The Pick Up Wife Read Online Free PDF

on the threshold. “Did you hurt yourself?” Jewel asked.
    “There’s water dripping in the hall downstairs,” LJ said.
    Melvin helped Symmone to her feet.
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    “Go get the mop and bucket, Jewel. LJ, put those towels in the washer, but don’t do anything else.”
    “Honey, your arm is bleeding,” Melvin said.
    Symmone inspected the swelling skin to discover a long line of crimson welling above an inch-wide gash. She grabbed a handful of tissues and pressed them to the cut. “Now I’m all wet.”
    He smoothed her hair from her face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “Just fine.”
    “Why don’t you go change and dry off. Me and the kids can clean up the water.”
    She shook her head.
    “It’s just water.”
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    “Look, I’m fine, just wounded my pride. The kids can stay in their rooms. And how much is this going to cost?”
    He bit back a comment when Jewel banged through the door with the bucket and mop. Water sloshed along the floor. She eyed the adults.
    “This is gonna take forever.”
    “Not if we all pitch in and help,” Melvin said.
    Symmone gave a weary nod. At least she had the weekend.

    ****
    It was raining by the time she dragged out of the building. Symmone stared at the spitting sky.
    Just great. Her jacket was in the car. She stood under the awning a moment before rummaging in her purse for her keys.
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    At least everyone showed up tonight. She couldn’t have handled a full shift with a throbbing hand and an aching hip. Tomorrow, or rather today, she would sleep in and make the kids waffles. The only good thing about the weekend was that those days were hers to do whatever she liked. She stepped from the awning and cold rain pelted her arms and her clothes.
    She muttered a curse when she dropped her keys, then froze as a shadow fell over her.
    Snatching up her keys, she spun around, then sagged with relief.
    “Leo.”
    He stepped closer, aiming his umbrella over her. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
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    She stared at him, waiting for her heart to return to normal, only it raced even more. “What are you doing here? It’s three in the morning.”
    He chuckled. “I came to see you.”
    The heat of his body chased the chill from hers, while the subtle scent of his cologne left her a little giddy.
    She eyed him with suspicion. “How did you know where to find me?”
    “I asked your cousin.”
    “Remind me to cross him off my Christmas list.”
    Leo smoothed a damp curl from her forehead. “Don’t be upset with him, he’s just trying to–”
    “Meddle in my love life.”
    “You could say that.”
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    “Why are you here? Don’t you have a career to pursue?”
    He nodded. “Yes, but at the moment I’m on leave.”
    She folded her arms against her breasts, noted how he followed the movement with his gaze, and a flicker of awareness shot through her.
    “On leave?”
    “I needed time to persuade my ex-wife to become my wife again.”
    She dropped her arms to her sides and stepped away. Leo followed, keeping the umbrella over her. “We were barely on speaking terms, and you’re already talking about marriage.”
    “I said I want you back. Come with me and we can talk.”
    She shook her head. “Leo, I’m tired.”
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    When she swayed, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her against his chest.
    She stared into his face and read determination in the rigid set of his jaw. A tiny jolt of longing wiggled through her veins, puckered her nipples, and warmed her thighs. He was here—would it be so wrong to indulge, just a little bit?
    “Do you have to run straight home? All I’m asking is for the rest of the night.”
    “You don’t want much, do you?”
    He cupped her cheek, sweeping the pad of his thumb across the fullness of her bottom lip. His eyes implored her. “Say yes. The lounge at the hotel has live music all night and all I can think about is holding you in my arms.”
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    She sighed; she had to be more tired than she realized. He was getting to her.