Perfect Together Read Online Free Page A

remember Cara. She was decent to me.”
    Sam openly studied her. “She had no reason not to be. You weren’t your sister.”
    Nicole drew a deep breath and nodded. “That’s why Idecided Serendipity would be a good place to start over. Nice town, people willing to give you a chance to prove yourself, not jump to conclusions or put you in a little box where they think you ought to be.”
    Sam, being as perceptive as she remembered, narrowed his gaze at that.
    She bit the inside of her cheek, realizing she was getting too deep. “I should get dressed and meet you downstairs.”
    “I’ll wait.” He headed for the small dining set in the corner that came with the apartment, hooked one foot around the leg of a chair, and settled his very fine rear end into the seat.
    He relaxed comfortably, as if he’d been here many times before and belonged. He had said his brother lived here before, which explained his familiarity—but not the sense of rightness she felt on seeing him in her personal space.
    Uh-oh. She shook her head to dispel that wayward thought. No matter how strong the attraction between them, Nicole had just ended one engagement. She was not interested in anything other than getting her life together and on track. No emotional or sexual entanglements needed or wanted. No matter that her raging hormones and completely wired body said otherwise.
    She quickly grabbed a pair of soft, faded jeans, a hot-pink fitted V neck, and a belt, and closed herself in the bathroom to change.
    She dressed quickly. A glance in the mirror showed that her cheeks were flushed—
thank you, Sam
—so no need for more blush. She swiped on a light peach lip gloss, spritzed on some of her favorite perfume, fluffed her hair, drew a deep breath, and walked back out to face him.
    His gaze raked over her and his mouth curled in a genuine smile of approval.
    Athis reaction, pleasure of every variety rushed over strategic body parts, and given the thin texture of her top and the darkening of those sexy hazel eyes, he noticed.
    Oh yes, she was in definite trouble.
    No sooner had Sam followed Nicole back down to the bar than Macy took over, hooking her arm through Nicole’s and stealing her away. Macy maneuvered her through the crowd, introducing Nicole to people as she went.
    Sam told himself he was happy for the separation. It gave him a chance to catch his breath—because Nicole’s impact was even more potent the second time around. He’d barely taken in the fact that she was here and they’d come face-to-face, forcing him to call on a cool he didn’t feel.
    He’d have liked to blame his over-the-top reaction on the silk robe she’d worn and clutched to her chest like armor. Still, he’d been unable to stop wondering if her skin would be as soft as the satiny material looked. If she’d feel soft and supple beneath him.
    He groaned, knowing it wasn’t just the robe or the long bare legs beneath that captivated him. After the surprise of seeing him, it was the pleasure in those beautiful blue eyes that had floored him. Of course, she’d quickly composed herself and tried to hide her reaction. They had that in common, at least—a wariness of their combustible chemistry. He took heart in knowing she was uncertain too.
    And when she’d returned from getting dressed? Gone were the ladylike slacks and silk shirts she’d worn her first time in town, replaced by jeans that hugged her shapely ass and a top that accentuated her sweet curves. Curves he wanted to tracewith his hands and taste with his mouth, exploring her thoroughly. He wanted that with a desperation he’d never felt before.
    But more than sexual attraction intrigued him. When she’d mentioned coming to Serendipity to start over, to prove herself and not have people jump to conclusions or put her in a little box—well, then he’d realized there was much more to Nicole’s move here than met the eye, making him wonder just what she had left behind.
    And why did he care? He