Take Me Under Read Online Free PDF

wouldn’t admit it if you weren’t, would you? Stubborn idiot.”
    Though he was used to her concern, Ben was too short on patience to deal with it tonight. “Stop acting like my mother, Brit.”
    Irritation flashed through her eyes. “Someone has to. If I don’t, then you’ll just keep—”
    “Goddamn it, leave it alone!” he barked, slamming his beer bottle back on the table. “If I wanted your advice, I’d damn well pay for it.”
    She blinked, cast a quick glance around the restaurant to see if they’d attracted any curious stares, then frowned. “I didn’t mean to piss you off,” she murmured a moment later, making him feel like shit for losing his temper with her. “I just don’t like seeing you like this. But I’m sorry for butting in.”
    “No, I’m sorry,” he forced out, scrubbing a hand over his gritty eyes. “I’m in a crappy mood and you don’t deserve it. I’m acting like a dick.”
    A smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. “Yeah, okay. I’ll give you that one.”
    Ben shook his head and laughed. “You’re too good to me, you know that?”
    “And that’s one of the things I love about you,” she said, fighting a grin. “For such a hard-ass alpha, you’re never afraid to say something mushy.”
    “That wasn’t mushy. I just—”
    “Stop scowling. It’s not the end of the world to have a decent streak, you know. You may be
almost
as gorgeous as Christian Bale, but you—”
    Ben cut her off with another husky laugh. “What is it with you and Christian Bale?”
    “As if I need to explain.” Stifling a shiver, she flicked her wavy red hair over her shoulder and theatrically fanned her face. “The man is freaking sex on legs.”
    “Well, if he ever visits Moss Beach,” he drawled, smiling at her antics, “I’ll make sure to detain him long enough that you get an introduction.”
    Her shoulders fell. “That’s a sweet thought, but don’t bother. He’s married.”
    “Ahh.” Enough said. Ben knew they shared the same view on infidelity.
    “But just because I can’t have Christian doesn’t mean you can’t get lucky in the love department,” she murmured. “This woman you’re thinking about
is
single, right?”
    Ben gave a hesitant nod. “Divorced. And it’s not love. It’s . . . complicated.”
    “I’m sure it is,” she said, hiding her smile behind her wineglass. “God knows you never do anything the easy way.”
    His tone got drier. “Thanks,” he muttered, finishing the last bite of his steak.
    “Speaking as your friend,” she went on, “I think it’s about time you got off your ass and went after her. You’ve been wound up about this mystery woman for far too long.”
    There were times when Brit’s ability to read him freaked the hell out of Ben. “I haven’t been—”
    “Save it, Sheriff. I’m a trained professional. I know what I’m talking about.”
    He started to argue, then accepted defeat with a sharp sigh. “Shit.”
    She laughed softly. “So who is she?”
    Wishing he had something stronger than his beer, he said, “One of Connie’s sisters.”
    Her eyes widened with surprise. “The one who lives up north?”
    Ben gave another nod as he slouched back in his chair, fiddling with the spoon that sat beside his plate. “She lived up there with her husband. Got divorced a few months ago and just moved down to Moss Beach.”
    The look of shock on Brit’s face when he glanced her way again was almost funny. “Ohmygod, she’s the woman renting your other house, isn’t she?”
    He fought the urge to squirm in his seat like a criminal under interrogation. “Yeah. Her name is Reese Leighton. Actually, she’s taken her maiden name again, so she’s a Monroe now.”
    Brit seemed to take a moment to process, then asked, “What does she think of you?”
    He shrugged, the question making him restless. “I don’t really know. We have chemistry, but she’s gun-shy.”
    Brit grinned. “And you’re not known for being