The Bronzed Hawk by Iris Johansen Page A

really a bluebeard, you know.”
    “Sorry,” she apologized, moistening her lips nervously. “It’s just that I haven’t done this before.” She smiled tremulously. “I know little girls are supposed to have romantic fantasies about their wedding and marriage, but I never did. I just never thought about it. I guess I’m still suffering from shock.” She had been carrying a mantilla, which she unfolded and put on.
    “How flattering,” Nick said dryly. “You may not be an eager bride, but you’re certainly a lovely one in Carmen’s mantilla.”
    Kelly touched the fragile lace. “It’s perfectly beautiful, isn’t it?” She looked up at him. “It was very generous of her to offer it, consideringhow disappointed she was when you told her we were going to be married. Tell me, did you soothe her feelings by letting her scrub your back, after all?”
    “No, sweetheart, I scrubbed my own back,” he said solemnly. “Though I did regard it as a monumental sacrifice.”
    “I don’t know whether to believe you or not. She certainly managed to find you a more attractive wedding outfit than she did me.”
    Nick was wearing his own freshly laundered black jeans, but the white linen shirt with its exquisitely delicate flower design embroidered in fine white thread was truly beautiful. Carmen’s husband must have been smaller than Nick, for it fit a bit tightly over his shoulders and hugged his lean waist. He had left a few buttons open at the throat for comfort, and his strong throat and muscular chest looked almost aggressively virile against the delicacy of the white embroidered linen.
    “It’s a little fussy for my taste, but I thought I’d try to do you proud,” he said casually. “It’s notevery day that a man marries such a ravishing creature as Kelly McKenna.”
    “You
know
I look absolutely dreadful,” Kelly wailed miserably. “Not only do these outsize clothes make me look like a rag bag, but my hair is a complete mess, and I don’t even have any lipstick on.” She glowered at him. “While you look perfectly gorgeous.”
    He grinned. “Men aren’t gorgeous, Goldilocks,” he corrected. “I’ll grant you that I’m an exceptionally handsome devil, though.”
    “You’re gorgeous,” she repeated emphatically. “And it’s just not fair.”
    He went suddenly still, the laughter fading from his face. “You really mean that,” he said quietly. “I thought you were joking, but you really don’t know how beautiful you are.”
    “Save the blarney, Nick. Even when I’m at my best, I know I’m not exceptional.”
    He gave her a curiously tender smile. “Aren’t you?” he asked gently. He cupped her face in his two hands and looked down into her eyes. “There must be something radically wrong with my perception then. You appear most exceptionalto me, love.” He cocked his head thoughtfully. “Now, let’s see where I miscalculated. Two very ordinary eyes that are sometimes the hue of grass after a spring shower and at other times as vibrant as emeralds.” He brushed her lids with a kiss as light as butterfly wings. “Nothing unusual there.” One lazy finger twisted a silky ringlet. “Hair that’s touched with shining golden ribbons of color and curls around my finger as if it loves me. There’s no real reason for me to find it appealing.” His hand left her hair to touch the curve of her cheek. “As for the rest of your features, I’m sure there are thousands of women more beautiful, if you took time to look for them. Who wants strength and intelligence and a glowing
joie de vivre
when one can have cold, classical perfection?” He kissed her lightly on the lips as she gazed up at him in dazed bewilderment. “Yes, I’m sure you’re right, sweetheart. There’s nothing extraordinary about you.”
    Kelly was silent for an instant as she struggled to free herself from the velvet cloud of intimacy that he had created about her. “I’m glad you agree,” she finally managed