Free GhostlyPersuasion by Dena Garson Page B

him in the eye.
    “You weren’t hanging around in my bathroom where I couldn’t
see you, were you?”
    “Afraid not.”
    “Good answer.” She unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, pushed
them over her hips and down her legs then stepped out of them.
    When she bent over to pick up the jeans, Seamus said, “I am
sorry I missed the opportunity, however.”
    The blatant appreciation in his eyes made her feel like one
of the most beautiful women on earth. She gave him a smile. “Yes, well, I
suppose you’re making up for it now, huh?”
    “We’ll see,” he said cryptically.
    Katie tossed the jeans on top of her discarded shirt.
Gathering her courage, she unhooked her bra then wiggled her shoulders so the
straps slid down her arms into her hands. Instead of tossing the pale-pink bra
into the pile, she walked up to Seamus and set it on the counter behind him.
The cool atmosphere that surrounded him eked onto her bare skin, raising goose
bumps and making her nipples harden.
    In an effort to up the ante, she slipped her hot-pink lace
panties off and left them on the counter with the bra.
    Standing that close to him, Katie couldn’t miss the desire
burning in his eyes.
    Acting braver than she really felt, she pivoted on the ball
of her foot and glided to the tub. It was doubtful she had ever made such an
effort to ensure she climbed into the bathtub as gracefully as a princess.
    As she sank into the steaming water some of the tension in
her muscles relaxed. When she was all the way in, she leaned against the back
of the tub and studied Seamus.
    “Care to join me?”
    “As a matter of fact, I would love to. But I believe the
only thing that would accomplish would be to cool your water much faster than
you’d like.”
    “That’s probably true.” Even though she figured that was the
case, it was still disappointing.
    “Besides, the view is better up here,” he said with a cheeky
grin.
    Katie looked down at herself. The waterline was bobbing just
below her breasts, acting as a pillow for them.
    She rolled her eyes but smiled back. “Men.”
    “What would you do without us?”
    “Women would probably eat a lot more chocolate, wear
sweatpants more frequently and odds are that neither bras nor pantyhose would
have ever been invented,” she said matter-of-factly.
    “Perhaps.”
    Seamus’ gaze drifted down to the water then all the way down
the length of the tub to her toes.
    “If I could, I’d take that washcloth,” he pointed to the
short stack of folded linens on the ledge of the tub, “and make sure every part
of you was thoroughly cleaned and inspected.”
    A shiver ran through Katie’s body. God, if only Seamus could
do that.
    He skimmed his hand through the bubbles that floated on top
of her bathwater but his movement didn’t disturb a single one. Katie bent her
knee, breaking the surface of the water, disturbing those same bubbles.
    “So…” She sat up, reached for a washcloth then reclined
against the back of the tub again. With a lift of one eyebrow, she asked, “Are
you implying that I’m dirty?”
    “Not at all.” His voice remained calm but his expression was
leery.
    Katie twisted the cloth with both hands, forcing most of the
water out. “Good. I’d hate for you to have a wrong impression of me.”
    “Be assured that I have a very high opinion of you.”
    She picked up the bar of soap and enclosed it in the folds
of the washcloth. She rubbed both between her hands, making the cloth bubbly.
Slowly she extended one leg up, out of the water, then applied the soapy rag as
far as she could reach. She repeated the motions on the other leg.
    “You missed a spot.”
    Katie knew he was teasing even though his face looked quite
serious.
    She raised her leg again and pretended to inspect it.
“Where?”
    “Just there.” Seamus touched a place behind her knee then
let his finger glide down the back of her thigh.
    Goose bumps broke out all over her leg.
    She tried to tell herself it was because of the