Beat of the Heart by Katie Ashley Read Free Book Online

red heels that had a patent leather
    strap. Shannon had insisted on taking me to have my hair and make-up done. For a sure fire
    sexcapade, I thought I was going to a little too much trouble, but I decided to bite my tongue and go
    along for the ride. Don’t get me wrong. I was all about dressing to impress and feeling sexy. I didn’t
    get a lot of chances to do it during the week in my scrubs. At the same time, I knew AJ wanted to
    screw my brains out whether I was wearing a Hefty bag or couture. In the end, I was so grateful for
    letting Dee talk me into the shoes and dress as well as Shannon with the hair and makeup. For the first
    time since Dev left, I felt truly sexy and desirable.
    So I was all decked out at five until seven, waiting on my Prince Charming to arrive and begin this
    Cinderellaesque fantasy night. All the while, I fought the urge not to throw up or refuse to answer the
    door when AJ arrived. The doorbell rang, and I jumped a mile, sloshing wine onto the floor. “Shit!” I
    exclaimed. I sprinted into the bathroom and grabbed a towel. I threw it on the puddle and quickly
    wiped it up. I’d just made it into the hallway when the doorbell rang again. “Coming!” I shouted.
    When I finally flung open the door, AJ’s appearance took what breath I had left away. He wore
    khaki pants, a crisp white shirt with an electric blue tie, along with a navy blazer. It was quite a
    difference from the jeans and T-shirt from the other day. “Hi,” I murmured.
    “Hello there, sexy.” His gaze drank me in from head to toe. “You in that dress is testing my firm
    resolve to make this a true date and not just sex.”
    I fought against the tiny fluttering of my heart at his words. “Thank you. You’re looking pretty
    amazing yourself.”
    “Thanks. I do clean up nice, don’t I?”
    Oh hell yes, you do . Now let’s get you out of that tie and out of those pants and into my bed . I
    shook my head to free me of my naughty thoughts. “Yes, you do.” I eyed the bouquet of flowers in his
    arms—they were my favorite pink roses.
    “Flowers again?”
    “Hey, I’m a firm believer in romance.” He handed the bouquet to me.
    With the Baby’s Breath tickling my nose, I inhaled of the sweet smell. “But how did you know pink
    roses were my favorite?”
    “Dee gave me a little head’s up.”
    “Ah, I see.”
    He motioned to the card. “Aren’t you going to read it?”
    “Is it With Deepest Sympathy this time?” I teased.
    “No smartass.”
    “Fine then.” I balanced the flowers in the crook of my arm while I took the paper in my fingers.
    When I opened the envelope, I saw that there was a folded letter inside. After I unwrapped it, I saw
    that it was AJ’s test results. When I glanced up at him, he grinned.
    “All clear and ready to roll.”
    I laughed. “I’m glad to see that. Mine are in my purse.”
    “Good to know. So are you ready?”
    “As I’ll ever be,” I said softly. I closed the front door and then locked it.
    Once I was out on the porch, AJ grinned. “When you took so long, I was beginning to think you’d
    decided to bail on me.”
    “Sorry. I had a little wine spillage.” At his puzzled expression, I shook my head. “It’s a long
    story.”
    When AJ stepped aside to lead me down the porch steps, I gasped. A shiny black, stretch Hummer
    limousine sat in my driveway. Glancing over my shoulder, I cocked a brow at him. “A limo?
    Seriously?”
    “My Hummer’s in the shop.”
    “Are you sure you didn’t do this just to impress me?”
    AJ snorted. “Since when would I need a limo to be impressive?”
    I laughed. “You’re such a cacasodo.”
    He gave me a mischievous grin. “Ooh, I like it when you speak dirty Italian to me.”
    Cocking my brows at him, I asked, “How do you know it was dirty?”
    “By the expression on your face.” He scratched his chin. “If I had to guess, I think it means
    something along the line of arrogant ass?”
    “Yep, pretty much.”
    A