different, but the rest of them could be gone and he wouldn’t have missed one of them.
    “I’ve told the Byrneses that we’re getting married, and why,” Ashley said. “I know everyone was worried that they might think badly of us, even while understanding the dilemma that I—that we—face. They know there is no other choice for either of us. I’ll need help redoing Grandfather’s rooms for us, and I have to plan a wedding, don’t I?”
    “Frankie, my little sister, is a decorator. She works for Evelyn Claire,” Ryan said. “She would probably help you if you asked. In fact, she’d die to help you. And she’d take her fee in your lingerie.” He chuckled. “She’s one of your big catalog customers.”
    Ashley laughed. “Hey, I’m amenable to a barter system,” she said. “Give me her number and I’ll call her.”
    “Done,” he agreed. “I spoke to my mother.”
    “And?” She bit into her sandwich.
    “She likes the fact that you aren’t anorexic and enjoy your food,” he answered. “She wants you to come to dinner in two weeks. Is that okay?”
    Ashley nodded. “I’d like that.”
    They actually managed to finish their lunch without interruption, and when they had, Ryan gathered up the basket and they walked out together to the front of the shop.
    “Look,” he said when they had reached the door, “I know this is probably going to sound crazy, but I need to do this.” He pulled her to him, and his mouth met her surprised mouth in a kiss. It wasn’t a quick kiss. It was definitely an I want to see where this goes kiss. If it was going to go anywhere. And from the distinct tightening in his groin, it was going to go somewhere if they wanted. He had surprised her, but she didn’t pull away, or even protest. Her breasts crushed against his chest, and he could feel her nipples hardening against him. The mouth beneath his was soft, sweet. Her lips parted beneath his, and their tongues touched. Slowly he broke off the embrace. “I’ll see you later,” he said, hoping she hadn’t been put off by the fact that he had developed an enormous hard-on. Fortunately his car was at the curb in front of her shop.
    “’Kay” Ashley managed to reply, and closed the door to her shop, grabbing at the counter to steady herself before she fell down. Boy, could he kiss! she thought. When their tongues had touched briefly she thought she was going to faint dead away. And he was obviously attracted to her, because she had given him one whale of a hard-on. He had practically limped to his car. But it wasn’t love. They were both in lust.
    Marriage of convenience. No sex. Well, she reconsidered, maybe not. Did either of them seriously believe they could sleep in the same bed and