His Devious Angel Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    In the actual cooking area, the appliances were chrome and huge with a center island that any cook would envy. A bay window full of colorful ceramic pots of basil, mint, and chives caught his attention, and he instantly thought how his father would love this bright, sunny room.
     Liam wandered over to the French windows at the other end of the room, and the paradise outside had him reaching for the handle. As soon as he stepped out the door, a medium-sized hound glanced up with one blood-shot eye as it lay, spread-eagled, in front of a fancy doghouse. It started to bark but gave up half-way through so it just sounded like an exclamation.
    His first reaction was to leave the mutt alone, but the dog’s expression of friendliness overrode it. He bent over to pet the lazy canine. "Hey tiger, I'm a friend." Speaking low in a soothing tone did the trick. The dumb mutt sat up crookedly on its haunches, back legs comically spread, and panted—the tail wagging from side to side like a mechanical rope. Liam could have sworn the critter grinned, its half-hidden eyes twinkling like a human’s.  
    Ruffling folds of fur with an extra caress for the pendulous silky ears, Liam made a lifelong friend. He stood, intending to move farther into the garden paradise. As if it needed to impress, the young dog stood up and wiggled from side to side. "What have you got to be so happy about?"
    A barking growl answered his question, and he laughed. Damn dog was almost human. Liam spotted a ball, picked it up, and threw. A splash followed, and he realized he'd lobbed it into the pool. Without hesitation the dog loped and leapt, a huge splash the result.
    "I see you've found Susie's weakness. Never knew a dog that loved to swim like mine. She's been a water baby since a puppy, probably a good thing, since she has a tendency to be a bit odoriferous and bathing her is a nightmare." Bea talked as she guided Sadie toward the far end of the path.
    Liam watched the two women make their way through the garden. One moved fluidly, her weight not a hindrance at all. The other limped, winced, and muttered.
    Sadie unknowingly stopped in a spot where the sun framed her from behind. Her body, outlined seductively through the gauzy material of the dress the wind molded around every luscious curve, would fuel any hot-blooded man's fantasy.
    Gorgeous, a crowning glory of gold—a nebula of curls flittered around her head and caught his mesmerized gaze. He wished he had the right to approach her and smooth them back as he stole a kiss.
    What the hell am I thinking?  He started the lecture that normally worked to stop his interest in any female from getting out of control. And this time he had help.
    “Bless my soul. For a bloke who can't sleep, or work, or even relate to his own father…”
    Liam knew that voice. He turned a complete circle and, sure enough, there was his imaginary friend, or whatever he was, leaning against the wall of a small ivy-covered hut, tapping his toe and looking annoyed.
    “I don’t know how to be friends with girls.”
    “Rubbish! You treat them the same way you do the guys on your team, with respect.”
    "Liam." Bea snagged his attention. With a warning note ringing in her loud voice, she nodded her head in Sadie's direction. "As much as my bratty daughter will try to refuse your help, she needs to get into the hot tub sometime soon."
    Both turned to see Sadie stagger towards the steps, stop and cling to the railing, and moan involuntarily. Face white, jaw clenched, the muscles in her well-formed arms bulging, she strained to hold herself upright. Just in time, Liam reached her as she started to weave. Whipping her into his arms became a battle of wills as she stiffened and pushed herself away from his chest. 
    "Would you stop manhandling me? I just wanted to sit for a minute."
    "You mean you were going to land on your ass, maybe hurt yourself worse."
    Bea reached them and, with a not-so-tender pat against her daughter's