The Tempting Mrs. Reilly Read Online Free

showingoff the sharp angles and planes of his face to model perfection. His dark blue eyes were still as deep and mysterious as the ocean at night. His black USMC T-shirt strained over broad shoulders and a muscular chest and his narrow hips and long legs looked unbelievably good encased in worn denim.
    She’d forgotten, God help her.
    She’d forgotten just how much he could affect her.
    Maybe Janet had been right. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
    She wanted a baby, sure.
    And she wanted Brian to be its father.
    But if simply standing beside the man could make her weak in the knees, what chance did she have to keep herself from falling back into the stupid-with-love category?
    As soon as that thought flitted through her mind though, she firmly pushed it aside. She could do this. It had been five years. She wasn’t in love anymore. She wasn’t a kid, trusting in one special man to make her dreams come true.
    She’d worked long and hard at her career. She was respected. She was mature enough to handle Brian Reilly without getting her fingers burned again. And if she was still breathlessly attracted to him, that was a good thing.
    It would make seducing him that much easier.
    â€œLook, Brian,” she said, keeping a tight grip onMuffin while Peaches scrabbled at the hem of Brian’s jeans again, “there’s no reason we can’t be civil to each other, is there?”
    â€œI guess not.”
    â€œGood.” It was a start, anyway. “So, I’m going to barbecue a steak tonight. Want me to add one for you?”
    For one small second, she thought he was going to say yes. She could see it in his eyes. The hesitation. Then he apparently got over it.
    â€œNo, thanks. Gotta go see Connor tonight. He’s uh…having some problems with his uh—“
    Tina smiled and shook her head. “You never were much of a liar, Brian.”
    He stiffened. “Who’s lying?”
    â€œYou are,” she said, smiling. Then she turned for the gate leading to the backyard and the house. “But that’s okay, I’m not taking it personally. Yet. Come on, Peaches. Dinner.”
    Instantly, the little dog released her hold on Brian and scuttled for the backyard and her food dish.
    â€œTina,” Brian said.
    She stopped at the gate and flashed him a smile. It was good to know she could still get to him so easily. If he hadn’t been worried about being alone with her, he never would have lied about having to meet Connor.
    And now, he looked…confused. Also good. If she could just keep him off his guard for a week or two, things would work out fine.
    â€œIt’s okay, Brian,” she said, giving him a shrug and a brighter smile. “I’m going to be here for almost three weeks. I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of each other.”
    â€œYeah.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and hunched his broad shoulders as if trying to find a way to balance a burden that had been dropped onto him without warning.
    She wasn’t sure she liked the analogy much, but it seemed to fit.
    â€œHave a good night,” she called out as she closed the gate behind her, “and say hi to Connor.”
    â€œRight.”
    Tina went into the house with the dogs, and once the back door was closed, she fingered the edge of the white Priscilla curtains until she could see the stairway leading to the garage apartment. Brian climbed those stairs like a man headed for the gallows.
    And when he reached the landing, he paused and looked back at the house.
    Tina flinched. It was almost as if his gaze had locked with hers instinctively. She felt the heat and power of that steady stare and it rocked her right to her bones.
    Long after he’d gone inside his apartment, Tina was still standing in the kitchen, looking out the window. And she couldn’t help wondering which of them was really off their guard.
    Â 
    Two hours later, Brian