The Truth About Cats & Dogs Read Online Free Page A
Author: Lori Foster, Kristine Rolofson, Caroline Burnes
any longer.
The best way to her heart was through her dog.
CHAPTER TWO
S ADIE RAN THROUGH her morning routine in record-breaking time. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was half-afraid that if she took too long, Buck would leave. That he was in her apartment in the first place was nothing short of a miracle.
With ruthless determination, she brushed the tangles out of her hair and pulled it back into a quick twist. It wasnât the neatest job sheâd ever done, but then sheâd never done her hair with a big handsome man waiting for her in his underwear.
Oh, Lord.
Hands shaking, she cleaned her teeth, even gargled for safe measureânot that she expected to be too close to Buck, butâ¦Several times, heâd invaded her personal space.
She stared at herself in the mirror, breathing hard, unseeing. Every single time Buck had gotten near, sheâd enjoyed it. It likely meant nothing; he was a big guy and just naturally took up more room than most. But it still thrilled her, even when she knew she hadno business being thrilled. Buck was not the kind of man she could start dreaming about.
But he smelled so good. Hot and musky-male. The freshness of the brisk morning air had competed with his scent, creating an intoxicating mix.
She closed her eyes, took a calming breath and quickly washed her face. She never bothered with jewelry or makeup, so less than ten minutes later she was dressed in a crisp pink blouse, a brown skirt with matching cardigan, and her comfortable weekend loafers. She had a bath towelâthe largest she ownedâdraped over one arm.
Still she hesitated. Buck Boswell was just so⦠much. So much male, so much muscle, so much appeal.
And he was sitting in her kitchen. In his underwear. With his impressive, hairy chest, wide hard shoulders and flat abdomen all on display.
Sadie shivered in sensual delight. She felt terribly excited and anxious and apprehensive, all at the same time.
Never in her twenty-five years had a man sat mostly naked in her kitchen. Never. Sheâd had men over, of course. She wasnât a complete social misfit. But they were businessmen, guys from the shelter dropping off a pet for her to nurture, or the lawyer with papers for her to sign concerning her motherâs affairs.
In some ways this was very, very different.
In others, it wasnât different at all.
Determined to face reality, Sadie reminded herself that Buck wasnât here for a date any more than the other men had been. Despite his frequent attempts to be friendly, he wasnât interested in her on a personal level; sheâd seen the women Buck preferred, and they were nothing like her.
If she hadnât locked him out of his apartment, he wouldnât be here now. Sheâd ordered him outside to rescue her dog, then repaid him by locking him out in his underwear. She wanted to groan. He had reason to be furious with her.
Sheâd handled plenty of large male animals thatâd been angry and fearful because of past treatment. Sheâd soothed them, petted them until they calmed down and eventually won them over. She only had a few scars to show for her efforts. Nothing dramatic. Nothing life-altering.
Besides, Buck didnât seem all that angry, and she doubted he went around biting women. And she definitely wouldnât be petting him.
Her heart gave a tiny little trip even as she formed the thought.
But no. He wasnât interested in intimacy, even if she felt that daring. And she didnât. Really. But the thought of stroking his powerful body made her flush, and then snicker at the absurdity of it.
Done being a coward, she forced herself to leave the room. When she rounded the corner of the hall, hereyes went immediately to the small kitchen table, and found it empty. Her heart sank before common sense took over. He wouldnât have left, not in his underwear. Not when heâd be insistent that she let him in.
Curious, she moved a
The best way to her heart was through her dog.
CHAPTER TWO
S ADIE RAN THROUGH her morning routine in record-breaking time. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was half-afraid that if she took too long, Buck would leave. That he was in her apartment in the first place was nothing short of a miracle.
With ruthless determination, she brushed the tangles out of her hair and pulled it back into a quick twist. It wasnât the neatest job sheâd ever done, but then sheâd never done her hair with a big handsome man waiting for her in his underwear.
Oh, Lord.
Hands shaking, she cleaned her teeth, even gargled for safe measureânot that she expected to be too close to Buck, butâ¦Several times, heâd invaded her personal space.
She stared at herself in the mirror, breathing hard, unseeing. Every single time Buck had gotten near, sheâd enjoyed it. It likely meant nothing; he was a big guy and just naturally took up more room than most. But it still thrilled her, even when she knew she hadno business being thrilled. Buck was not the kind of man she could start dreaming about.
But he smelled so good. Hot and musky-male. The freshness of the brisk morning air had competed with his scent, creating an intoxicating mix.
She closed her eyes, took a calming breath and quickly washed her face. She never bothered with jewelry or makeup, so less than ten minutes later she was dressed in a crisp pink blouse, a brown skirt with matching cardigan, and her comfortable weekend loafers. She had a bath towelâthe largest she ownedâdraped over one arm.
Still she hesitated. Buck Boswell was just so⦠much. So much male, so much muscle, so much appeal.
And he was sitting in her kitchen. In his underwear. With his impressive, hairy chest, wide hard shoulders and flat abdomen all on display.
Sadie shivered in sensual delight. She felt terribly excited and anxious and apprehensive, all at the same time.
Never in her twenty-five years had a man sat mostly naked in her kitchen. Never. Sheâd had men over, of course. She wasnât a complete social misfit. But they were businessmen, guys from the shelter dropping off a pet for her to nurture, or the lawyer with papers for her to sign concerning her motherâs affairs.
In some ways this was very, very different.
In others, it wasnât different at all.
Determined to face reality, Sadie reminded herself that Buck wasnât here for a date any more than the other men had been. Despite his frequent attempts to be friendly, he wasnât interested in her on a personal level; sheâd seen the women Buck preferred, and they were nothing like her.
If she hadnât locked him out of his apartment, he wouldnât be here now. Sheâd ordered him outside to rescue her dog, then repaid him by locking him out in his underwear. She wanted to groan. He had reason to be furious with her.
Sheâd handled plenty of large male animals thatâd been angry and fearful because of past treatment. Sheâd soothed them, petted them until they calmed down and eventually won them over. She only had a few scars to show for her efforts. Nothing dramatic. Nothing life-altering.
Besides, Buck didnât seem all that angry, and she doubted he went around biting women. And she definitely wouldnât be petting him.
Her heart gave a tiny little trip even as she formed the thought.
But no. He wasnât interested in intimacy, even if she felt that daring. And she didnât. Really. But the thought of stroking his powerful body made her flush, and then snicker at the absurdity of it.
Done being a coward, she forced herself to leave the room. When she rounded the corner of the hall, hereyes went immediately to the small kitchen table, and found it empty. Her heart sank before common sense took over. He wouldnât have left, not in his underwear. Not when heâd be insistent that she let him in.
Curious, she moved a
Readers choose
Shannon Baker
Ryan Gattis
Leila Bryce Sin
Polly Frost
Darlene Mindrup
Jeff VanderMeer
Stephanie Julian
Bella Andre
Cas Peace
Joan Smith