Perfect Stranger (Novella) Read Online Free Page A

and moved out of state. She might not spend much time there, but it was home and she’d done all she could decor-wise to make the house her own. Having grown up in one of thelarger mansions in the wealthier part of town, in a place her father had turned into an art showcase after her mother died, Alexa focused on homey touches instead. White walls, lavender trim, and real plants that needed watering, which was something she made time for each week.
    As Luke followed her into her house, Alexa was acutely aware of him taking in his surroundings.
    “Pretty place,” he said as she placed her bag and keys onto the foyer table.
    “Thanks.” She didn’t turn to face him, wondering if she should invite him up to her room. Or into the kitchen for a drink first. Her gaze fell to the clock on the wall.
    Ugh. It was ten A.M. No drink.
    She’d been at the hospital all night and felt grimy. How could she have thought to ask him here? And now that she had, how did she begin? Did she just jump him in the hallway? Dating a colleague, she’d done that on occasion. Bringing men home? Not ever. She was so out of practice at this sort of thing it wasn’t funny. Her thoughts were all over the place, as were her nerves. And now she couldn’t stop her mind from going a hundred miles an hour.
    Suddenly she felt him step up behind her, his body heat warm against her back as he pushed her hair off her shoulders. “Relax,” he said in a deep voice that melted her bones. “We’ve got all day and you’re wound tight. Why don’t you go up and shower. I’ll still be here when you’re through.”
    How did he know exactly what she needed?
    “Okay,” she said softly.
    “It’s going to be so good,” he promised, then settled his lips settled against her neck and nibbled on her skin.
    She curled her hands around the edge of the table and bent her head forward, giving him better access. He nipped, licked, and soothed with his tongue. Nerves forgotten, she trembled, desire licking at her from the inside out.
    “Better go,” he said, his hand cupping her behind. “Unless you want to start this right here.”
    With a pained groan, she stepped aside. “Meet me in my bedroom.” She ran for the stairs and headed up to shower.
    *   *   *
    L uke watched Alexa walk up the few steps in her split-level house, his eyes on her ass. Her body was well hidden in the generous scrubs, yet he found her appealing anyway. With a groan, he shifted his gaze and looked around, not surprised the woman he’d begun to know had an honest to goodness house with a white picket fence. The color scheme was a soft white and light purple, and the whole place radiated warmth. She was everything—and nothing—like he’d expected, and unraveling her layers was as exciting to him as a new playbook each season.
    Speaking of plays, giving her time alone had been a strategic move designed to make her more comfortable. Yeah, she’d have time to think too much, but she’d also be able to pull herself together. And he sensed a woman like her needed to feel good about herself in order to get into bed with a man. He had sisters, and though he refused to think about them having sex, he still knew how nice girls thought. Alexa reminded him of his sisters, girls willing to take a walk on the wild side, but who didn’t do it often. Good girls.
    The kind he’d want to see again.
    And now he was getting ahead of himself. So with a last look around the house, which was pretty but was missing personal touches like family photos—which his mom filled both her house and his apartment with—he headed up to find her bedroom.
    The sound of running water alerted him to the right room, and he stepped into an ultrafeminine area, draped white curtains, too many frilly pillows, and, of course, purple touches everywhere. He grinned at her consistency. When the shower water shut off, his groin immediately hardened. The next thing he heard was the sounds of her movingaround, picking