The Tempting Mrs. Reilly Read Free Page A

landed in the pit of his stomach.
    â€œJudging by that expression,” Tina said, over the din of the dogs, “you’re not real happy to see me.”
    Afternoon sunlight lit her up as brightly as if she’d been an actress standing at center stage. Her wide brown eyes danced with amusement. Her long, thick black hair hung down around her shoulders. She wore a pale green tank top that bared her tanned arms and chest, and he was only grateful that the gate was there, minimizing his view of her. He wasn’t at all sure he’d be able to take seeing miles of long, tanned leg.
    â€œTina.” He swallowed hard and cleared his throat. Damn it, if he was shaken to find her standing practically on top of him, he wouldn’t let her see it. “What’re you doing here?”
    â€œI’m here to take care of the girls while Nana’s in Italy.”
    The girls being Muffin and Peaches.
    â€œAngelina didn’t tell me you were coming.”
    â€œAny reason why she should?”
    His eyes narrowed as he watched her. “Any reason why she shouldn’t?”
    â€œAh,” Tina said smiling, as she let the back door swing closed behind her. “Same ol’ Brian. Answer a question with a question. Stall for time.”
    The dogs kept barking and he and Tina were shouting at each other just to be heard. His head was buzzing, brain racing. And he didn’t want to think about the jolt his heart had just gotten. Damn it.
    Angelina should have warned him.
    Should have given him the chance to get the hell outta Dodge.
    And, he admitted silently, since Angelina knew him well enough to know that he would have left, that’s probably exactly why she hadn’t told him about Tina’s visit. The older woman had never made it a secret that she thought the two of them still belonged together. It would be just like Angelina to try for a little long distance matchmaking.
    Too late to do anything about it now, anyway, Brian thought and told himself to get a grip. It wasn’t easy.
    Tina took the steps down from the back porch, opened the gate and the minute she did, the two little fleabags were on him. Stalking and pouncing as though they were the size of wolves instead of especially hairy rats, they attacked the laces of his tennis shoes and grabbed at the hem of his jeans. He glanced down at them, almost grateful for the distraction. “Cut it out.”
    â€œThey really don’t like you, do they?” Tina mused. “I mean, Nana told me they weren’t very fond of you, but I figured she was exaggerating.”
    Brian heard her, but he wasn’t listening. Instead, hewas watching her and wishing to hell she’d stayed behind the safety of that gate. It was just as he’d thought. She was wearing denim shorts that hugged her hips and displayed way too much smooth, tanned leg.
    Blood pumped and rushed to the one spot in his body that had always responded to Tina. From their first date, the attraction between them had been electrical. And time hadn’t changed a damn thing.
    Which just made his black mood even blacker.
    It had been two solid weeks since he’d made that stupid bet with his brothers. Two full weeks of no sex and he was already a man on the edge. By the end of three months, he’d be a gibbering idiot. And Tina’s presence wasn’t going to help anything.
    â€œDamn it, Angelina should have warned me you were coming.”
    She stiffened slightly and lifted her chin in a defiant, I’m ready to rumble pose he remembered all too well. Damn. Their fights had been almost as good as the sex. And the sex had always been incredible.
    â€œI asked her not to tell you.”
    â€œWhy in the hell would you do that?” he demanded, and kicked his foot, trying to dislodge Peaches from his ankle. It didn’t work. She managed to hang on.
    â€œBecause I knew if she told you that you’d find a way to disappear.”
    That rankled