who kept all suitors away rather skillfully all this time.”
Trevor snorted his disdain, but he had the grace to flush. He waved his cheroot through the air. “Those young men are farmers … men without much education. Honest, hard- working men, I am aware, but they wouldn’t understand a girl like Stormy. She can read and write and cipher. She is way ahead of them and she deserves someone who is more her equal.”
“What about the bankers and sea captains that abound in Charlestown?”
“Bankers prove to be stodgy. Nor would it be fair for her to be climbing to the widow’s walk on top of the house each day looking for a particular mast to appear on the horizon. I doubt you would have been happy if I had continued to sail across the ocean, or even if I had only plied the coast. Be honest, you would have balked at that had we not sailed together? But not many men would agree to have a wife aboard. And don’t forget that I never again sailed across the Atlantic once we were married.”
Annemarie nodded. “You have a point. We owe Stormy something more than the present choices for a future.”
Stormy breezed in at that precise moment like a fresh breath of air. Of course, that impression only lasted until her parents got a good whiff of her.
“Good heavens, daughter, what have you gotten into this time?” The protest stemmed from Trevor, who looked aghast at the girl, while grimacing in distaste.
Stormy waved a dismissive hand and grinned with an impudent urchin grin that always hit her father right in the region of the heart. She was every bit as lovely as Annemarie had been at that age, every bit as reckless, and maybe even more endearing, because she was a product of their love.
“Belle went lame. I was too worried about her to pay attention as I led her back to the stables. I guess I stepped in a cow paddy along the way. Sorry, I should have taken my boots off outside.” She turned on her heel and marched toward the entrance door, swinging her saucy, breeches clad rear in a most enticing way.
Trevor groaned and threw Annemarie an exasperated look. “Those breeches don’t hide the fact that she is a girl. In fact, they are almost indecent the way they cling to her derrière. It’s high time she learned something about behaving like a lady. Maybe my sister-in-law can take her in hand before we unleash her on an unsuspecting London society.”
Annemarie rose from her chair, a small frown marring her pretty features. She crossed her arms under her breasts, drawing Trevor’s gaze to them and she braced her legs apart in a seaman’s stance that rivaled that of her husband. “Darling, I never learned to be a lady as you so aptly put it, and I believe I’ve managed rather well to hold my own. We have been happy for STORMY HEIDE KATROS
9
nearly eighteen years. I strongly believe there is another man out there, much like you, who is looking for a woman just like Stormy, and I doubt we need your sister-in-law’s help.”
“Sorry, that was a poor choice of words. But God help the poor sot, if he falls as hopelessly in love as I did. On the other hand I might be of assistance to him, because I would know how to get her to agree to marry him.” He chuckled as he thought of how he had to almost beg Annemarie to marry him when she found herself with his child.
Of course, distracted as he was, he didn’t see the sofa pillow coming at him until it hit him squarely in the head.
For a moment, he felt a bit put out, but then a devilish glint lit his eyes and he stalked toward Annemarie with purpose replacing amusement. He was upon her in two strides and wrapped his powerful arms around her before he captured her mouth in a dizzying kiss.
“Don’t play with fire, madam,” he growled playfully into her ear. “I may not be as young as I once was, but I know I can still coax a moan or two out of you.”
“Set me down, you … you.” Annemarie didn’t get any further, because Trevor
Trevor snorted his disdain, but he had the grace to flush. He waved his cheroot through the air. “Those young men are farmers … men without much education. Honest, hard- working men, I am aware, but they wouldn’t understand a girl like Stormy. She can read and write and cipher. She is way ahead of them and she deserves someone who is more her equal.”
“What about the bankers and sea captains that abound in Charlestown?”
“Bankers prove to be stodgy. Nor would it be fair for her to be climbing to the widow’s walk on top of the house each day looking for a particular mast to appear on the horizon. I doubt you would have been happy if I had continued to sail across the ocean, or even if I had only plied the coast. Be honest, you would have balked at that had we not sailed together? But not many men would agree to have a wife aboard. And don’t forget that I never again sailed across the Atlantic once we were married.”
Annemarie nodded. “You have a point. We owe Stormy something more than the present choices for a future.”
Stormy breezed in at that precise moment like a fresh breath of air. Of course, that impression only lasted until her parents got a good whiff of her.
“Good heavens, daughter, what have you gotten into this time?” The protest stemmed from Trevor, who looked aghast at the girl, while grimacing in distaste.
Stormy waved a dismissive hand and grinned with an impudent urchin grin that always hit her father right in the region of the heart. She was every bit as lovely as Annemarie had been at that age, every bit as reckless, and maybe even more endearing, because she was a product of their love.
“Belle went lame. I was too worried about her to pay attention as I led her back to the stables. I guess I stepped in a cow paddy along the way. Sorry, I should have taken my boots off outside.” She turned on her heel and marched toward the entrance door, swinging her saucy, breeches clad rear in a most enticing way.
Trevor groaned and threw Annemarie an exasperated look. “Those breeches don’t hide the fact that she is a girl. In fact, they are almost indecent the way they cling to her derrière. It’s high time she learned something about behaving like a lady. Maybe my sister-in-law can take her in hand before we unleash her on an unsuspecting London society.”
Annemarie rose from her chair, a small frown marring her pretty features. She crossed her arms under her breasts, drawing Trevor’s gaze to them and she braced her legs apart in a seaman’s stance that rivaled that of her husband. “Darling, I never learned to be a lady as you so aptly put it, and I believe I’ve managed rather well to hold my own. We have been happy for STORMY HEIDE KATROS
9
nearly eighteen years. I strongly believe there is another man out there, much like you, who is looking for a woman just like Stormy, and I doubt we need your sister-in-law’s help.”
“Sorry, that was a poor choice of words. But God help the poor sot, if he falls as hopelessly in love as I did. On the other hand I might be of assistance to him, because I would know how to get her to agree to marry him.” He chuckled as he thought of how he had to almost beg Annemarie to marry him when she found herself with his child.
Of course, distracted as he was, he didn’t see the sofa pillow coming at him until it hit him squarely in the head.
For a moment, he felt a bit put out, but then a devilish glint lit his eyes and he stalked toward Annemarie with purpose replacing amusement. He was upon her in two strides and wrapped his powerful arms around her before he captured her mouth in a dizzying kiss.
“Don’t play with fire, madam,” he growled playfully into her ear. “I may not be as young as I once was, but I know I can still coax a moan or two out of you.”
“Set me down, you … you.” Annemarie didn’t get any further, because Trevor
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