Lisa's Gift Read Online Free Page B

tunnel.
    And the one that her doctor continuingly quoted by Alexander Chalmers, “The three grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for.”
    Well she had two out of the three. She had something to do. She needed to find someplace else to live. And she had something to hope for.
    With a little luck she could get out of the house before Lisa and Nicolas rose.
    Clearly she’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed. She hadn’t had much sleep, troubled by old memories that she thought she’d put to rest.
    Seeing Lisa and Nicolas together had been a shock. None of it was impossible for her to work through. She just needed to sort it all out. A deep inhale and exhale released some of the tension. Everything would be okay. All she had to do was believe, because it was time for her to live and enjoy life.

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    Mackenzie McKade
    With that last thought she shut off the water, opened the shower door, and grabbed a towel. She was just about to wrap it around her when the door to the bathroom opened and Nicolas, wearing a soft velour robe, filled the doorway. His brows shot up and his gaze flew to her exposed breasts.
    She released a squeal of surprise as she fumbled with the towel, which she proceeded to drop. It seemed rather ridiculous to try to cover up since he had seen every inch of her body. As calmly as she could she bent and retrieved the towel, keeping her eyes on him. As she did, his gaze raised to meet hers, a devilish smile plastered on his handsome face.
    After wrapping the towel securely around her, she pointed to the door. “Don’t you know how to knock?” Even if the lock on the door was broken, he should have knocked.
    “Yeah. But what’s the fun in that? Look at what I would have missed.” He casually leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Nice. Real nice.”
    She snorted. The unladylike sound deepened his smile. Heart pounding, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Do you mind?”
    God, he was gorgeous, simply gorgeous.
    And Lisa’s she reminded herself.
    “Not at all.” Yet he made no attempt to step aside or to leave. Instead, his voice dropped several octaves. “Would you like me to dry you off?”
    Lord, but the sensuality in his tone made goose bumps rise across her skin.
    Nervous laughter burst from her lips. “I don’t think so.” Just the thought of his strong hands roaming across her body made every hair stand on end.
    He pushed away from the doorway and slowly straightened, taking a step toward her. With a cock of his head he furrowed his brows, looking at her strangely.
    She double-checked the towel around her. “What?”
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    Lisa’s Gift
    “Soap. In your hair.” His sapphire eyes lit up as if they were blue fire under glass. A twitch teased the corner of his mouth as he restrained a smile. “What do you say we jump back into the shower? I’ll rinse you off.”
    Jana felt her eyes widen. Nicolas was a rogue, a whoremonger. But a handsome whoremonger.
    Lisa slipped into the bathroom next to him. Casually, he wrapped an arm around her, but continued to smile at Jana.
    Argh… He knew this was awkward for Jana. Still, he persisted in teasing her.
    “Oh, good. You’re awake,” Lisa said, snuggling close to Nicolas.
    Oh good! I’m awake. Duh, Lisa, doesn’t this appear out of the ordinary to you ? I’m naked. Your boyfriend is standing in the bathroom ogling me .
    Jana realized her mouth was hanging open as she snapped it shut.
    Lisa’s gaze shot to Jana then to Nicolas.
    Oh no. Here it comes . Jana had no idea how she was going to deal with this awkwardness.
    Lisa cocked a brow. “What are you two up to?”
    Heat flared across Jana’s face like she had just gotten caught in a wildfire, or with a proverbial hand in the cookie jar. She was just about to blurt the truth, when Nicolas said, “She still has soap in her hair. I offered