Free Her Man with Iceberg Eyes by Kris Pearson Page A

Total shocker. What’s he done
now?”
    “He wants to buy me a party dress,” Kate
murmured.
    “Hit him up for shoes as well,” Hamish said,
grinning, and lowering himself into the water. “Ahhhh... much
better. What on earth does he want the doors open for? It’s cold as
sin out there.”
    “Philistine,” Matthew said, surprising
everyone. Kate dared not raise her eyes to look at him. “Appreciate
the contrast...cold air and hot water. Moonlight on the mountains.
The noises of the night.”
    Somewhere in the distance, a car backfired
and they all collapsed laughing. It broke the ice, and she was able
to relax and accept the glass of port he handed her.
    She was slightly miffed to find there was
absolutely no more of him on display. A little less, indeed—there
was no glimpse of the tantalizing tattoo. He now wore blue
elastic-waisted board shorts that reached below the side of the
pool. From Kate’s low vantage point, she couldn’t see his legs at
all.
    He switched off the wall lamps, and by the
time her eyes had accustomed themselves to the moonlight, he was in
the water with them. He raised his glass in a toast.
    “To Hamish—happy fortieth. To Kate—happy
thirtieth.”
    “How on earth did you know?” she asked,
dismayed.
    “How do you think?” He half closed his eyes
and smiled, leaving her floundering. After a few seconds, he took
pity on her. “Lottie gave me your CV this morning. Date of birth,
swimming medals, business degree. Easy as that.”
    “Happy birthday to you both then,” Diana
chuckled.
    Kate and Hamish raised their glasses in each
other’s direction. The port was coal-black in the moonlight—rich
and persuasive. They all sipped in silent enjoyment as the water
fizzed and frothed around their shoulders.
    “Perfect end to a good day,” Hamish said with
satisfaction.
    “Was it a good day for you, Katie?” Matthew
asked.
    In the half dark, in company, she found the
nerve to meet his compulsive eyes. “It had its moments.”
    “Which were?”
    The port had given her courage. She smiled
and listed the parts of the day he wouldn’t be expecting. “Lovely
flight—the mountains looked fantastic. Great to meet Lottie—a huge
surprise. Seeing this house. The landscaping here is amazing, and
my bedroom is beautiful. Meeting Diana and Hamish... ” She
paused.
    “Lunch?”
    “Oh yes, lunch was all right.”
    “Shopping?”
    “Good to get it out of the way.”
    “Dinner?” he growled.
    Hamish and Diana were chuckling.
    “You’ve met your match there,” Hamish said,
giving his brother a friendly nudge.
    “And I thought you were so obedient, Katie,” he murmured.
    In an instant, her nerves jumped to full
attention.
    “When what’s expected is fair, I’m happy to
oblige,” she said, finally looking away from him. It was as sharp a
rebuke as she dared give him in the current company.
    Hamish set his empty glass aside with
care.
    “Another?” Matthew asked.
    “Best not. I won’t be safe to drive.”
    “Enjoy the port and stay. Kate’ll be grateful
to have a chaperone. She’s worried I’m going to pounce in the
night.”
    “I am not ,” she gasped, astounded he’d
voice her thoughts aloud in front of Hamish and Diana. Because he’d
certainly been right. With Lottie out of the house, she’d conjured
up all sorts of sexy scenarios. Her face burned. Thank heavens for
the cool moonlight washing over the spa-room...
    Hamish held out his glass, and she relaxed a
little. There’d be others in the house after all.
    “So you’re a swimmer, Kate?” Diana asked.
    “Not for a while now, but yes, I was
okay.”
    “More than okay from what I read,” Matthew
softly inserted. “Commonwealth Games medallist.”
    “Of course ,” Diana exclaimed. “I knew
your name was familiar.”
    Kate shot Matthew an annoyed glance. “I’ve
given up the serious competitive swimming now, but I coach talented
children every week.”
    His gaze sharpened. “What about this week? You said