Guarded Read Online Free PDF Page A

you.”
    “I hope so. I sent you that e-mail asking you to come.” She laughed, her shoulders relaxed, and her eyes sparkled. A wide grin spread across her lips. When serious, she was beautiful, but when she smiled like that . . . full-on blind-side knockout.
    “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you’re here.” She squealed and threw her arms around his waist. His arms went around her lush body as if they’d been designed for that express purpose.
    Oh, sweet God.
    She fit against him perfectly. He buried his nose in her hair. She smelled so good. Vanilla and sugar.
    As spectacular as it felt holding Shelley close, the moment was definitely waning. Especially when the leash she still had looped around her wrist inadvertently tugged the massive dog tight against Dev’s leg.
    Yes, that was drool soaking into his slacks and plastering the material to his thigh.
    If it was on his clothes and he was hugging her, then . . . “Oh damn, Shelley. I’m getting you filthy.”
    Shelley, still grinning, released him and bit her lip as she watched him fruitlessly try to de-slobber. He stepped back and tried to pull the Armani pant leg away from his body. What had he been thinking wearing them here? He should have worn his jeans, not just packed them. He knew this was a small town that had more farmers than bankers. Suits were fine for Tidewater, but here they just made him look pretentious . . . or stupid, since he
was
covered in muck.
    “You’re really here?” she asked, joy still making her voice lilt. “How long are you in town? Do we have enough time to visit before you help me, or do you need to get back right away? Why didn’t you tell me when you were coming? Not that I’m sorry you’re here, but I would have been more prepared, you know? Look at me getting ahead of myself. I should have asked if you did it. Did you make detective before your twenty-fifth birthday? Although . . .” She frowned. “I wanted to ask you in person, but Cam said your girlfriend didn’t like us. So it would be best to give you two some space. I hope I didn’t cause you any problems by breaking the silence.”
    Cam, you rotten sonofa . . .
    Tension coiled in Dev’s shoulders and he rotated them to relax it away. That bastard had lied to her. Again. But standing in the middle of the street was not the place to have
that
discussion. Dev needed to move them to some place with a little more privacy.
    “It’s great to see you too Shells. I’m in town for a few days. Why don’t we go someplace we can talk?”
    She smiled and nodded, then repeated one of her questions. “Did you make detective?”
    Dev couldn’t suppress the grin. “Yeah, I did. Last summer.”
    She squealed and threw her arms around his waist again. Shorter this time, and she’d already withdrawn when she said, “I knew it! I knew you’d do it. Where are you working?”
    “I’m on the Tidewater Police Force in the burglary/robbery division. My partner and I just wrapped up a pretty important case. A real career-maker.”
    “I have no doubt you’re going to be the best.” The look in her eyes was pure hero worship. And a little unnerving. He’d seen that look from the police groupies he’d met over the past few years but had never expected to see it in Shelley’s eyes. As if sensing his discomfort, she added, “I bet your partner considers himself lucky to have you. You were always so smart and careful and—”
    The big dog decided he wasn’t quite ready to give up his bid for freedom and gave a mighty yank. Shelley stumbled on the slick cobblestone. She might have hit the ground if Dev hadn’t caught her and held her close.
    Her back pressed against his chest, her elbows in his hands. Crap. He had really covered her front to back in muck now. But she didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe she didn’t mind.
    “There you go rescuing me again.” She tilted her head up and to the side to look at him over her shoulder. A mischievous glint in her eyes.