Cat of a Different Color: Halle Pumas, Book 3 Read Online Free PDF Page A

doesn’t do it first?”
    Max’s grin relaxed, and Adrian relaxed with him. “She broke a man’s nose once.”
    “I know.”
    “You know?”
    “Yeah, the whole town knew.”
    Max blinked. “So why didn’t I know?”
    Adrian shrugged. “Why would you? You weren’t in town when it happened, and no one knew she’d turn out to be your mate.”
    Max blew out a breath. “The argument I had with that woman to get the story out of her… Okay. Never mind,” he snarled as Adrian grinned. “You see if you can get Sheri to spill the rest of the story.”
    “No problem.” Adrian turned to leave the office and saw one of the wedding gown pictures Emma had pinned to the bulletin board. He stopped with a grin. “By the way, can you pass on a message to Emma?”
    “Sure, what is it?”
    The curiosity in Max’s voice nearly caused him to laugh. “Can you tell her that there aren’t enough swimsuit pictures in here? If you guys are going to the Caribbean for your honeymoon, she’ll need to pick out a bikini.”
    “Are you trying to get me maimed?”
    “Can you get pictures of her modeling them? That would be cool.”
    “Out! Asshole.”
    Adrian left the office with a laugh. It was time to go claim his mate.

Chapter Four
     
    Sheri very carefully lifted the sun-catcher out of the box Simon had packed it in. The big artist stood over her, watching her every move like a hawk. She made sure she was extra careful with the delicate piece.
    She’d been working at Wallflowers for two days now, and she hadn’t been left alone for a moment. If Becky and Emma were absent, some other member of the Pride “just stopped by to do some shopping”. As if even a woman like Marie Howard could shop in one store for three hours . Thank God for Belinda. At least she made no pretense of why she was there, and the two women had become fast friends. And maybe if Rudy was gone from her life she’d be able to help Belinda get her dream off the ground.
    “Please don’t break it.”
    “I’m being careful,” she replied, starting to get pissed off.
    “No offense, but you’re taking forever to do that.”
    “Would you like to do this?”
    “Nah, looks like you’ve got it covered.” He began to pace, moving restlessly around the delicate furniture like a caged…well, mountain lion. “Becky’s officially moving in with me this week.”
    “I know. I’m helping her pack.” She gently laid the sun-catcher in the white gift box bearing the store’s name and logo printed in gold lettering. “She said I should be able to move in by the end of the week since she’s not taking any of the furniture.” Which was pretty fast work considering it was only Tuesday.
    “So she’s already taken you up and shown you around?”
    “Yeah, I know the layout and everything.”
    “Cool. Not that you’ll live there for very long if Adrian has anything to say about it.”
    “Simon?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Tell me about Adrian.” She could have bitten off her tongue for letting the words slip out, but curiosity was eating away at her like mad.
    “He’s the same age as me, so a year younger than Max. He went to school locally, his parents still live here and have been happily mated for nearly thirty years. He’s born, not made. He has a sister and a brother, both younger, both still in college, both out of town. He owns his own home and car, shares a practice with Max, and has never been in trouble with the law.”
    “Women?”
    “None serious.”
    “As bad as you?”
    Simon growled. “I wasn’t that bad.”
    “No, of course not. Revolving doors belong in everyone’s bedroom.”
    “Pain in my ass,” he grumbled.
    Sheri grinned. “So he’s a player?”
    “Not so much. He didn’t date very seriously, but Sheri? He told me you’re his mate, which means now he doesn’t date at all.”
    “He’s mistaken,” she lied.
    “So when he approaches you about it, you treat him right, okay? He’s one of my best friends.”
    “I’ll bang