Going All Out Read Online Free PDF Page A

bandage over each knee. “Feel good?”
    She nodded, sitting up to survey the result. “You’re very good with your hands. Thank you.”
    “All in a night’s work.”
    She laughed at that, a whiskey-rich sound that filtered through him with a lot more impact than a laugh should have.
    Lucas didn’t want to let her go yet. The idea of brewing coffee and greeting the dawn while continuing their conversation appealed, but he had no real reason to keep her here.
    He settled for retrieving her shoes, thinking it was sort of a sad commentary on what his life had become that he had to devise ways to keep a beautiful woman with him.
    “Allow me.” He reached for a shapely ankle.
    “Tell me, Lucas. What did I do to deserve all this five-star treatment? By all rights, you could have sent me downtown for trespassing.”
    “And let the police have all the fun of interrogating you? I don’t think so.”
    She treated him to that laugh again, a sound as dusky and sultry as the dark outside, a sound that shouldn’t feel physical but did.
    Dragging his hand down her ankle, Lucas explored the feel of her smooth skin beneath his fingers and hoped he wasn’t being too obvious. Bree had feet as delicate as the rest of her and as well groomed. Her toes boasted perfectly maintained nails in a subtle red shade that matched her manicure.
    He slid the sandal into place, then attempted to fasten the strap around her ankle.
    “Here, let me,” she said. “You might be very good with your hands, but this is a job for smaller fingers.”
    She brushed him away with a warm touch. Her hair swung forward in a silky wave as she leaned over, and Lucas stood rooted to the spot, inhaling a breath that was subtly spicy fragrance and all enticing woman.
    With a few deft maneuvers, Bree fastened the strap, then extended her other foot. “Teamwork.”
    He only slid on her remaining sandal and let her work her magic while he tried again to gauge whether he was having an effect on her. She seemed breathless, too fast with her answers, so when she finished fastening her sandal, Lucas slipped his hands around her waist and helped her off the counter.
    The air charged with awareness. The top of her head didn’t quite reach his nose, so his every breath filled with the scent of her. He fought down the urge to pull her close—one easy move and she would mold sleekly against him, all feminine curves he knew would align perfectly. Her breasts would press against his chest. Her hips wouldtip and cradle what threatened to become a raging erection.
    She raised her dark eyes and peered beneath her lashes. “Thank you.”
    “My pleasure, Bree.” He wanted to kiss her more than he could remember ever wanting to kiss before, but the expression in her gaze stopped him. There was something there…something almost amused, as if she was well aware of the impact of her beauty and expected him to be unable to resist her.
    That look dared him to resist.
    “I’m glad you dropped in tonight.” By sheer effort of will, he moved away, found even those few inches helped to clear his head. “I’ve enjoyed meeting you.”
    “I’ve enjoyed meeting you, too. Thanks for rescuing me.”
    That made him smile. He’d never met a woman less in need of rescuing than Bree Addison. He might have helped her out with some first aid, but as she watched him with those exotic eyes and kissing lips, Lucas knew that this woman was shielding a lot behind the mysterious expression.
    “I’ll walk you home,” he said.
    He half expected her to blow off his offer and vanish as suddenly as she’d appeared. But she only said, “Thank you,” and grabbed her coat.
    Perhaps she was concerned about heading back out into the dark alone. As she’d proven tonight, Court du Chaud wasn’t a world unto itself. Their court was part of the busy French Quarter that teemed with the lighter and darker sides of life.
    Although the idea of her being in danger on a walk home from work disturbed him, he