04 Naked Games Read Online Free PDF Page B

supposed to just embrace her?”
    “We ran a check on her, Dean. She came back clean. She doesn’t even have an outstanding parking ticket.”
    Dean ran a hand through his hair. “I know, I know. It’s just a feeling. Something about her puts me on edge.”
    Jonas rubbed his jaw. “Yeah, I noticed. However, maybe this has nothing to do with her being some sort of con artist.”
    Dean stiffened and stepped closer to Jonas. “What do you mean?”
    “Hell, man, you’re attracted to her. You’ve been watching her like a hawk that just spotted a field mouse.”
    Christ, he’d been that transparent? “Look, I won’t deny she can fill out a pair of jeans. So what’s your point?”
    Jonas shook his head. “Whatever. All I’m saying is that you need to chill.” He pointed a finger in the direction of the kitchen. “Wade’s about half a step from kicking your ass. This reunion is important to Gracie. She’s been looking forward to it since she first spoke to Catherine.”
    “You’re right.” Dean sighed. “Damn it.”
    Jonas grinned, which made Dean want to punch him. “I usually am, buddy.”
    Dean shoved at his shoulder. “You’re also a pain in the ass.”
    Jonas laughed as he headed back into the kitchen. When Dean followed, he purposely kept his gaze away from the delectable Catherine Michaels. She was going to be visiting all week. Surely he could keep himself in check that long. How hard could it possibly be?

5
    C atherine had been curious about Dean from the moment she’d met him the night before. At Gracie and Wade’s, he’d seemed to have a chip on his shoulder when it came to her and she wanted to know why. She’d even told Mary all about him when she’d called her to tell her how her first face-to-face with Gracie had gone. Now, as she stood on his front walk in the bright noonday sun, she had to wonder if her curiosity would get her into a world of trouble. Unfortunately, there was no going back now. She was already here. Besides, he wasn’t an ogre. Hadn’t Gracie said he was a sweet guy? Surely they could come to some sort of understanding.
    Catherine wanted things to work with her sister and that meant that Gracie’s family needed to accept her. Even though Gracie hadn’t married Wade yet, his family had made it clear that Gracie was indeed one of them. Besides, the only other alternative was to ignore the man for the duration of her stay. She couldn’t very well do that without coming off as rude. A little voice inside her head said there were other, more intimate reasons for not wishing to ignore the sexy man, but Catherine squashed that little voice into oblivion.
    As she strode forward and stepped onto the front porch, Catherine began to have second thoughts all the same. Maybe he would tell her to go fly a kite. Maybe he’d resent her for showing up unannounced. When Catherine had talked to Gracie about Dean’s obvious animosity toward her, Gracie had come up with the plan for Catherine to meet him one-on-one. On his own turf. It was Saturday, and Gracie had sworn he’d be home, but what if he was busy? Or worse, busy with a woman?
    “Oh, God,” she mumbled. For all she knew he’d greet her with a shotgun. “Maybe I’ll just call. We can have a nice, safe chat over the phone.”
    As she turned around to leave, she heard the door creak open behind her. Catherine froze in place. Her feet simply refused to move. Okay, she had two options. Run full steam ahead back to the safety of her rental car, or face the man. When she heard a low, deep voice whisper something from behind, Catherine screwed up her courage and turned around. Dean stood there, leaning against the door frame, an annoying frown marring his handsome expression. He had comfortably worn jeans and a loose, heather gray T-shirt. And he was barefoot. Dang, the man was delish.
    “And just where do you think you’re going?”
    Catherine had the sense that she was facing down her executioner. She held on to her