“One would think he would be dancing for joy.”
“I wouldn’t be in theoffice.”
“Will you both stop?!” Matthew snapped. “I’m not marrying her yet! I have to court her.” He took in a deep breath and reined in his aggravation. “She doesn’t love me.”
Until the night before, he hadn’t realized how important it was for Jasmine to love him when they married. As a man. He wanted to make love to her on their first night as husband and wife.
“I can’t fail again.” His shoulders slumped and his voice caught. “I don’t think I could survive it if she got on another ship.”
Seth and Zeke shared a glance.
Seth stepped forward. “Do you need advice?”
“Not fromyou, Seth.” Matthew stuck his fingers in his ears. “You lost the right to give me advice on women when you married my sister.”
Seth sighed and stepped aside. “Zeke, help me out.”
Academically, Zeke asked, “How do you normally seduce women?”
Matthew considered the question.
“I don’t normally seduce women in daylight,” Matthew drawled. He normally didn’t seduce women on tables either. With the way Jasmine kissed him, seduction wasn’t the issue. “She’s attracted to me, but her heart is different. I can’t always have her in a bed.”
Zeke shook his head. “It’s not the bedchamber where true seduction occurs.”
Matthew raised an eyebrow. “And what do you know abouttrue seduction?”
“I don’t talk about it in the office because I’m a gentleman, but I have”—his eyes shifted away, and he blushed—“romantic exploits of my own.”
Seth barked a laugh and threw his arm around Zeke’s shoulder. “Our little boy.”
Zeke shrugged Seth off of him, moved to the side, and fixed his suit. With a cough, he turned his attention back to Matthew. “Listen to me. You have to cater to her interests. What are they?”
Matthew paused. “What do you mean?”
“What does she do in her free time?” Zeke asked, as if teaching a child arithmetic. “Does she read? Does she like flowers, embroidery, fashion…?”
“Well…” Matthew took time to consider the question.
Alongtime.
Zeke put his head in his hands.
“I’m thinking!”
“Onething,” Seth said.
Matthew ran through Zeke’s questions in his mind. Jasmine enjoyed being outside with the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. She had no interest in flowers or art. The best times he had found common ground with her were over the breakfast table, tea, or drinks.
“She likes food,” Matthew said.
“That’s a good start,” Zeke replied. “Ask her about her favorite Spanish dishes, hire a chef, and try them together. You could bond over it!”
“That will take some time to sort out, but I suppose that could work.” Matthew faced Seth. “What do you have? Spare me the intimate details, if you will.”
“You need to show off, while being physically close to her.” Seth snapped his fingers and grinned. “I know just the thing! It might solve both of your problems. Trust me, it’s foolproof.”
Chapter Fourteen
