Bottom Line: Callaghan Brothers, Book 8 Read Online Free Page A

have a family or friends who cared for him?
    He thought about that for several long moments, his eyes burning into her with such intensity she felt like he could see that little sexy part hiding in the shadows.  Then he exhaled.  “Oh.  Okay.”
    He still didn’t look convinced, but he allowed her to tug his pants and socks off, leaving only his black silk boxers untouched, then guide him over to the bed.
    “Um, while you’re under the covers, how about pulling off the rest yourself?”
    It took a moment for her words to register, but when they did, he grinned wickedly.  “Help me.”
    She fought the urge to grin back at him.  There was something heartrendingly adorable about a gorgeous, almost-naked man being playfully naughty.  “No,” she said, trying to infuse a bit of firmness into her tone.  “You can do it.”
    “Please?” he asked hopefully.
    She crossed her arms over her chest.  “No.”
    He sighed, his grin turning into a look of intense concentration as he tried to remove his boxers beneath the sheets without becoming completely entangled.  After several minutes of watching him struggle, she exhaled heavily and reached under the covers to help him.
    “Stay still,” she commanded, wishing her voice sounded firmer and a bit less breathy.
    “Your hands are so warm and soft,” he murmured, surrendering to her.
    He grew still as she maneuvered the briefs down his legs and over his feet.  Resisting the urge to take a peek (if only to convince her mind that what her hands were telling her was real), she resettled the covers over him.  She felt the blush creep up her cheeks, but she needn’t have worried about his reaction.  When her eyes made it back up to his face, she saw that he had passed out cold.
    For no logical reason whatsoever, she brushed the damp golden locks from his forehead and pressed her lips to his as the grandfather clock down the hall tolled the arrival of the New Year.  “Happy New Year, Aidan.”
    Mary left the night light on in the bathroom and the door cracked to allow some light through.  He would probably be sleeping it off for some time, but just in case he got up in the middle of the night she didn’t want him to panic.  Making sure that the guest bathroom had all the essentials a man might need  – soap, shampoo, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, disposable razor, toilet paper - she gathered his wet clothes and closed the bedroom door behind her.
    Her washer and dryer were located in the pantry just off the kitchen.  She started the water and added a little detergent, then proceeded to empty his pockets and set the contents on top of the dryer.  Wallet.  Keys.  Monogrammed handkerchief with the letters ACH.  A small comb.  She held each one of them out to Max and let him sniff them. She wasn’t sure what, if anything, she expected, but his hackles didn’t rise and he didn’t let out a warning growl or anything, so she figured that was a good thing.
    Then she placed his shoes near the heating vent, quietly appreciating the fine Italian leather and hoping, for his sake, that they weren’t ruined.  She wasn’t quite sure, but she thought Bruno Maglis like these averaged several hundred dollars a pop if not more.
    Checking on Aidan once more and finding him sleeping peacefully, she shut off all but a few dim nightlights and went to her own bedroom.  Max curled up next to her, and they drifted off to sleep.
    * * *
    A idan woke up feeling disoriented.  His mouth felt like it was stuffed with wool and just the slight opening of his eyes resulted in the very unpleasant sensation of someone sticking knife blades into his corneas.  It wasn’t his custom made bed, but it was very comfortable.  The sheets felt smooth and cool against his naked – naked? – body.  The pillows that cradled his aching head were soft and smelled faintly like jasmine and vanilla.
    Scrubbing at his face, he took a deep breath and tried to remember something, anything.  He