River's Return (River's End Series, #3) Read Online Free

neighbor’s marriage?”
    “Enough not to sleep with her husband,” Allison replied, her tone crisp and sure.
    Shane dropped his head, grinning once again. “You’re quick.”
    “I value it more than you do, obviously,” Allison amended.
    “Enough to let me in your house?”
    “Let you in my house? What are you talking about?” Allison glanced across the small lawn space, but Celia didn’t meet her gaze. She ducked almost frantically back into her house and slammed the door.
    “She’s been telling Jett, and anyone else who pries that I’m doing you. That’s why my bike is parked out front.”
    Allison’s gaze shot to Shane as he stood there, shaking his head, his grin growing wider. “I would have noticed your giant motorcycle out in front of my house,” Allison replied icily.
    “It’s off to the side, behind Celia’s hedge. She told him we’ve been putting it there just to save your reputation. Small town and small minds, you know.”
    “You mean there are people who think I’m having sex… with you ?” The horror in Allison’s voice was loud and clear as she nearly shrieked with alarm. Gross. Ick. Like she’d ever consent to having sex with this walking hormone and no doubt, sexually diseased asshole. Her initial take on Shane Rydell was totally spot on, now wasn’t it?
    He held his hands up. “I didn’t do it. I swear to God, I had no idea she said that to anyone, or ever used you as a cover. Actually, I don’t even know why the hell she didn’t just tell me to hide my bike. I kind of thought she wanted to get caught. She has nothing but complaints about being married to Jett. From how he leaves his socks on the floor to his dick being too small to even—”
    She held her hands over her ears. “Don’t finish your sentence. Ever. Please.”
    He grinned and repeated, “So, teacher, what do you say? You going to break up a marriage tonight, or let me come inside your house?”
    She clutched her wine glass before tipping the contents into her mouth and downing the whole thing. “I cannot believe Celia would do that to me. Or how she could even think that risking her marriage to Jett for stolen nights with you could possibly be worth it.”
    He shrugged and stepped closer to her. She stepped back, not so excited about him coming near her. Especially now. She nearly gulped out loud when he leaned down towards her ear and said softly, “Oh, it’s worth it. Trust me. I’m very, very much worth it.” Lifting his face, he grinned, and winked at her as he passed by and entered her house. She was left staring after him, her mouth agape.
    Calling him an asshole didn’t even begin to describe how repugnant and awful Shane Rydell truly was. And damn her heart for nearly leaping out of her chest in response to his words. Her insides seemed to grow warm at his suggestive tone.
    But then she spotted Jett’s car and it was pulling into Celia’s driveway. She sighed and followed Shane inside; realizing no, she couldn’t make Jett realize what was so clearly going on right in front of his face. That left Shane with her inside her house. Her stomach clenched as she grabbed the door handle.
     

Chapter Two
     
    ALLISON TRIED TO HOLD in the monstrous sigh that nearly escaped her lips as she trailed Shane through her sliding door, but at a much slower pace. He was huge. He was like an enormous giraffe, no, more like a great ape, in the center of her living room. He might have been six-foot-five or taller. She had to strain her neck back to see the top of his head with her gaze. His long hair was held back in elastic and several more were added to make it like a long, swinging tail that reached midway down his back. Some of the black hairs sprang up off his forehead, disturbed by something, most likely Celia’s hands. She turned away from him as a weird blush raised her body temperature substantially when she imagined what her petite, rather mousey neighbor had been doing with this man. He wore a red