Love Bites Read Free Page A

spoke quickly. “Don’t tell her a thing.”
    “Ohhh,” she said, a little peppier now that she knew the guys wouldn’t continue questioning and pampering her. “They must’ve been good. I can’t wait.”
    Evan set her Coke on the end table and handed her the plate of food on a tray. She balanced it on the pillow.
    Near her ear, Evan spoke quietly so the others wouldn’t hear. “You’re up to watching the fights?”
    Just as quietly, she said, “It’s a good distraction.”
    Because he couldn’t help himself, he brushed a thick curl behind her ear, then cupped her cheek. “All right. But if you need anything, tell me.”
    For a brief moment, she leaned her shoulder into his, a familiar and comfortable gesture. “For right now, this—all of it—is enough.” She tucked into her food and gave her attention to the big-screen TV.
    Even with the black eye, she looked precious to him. This—all of it—is enough. What did she mean by that? The camaraderie? The food?
    The closeness?
    An hour later, he still didn’t know. She’d eaten all her food and insisted on putting her own dishes away. He heard her get an OTC pain med while she was in the kitchen, and it left him rigid with concern. When she returned, this time with a bottle of water for each of them, she sat a little nearer to him, almost as though she needed the contact.
    Trying to guess her thoughts kept him so distracted, Evan missed more of the fights than he saw.
    Doug stayed especially close to her side, no doubt sensing her upset. He didn’t demand her attention, but he was there, protective and attentive.
    Maybe, Evan thought, he should do the same.
    And since when did he start taking his cues from a dog? But as she hugged Doug several times, he decided it was the right thing to do. Somehow he’d convince her to stay near to him—and eventually she’d enjoy being there.

Chapter Two
    The dread built as Cinder watched the last fight. Now the guys would leave, and…she’d have to go back to her own apartment.
    Alone.
    But she wouldn’t be a sissy. She wouldn’t be a burden. She had Doug. Everything would be fine.
    The guys were animated, yelling suggestions to the last two fighters, cheering, groaning and cursing a little. Tonight, being distracted, Cinder watched them more than she watched the fights.
    Brick looked a lot like Evan, with his dark hair and eyes, his height over six feet. Less than two years separated them, but Brick seemed older. Maybe more jaded.
    He might share a resemblance with Evan, but his demeanor was darker, edgier. He played harder, cursed more and dated endlessly. It seemed to her that Brick went from one woman to another, while Evan…well, she’d rarely seen him date much. Or if he did, he didn’t tell her about it.
    Probably a good thing, given how tough it would be for her to know the intimate details of his social life. That is, whatever social life he had when she wasn’t around. Couldn’t be much of one, between work and the time he spent at the apartment…with her.
    “No!” Jesse sat forward, disgruntled over the turn in the fight. He was tall, too, but unlike Evan and Brick, he had dark blond hair and vivid green eyes that sometimes looked right through a person, into her soul. He was a serial dater like Brick, but maybe more romantic. When he dated, anyone could see that he made a woman feel special.
    Brick, apparently, just made the ladies hot. For certain, he never wanted for female attention.
    When the fight suddenly ended with a knockout, everyone yelled. Doug jumped up with an energetic bark, his tail thumping in excitement. Disgruntled, Cate curled tighter and put her tail over her little face.
    Cinder tried to join in the discussion of the fight, but it was futile. Instead, she gathered up the empty cans and bowls of chip crumbs and carried them to the kitchen. She was rinsing out cans when arms came around her.
    Brick.
    Smiling, she put her head back on his boulder-hard shoulder. “Ready to