Latched (Coronado Series Book 1) Read Online Free

She returned to her closet and chose the Eli Saab dress. It was flirty and fun and almost made her look a little naked. Most of Eli’s dresses had a similar effect. The way the beading was done made it look like if you moved just right, you might get a flash of something.  
    She slipped into it, added her Jimmy Choo gold heels and perfume and was ready. She looked in the mirror and was glad she’d decided to get the lash extensions that were so popular now. It made her eyes look really dramatic. Before she headed downstairs, she said a little prayer. “Please let me meet someone and please make sure he’s good in bed.” She figured it was a good idea to be specific about what she wanted - she didn’t want to be blessed with the wrong man.  
      She walked down stairs and called for James. He was sitting in the kitchen reading the paper and drinking champagne. “Well how did I do?”  
    He looked up and smiled, “Oh Birdie, you did good. You look like a woman who is ready for the next chapter and some really great sex.”  
    “Good, I tried to vamp it up as much as I could. Do I look like I’m capable of naked fun?”  
    James studied her, “Mostly… the naked dress sure sends the right message.”  
    “I have a lot of family there - it’s still appropriate right?”  
    “People see what they want to see. Your Aunts will see a lovely pink dress. Mark is going to see a naked dress and follow you around all night.”  
    She lifted her glass in a toast, “Well, here’s hoping. A year is too long to go without sex.” She finished her glass of champagne and put it down on the counter.  
    “I had no idea it had been that long. I think a couple of days is a long time, but that’s just me.” James checked to make sure she had cab money and the number of the taxi service for her return home. “Do you need a condom too?”
    Birdie waved her hand in dismissal, “I’m hoping for a kiss, not a shag in the bushes. But I’ll put them on my shopping list for next week. I think I need to be ready if I find a candidate for my plan.”
    James stood up, adjusted his clothes and grabbed her hand, “Let’s get you to this shindig.”  

    ********

    They pulled up to the Officers Club and people were gathered on the front lawn where the ceremony was taking place. Birdie noticed how pretty the sky looked. It was 5:00, the sun had settled a bit and the sky had softened. It made everything and everyone look a little better.  
    “Get going girl - go have fun. Dance your feet off and eat lots of cake.”
    She got out and went to his side of the car and gave him a big kiss. “Thank you, thank you for everything today. You really are my prince.”
    James looked over her shoulder, “Mark is staring at your ass right now. He’s not acting uninterested. You’d better get going.”  
    Birdie stood up, straightened her dress, fixed her shoe and spun around with a big hopeful smile on her face. She stared at Mark in his suit, the guy was impressive in a tee shirt and shorts - but in a suit he was devastating. His broad shoulders filled out the jacket and she could see the fabric of his pants clinging to his massive thighs. It gave her the feeling of dynamite being wrapped in tissue paper…. completely unnecessary. Here goes nothing. She started to walk towards him, hoping she didn’t trip and fall on her face.  
    Mark saw Birdie arrive in a black Mercedes and wondered if she managed to find a last minute date for this thing. He watched her lean over to talk to the driver and his mouth fell open. She was in a fucking naked dress – you could see right through that thing. He felt his body tense with anticipation and desire. He leaned forward and waited for her to turn around. He noticed she had a much better figure than he first thought. She was a freakin brick house with all of those curves. He had a very strong desire to sink his hands into her hips and kiss her up one side and down the other. He never understood