McCallum Quintuplets Read Online Free PDF Page B

for that stupid, crooked-mouth dog.
    Okay. He checked his watch one more time, decided he’d killed enough time on introspection, or whatever in hell it was he’d been doing—and he certainly wasn’t going to examine his rambling thoughts too closely, because then he might find out. Maddie should have been knocking on his door fifteen minutes ago, maybe twenty.
    â€œYeah, well, if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad,” he grumbled, scooping his car keys from the table beside the couch. “Don’t wait up,” he called over his shoulder to Spot, and headed across the hall to Maddie’s apartment.
    Â 
    â€œG O AWAY !”
    Ian knocked again, harder this time.
    Madeline should have known. The man never had taken direction well.
    There was that time she’d told him not to make a U-turn at that intersection with the No U-Turn sign. Yes, she’d been called to the hospital for an emergency, and yes, she’d wanted to get there as fast as possible. But did he listen? No. That one had cost him a hefty fine.
    And then there was the time—okay, about six hundred times—she’d told him not to take the wooden spoon from a pot, take a taste and put the spoon back in the pot. And then he’d wink at her, the rat.
    Or the day he swore he wasn’t too sick to go camping with some old college friends and ended up with pneumonia. That had been a big “I told you so” between them, considering she had been the lucky one who’d ended up playing nurse for a very uncooperative patient.
    She could go on. And on. The man was a menace.There were times she threatened him with divorce—and they weren’t even married.
    â€œIan, go away!” she called, definitely in the grip of panic. “I’m…I’m not ready yet.”
    â€œWell, I am, Maddie. Come on, I’m starving,” he called through the door, then turned the knob—just as Maddie realized she hadn’t locked the door. Damn him for knowing she rarely remembered to lock the door during the day. He’d give her another lecture. Just what she didn’t need, someone else telling her what was best for her.
    Madeline turned on her heels, ready to make a break for it all the way to her bedroom, to her bathroom, to the door that would lock behind her once she was in the bathroom.
    â€œWhoa!”
    Too late. Madeline remained where she was, her back to Ian, her eyes closed as she waited for whatever would follow that whoa.
    It wasn’t long in coming.
    â€œMaddie? Is that you? In slacks? ”
    She looked at herself. At the tangerine-colored silk top that flowed softly over her body, ending at the tops of her thighs. At the beige raw silk slacks that were pencil thin all the way down to the ankles, where they covered her brand-new beige boots with the three-inch heels.
    She raised a hand to grab the tortoiseshell pendant that hung to her waist from a thick gold chain and turned to confront Ian. “Don’t say a word,” she warned him.
    And, for once in his life, the man was obedient, because he stood there, looking at her. And looking at her. And looking at her.
    â€œOh, for crying out loud, Ian!” she complained when she couldn’t stand it anymore. “ Say something.”
    He shook his head, spread his arms. “I can’t. I don’t know what to say.” He used the sweep of one hand to encompass her hair, her face, her new clothing. “What happened?”
    Madeline threw up her hands. “I knew it. I just knew that would be your reaction! I look ridiculous. Stay here, I’m going to go wash my face.”
    His hand snaked out, capturing her elbow. “Oh, no, you’re not. Come here, Maddie,” he said, half dragging her toward the mirror hanging over a table beside the front door. “Look at yourself. Your hair looks great, all pulled away from your face and curly and everything. And those eyes! Maddie, when did