Sultry Sunset Read Online Free PDF Page B

never had a best friend before him; I certainly wasn’t going back to not having one, especially when it would be me trying to create something out of thin air.
    “I’ll be fine, but I appreciate the worry,” he rumbled into my hair. He let me go and I moved quickly, not wanting to ever make him uncomfortable with any kind of closeness.
    “Okay,” I responded.
    “I’ll see you at home later,” he said before he walked away, but somehow when he turned around, almost at the front door, I was still watching him.
    His wave made me self-conscious, like I was standing there staring as I would have if he was my lover. Correcting fast, I spun around to go grab what we needed for dinner.
     
     
    MIKE WAS outside at the grill, and Ivy and I had the music up in the house, so neither of us heard anything until I dipped her and we looked up. Her father stood there at the back door with a woman I assumed was her aunt.
    “What’s going on here?” the woman asked over The Spinners.
    Ivy cracked up, and I put her on her feet before she dashed across the kitchen to her father. I turned down the music with the remote.
    “Daddy!” she squealed, leaping at him.
    He caught her in his arms and hugged her, his face down in her shoulder. They held each other so tight, and the woman who had come through my door ready to do battle visibly deflated.
    “Everybody ready to eat?” Mike announced as he walked in behind them, carrying a platter of kebabs. “We’ve got steak and chicken and lots of veggies.”
    Mr. Dodd put his daughter down, and she wiped her eyes quickly before grabbing her aunt, who was stunned at the reception as evidenced by her gasp and open mouth.
    Ivy hugged her too, kissed her cheek, and then took her hand and pulled her over to me. “This is Hutch and Mike.”
    Genevieve Davis was a tall, stately woman immaculately dressed in a white-and-silver overcoat, a sheer white T-shirt, and white palazzo pants. The jewelry was understated, as was her makeup. She was a stunning woman.
    “Hi,” I greeted her cheerfully, offering her my hand.
    She grabbed hold, clearly still overwhelmed by the reception from her niece.
    “And Hutch, this is my dad.”
    I turned to Mr. Dodd and was not surprised to find him even more handsome in real life than he was on Ivy’s phone. The man also was massive. He was at least six four, broad shouldered, narrow hipped, with muscular legs straining against the denim encasing them. His features were sharp, as was his square jaw, but what you noticed first was his eyes, a gorgeous dark bistre, so brown they were almost black.
    “Pleasure,” I said, smiling, holding out my hand. “It was a privilege to take care of your daughter. Thank you for trusting me and Mike.”
    “I didn’t do anything but cook,” Mike let me know, pressing in beside me, one hand on the small of my back as he offered his right to Mr. Dodd.
    He shook both our hands, and he, too, looked a bit flummoxed.
    “Sit down,” Ivy directed her father and aunt as my dog came in from outside and bolted over to her side. “Oh, Daddy, this is Benny. Isn’t he pretty?”
    Her father dutifully petted my dog before meeting her gaze. “We should go, honey,” he said. “We don’t want to intrude.”
    “Oh, you’re not intruding,” she said dismissively, giving him an imperious wave of her hand. “But you both probably want to wash your hands and stuff, so if you go down the hall to your left, it’s right through there.”
    Genevieve left to use my bathroom, Ivy ran back outside where Mike sent her to grab the second plate of kebabs, but her dad stayed there and washed his hands in the kitchen sink before turning to me.
    “So I don’t think I ever—would you both please call me Essien?”
    “I don’t know.” I scowled at him. “Chief Dodd sort of rolls off the tongue.”
    His smile was bright like his daughter’s. “It’s wonderful to meet you both. I’m sorry my daughter’s invaded your home, but I so appreciate