Naked by Gina Gordon Read Free Book Online

Saturday night.”
    “I get to meet her.” Charlotte smiled and clapped her hands together. She loved meeting the women he’d dated. She could pick the unstable ones out of a lineup. At first he never believed her, but when she’d been right five times in a row, he had to start.

    “On second thought, maybe you shouldn’t come on Saturday. I don’t need you in my head while I’m trying to—”
    Two terrors entered the room and climbed onto the couches. One between Paige and Charlotte, one beside Noah. Tiny arms covered in pink fabric wrapped themselves around his waist and a head burrowed against his chest.
    “I want to meet her.” Paige slammed her fist on the arm of the couch. “But I have kids. I can’t be gallivanting around to house parties.” She frowned.
    Saturday evening was anything but. He had invited his best friend Luke and his business partner, Harper Jones, who over the last five years had become a great friend. “It’s hardly a house party. Luke and I will be ripping up carpet. Harper will be drinking. And Charlotte will—”
    “Supervise the evening.” His little sister grinned. She had always been bossy and demanding. At least with them. People outside of the family were a different story.
    “You’re right.” Paige turned to Noah. “That doesn’t sound like a party at all.”
    They both laughed as Charlotte punched Paige in the arm.
    “Ouch!” Paige rubbed her biceps. “Tell me about her, since I don’t get to meet her.”
    He didn’t know much, but what he did know…

    “She only comes out two or three times a week. She doesn’t talk to anyone. She’s practically a recluse. It’s like she’s hiding from something.”
    “That’s exciting.” Charlotte’s conspiracy-theory look took over her face. “Maybe she’s in the witness protection program.”
    “She wants to stay on a first-name basis and not talk about our lives. Just superficial stuff.”
    “Totally hiding from something.” Paige laughed. “It’s always the quiet, wholesome ones who cause the most trouble.”
    Noah laughed. “I knew Charlotte was going to end up a serial killer.”
    “Shut up!” She punched Paige again. Charlotte always resorted to physical retaliation. Probably from being the youngest and always having to defend herself.
    When she was done pouting, Charlotte said, “Sounds to me that she’s exactly what you’re looking for.” She leaned forward and picked up the Strawberry Shortcake doll that had fallen under the coffee table and gave it to Ariel.
    “What does that mean?” He wasn’t looking for trouble. He just wanted someone to pass the time with so he didn’t start answering when he talked to himself.
    “With the exception of Bitchface, you weren’t exactly monogamous,” Paige answered. “You and Luke could have written your own playbook.”
    Bitchface was the nickname Paige had given his ex, Megan Rhodes. The one who’d ripped his heart out and stomped all over it. The heart he still wasn’t sure was back to full capacity. After two years together, and after Noah had opened up his heart as wide as he’d ever thought possible, she’d decided she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with a construction worker. She’d gone back to the guy she’d dated at university, who now had a fancy finance job at one of the top banking firms. He later found out that she’d already initiated a relationship with him while they were still dating. She’d wanted lavish parties, fancy houses, and cars. All he would have been able to give her was a small house in a small town, with an even smaller paycheck. Which was why Noah was having trouble committing to his own business. It would solidify his status as blue collar. He was battling some severe post-traumatic stress where that was concerned.

    “She’s lucky I haven’t run into her because if I ever do, she’s going to get my fist in her face.” Just as Noah had been protective of his sisters when they were