Abiding Ink (Inked in the Steel City #4) by Ranae Rose Read Free Book Online

diabetic. Type 2. She was diagnosed a few years ago and her health has been getting steadily worse… I worry about her a lot.”
    “Sorry to hear it.”
    “I’m just glad I know enough to help – as much as she’ll let me, anyway.”
    He dropped the subject, and as he drove toward Mt. Lebanon – the suburb Mallory’s boss called home – her frown faded. When they reached Dr. Creepster’s house, Tyler wasn’t surprised by the sprawling three story residence. In fact, he would’ve been shocked if someone who’d obviously invested thousands in the whiteness of his smile had settled for anything less.
    He had to park on the street, behind a long row of other guest’s vehicles. That was all right; it just meant a longer walk through the winter night with Mallory. Touching a hand lightly to the small of her back, he walked beside her, approaching a half-circle driveway lined with Christmas lights, all bright, white and neatly aligned, just like the doctor’s teeth.
    A huge wreath hung on the door, laden with artificial winter berries, and as Tyler opened the door, light and noise spilled out onto the stoop.
    The foyer and open living room were packed, the cathedral-ceilinged space filled with partiers and throbbing with music that was somehow both seasonal and trendy, like something they’d play at a night club for Santa’s elves. A towering Christmas tree dominated the room and was supported by a host of carefully coordinated decorations. It all looked like something out of a magazine.
    “Wow,” Mallory said. “I guess people weren’t kidding about Dr. Anthony going all-out for parties.”
    “It’s pretty impressive,” Tyler admitted.
    “Look – there’s a rack for coats.” Mallory stepped to the left and unbuttoned her jacket.
    For the second time, she surprised him, leaving him completely breathless as she exposed the top half of her dress.
    The neckline, which extended well above her collarbones, would’ve been anything but revealing, if it hadn’t been for the cutout, the dress’s sole adornment. It was narrow, and didn’t show too much, but the little bit it did reveal had his imagination racing, his blood rushing a little faster through his veins… And straight below his belt.
    He had to look away.
    A forced study of the buffet set up in front of the Christmas tree managed to quell the threat of a full-fledged erection.
    “Hungry?” Mallory asked, stepping close to his side.
    His mouth watered instantly, and he forced himself to follow her gaze to the food laid out by a huge crystal punch bowl, knowing her question had been innocent. “Yeah,” he said, though cocktail shrimp and cheeses were the farthest things from his mind.
    “Me too. Looks like we can help ourselves.”
    Mallory turned heads as she and Tyler made their way toward the buffet. Hell, she’d probably been turning heads since the moment they’d walked through the door, but he’d been too busy gaping at her himself to notice. He couldn’t blame others for looking twice, though every time a man stared at her for too long, giving her a slow up and down, his thoughts were undercut by vague, primal urges to utterly destroy the offending individual.
    Stupid, but he was only human, and in that dress, she didn’t look like anything near so ordinary.
    “Oh my God!” A woman with bright red hair burst through the crowd, her sky-high heels clomping against the floorboards as she balanced a cocktail in one hand and a plate bearing a slice of cheesecake in the other. “Mallory, you look amazing . I told you that dress was perfect for you. It looks even better now than it did in the dressing room.”
    “Hey, Wanda. Thanks. You look beautiful too.”
    Wanda grinned at Mallory, then turned her gaze to Tyler. “So, who’s this – I thought you were coming alone, Mallory?”
    “Change of plans.”
    “ Well .” Wanda’s brows jumped up and down, fiery above wide blue eyes. “You two are really going to turn heads together