DirtyBeautiful Read Online Free Page A

with
his good looks, what did he care what she had underneath her dress? Dylan
whistled to the dog a couple of times then stood. His blue eyes glinted with
suppressed amusement. “He is a tricky one. Looks like I’m gonna have to try
something else.”
    He started up the steps and Erica’s hands fluttered in
protest. “Oh don’t worry about it. I really don’t want to be a hassle.”
    “No hassle. I’ll be right back.” Dylan unlocked the back
door and stepped inside, leaving her alone with the dog responsible for her
humiliation.
    A moment later he returned with a piece of well-done steak.
He tore off pieces and made a trail from the porch. “Nothing speaks to a man
like a nice piece of juicy steak.”
    Erica folded her arms and tapped her foot while Dylan
waited, crouched beside her. A moment later a white-and-brown head, sans
underwear, appeared. Eagerly he ate up the line of steak and hesitated, eying
the large chunk in Dylan’s hand. She could see the dog weigh his options to
either make a dash or take what the stranger offered him. Hungrily he licked
his chops.
    “That’s it,” Dylan murmured. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”
    As if not to scare the animal, Dylan eased out his free
hand, which the dog sniffed, licked, then ignored. Dylan patted the terrier’s
side while the dog contemplated the last piece of steak. Hunger won out and he
took the offered food. “Good boy.”
    Once the dog finished the meat he sniffed around Dylan and
inspected both his hands. “All gone, bud.”
    He yipped his disappointment, then shot off back under the
house.
    Dylan laughed. “I guess I have a dog now.”
    “I suppose so,” Erica said on a smile.
    “I can’t guarantee he isn’t going to steal your underwear.”
    “I guess that’ll give me an excuse to come over.”
    The glimmer left his eyes and Erica bit into her lip,
wanting to take back the words. It’d sounded like such a bad come-on and she
knew awkward disinterest when she saw it. She glanced over at her clothes on
the line. “Well, I bet you have a ton of stuff to do and I better get back
home.”
    Dylan dropped a hand on her arm and liquid heat spiraled up
her skin. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to come off as un-neighborly. I’m not in too
much of a rush to get down to business. I could do with some coffee. You want
some?”
    Erica hesitated.
    “It’s the least I could do for my dog snatching your
underwear.”
    Erica smiled at his attempt at a puppy-dog look. “You only
just claimed him.”
    “I’m a responsible dog owner.”
    She heaved a sigh. “All right.”
    Teeth flashed. “Great.”
    She followed him up the stairs and through the back door, by
a narrow laundry and into the kitchen. Similar to her own kitchen, the 1950s
layout was prevalent with its colorful cabinets and open space. Unlike her
white-with-yellow bench tops framed with aluminum, his were aquamarine with a
stainless steel surface. Unpolished wooden floors free of tiles or vinyl led
her to conclude the kitchen was in the process of a makeover.
    “Take a seat.”
    Erica looked around and sat at the breakfast bench while
Dylan set the kettle on. “Milk, sugar?” he asked.
    “Yes to both.”
    Dylan filled the cups and dropped two spoonfuls of sugar in
her cup.
    “Four,” Erica volunteered.
    He glanced over his shoulder. “A sweet tooth, huh?”
    “Yep.”
    He picked up both cups and handed her one. She curled her
fingers around the mug and took a sip. “I see you’ve already started in the
kitchen. Plans to gut it?”
    He scanned the room. “No. I like the open feel. I’ll
probably sand back the cabinets and stain them. But other than that, the wood
around here is in pretty good shape.”
    Erica was impressed. “You know your wood.” Oh crap. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
    Dylan took a drink of his coffee, his eyes crinkled at the
corners. “Panties and hard-ons. Sounds like my day is turning out better than
what I expected.”
    “Oh God. You