Through the heavy haze of sleep, Evelyn dragged herself to the surface, coming aware in lazy pieces. The whisper soft caress over her hip sent a delicious shiver racing across her skin despite the surrounding warmth. Detecting she was awake, Andrew nuzzled the back of her neck, curling himself closer against her. It was better this time—the argument they’d had. She’d seen how hard he worked to keep from lashing out and she was grateful. It had made it easier to see her own mistakes and apologize for them. To say nothing of how nice it had been to find her forgiveness in the strength of his arms, tucked against his gorgeous body as the dark closed around them and the steady reassuring rise and fall of his chest lulled her to sleep. Warm. The bed’s so warm, she thought, turning into his embrace as he adjusted around her. Their legs tangled together and she pressed little kisses along his collarbones, receiving a contented sigh in return. Of the few people she knew, only he generated bo

Lifting away the drawing room’s sheers, Evelyn looked out over the Ambassador’s wide lawns and gardens visible from their upper story hotel suite. Behind her, Andrew answered the door, standing aside so that room service could deliver their breakfast. Outside, the wind whipped across the open spaces in waves, flattening the grass and sending leaves and debris flying like shrapnel. Overhead, the sky roiled with dark threatening thunderheads. “Is it always like this in autumn?” Evelyn asked as Andrew joined her at the window, then slid a large warm hand around her narrow waist. “Yesterday, it was so bright it was almost hot. Today, the weather turns on a dime. Same thing last week. It’s like spring in New York, though at least it’s not snow.” “Sir?” Releasing her, Andrew took the offered tab from their delivery person and signed it, then handed the young man a cash tip. “Thank you.”

“Andrew, please, will you stop treating me as if I’m made of glass?” Evelyn made a grab for her travel case only to miss with his artful dodge.“I won’t. Not for one minute. You spent three days in the hospital and every single one of them was an absolute hell for me,” he retorted, setting her bag by the front door with his.Trailing along behind him, she perched her sunglasses on the top of her head. “That was last week—.”Pivoting, he fixed her with an angry glower that silenced her. “Darling, I don’t care when it was. You were in a terrific amount of pain, running a fever and whatever is causing it confounds the doctors. That says nothing of the fact that it’s getting worse.”“It’s not—”“It is!” he snapped, taking the few steps between them in two long strides so he could stand over her and stare down his narrow nose. “And don’t you dare attempt to tell me otherwise. What helps is keeping your exertions and stresses to a minimum, which is exactly what I’m going to do.” He took her

“Good morning, darling.” Yawning, Evelyn stretched and  turned into Andrew’s embrace. “Good morning. How long have you been awake?” “Half hour or so.” Cuddling her close, he kissed her forehead. “I found the sound of the ocean waves rather soothing. In fact, I don’t recall having slept quite so peacefully since the train. Unfortunately, I don’t find the screeching of the gulls or the terns nearly as calming. It’s a bit like waking up to the racket in Times Square.” The fine hairs on his chest tickled her cheek and Evelyn shifted her head against him, laughing. “It’s a wonder you didn’t shout for a cab in your sleep.” “I have to agree with you. As much as I’m proud of him for getting his life together, I miss having Mickey as a driver.” “Ah,” she inhaled the sound. “Elitist as it sounds, even t

The Blue Yonder swayed with the rolling waves as Andrew and Evelyn reached the swim platform and pulled themselves back aboard. Holding the railing, she got her feet under her and stood. At the ship’s bow, Blink had set up a folding chair. With his fishing line thrown into the water and the rod tucked into his folded arms, he dozed in the warm sunshine, his feet propped on the bow railing. “And you were worried he might swim over to the cave.” Andrew glanced down his straight nose at her, flashing a devilish smile. “No,” she corrected softly, reticent to wake their captain. Though the sun was warm, gooseflesh erupted over her skin. “I was worried he’d know what we’d been doing. None of this convinces me otherwise.” Reaching into the back of the boat, Andrew lifted a towel, one of two Blink had left there for them. Unfolding it, he wrapped it about Evelyn’s should