Catnapped! (A Matchmaker Mystery Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

desperate.”
    A ball of annoyance lodged in Pete’s chest. “Not that desperate. Alyssa is a beautiful woman.”
    Jackson shrugged. “I guess… if the idea of snuggling with a popsicle appeals… Personally, I’d worry about freezer burn.”
    The pressure in his chest increased. Instead of leaping to Alyssa’s defense like he wanted to, Pete focused on eating his pizza, which now tasted like stale toast.
    Sure, Alyssa had a pretty robust defense system going, designed to rebuff the average guy, but how could Jackson not see how gorgeous and vulnerable she really was?
    Jackson chuckled low and deep. “Oh man.”
    “What?” Pete glared at him, silently challenging him to put Alyssa down again.
    Jackson, noting the challenge, laughed harder. “She really got under your skin.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    Jackson picked up his slice and used it as a pointer. “I saw you with her on the dance floor at Tommy’s wedding.”
    “So?”
    Jackson just chuckled and took a bite of his pizza.
    “So you were just yanking my chain with the whole popsicle thing?” Pete asked finally.
    Jackson grinned. “Mauricio told me you chased her into the parking lot.”
    “I didn’t chase her.”
    Jackson raised his eyebrows.
    “I followed her in order to finish our conversation.”
    “Oh. I see. And I guess she didn’t lay down rubber because she was speeding away from you?” Jackson teased.
    Pete couldn’t help but chuckle a little too. “She had a work emergency.”
    “If you say so.”
    “She’s protecting the wife of Brady’s old boss.”
    “Protecting her from what?”
    Pete shrugged. “All I know is that it involves a missing cat.”
    Jackson shook his head. “First Tom meets Jane because he was babysitting a dog, now you’re chasing after a woman with a cat thing.”
    “I’m pretty sure Armani Vasquez would say she’s the reason Tom and Jane met. She stopped by the gym too.”
    “Yeah. Mauricio might have inserted that little nugget within his rant about her.”
    “She called him “‘sexy.’”” Pete laughed. “I thought his head was going to explode.”
    Jackson grinned. “I think—”
    “Hold that thought,” Pete interrupted, answering his cell phone which had started to vibrate. “Hello?”
    “It’s Alyssa Montgomery,” the Popsicle herself said. “I need to invite you to dinner.”
    “You need to invite me?”
    Jackson took another slice of pizza, making no effort to hide the fact he was actively eavesdropping on Pete’s end of the conversation.
    Alyssa sighed. “I could use your help finding the damn cat and my boss insisted I invite you to dine with us, so she could meet you.”
    “By your boss, you mean Mildred Michelman? And the cat you’re referring to is Mr. Burberry, right?”
    There was a long moment of silence. When Alyssa finally spoke, her tone was just as cool as Jackson had accused her of being. “Snooping like that is just plain creepy.”
    “I told you, I’m good at my job. Besides, I wasn’t snooping. I was getting prepared in case you decided you need my help, which it seems you’ do.”
    “Then I assume you don’t need Mrs. Michelman’s home address,” she snapped. “Dinner is in forty-five minutes.” With that, she disconnected the call.
    Pete stared at his phone. “She hung up on me.”
    “You do have that effect on women,” Jackson said drily.
    Pete leapt his feet. “I’ve got to go. Let yourself out when you’re done?”
    Jackson rolled his eyes, but kept his opinion to himself.
    Pete raced around, gargling mouthwash, while he packed up his laptop and changed into a fresh shirt.
    Jackson, still at the kitchen table eating his pizza, quietly suggested “Wine” as Pete hurried past.
    Pete skidded to a stop. “Whine?”
    “Maybe a glass or two will loosen her up.”
    “Oh… wine .”
    Jackson nodded. “That is what I said.”
    “Great idea.” Pete hurried over to the small wine rack in the corner of the kitchen. “White or