Love Me for Me Read Online Free PDF

despite the fact that his information was in my phone. I certainly hadn't acted like myself, and I wondered if he would still be interested now, in the light of day.
    "I'm glad you called." The words could have been smarmy, and would have been coming from anyone else. But here, with whatever this was between us, I heard the simple honesty behind them.
    "Yes. I..." My voice trailed off. I hadn't thought this through before calling. I didn't know what to say. Hey, that dance last night was pretty sexy? But then he might get the wrong idea.
    I remembered the feel of his hands on my back, and thought that maybe it was the right idea after all.
    "I want to see you tonight." My eyebrows rose in surprise. Apparently he didn’t want to play games either.
    “That would be nice.” I said, and there it was again, that inexplicable connection between us, pulling tight even through the phone.
    He cleared his throat. “Well, I should probably have said this first. I want to see you tonight, but I have plans.”
    I was irritated. If he didn’t want to see me, he could just say so. He didn’t have to make up any elaborate excuses.
    I opened my mouth to tell him so, but he cut me off.
    “Are you allergic to any animals?” His question caught me completely off guard.
    “Uh... no. Not that I know of.”
    “Would you like to come with me, then?” He sounded hopeful, and I was sure that I’d missed a step.
    “Come with you where, exactly?” My tone sounded far more abrupt than I meant it to, and I cringed. The last few years of my life had been spent trying to deter attention from the opposite sex, not attract it, and the habit was hard to break.
    He laughed, somewhat sheepishly. “Oh, sorry. Got ahead of myself. I work at an animal shelter not too far from campus. Tonight I’m scheduled for playtime.”
    “Playtime?” Why did that sound so deliciously naughty?
    “Animal playtime.” I was certain he knew where my mind had strayed. “There’s a fenced in dog run in the back of the shelter. Basically we take that night’s group out and play fetch far way longer than either of us want to.”
    On my end of the call, I shut my eyes and pressed my fingers to my temple. He was the first guy I’d been attracted to in years... and he liked puppies.
    I was a goner.
    “If you don’t want to go get slobbered on, that’s totally cool.” He sounded sincere, and I could detect none of the macho coolness that so many guys used when they were feeling rejected or defensive. “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.”
    “I love dogs.” The words escaped my mouth before I could even think them through fully. “This sounds great. I mean, if you really want me to go with you.”
    “Oh, I want you.” My fingers tightened on the cell. There was no mistaking the double entendre in his voice.
    “G-good.” To my surprise, the space between my legs throbbed. This guy had me tied up in knots, and we hadn’t even kissed yet.
    “I’ll have to meet you there. I’m sorry, but I have a lab that runs late.” He gave me the directions, and I couldn’t help the zings of excitement.
    This was a date. Sort of. I thought.
    I hadn’t ever been on a date, not a real one.
    “I’ll see you at eight, then. Wear old clothes.” As we arranged the details, I could almost convince myself that we weren’t anything but friends, that I’d misread everything.
    That is, until he said goodbye.
    “I’ll see you tonight, Serena.” His voice was husky. “I’m looking forward to it. A lot.”
    Oh, and so was I.

Chapter Three

    Connecticut No-Kill was a fairly new animal shelter three blocks from campus. I’d walked by it several times, but had never gone in, even though I loved animals.
    If I went in, I’d fall in love with every four legged creature who batted big eyes at me. Dorms didn’t allow pets—not like Kaylee would allow one anywhere near her shoes—and as for back home...
    I cut that thought right off. Home wasn’t home anymore. I didn’t