The Truth About Cats & Dogs Read Online Free Page B

little more quickly into the family room—and almost tripped over him.
    Sprawled on his stomach on the carpet, taking up most of her minuscule floor space, Buck was trying to coerce Tish into coming closer. Butch sat beside him, impatiently watching, whining a little, and barking every now and then.
    Her heart almost melted. From the day she’d met Buck, she’d been amazed at his size. He clowned around a lot, and he loved to tease and laugh, but there was no denying his strength. His biceps were so big, even using both hands she wouldn’t be able to circle them. His shoulders looked like boulders and his thighs like tree trunks. He could intimidate most anyone just by standing there, and he’d certainly intimidated her.
    Yet now he was trying his best to sweet-talk her little bald dog. Such an amazing contradiction.
    In silence Sadie tracked the long line of his powerful body, from his rumpled brown hair, down the deep furrow of his spine framed by bulging back muscles, across his tight buttocks, along his thick thighs, his hairy calves and finally to his enormous feet.
    He was the biggest man she knew. He was the only man she’d ever seen in his underwear. And he had the gentlest, sweetest voice—
    â€œWant me to roll over so you can check out the other side?”
    Sweetness changed to amusement when he addressed her, and Sadie’s eyes nearly crossed. She glanced at his face, but he wasn’t looking at her. He watched Tish, his lopsided smile giving him an endearing look.
    She cleared her throat, summoned up a credible lie and said, “I was just trying to decide if this towel is big enough.”
    â€œRight.”
    Time to change the subject, and fast. Sadie coughed. “It’s nice that you’re trying, but Tish’s really shy. She won’t come to me willingly, either, and she’s especially afraid of men.”
    â€œI’ll win her over, eventually.” He winked, then rolled to his feet and stood in front of her, towering, imposing.
    Sexy.
    When Sadie just stared up at him, he held out a hand. Reflexively, she jumped back, thinking he meant to touch her. One of his eyebrows lifted, and she saw his hand was held out, palm up.
    Oh. She gave him the towel. “You can hang your shorts over the back of a chair to dry if you want.”
    He smiled, then started for the kitchen. “Sure. Give me one minute—and no peeking.”
    As if she would! Well…she might. If she knew she wouldn’t be caught.
    The dogs followed on his heels, and Sadie found herself alone in the tiny living room. She waited, peeked down the hall, and waited some more.
    Incredible. A naked man was now in her kitchen. Her belly pulled tight as she pictured it all too clearly in her mind.
    â€œCoast is clear,” Buck called.
    Being the cautious sort and already flushed from her vivid imaginings, Sadie crept in until she saw that he was indeed covered. Phew. What a relief.
    Sort of.
    Not that his wearing a towel was that much better than his wearing boxers, but it hid more of him, from beneath his navel to just below his knees. Still, he sat in the stiff kitchen chair, thighs open, one long leg stretched out.
    She’d always heard that men had no modesty. This pretty much proved it. Right now, if she bent over just a little, she’d be able to see—
    â€œThe coffee smells good.”
    Sadie met his mocking gaze and had the horrible suspicion he’d read her thoughts. Mortified, she turned her back on him. “You could have helped yourself.” As she said it, she got two mugs down from the cabinet.
    â€œI wouldn’t be so presumptuous.”
    That had her smiling. He was by far the most outrageous human being she knew, and she doubted he could spell presumptuous. She peeked at him. He’dhung the silly monkey-covered boxers over the back of a chair. The bright yellow in her white kitchen seemed as out of place as Buck himself.
    â€œAfter