Going All the Way Read Online Free Page B

whispered across the collar of his shirt. A touch too long for the standard idea of professional, but sexy as hell. Obviously what had happened at the wedding the other night had left her sexually frustrated and lusting after any man who ran by.
    In fact, from behind this guy did look an awful lot like her almost-hookup from the wedding reception. Ryan . Her heart gave a little jump at the thought of him and blood rushed to her cheeks. Surely that couldn’t be him chasing a dog in front of her house?
    Nah. That was crazy.
    Feeling bad for the poor man and his dog, she dropped her bags back in the car and ran after them into the park. The dog couldn’t have gotten too far, could he? Apparently, he could.
    “Riley!” the man yelled. “Get back here now.”
    The dog turned and looked back, then ran in a wide arc through the bushes, circling around. In an effort to cut him off, Carrie ran to the right, jumping through a large hedge of fragrant rose bushes and coming right up on him. She dropped to a crouch, her fingers sinking into the damp grass. “Hey, Riley, what ya doing?” she called sweetly.
    He stopped and stared at her, his head tilted to one side. This dog was the canine equivalent of a Thoroughbred horse—lean, tall, gorgeously formed, intelligence radiating from his wide brown eyes.
    “It’s all right. Come here, boy.” She held out her hand, palm down. “You sure are pretty with all that red fur.” He took a step toward her, his eyes teeming with curiosity. “You are a handsome fellow,” she cooed. He’d almost reached her when the man pushed through the bushes beside them, red-faced, a leash swinging from his hand.
    “There you are,” he called, startling them both.
    Riley jumped back then loped away. Hoping he wasn’t a biter, Carrie lunged to the right, grabbed him by the collar, and held tight. “I got you, boy,” she said and bent down to stroke his head and shoulders.
    “Thank you!” The man ran up to them. He tried to attach the leash to the dog’s collar, but the dog would have none of it. As she struggled to hold on, she fell to her butt just as the leash clicked into place.
    “Success!” she called, laughing as the dog surrendered.
    “Thank you!” The man held out his hand to help her up.
    She took his hand and looked up. “No prob—” Her heart dropped.
    It was him.
    Heat burned her cheeks as she stood upright. She yanked back her hand. “You!”
    He looked just as surprised as she was.
    “Do you really live…” she couldn’t finish. Did he really live in the duplex right next door to hers? She swallowed.
    “It would appear so.” His words were stilted, his back stiff.
    She turned and took a step away, trying to process the fact that the stranger she almost got naked with, that she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about, was sharing a wall with her house. Her mind raced. The only thing that made what happened the other night palatable was the fact that he had no idea who she was. In fact, she’d never even told him her name. But now… She took several deep breaths, then stopped herself before she hyperventilated.
    “Where did you go the other night?” he asked. “I came back and you were gone.” His eyes were boring into hers.
    She winced. “I uh, I didn’t feel well. Sorry to leave you hanging like that.” She cringed again at her choice of words. “I’m afraid I had too much to drink. Wasn’t quite, uh, myself.” That was putting it mildly. What must he think of her?
    He took a step toward her and held out his hand, a suspiciously charming smile filling his face. The same deadly smile from the other night, and it still had the effect of weakening her knees. “How about we start over? I’m Ryan. Your next-door neighbor.”
    “Carrie.” She stared at his hand, almost afraid of what would happen when she touched it. Reluctantly, she took it once again. It was warm, comforting. Memories surged to her mind—his touch grazing her skin, lighting her