Shelter for Adeline Read Online Free PDF Page B

married to someone who didn’t love me.”
    “Agreed,” Dean said immediately. “I didn’t mean to imply that anyone who gets divorced has done something wrong. But after seeing my parents’ love for each other, I know that I really want that for myself.”
    “Me too,” Adeline said softly, amazed that she and Dean seemed to have so much in common.
    “I want to—”
    Adeline wouldn’t hear what Dean wanted as the pager clipped to his belt suddenly went off, the loud tones pealing through the semi-quiet restaurant.
    “Shit. I gotta go.”
    Adeline had figured that out as soon as she’d heard the device’s loud beeps. She opened her mouth to say something, she wasn’t sure what, but didn’t get the chance.
    Dean stood up, keeping hold of her hand. He took a quick step to her side of the booth and leaned down and kissed her. Not on the cheek. Not on the forehead, but right on the lips. And it wasn’t a quick peck, either.
    His lips caressed hers and he slanted his head slightly. Adeline felt his tongue swipe across her lips and she gasped. He took the moment and licked inside her mouth once, before capturing her lips with his own once more. It was a bold move. Extremely so, but not out of place either. They’d connected on a level Adeline hadn’t with many people.
    Dean reluctantly, it seemed, straightened and smiled down at her. “I probably should apologize for that, but I won’t. Take your time, finish your sandwich and fries. The bill is already paid; we have a tab and everyone here knows us and won’t take your money. So don’t even try to pay. I’ll be in touch soon, Adeline. It was my pleasure to meet you.”
    “Be safe,” she managed to get out breathlessly.
    “I will.” As if he couldn’t help himself, Dean leaned down and kissed her once more, a brief touch of his lips to hers this time, then he was striding out of the restaurant.
    Adeline kept her eyes on Dean’s muscular butt as he jogged across the street and disappeared inside the fire station. Within minutes, the big bay doors were opening and a fire truck was pulling out with its lights on and sirens blaring.
    Adeline sank back against the plastic booth seat and let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Feeling Coco’s hot doggy breath against her leg, she looked under the table and murmured to her dog, “Wow.”
    His tongue lolled out as if he agreed with her breathless statement. Smiling, Adeline absently picked up a french fry. The day hadn’t started out that great, but had ended up being one of the most exciting days she’d had in recent history. Who would’ve thought a seizure could actually bring about something good in her life for once? Not her.
    Licking her lips, and remembering how Dean’s had felt against her own, Adeline sighed. Good Lord, just the quick taste had her more turned on than she’d been in her entire life, but she refused to get too excited.
    Lots of men had said they’d call, and hadn’t. Yes, she had Dean’s number, but she firmly believed, maybe old-fashionably, that the man should be the one to make the first move.
    She sent a silent prayer up into the heavens that Dean “Crash” Christopherson wasn’t just messing with her. She wanted nothing more than to get to know the gorgeous firefighter.

Chapter 3
    D ean : You get home all right?

    A deline stared down at the text on her phone for a moment, then grinned. Dean. She hadn’t really expected to hear from him so soon, but couldn’t deny that she liked it.

    A deline : Yup. Thanks. Your day go okay?

    P utting the phone down , Adeline finished getting Coco’s dinner ready. She didn’t cook for herself, but she had no problem cooking for her dog. Coco had given Adeline her independence back; there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him.
    Emptying the can of chickpeas into the pot already full with green beans, carrots, chicken, and water, she stirred the mixture together. The only other thing it needed was the