"DeChancie,.John.-.Castle.07.-.Castle.Spellbound" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dechancie John)

They sat together on the beach, legs crossed, knees touching. The moon was directly above, very high, very large, and full. It had dark markings on it that made it look like another planet. Which in fact it was, though a small one. The tides here were strong, much stronger than on Earth. In the morning, when the tide was at its lowest ebb, the surf would recede almost two hundred yards.
"It's a shame to let that romantic moon go to waste," Gene said.
"Sure is," Linda agreed.
She hooked an arm around his neck, drew him close, and kissed him. It wasn't a fooling-around kiss.
They parted and Gene looked at the moon again. "Now, I wonder what brought that on? The booze?"
Linda shrugged. She was a little high. Not all that much, but a little.
"Maybe," she said. "Was I out of line?"
"Not at all. It was just a little surprising. Funny that we've never . . . well, you know."
"Yeah. We're good friends. Buddies."
"That wasn't a buddy kiss."
"Nope. Did you like it?"
"I certainly did."
"Good," Linda said. "Let's do it again." They did it again, and took their time about it.
"But why now, after all this time?" Gene wanted to know afterward.
"I don't know, Gene. Maybe I never realized how much I like you. Maybe it's about time I stopped waiting for..."
"Waiting for Mr. Right?"
"I hate that expression."
"So do I. Maybe it'll take a bit more time."
"I'm tired of waiting."
"But ... "
She nodded "I know, Gene, I know. Sorry."
"Don't be. I'm not. I think . . . Linda, I think you're carrying a torch for somebody."
"It shows, eh?"
"Yeah. I won't ask who."
"Don't, please." She scooped up some sand. "Oh, hell. I want to tell somebody. But I really can't."
"Then don't."
"But I want to. He's married."
"That's tough."
"Yeah." She tilted her hand to let sand cascade back onto the white beach.
Gene fiddled with a shell some time before asking, "Someone in the castle?"
"Yep."
"Oh. Guest or staff?"
"This is like Twenty Questions. Neither."
"Neither?" Gene was mildly puzzled.
"Oh, forget it. It's hopeless. Never happen. Took me years to realize I was in love with him. Then suddenly I did. I had a dream . . . But as I said, it's hopeless. I should forget. I should get on with my life."
"Such as it is, inside a magical fairy fantasy castle."
Linda giggled. "Magical fantasy fairy castle?"
"Fairly fantastical magic castle."
"Magical fantastical-"
"Faerie castle."
"What?"
"F-a-e-r-i-e castle."
"Oh. How did you pronounce that?" Gene made a sneering face. "Faeh."
"Faeh?" Linda laughed.
"Faeh-r-r-rie. Faeeeeeerr-r-r-rie."
Linda laughed and fell back onto the sand, stretching her long legs out.
Gene regarded her lithe body. He had never realized what nice legs she had, and her short black cocktail dress made them appear all the more shapely. He had always liked the way she was put together. Why hadn't he ever . . . ?
"Gene?"
"Yes?"
"When I said I was horny I meant it. Don't think you would be second fiddle. I've always thought you were very attractive. You're bright, witty-"