Sunset In Central Park Read Online Free Page A

beginning to trust her. Maybe she should get a cat of her own.
    Unlike some humans, cats understood the notion of personal space.
    She opened the book and started to read where she’d left off.
    She was halfway through the third chapter when she heard a knock on the door.
    Claws froze.
    Frankie pushed a piece of paper in the book to mark her place, trying not to be irritated at the disturbance. “It will be Eva or Paige, so there’s no need to freak out. They’ve probably run out of wine. Don’t break any of my plant pots while I answer the door.”
    She tugged open the front door. “Have you drunk so much that you can’t—oh.”
    Matt stood in the doorway, although
stood
wasn’t really the right word, she decided. He virtually filled the space. He topped six feet, his shoulders broad and powerful fromall the heavy lifting he did at his job. He could have been intimidating, but a faint smile tilted the corners of his mouth and softened the rough edges of masculinity. There were a dozen reasons why a woman might take a second look at Matt Walker, but it was that bone-melting sexy smile that guaranteed he was never short of female company.
    “So far this evening, I haven’t drunk a drop. Hoping to remedy that soon.” He glanced from her to the door. “You should use that security chain I fitted for you.”
    “Normally I do. I thought you were Paige.”
    He smelled good, she thought. Like summer rain and sea breeze. It made her want to bury her face in his neck and breathe him in.
    She wondered which of them would be more embarrassed.
    Definitely her. Matt wasn’t the kind of guy who was easily embarrassed.
    “Am I disturbing you?” He scanned her damp hair and she pushed at it self-consciously.
    When it was wet it turned an unflattering shade. “Rust” one boy had called it at school after she’d been caught in a heavy rainstorm. When she blushed, which she was now doing thanks to her wayward imagination, her face clashed horribly with her hair.
    “You’re not disturbing me, but if you’re looking for Paige and Eva they’re up on the roof terrace.”
    “I wasn’t looking for them. I’ve lost my cat. Have you seen her?”
    “She’s here. Come in. I opened a bottle of wine.” She issued the invitation without a second thought because this was Matt. Matt, whom she’d known forever and trusted.
    “You’re inviting me in?” His eyes gleamed. “I’m honored. It’s Saturday night and I know how much you love your own space.”
    The fact that he knew her so well was one of the things that made their relationship so easy and comfortable.
    “You have owner’s privilege.”
    “There’s such a thing? I never knew that. What other benefits am I entitled to that I haven’t been claiming?”
    “The occasional glass of wine is definitely on that list.” She opened the door wider for him and he strolled past her into her apartment.
    Her gaze lingered on his shoulders. She was human, wasn’t she? And Matt had an impressive set of shoulders. The kind you could lean on, if you were the leaning type. She wasn’t. Even so, there was no denying that the man was sexy from every angle, even from the back. Of course, the fact that she found him sexy was her secret and it was going to stay that way.
    She could enjoy her own private fantasy, safe in the knowledge that no one was ever going to find out.
    Frankie closed the door behind him. “How did you lose your cat?”
    “I left the window open but she’s never had the courage to climb through it before. I don’t know whether to be pleased that she was finally brave enough to explore or worried that she felt the need to escape from me.”
    “Mmm, I guess that depends on whether this is a onetime thing. Do women often try and escape from you?”
No,
she thought.
Of course they didn’t.
    “All the time. It’s hell on the ego.” He was cool and relaxed and her heart gave a little kick, as it always did around him.
    She ignored it, as she always