Naked by Gina Gordon Read Free Book Online Page A

younger—still was—Paige was equally as fierce. “I’ve been doing the T25 workout. I can throw a punch now.”
    Noah laughed.
    “What Paige is trying to say is ‘temporary’ is just your middle name. You’re never questioned using that MO before.” Charlotte waved her hand. “So just do her.”
    “This coming from the girl who’s never had a real boyfriend.” That had been their assumption all this time because Charlotte had never once brought anyone home.
    “I have a boyfriend,” Ariel piped up from between his sisters. “His name is Danny and we spend every recess together.”
    “Even my nine-year-old niece has a boyfriend.” Charlotte waved one hand in the air and let it flop to the couch. “My life is pathetic.”

    “Don’t you worry, little brother,” Paige said in her most reassuring voice. “Charlotte will figure out what’s wrong with her.”
    Other than the fact that Violet was keeping secrets, there couldn’t be anything wrong with her. But she brought back an uneasiness he’d just as soon forget. Memories of a time when he’d always felt a little less than good enough.
    But he’d be lying if he said that mystery didn’t add some intrigue.
    When his father had died, he’d learned a valuable lesson: everything could be taken away at a moment’s notice. Everything was temporary. He believed that, and he lived his life at a distance, enjoying things with a noncommittal attitude so he was never disappointed when it ended.
    Until he’d met Megan.
    He’d thrown that philosophy out the window, grabbed on to her with both hands, and believed her lies, believed her when she’d said he was enough. But familial pressure and selfishness had gotten the best of her, and it had all been taken away.
    He vowed never to go against his gut instinct again.
    “Kids…dinner,” their mother said from the entryway. “Paige, you get the drinks. Charlotte, you’re in charge of salad, and Noah, I’ve left the roast for you to carve.”
    He knew he was drawing sweeping conclusions about Violet, pigeonholing her into the same mold as Megan because she’d wanted discretion. But he had nothing else to go on.
    Skittish Violet had kept a wall up between them during their entire date, an air of hesitation lacing their more intimate interactions. She’d wanted him. That much was obvious. But he got the impression she wasn’t accustomed to being the aggressor.

    So maybe it was time that someone taught her how to take what she wanted.

Chapter 5
    There was another car in the driveway. He’d said Saturday night. Right?
    Violet gripped a bottle of vodka in one hand and a bottle of olives in the other. Like a proper houseguest, she’d brought a gift. Mainly she just didn’t want to struggle to swallow down gross beer again.
    Her heels clicked against the sidewalk. Sometimes this neighborhood was a little eerie. Too quiet. She was used to the hustle and bustle of the city, but here you could hear the bark of a dog from all the way down the street or the hammer of the man three doors down who was constantly banging on something in his garage. Even the squeak of a porch swing courtesy of the old couple who lived across the street. But she didn’t mind that because she loved the sweet smell of the lilac bushes in their front yard.
    Despite her best intentions to keep her life on the path of least resistance, that morning when she’d gone out to pick up the newspaper on her front porch she’d caught Noah as he was getting into his truck. Just the sight of him had destroyed any thoughts of toeing the line. She should be coming to terms with the woman she was supposed to be, but Noah made her want to explore every nook and cranny of the woman she wanted to be.
    And after a conversation with Roxy, when she’d described in great detail the perfection that was her hot neighbor, his invitation became too good to pass up.
    She took the five steps up to Noah’s front door. The bass of the muffled music echoed the