Free Mail-Order Bride by Debbie Macomber

“But I consider that word in poor taste.”
    Paul’s response was a soft chuckle. “You can challenge me if you wish.”
    “What’s the score?” Five letters left…If she could use them all, she might be able to pull into the lead.
    “Three hundred and twenty to two eighty-eight,” Paul informed her gleefully. “Do you concede?”
    “Never!”
    “I’m afraid you have to. I’m out of letters.”
    “You won,” Caroline said, almost in a daze. She’d lost only one game of Scrabble since her junior year in high school. She’d played brilliantly, yet Paul had outdone her.
    “Yes, love, I won.”
    For a minute all she could do was stare at the board in shocked disbelief.
    “Love? I believe you owe me a kiss.”
    She should object to his calling her “love,” but she was too bemused. “You beat me at Scrabble,” she said. “And I’m a good player. Very good.”
    “I’m fairly well versed in the game myself,” Paul said. “There’s not much else for Walter and me to do on those long winter nights.”
    Caroline’s eyes narrowed. He’d known all along that he had an excellent chance of winning.
    “I believe you owe me a kiss,” he said again.
    “You cheated,” Caroline cried. “You used a four-letter word and—”
    “Don’t tell me you’re a poor sport, too.”
    As fast as she could, Caroline removed the wooden pieces from the playing board. “You mean in addition to being a liar and a thief.”
    “I didn’t say that,” Paul told her soberly.
    “Well, you needn’t worry, I’ll give you what I promised, but I still think it’s unfair of you to use that word.”
    “You’d use it, too, if you had to,” Paul said, folding up the game and placing it back on the bookcase.
    “I wouldn’t!”
    “If you were down to four letters and that word placed you on a triple word score and would guarantee you a win, then I don’t doubt you’d use it!”
    “Well,” Caroline hedged, a smile lifting the edges of her mouth, “I’d be tempted, but I don’t think I’d stoop that low.”
    “Yes, you would. Now pay up, love.”
    Reluctantly, Caroline stood and rounded the table to his side.
    “A kiss that’ll turn me inside out,” he reminded her.
    “I remember,” she said ruefully. She stood in front of him and Paul’s arm circled her waist, pulling her onto his lap. She offered him a weak smile and set her hands on his shoulders. His palms slid around her back, directing her actions.
    She twisted her head to the right, then changed her mind and moved it to the left. Slowly, she bent forward and placed her parted mouth on his. Paul’s lips were moist and warm and brushed hers in a slow, sensuous way. Then his kiss grew wilder, and she responded with equal intensity.
    They broke apart, panting and drained.
    “Oh Caroline,” he breathed against her neck. Their mouths fused again. Although she’d initially had no intention of giving him more than the one kiss, she felt as eager for the second as he was.
    Again his mouth nuzzled her neck. “Another game, Caroline, love? Only this time the stakes will be slightly higher.”

Chapter 5
    “Another game of Scrabble?” Caroline repeated, feeling content.
    Dream or not, her memory served her well; Paul Trevor was one fantastic kisser. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she jerked herself free from Paul’s arms. Mere hours before, she’d vowed to freeze him out and here she was, sitting on his lap with her arms around his neck, kissing him with all the fervor in her heart.
    “Our Scrabble days are over, Paul Trevor,” she said coldly, placing her hand on the table to help maintain her balance. She felt a heated flush in her cheeks.
    “You mean you’re quitting because I’m a better player than you?” Paul returned with a laugh.
    “Better player, my foot!”
    The whole situation appeared to amuse him, which only angered Caroline more. She stormed into the bedroom and sat on the end of the bed, sulking. Until she’d met Paul, she’d