Lady Be Bad by Elaine Raco Chase Page B

native game fish called muskellunge that reach
over five feet in length and weigh upward of seventy pounds.
"Honest." His palm was held up. "Before you leave Blind Bay, you
take a peek inside Sam's Fish House. That muskie's mounted right
over the door."
    "I will." She shook her finger in warning.
"But I bet this fish doubles in size every time you talk about
it."
    His laughter mingled with hers. "Triples."
Captain Warren's blue gaze shifted over her shoulder to the
flashing red channel marker. "If you'll excuse me." He stood and
touched the brim of his hat "Duty calls. We're getting ready to
head into the docking area on Jorstadt."
    The lighthearted pleasure she had succumbed
to, courtesy of the captain, was instantly replaced by the familiar
anxiety. Marlayna inhaled deeply, counted to ten and reached for
her purse. "Let's check on our happy face," came her mumbled
directive.
    A fresh coat of pearlized copper gloss was
applied to her lips; powder daubed on forehead, nose and chin
eliminated their shine; and she valiantly tried to blink away the
haunted, intimidated look that clouded her eyes. Standing, she
smoothed the legs of her pleated-front white trousers and tilted up
the collar of her short-sleeved indigo silk blouse.
    Her reflection shimmered in the thick wall
of Lexan that protected the launch's passengers from wind and sea
spray. "Cool and confident." Marlayna fluffed out the richly
highlighted curls that tumbled to her eyebrows and then smoothed
any errant waves behind her ears and along her nape. Her fingernail
flicked the gold loop that dangled from her left earlobe; even she
was narcissistically impressed.
    "Ahoy, Lady of the Lakes!"
    "Ahoy, Jorstadt. We're carrying one very
beautiful passenger."
    Marlayna stepped out of the shielded area
onto the deck, watching the disembarking ramp expertly being
lowered into place. Standing in front of a generously proportioned
redwood belvedere was Arthur Kingman. For a long moment, she took
in the tall, lean frame that was elegantly cloaked in designer
jeans and a pink golf shirt; then, with a resigned sigh, she waved
a greeting before turning to extend her hand to Captain Warren.
"Thank you for a wonderful voyage."
    His left palm added an extra measure of
pressure over their clasped hands. "Thank you for enduring and
laughing at my sea stories. Your luggage will be given to the
porter, and now, regretfully, I must give you to King Arthur." His
right eyelid closed in a merry wink.
    Arthur Kingman could not wait for his
guest's white espadrilles to hit the dock. His long legs quickly
conquered the distance that kept them separated. "Marlayna, I was
praying you hadn't stood me up."
    She deftly avoided the masculine arms that
were trying to surround her waist. "Arthur," her hands captured
his, "it's so lovely to see you again." Marlayna also succeeded in
outmaneuvering his lips, making his kiss slide off her jaw. "I'm
afraid the lateness of my arrival is due to the airlines. The plane
was late from Albany to Ogdensburg."
    Taking a step back, she gave him a
well-rehearsed, beaming smile. "I see both island and castle life
agree with you; you look wonderful."
    "Speaking of looking wonderful..." Arthur
managed to wiggle his left hand free and caress the delicate shadow
beneath her cheek. "Marlayna --" the timbre of his voice deepened
over each syllable of her name, "do you know how much joy you've
brought me this year, and right this moment…”
    "Arthur, what a sweet sentiment!" She
purposely kept her tone light and breezy. "I'm so anxious to see
your fabulous castle." Marlayna linked her arm companionably around
his and began to venture further along the dock. "This summer house
is certainly a classic beginning."
    Frowning slightly, he ran his fingers
through the thick sandy hair generously veined with silver. This always happens whenever I try to get closer , I wish I knew the words that would open Marlayna O'Brian
to me . "We do enjoy the gazebo on these lazy, sultry