Trial by Desire (Carhart #2)

“Egyptian is all the rage right now. No?”


“Decidedly not.” Kate smiled at him. “Try again.”

“Vertiline? Permelia?”

“Where are you getting these names? Why is it that they all seem to have eighteen syllables?”

“I know the one. Obraya.”

“That is not a name.”

He waggled his eyebrows at her. “Can you be sure?”

“Goose.”

He frowned. “Well, at least that one’s short, but I think she won’t appreciate the connotations. Isn’t that a little pejorative?”

Kate burst into laughter. “Stop. You have to stop.” When she finally was able to breathe again, she shook her head at him. “What’s wrong with your mother’s name? Have you some objection to Lily?”

“I suppose not,” Ned said. “This is why I love you. Always practical.” He reached out and took her waist and drew her closer.

No. Not always. Not when he held her this close, not when his lips brushed her cheek once, her jaw a second time.

“And what if it’s a boy?” Kate asked.

He leaned over to brush a third kiss on her forehead. “Then, my love, he is really going to hate being called Lily.”