Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] by Crystal Flame Read Free Book Online Page A

waited
    anxiously, wondering what he was finding so difficult to discuss.
    "Quintel has decided he would like to give us a proper wedding," Ridge finally stated somewhat
    aggressively, as if he expected an argument.
    Kalena relaxed, relieved that she wasn't about to be interrogated about her activities in the garden.
    "That's very generous of him." A large wedding, Kalena thought, just as Olara had predicted.
    "Quintel has decided a proper wedding ceremony would be a good way to start our journey," Ridge
    continued, his voice still heavy with the weight of authority. "He is not a man to ignore omens and he has
    what I suppose you could call a feeling for situations that is sometimes amazing."
    "He sounds a good deal like my aunt," Kalena observed tartly. "Does he go into trances, too?"
    Ridge muttered something crude under his breath. "Of course not. That's a female thing. No man would
    pretend he was capable of going into a Far Seeing trance."
    Kalena smiled impishly. "You mean a man would be too embarrassed to admit he had been endowed
    with such a female talent?"
    Ridge made an obvious bid for patience. "I only meant to imply that my employer has excellent
    instincts—trader's instincts. Furthermore, he is nothing short of brilliant. I never argue with him when he
    makes a firm decision." Ridge broke off and then added reluctantly,."Or at least I don't argue with him
    very much. He's almost always right."
    "And because he has decided you and I are to go through this farce of a wedding, you have decided it's
    a good idea?" She couldn't resist teasing him when he was so obviously ambivalent about having a
    full-scale wedding ceremony.
    Ridge hesitated. "He's convinced it will contribute toward the successful completion of this venture," he
    finally said very formally.
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    "Hmm. Which, translated, means he thinks the High Healers of Variance might be more disposed to deal
    with me if I seem more like a real wife to them. He's hoping a proper wedding might make me appear
    more truly married, isn't he?"
    Ridge halted abruptly and turned to look down at her. His golden eyes gleamed with a reluctant
    admiration. "It would seem you have your own fair share of female intuition."
    "I prefer to think of it as an ability to reason with masculine logic," she murmured, knowing that the
    comment would irritate him. Men did not like to admit that women were capable of great feats of logic.
    Logic was considered a masculine talent, a gift that had its origins at the Dark end of the Spectrum. To
    her surprise, Ridge did not rise to the bait.
    "I won't argue fine points with you this evening, Kalena. The final verdict is that you and I will be going
    through a formal ceremony in three day's time. I suppose you had better buy a wedding cloak," he added
    vaguely. "Get whatever you need and tell the shopkeepers to send the bill to me. You better purchase a
    few things for the trail, too. I'll make a list. While you're at it you can pick up a couple of new shirts for
    me."
    Kalena raised her eyebrows mockingly. "You are beginning to sound like a husband already."
    To her surprise, Ridge took the comment seriously. "Yes, I am, aren't I? Do you feel like a bride,
    Kalena?"
    "No," she said bluntly. "As far as I am concerned, this is all playacting." And her role in the play would
    end when she had completed her duty. "What we have between us is nothing more than a business
    arrangement."
    Ridge eyed her narrowly, then settled his hands on her shoulders. Kalena felt the weight and strength of
    him and drew a deep breath. She saw in his eyes that Ridge had just come to some inner decision. In that
    moment she did not know whether to regret he had found her in the garden or be glad. She was not
    accustomed to the company of men in general, and never had she stood alone in the moonlight with a
    man's hard hands on her shoulders. For an instant she was afraid, and then