Caught (Men of the Show Book 3) Read Free

even going to ask how you knew Mr. Ego was you or why you’re okay with it.”
    He shrugged and grinned, which popped his dimple. “It’s only one of her many endearing names for me.”
    “And you deserve them all,” Karen said with a sly smile at her fiancé, whose eyes visibly warmed in return.
    Shannon smiled at their exchange. They were crazy about each other, even though they had both acted like fools the year before. Neither had wanted to admit their true feelings, insisting things between them were strictly casual, but eventually a hit to the head—literally in Jerry’s case—knocked some sense into them. Now they were inseparable when Jerry was in town, and Karen was on cloud nine, exactly where she deserved to be. Shannon was ecstatic that Karen finally found her “one,” even if it made her a teensy bit jealous. Who wouldn’t be?
    Shannon cleared her throat loudly as she sat on one of the stools lining the island, toed off her heels and removed her black blazer, hanging it over the back of the chair. “Now, now. You have a guest. No getting hot and heavy, you lovebirds.”
    “You heard her.”   Karen shooed him away. “Let us girls chat. Go in the other room and stop distracting me.”
    He leaned over and planted a loud kiss on her lips before heading toward the basement where he was the lord of his domain. “Let me know when dinner is ready. I’m starved.”
    “When aren’t you?” Karen asked his departing back. She turned to Shannon with one hand on her hip and sighed. “I swear. I love to cook and all, but that man is going to wear me out with how much he eats. Where does he put it?”
    “He must burn it off with all of the sex you guys have,” Shannon teased.
    “Okay, but then why doesn’t that work for me?   I’m an active participant too.”
    “Who knows.”   Shannon eyed her sister and, while she couldn’t put her finger on it, something stood out as changed. “What’s going on?   You look different.”
    Karen scowled as she stirred the soup. “Different?   What are you talking about?”
    “I don’t know,” she said with a shrug. “You just look…different. Maybe it’s your new bridal glow or something.”
    “Yeah, maybe,” Karen muttered before she turned with a smile. “Tomorrow you try on your dress. They said they should be able to make any changes, if needed, in time, so we need to get there early.”
    After the dash through the busy O’Hare airport followed by the stressful drive on the slick roads, Shannon needed some liquid assistance in order to relax before they dove into wedding planning. She stood and opened the fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine. She held it up to Karen with an arched brow in question.
    “No, thank you,” Karen said. “I’m good.”
    “You’re good?   You’re turning down wine?” Shannon asked in disbelief.
    “Yeah, I had some before you got here,” she replied as she kept her back to her, busying herself with wiping down the counter.
    “Hmmm.”   Shannon pulled down a crystal stemware from behind the plate glass cabinet. “Never stopped you before.”
    “I’ll have some with dinner, probably,” Karen replied in a noncommittal tone as she turned her focus back to the soup.
    Shannon took a sip and pondered this anomaly—her sister never refused a glass of wine—when it clicked. Karen had told her she and Jerry wanted to start a family, but Shannon hadn’t realized she meant so soon. Since Shannon didn’t want to ruin the surprise, she wouldn’t prod further. She’d let Karen spill the news in her own time, even though she was thrilled with the prospect of being an aunt.  
    “So, who am I walking down the aisle with exactly?” Shannon asked instead. “You mentioned it before, but I forgot. Jerry’s little brother?   What’s his name?   Nate?”
    “Nick. His name is Nick.”   Karen spun around and leaned against the counter. “See?   This is why I say you work too damn much. You can’t even