Officer Next Door Read Online Free Page B

believe it or not. Like right now – I’d bet you a paycheck she’s about to put on her Southern Belle act and charm them into coming over here for drinks.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Alicia said. “Sasha, a Southern Belle?”
    Kerry shrugged, her dark eyes meeting Alicia’s hazel ones. “How do you think she deals with customers at work? She has a polite persona she uses … sometimes.”
    “I guess I assumed she wasn’t allowed out of the kitchen.”
    Kerry broke into a rare smile. “Oh boy… Here they come.”
    Sure enough, all three men followed Sasha across the lawn and right up the porch steps. By the time they stopped by the patio table, Alicia’s heart was in her throat.
    “So, as I was just telling these three, I’ve got to get back to baking those brownies we won’t possibly be able to eat all by ourselves.” Sasha turned to Alicia and Kerry, flashing them a wink the men couldn’t see. “They’ll be ready soon, but there’s plenty of time for everyone to relax with a drink first.” She hurried into the house, leaving the other two women outnumbered by the three sexiest men Alicia had ever seen together in one place.
    Liam nodded at her, his sexy mouth set in a serious expression that reassured her he had no idea what she, Sasha and Kerry had just witnessed. Still, it was impossible not to think about it as she met his eyes.
    “Nice to meet you again, Alicia.”
    The sound of her name on his lips sent a frisson down her spine despite the day’s fading but still considerable heat. “You too, Liam.”
    “This is Henry,” he said, nodding to his blond companion, then the dark-haired one. “And this is Grey.”
    “Nice to meet you both.” Her voice came out funny-sounding – a little too high. “This is Kerry, and I see that you’ve already met Sasha.”
    The three men nodded, and silence descended, making Alicia long to smack some sense into Sasha. Unfortunately, the other woman was safely inside, protected from the perfect storm of awkwardness she’d created.
    “You know what – I’d better go get three more glasses.” Alicia leapt up and hurried inside before they could accept or reject the offer.
    She found Sasha rifling through her kitchen cupboards. “What are you doing?”
    Sasha whirled, a sack of flour in hand. “Making brownies.”
    “I don’t have any brownie mix, you know.”
    Sasha gave Alicia what looked like a pitying glance. “A boxed mix? Blasphemy.” She kept pulling things out of the cupboard, setting a salt shaker and bag of chocolate chips on the counter. “Where’s your sugar?”
    Alicia shrugged. “If it’s not in there, I must not have any.”
    Sasha tsked . “I’m going to need you to borrow a cup from your neighbor, then.”
    “What?”
    “Ask to borrow a cup of sugar. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
    “No way. I’ll just run to the store.”
    Sasha spun, planting her hands on her hips. “Either you ask your neighbor for a cup of sugar, or I will.” A wicked smile crept across her face. “The choice is yours.”
    Alicia sighed and turned for the door. “Don’t you dare come out of here – I’m officially confining you to the kitchen until I return.”
    “It’s all part of my strategy, anyway,” Sasha said, shrugging and seizing a mixing bowl. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder. By the time I emerge outside with a tray of brownies, Henry will be wondering what took so long.”
    “So you’ve set your sights on Henry?”
    “I like blonds. Plus, he seems like the strong, silent type. I like those too.”
    Well, at least that meant Sasha wasn’t preying on Liam. That fact might not be enough to save Alicia from all potential embarrassment, but it was something. “I’ll be back.”
    She was halfway out the door when she remembered to turn back for glasses.
    “Here we go,” she said, setting the tumblers down on the patio table when she returned to the porch. Pouring drinks for the guys barely took a minute, and then