Anything but Love by Celya Bowers Read Free Book Online

change her life for him and that was the one thing she wouldn’t, couldn’t, or shouldn’t do.
    A Mr. Will Do wouldn’t make any demands on her lifestyle and if he did, too bad. He wasn’t going to be a permanent fixture in her life anyway, so it didn’t matter what he thought. Cole would work out nicely. And if she could get a little revenge for him treating her like a leper at the tender age of sixteen, so much the better.
    She decided to let Max play matchmaker.
    Gathering her bag, she marched into the men’s locker room knowing that Max was still in there meditating. He’d taken up the relaxing exercise two years ago, and now she realized why he did it. Max needed calmness in his life and he surely couldn’t get that at home. Kendall felt awful for not knowing her friend better.
    She stopped in her tracks as she beheld the sight in front of her. It was the most beautiful example of the male body she’d ever seen in her life. The man before her didn’t have a stitch of clothes on, and he didn’t need any. At least not in her opinion.
    Unfortunately, the person that body belonged to was Coltrane Highpoint. He was parading around the room chatting with Max about some upcoming party at his house.
    Kendall held her breath as he walked to the shower stall and entered. Why couldn’t he have a beer gut or some flab somewhere on that perfect body?
    “I’m shocked at you,” Max whispered in her ear, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. “You were ogling a naked man. I’m telling your mother.”
    Kendall opened her mouth to counter Max’s comment, but what could she say? She did the next best thing and scurried out of the dressing room to the safety of the women’s.
    Max wasn’t to be deterred. He followed her. “Kendall, there’s nothing wrong with looking at a naked man as long as he knows you’re doing it. Your mouth was hanging open like you’ve never seen a naked man, which I know is not true. You were married.” He motioned for her to sit on the wooden bench.
    Kendall finally found her voice. “James didn’t look like that. And he definitely wasn’t hung like that.”
    Max snorted as he sat beside her. “Kendall, I don’t believe you were checking Cole out like that. I thought that was standard issue among the brothers.”
    She knew Max only said those outrageous things to make her laugh, and for once she was entirely grateful. “No, just another myth. I have to say Cole surprised me.”
    “I guess that means you’d be willing to take him out on a test run?”
    “Maybe.”
    * * *
    Cole stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his body. He glanced around the room. No Max. “Just great,” he muttered as he reached for his clothes. He and Max were supposed to have dinner, but apparently his new friend had forgotten. As he struggled into his boxer briefs, he heard voices.
    He moved closer to the sound and realized it was Kendall and Max talking. She’d probably have his head, and other body parts, if she knew he was eavesdropping. He’d really have to find out what man did a number on her. From the conversation with his mother he’d found out that Kendall’s former husband cheated on her, but it was a long time ago. Surely she should have been over it by now. Why was she still hanging on to hurt? Was she using it as a shield against him?
    Yes, he thought. She was definitely using it against him. But he had faced tougher opponents than a woman shielding her heart from the world. He’d just have to wear down her defenses one at a time. And that was where Max would come in. If anyone knew how to help him get Kendall, it was his new best friend.
    He continued listening to the conversation and wanted to laugh out loud as Kendall and Max were discussing the very thing he wanted. A date with her.
    Things had just gotten a lot easier.
    * * *
    Later that evening, Cole watched as Max downed his third beer in less than an hour. He hated taking the sensible role, since a well-lit Max would be