Название: Animal Attraction
Автор: Maisey Yates
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon M&B
isbn: 9781472074935
isbn:
“No, about giving in to see how things go.”
This was not a conversation she’d ever thought to have with one of Shohn’s relatives. “He doesn’t need your help, Amber.”
“Ha! Of course he does.” She looked toward Louie, who was busy walking up Rookie’s back while Rookie laid perfectly still except for the tail he had thumping. “He even got that mangled old cat for you.”
“Not so.” Nadine smiled as she shared the wonderful truth. “He went to the shelter to get a dog, but Louie claimed him, and Shohn was too sweet to turn him away.”
“There you go!” Straightening in a rush, Amber walked from the kitchen. “Sweet on top of being passably handsome.”
Nadine snorted. Even a close cousin could be objective enough to know Shohn was the epitome of hotness.
“Though he’s a wiseass, he has his moments of humor, too.”
“You don’t have to sell me on him,” Nadine told her. “I already know he’s funny and smart, generous and loyal, hardworking and—”
“Yeah,” Amber interrupted, her tone wry, “let’s not saint him, okay? He’s a great guy, but still a guy, so he needs to have things made clear to him.”
“Those things being?”
“Just do me a favor,” Amber said, suddenly all business and ready to go. “Put on a shirt that shows a little cleavage, brush the dog hair off your shorts and when he makes his move, try being a little receptive. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Her heart could get irrevocably broken, that’s what.
But pride had saved her many times over the years, so maybe she could do this and then, with her pride, hold it all together—no matter how things went after.
Amber headed to the door. “She looks convinced, Rookie. Our work here is done.”
Shaking her head, Nadine picked up Louie to ensure the cat wouldn’t get out the door. “Thanks again for stopping by.” She would not thank her for pimping Shohn.
“You betcha,” Amber said. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” And with that, she left.
Nadine didn’t bother replying. When it came to Shohn there wasn’t much she didn’t want to do. If Shohn was willing, well then, better not to make promises she wouldn’t want to keep.
Chapter Four
Shohn pulled into the lot of Animal House as quietly as he could. He knew well how dogs reacted to noises in the night, and since the sun had already set, the dogs were surely tucked away for the night. If one barked, they’d all be kicking up a fuss and then Nadine would have more work to do.
Relieved not to see Amber’s truck in the lot, he made the safe assumption that he and Nadine would be alone. Taking care to close his door quietly, he left the Jeep. Hat in hand, his imagination already in overdrive, he walked toward her house.
Would she be wearing that same silly shirt with the suggestive comment on it? He’d thought of a dozen ways to tease her about it, and a dozen other ways to get her out of it.
She’d left the porch light on for him, so Shohn took a minute to remove his boots and socks. His feet weren’t wet this time, but he’d spent so much time hunting for the lost camper that he had half the damn mountain stuck to the treads.
Boots in hand, he stood and lightly tapped on the screen door.
Nadine showed up immediately. Her long brown hair hung loose, trailing down her back and over her shoulders, curling in and around those large, luscious breasts. Her eyes were darker than usual as she pushed open the screen and said with a “come and get me” smile, “Hi.”
Damn. He knew acquiescence when he saw it. Nadine wanted him. Tonight. Maybe even right now.
Knowing that had an instantaneous effect on his body. His guts clenched, heat rushed to his skin, his breathing grew shallower.
He got semihard.
Knowing he had to keep it together, he dipped his rapt gaze over her, stalling first on her soft, damp lips, then on that heart-stopping cleavage displayed under a V neck T-shirt. This one read Life is Short—Pet Hard.
Without a single word, he crowded in and dropped his boots just inside the threshold. The screen door closed behind them. He reached for her.
And Louie came up his leg in a dash, already purring, head-butting his chin and rubbing all over him in ecstasy.
“Shit.” Shohn caught the cat to help support him so he wouldn’t get shredded. So far, Louie had been great about not putting the claws to him, but his shirt could only take so much of Louie’s enthusiasm.
Nadine sighed. “Ah. He missed you.”
Her gentle expression fired his blood even more. Shohn wanted to see her looking at him like that, maybe after a really hot orgasm. “He could miss me a few minutes more, damn it.” What lousy timing the cat had! But Shohn pet him, anyway, giving him the greeting he wanted.
The rumbling purrs started to sound like a broken truck engine. Eyes closed, Louie continued to rub against him.
“Take it easy, buddy.” Shohn managed to get the cat away from his face and settled more on his chest. “Ah, that’s better.”
Nadine smiled.
“Now I can kiss you.” Her smile froze, but Shohn took her mouth too quickly for her to object.
Only she didn’t. She kissed him back. Awkwardly because, yeah, they had a big old rumbling tomcat between them, but still, it was pretty hot the way she turned her head, how she willingly parted her lips.
How she accepted his tongue.
She tasted even better than he remembered, hotter and sweeter. She made a small sound that he took for encouragement. He answered with a low groan, his thoughts already on getting her naked and under him.
Suddenly Louie butted his head up between theirs, and Shohn pulled away with a “Bleh.”
Breathing fast, Nadine asked, “What?”
“I had cat ear in my mouth.” He used a shoulder to wipe his face.
She snickered then took his arm. “I’m sorry. Why don’t we sit down for a bit? Are you hungry?”
Was that nervousness that had her talking so fast? “Not this time, thanks.” Shohn dropped onto her couch and again tried to rearrange the big cat. Louie was so muscular and rangy at the same time that doing anything he didn’t fully approve was damn difficult. “I grabbed some fast food to eat on the way here.”
“I wouldn’t have minded fixing you something.”
“Thanks, СКАЧАТЬ