Read Hooked for Free Online Page B

sleeve, but only succeeded in pushing the hair around. The rumble from Finn’s throat sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
    “Wait.” She headed for the sideboard in the entry hall and returned with a lint roller. But when she handed it to him, he looked at it as if it were an alien artifact.
    “For taking off the dog hair,” she said, motioning to his jacket. She watched him make a couple awkward swipes at his sleeves, and couldn’t help herself. “There’s more on your lapels and right there on your front.”
    “It’s no big deal.” He shrugged and thrust the roller back into her hands. “A little dog hair probably goes great with steak. It’s all protein.”
    So much for her plan to get through the evening by keeping him at arm’s length. She snatched the roller back and proceeded to use it on him.
    “Not that I’m complaining, but wouldn’t Miss Manners say we should at least have dinner before you roll me?” The grin in his voice said that he was enjoying this. “Ooh. Go over that spot again.”
    “Shut up, Hartley, and stand still,” she said, gritting her teeth to keep from grinning. Broad chest, muscular arms, big, supple hands—which did not need de-furring. The hair on his pants was a little trickier. She stooped to run the roller from midthigh downward—just a few hasty strokes.
    “There. You’re good to go.” When she stood upright, he was watching her with amusement and a spark of something more. She took a step back, squeezing the handle of the roller. He shocked her by taking it from her and peeling off the top layer to reveal a fresh surface.
    “I’m not the only one who could use a good rolling.” He took her by the arm and despite her resistance, pulled her closer. Bracing herself, she followed his gaze down to her slacks.
    Which was more embarrassing? The fact that her black pants were covered with dog hair or the fact that he was rolling it off with strokes so thorough and personal, he might as well have been using his hands? Steph refused to shrink until he turned her around and started running the roller up the sensitive inside of her leg.
    “That’ll do.” She lurched away and looked down at her pants.
    “It sure will.” There was that smile in his voice again, and she couldn’t stop herself from meeting his gaze. “You know, that was something I never expected to see—Stephanie Steele covered in dog hair.”
    The spark of humor in his hazel-gold eyes elbowed past her defenses to a memory of laughing with him. And with it came a memory of warmth, a connection, an intimacy that she’d enjoyed, but also taken for granted. Water under the bridge, Steele. Distance, remember?
    “I told myself it was a trade-off,” she said, leading Finn toward the door. “A little extra maintenance for companionship, loyalty and some unconditional love. Seemed worth it at the time.” She stuffed the roller back in the drawer. “Plus, he was the cutest puppy ever born. When I saw him I was done with a capital D .”
    “Love at first sight, eh?” Again that irresistible rumble put a hitch in her step and made her face heat. “Dogs can do that to you.”

Chapter Five
    Finn watched her practically climbing the car door to put distance between them on the way to the restaurant, and wondered what was making her so standoffish. She seemed downright annoyed that she’d agreed to have dinner with him. Yeah, he probably shouldn’t have teased her so openly back at the house. But hell, she was asking for it, running that roller thing all over him while flashing him glimpses down her shirt.
    Clearly, she had her guard up, and that puzzled him. What the hell did she think he was going to do—bring up old disagreements? Demand an accounting for their breakup? Jump her bones on the way to the restaurant? Not that he wasn’t up for a little bone-jumping if it was consensual and didn’t interfere with—what? Getting to know her again?
    It jolted him a minute later to realize that somewhere