In Too Deep by Cherry Adair Page A

back to terra firma safely."
    "Did you go to boarding school?" he asked lazily as he tightened the bow rope, then let it drop to the deck.
    She ran her fingers through her curly hair as she glanced around, then turned to look at him. "Frequently. Why?"
    "Frequently? "
    She grinned. "Often. Recurrently. Periodically."
    What a strange little bird she was. She swore in ancient languages, was as polite as a schoolgirl, was a sailor's wet dream in the sack, and couldn't hold a musical note in a handbasket. "I know what 'frequently' means." He motioned Lucky to stay onboard. The cat blinked, then gracefully jumped onto the wharf and began licking himself.
    Michael glanced back at Tally Ho. "I asked because you're so charmingly polite." He smiled. Don't look at me with trust and hope in those baby-blues, sweetheart. I'm a son of a bitch. I'm going to destroy you along with your scum-sucking father without a qualm . "Too bad you can't control what your eyes are telegraphing. Which is something altogether different."
    "That's your imagination." She dismissed the accuracy of his statement, but lowered her lashes fractionally, anyway.
    Michael's smile widened.
    "Of course I'm polite. How ungrateful would I be if I didn't thank you for saving my life?"
    He held up his arms so she could jump down, and she leaned down to rest her hands on his bare shoulders. Michael made sure he slid her all the way down his front. Very, very slowly. Then enjoyed the way her cheeks pinked, and her blue eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. "I did a little more than save your life," he reminded her.
    She took a small, retreating step out of his loose hold. "Um, yeah. To be frank, I'm trying to figure out how I got myself into a situation where I feel as though I have to apologize to you for"—she waved a slender hand in a vague description—"I'm… oh, damn… I'm embarrassed, all right."
    "Yeah? Well, don't be. We're both grown-ups. The pleasure was mutual."
    "Well, yes, it was…" She paused, then said in a rush, "Was I gray in the dark? Wait. Never mind." She put her hands over her face. "Oh, damn. I can't believe I asked you—forget I asked. Stupid. Stupid. Aggh! Forget it."
    Michael cupped her shoulders with his hands. She was as stiff as a board. "Are you trying to ask me if any woman would've done last night?"
    "Yes. No. Of course any woman would've done. We don't know each other. I was available—could we please change the subject? I'm really uncomfortable Monday morning quarterbacking."
    "Done it often?" he asked silkily.
    "No." She ran her finger through her hair self-consciously. "If I had, I'd be better at this, don't you think? Shoot. I didn't even remember until this morning that we didn't use"—she glanced around the busy dock to make sure no one was within earshot—"protection."
    Nice to know she'd been too hot to notice. "Yeah, we did."
    Those big blue eyes widened, and a slow smile curved her lush mouth. "We did? Oh. Ah… good."
    He lifted her chin with his finger. Her lashes fluttered. Oh, she wanted to block out the sight of him, but Tally Ho was just too straightforward. Too honest , for subterfuge. She reluctantly dragged her gaze to meet his.
    "I haven't had sex in more than a year, honey. And it's been offered. Plenty of times." He cupped her hot face and ran his thumb over her cheekbone. "Believe me. You weren't any shade of gray in the dark. I knew who you were. And you were glorious Technicolor."
    "Bless your heart." She smiled almost shyly. "You are such a gentleman, Michael Wright." Her pink cheeks made her eyes appear bluer. She pressed a soft kiss to his palm. "Okay. End of subject. Come up to the boardinghouse. I'll spring for breakfast."
    "I'll take a rain check on that. I'd better see to repairs on this old tub before I get settled."
    "Oh, shoot. I forgot my clothes in the dryer. May I?"
    "Go ahead. I'll wait for you," he said absently, staring at her mouth.
    He quickly helped her back aboard. He was getting into the