Hagen, Lynn - Murphy's Madness [Brac Pack 15] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought you said you weren’t crazy?”
    Ludo’s laugh was deep and rich as he pulled Murphy back into his arms. “Crazy for you.” Ludo rubbed his nose over his.
    “So cheesy.” Murphy knew he was wearing a big, goofy-ass grin. Why a gorgeous man wanted to date him was beyond his realm of reality, but he wasn’t actually nutty enough to pass up the opportunity.
    Even if it was just a roll around in the sheets, it would be better than the celibate life he had been leading lately. He usually didn’t do one-night hookups, but being in Ludo’s arms was making him quickly rethink his stance.
    Murphy’s heart came to a halt when he saw Maribel pass the big storefront window. He didn’t need this right now. “Excuse me.” He pulled from Ludo’s arms. Well, it would have been nice to have been with the guy. Rounding the corner and walking toward the back of the bookstore, he pushed the bathroom door open and locked it behind him.
    Standing on the toilet, he pushed the window open and climbed through. Falling unceremoniously on his ass, Murphy got to his feet and took off down the backside of the buildings until he made it to the woods. Thank goodness he had shoved his keys into his pockets after opening the store. He could get into his apartment without breaking and entering. Would he have been arrested if he was breaking into his own place?

    * * * *

    Ludo looked behind him in the direction his mate had run off to. What was taking him so long?
    “Is Murphy here?” the lady who walked in asked. Ludo thought she must assume he worked here because he was standing behind the counter.
    “He’s indisposed at the moment. Something I can help you with?” he asked without a clue as to what he was doing. How hard could it be to ring up a few books, and where the hell was his mate?
    “No, I’m here to see Murphy.” The woman leaned sideways, looking in the direction Ludo had just turned from. Was she Murphy’s girlfriend? The idea made his stomach hurt. He knew his mate was at least bi. No straight man kissed another guy with such passion.
    “He’s not here right now,” he snipped at her. He couldn’t help it. Ludo looked at her like competition, and he wasn’t used to competing for any man, especially his mate.
    “You just said he was indisposed.” Her eyes narrowed, looking him up and down with a look of disdain. An overwhelming urge to throttle her made his hands itch. Before yesterday, Ludo thought himself a peaceful man. This mating thing must be playing havoc with his mind.
    He had to go see what was taking Murphy so long and to see who this woman was in relation to him. “Oliver, watch the store,” he called out. The mate nodded as he walked behind the counter and smiled at the woman.
    Ludo walked to the back of the bookstore and turned the knob to the bathroom.
    “What the hell?” Why was it locked? Okay, he knew why someone would lock a door, but it had been ten minutes already. Ludo leaned his ear to the door, hoping his mate wouldn’t get mad at the invasion of privacy. When he heard nothing, be shoved his shoulder into the thin wood, the door giving way easily. Ludo cursed when he spotted the open window. Just exactly what was going on?
    “Is something wrong?”
    Ludo peered over his shoulder to see the woman customer standing behind him, trying her best to see into the bathroom.
    “No.” For some reason his protective instincts kicked into high gear at her nosiness.
    Ludo walked back to the front of the store, opening the door, and waving at the two warriors standing outside. They were waiting for Oliver. No mate went anywhere unescorted. Things had become too dangerous around their small town lately.
    “Montana, Dagon, come here.” He stepped back to allow them to enter. Ludo glanced around, wondering where the pesky woman had gone off to. He turned back to the warriors as he lowered his voice.
    “My mate has gone missing. I need you two to watch his store for me.”
    “What the hell do