Only Mine by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page A

Anyone interesting?”
    â€œI’m not sure if he’s interesting, but he’s yummy,” Montana said.
    Dakota knew there was no point in fighting the inevitable. Even so, she tried. “It’s not what you think.”
    Nevada dropped her arm and grinned. “You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
    â€œI can guess.” Dakota sighed. “His name is Finn and his brothers are here to appear on the reality show.” She briefly outlined the problem—at least the one from Finn’s point of view.
    â€œYou should offer to comfort him in his hour of need,” Montana told her. “A hug that lingers. A soft kiss with a whisper of need. Soul-stirring touches that…” She looked at her sisters. “What?”
    Nevada glanced at Dakota. “I think she’s slipped over the edge.”
    â€œI think she needs a man,” Dakota told her, then looked at Montana. “Soul-stirring touches? Seriously?”
    Montana dropped her head to her hands. “I need to spend some quality time with a naked man. It’s been too long.” She straightened, then smiled. “Or I could get drunk.”
    â€œWhatever works,” Nevada muttered, accepting the tall vodka tonic Jo handed her. “Montana’s slipping over the edge.”
    â€œIt happens to the best of us,” Jo said cheerfully, passing Montana a rum and Diet Coke.
    As Jo left, the front door opened and Charity and Liz walked in. Charity was the city planner, married to cyclist Josh Golden, while Liz had married the triplet’s brother, Ethan. Both women saw the sisters and headed over.
    â€œHow are things?” Charity asked as they approached.
    â€œGood,” Dakota said, eyeing her friend. “You look amazing. Fiona is what—three months old? You’d never know you just had a baby.”
    â€œThanks. I’ve been walking a lot. Fiona is sleeping longer, so that helps.”
    Liz shook her head. “I remember those baby nights. Thank goodness mine are older.”
    â€œWait until they start wanting to drive,” Nevada told her.
    â€œI refuse to think about that.”
    â€œWant to join us?” Montana asked.
    Liz hesitated. “Charity’s been reading my work-in-progress and wants to discuss a couple of things. Next time?”
    â€œSure,” Dakota told them.
    Liz wrote a successful detective series that had, until recently, featured victims who looked surprisingly like their brother Ethan. Now that he and Liz were together, Dakota had a feeling the next dead body would be completely different.
    The two women walked to another table.
    â€œHow’s work?” Nevada asked Montana.
    â€œGood. I’m training a couple of new puppies. I talked to Max about the reading program I’ve been researching. I have an appointment with a couple of school board members to talk about a trial program.”
    Montana had discovered several studies that explained that kids who were bad readers improved more quickly when they read to dogs instead of people. Something about dogs being all support and no judgment, Dakota thought. When her sister had approached her about the studies, Dakota had done a little research and found even more supportive literature.
    â€œI love the idea of going into schools and helping kids,” Montana said wistfully. “Max says we’re going to have to expect to do it for free in the beginning. Once we show results, the schools will hire us.” She wrinkled her nose. “Honestly, most of what we do is for free. I can’t figure out where he gets his money. Someone is paying my salary and to take care of the dogs. Even if he owns the land and the kennel is paid for, there’s still upkeep.”
    â€œHe hasn’t said where the support comes from?” Nevada asked.
    Montana shook her head.
    â€œYou could ask him,” Dakota told her.
    Montana rolled her eyes and picked up her drink.