The Perfect Fit (Riley O'Brien & Co. #2.5) Read Free

hippos were the worst.
    “Hippos. They urinate on other hippos, and when they’re really mad, they kick their feces on them.”
    Zeke stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter. It rumbled up from deep in his chest. It sounded as if he hadn’t laughed like that in a long, long time.
    “My former roommate was a hippo.”
    “Well, I’m not, but sometimes I leave dirty dishes in the sink or kick off my shoes by the front door. Is that going to bother you?”
    He shook his head slowly.
    “And Roby sheds. I groom him regularly, but he still sheds. Not a lot, though.”
    “I have a vacuum.” Zeke cocked his head. “So what do you think?”
    The apartment was perfect. So was the backyard. But she didn’t know what to think about Zeke.
    Instinctively, she knew he would be a distraction—one she didn’t need. She had more important things to worry about. Things like establishing herself as a valued member of the veterinary practice she’d joined, building a loyal clientele of four-legged patients, and feeding her bank account so it had more than a hundred bucks in it.
    She had no backup plan. She had to succeed. And a handsome roommate would undoubtedly be a temptation.
    Beggars can’t be choosers , she reminded herself. And at this point, she definitely was a beggar.
    “When can I move in?”

CHAPTER TWO
    Zeke crept from his bedroom at six o’clock the next morning. He was trying to be as quiet as possible, but he lacked the stealth that he’d possessed before losing half his leg in Iraq a little more than two years ago.
    He didn’t want to wake up Margo, who was sleeping on the sofa in the living room because her furniture hadn’t arrived yet. Although he had suggested that she sleep in his bed and let him take the sofa, she’d declined his gentlemanly offer with a vehement “No!”
    The idea had clearly horrified her, but he had no idea why. Maybe she was scared of him. Her behavior when they’d first met certainly indicated that might be a possibility. When he’d introduced himself, she’d just stood there silently, her blue eyes the size of saucers.
    He sighed. That was the last thing he wanted—a roommate who acted like a fraidy-cat when he was around.
    Maybe she had mistaken his offer as a come-on. Should he reassure her that he wasn’t interested in her? He wanted a roommate, nothing more. And even if he wanted a lover, which he didn’t, he wouldn’t pick someone like Margo.
    As he crossed the threshold to the living room, he was surprised to see that Roby was the only warm body occupying the sofa. The Doberman was lying on his side, his sleekly muscular form stretching the entire length of the cushions. Apparently, Roby already considered Zeke a friend; his appearance warranted nothing more than a brief lift of the dog’s head before it flopped down again.
    Glancing toward the dining area, Zeke spotted Margo. She was perched on one of the barstools at the table, her small frame swathed in a gray Cornell University sweatshirt and plaid pajama pants. He was wearing almost the same thing, but his sweatshirt was U.S. Army issue.
    Her hands were wrapped around a coffee mug—his favorite mug—but he didn’t smell the enticing aroma of coffee. She must drink tea.
    “Good morning,” she chirped.
    He barely bit back a groan. Was she a morning person? God help him.
    “Morning,” he replied.
    He knew he sounded like a bear that had just emerged from hibernation. Hell, that was exactly how he felt: irritable, hungry, and itching to tear a strip off some unsuspecting human.
    “How did you sleep? I slept great. Your sofa is more comfortable than my bed.”
    “I need coffee before I can deal with you.”
    Instead of offending her, his surly response elicited a laugh. It was surprisingly husky, not the high-pitched, shrill giggle he had expected … and dreaded.
    “I’ll get you some.” She jumped down from the stool and headed for the kitchen. “How do you like it?”
    If she wanted