TooHottoTouch Read Online Free Page A

out here?”
    Mark’s gaze shifted down and he fumbled with his pocket. “I
wasn’t sure if you had enough money. I know you’ve only been working a week.”
    Sean chuckled and slapped his good friend on the back.
“Thanks, man, but money’s not a problem. I still have savings and now a paying
job. Besides, my parents won’t take any rent, so my expenses are pretty low.”
    He inwardly rolled his eyes at his entire living situation.
His parents had insisted he move back home once he’d been discharged from the
hospital. He had acquiesced out of guilt because he knew his hospitalization
had been hard on them. He didn’t want them to worry any more than necessary.
Still, the idea of moving back into his childhood bedroom had rankled.
Occupying the empty apartment over their garage had seemed like a good
compromise solution. He couldn’t wait to move though, when classes started in a
few weeks.
    Mark grinned. “Okay, fair enough. Ready?”
    He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Let’s do this
thing.”
     
    The butterflies cocooned within Zoë’s stomach took flight
the moment she spied Sean coming into the restaurant. He was dressed nicely
just as he had been for the interview, in khaki pants and a button-down shirt.
A conservative outfit by anyone’s estimation, yet she felt the sexual kick to
her gut as if he were standing there buck naked. The guy was truly too sexy for
his clothes. She grabbed her iced tea to offset the growing heat in her body.
    Their gazes met immediately. He homed right in on her, which
meant he had scoped out the restaurant before coming in. He smiled at her and
again, tension rose within her. If he affected her this much within a few
seconds, she’d never survive dinner. She tamped her arousal down and schooled
her expression to one of pleasantness. No sense in scaring the guy away by
showing her growing hunger for him.
    “Hi, Zoë. Hi, Grace,” Sean said as the guys arrived at the
table. He grinned at Zoë as they watched Mark greet his girlfriend with exuberance.
The lucky woman was half out of her chair and completely out of breath before
he let her go. Sean sat down across from Zoë. “Have you met Mark?”
    Zoë shifted her attention to the gorgeous man sitting next
to Sean. She could easily see what had attracted Grace, but given the choice
Zoë would have picked Sean nevertheless. “No, although I’ve seen pictures, lots
of pictures,” she replied.
    Mark rolled his eyes and Grace ducked her face with fake
embarrassment. “Nice to finally meet you, Zoë,” the soldier said. Picking up
one of the menus lying on the table, he asked, “Have you two ordered?”
    “No, we waited for you,” Grace answered. As she said it, the
server came up to take drink orders from the men.
    Sean went first. “I’ll have an iced tea.”
    “Great choice,” Zoë confirmed. “It’s excellent.” And
non-alcoholic. That’s why she and Grace had ordered it.
    “I’ll have a Sam Adams, please.” The server had already
turned away when Mark jumped and yelped. “What?” he demanded of Grace, who had
obviously kicked him under the table. “Sean got on my case when I tried to not
order beer the other night.”
    “It’s true,” Sean agreed with a quick nod. His gaze met
Zoë’s. “Really, you don’t have to abstain just because I am. I’m fine.”
    Taking a long swallow of her drink, Zoë leveled her gaze. “I
happen to love iced tea. The only alcohol I drink is retsina wine, Metaxa
brandy and ouzo. I doubt the restaurant carries any of those.”
    “Okay.” Sean didn’t press the point but he didn’t look
convinced either. “What looks good, and please don’t say the chicken or the
pasta.”
    “Here we go,” muttered Grace. She shot a peeved look at
Mark.
    “Why not?” Zoë asked. “I happen to like chicken and pasta.”
    Sean looked at her over his menu. “Because they’re the
cheapest things listed, and as this is my treat, I want you to have