Perfect Specimen by Kate Donovan Read Free Book Online Page A

lied,” Mark said with an unapologetic grin. “Sara’s too pretty to ignore, even during a great playoff game. I definitely paid attention to her. And I didn’t see a girl who was looking forward to an anonymous sexual fling. I saw a girl who was dreading it.”
    “I was not!” Sara scolded him.
    “You looked nervous until it was obvious the guy wasn’t going to show. Then you relaxed. Then my brother walked over to you, and you looked surprised. Like you had been expecting someone else, and were delighted to see Clay instead.”
    “Well, you’re a wonderful Monday morning quarterback,” Sara drawled, hoping he couldn’t see how truly accurate his perception had been. “Yes, Clay’s good-looking. I was delighted. But there’s no reason to think the Internet guy wouldn’t have suited me just as well. Anyway, I don’t get the point.”
    “The point is, you wanted a casual relationship. But you got something more. You seem afraid to acknowledge that—”
    “Yeah, Sara. Acknowledge it,” Clay urged.
    “I’m a married woman. I don’t have love affairs, I have meaningless ones.” She stood and glared at Mark. “I’ve cooperated, right? Now make Clay give me back my journal.”
    Before Mark or Clay could respond, the door to the study opened and a strapping young man in a football jersey and cutoff jeans strode into the room, his green eyes flashing with excitement.
    “This is unbelievable, guys!” the newcomer began. Then he stopped in his tracks and stared at Sara. “Oh, wow. You’re here ?” Striding over to her, he grappled her into a hearty bear hug.
    Then he proclaimed in a husky voice, “You’re safe now, Sara. You know that, don’t you? You’ve got us now. The Ryerson brothers. We’ll make sure that asshole never gets near you again.”

Chapter 4
     
     
    “Geezus, Randy, what the hell are you doing?” Clay demanded. “Let go of her, pervert.”
    Stunned, Sara managed to wriggle free of the youngest brother’s embrace. Then she stared into his eyes—eyes almost exactly like Clay’s in color and intensity—and tried to fathom what he had just said to her.
    “We’re having a session here, Randy,” Mark warned.
    “Without me ? You guys don’t know jack about this stuff.” Randy flashed a confident smile toward Sara. “These losers have razzed me for years about being a Trekkie and a geek and a comic book freak, but now it’s gonna come in handy. Right?”
    Clay stepped closer. “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “Don’t answer that!” Beyond frantic, Sara sandwiched Randy’s face between her palms and instructed him tersely. “Not another word. Do you hear me? Not one.”
    “You think he’s here ? Listening? Wow!” Randy jumped back and scanned the room. “Hey, asshole, if you’re here, show yourself. Let’s do this once and for all!”
    “No!” Sara threw herself at him, grabbing his shirt in one hand and plastering her other palm across his mouth. “Please shut up! Oh, God, please, please just let me think.”
    “Sara?” Clay laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
    “She’s protecting me, doofus,” Randy explained. “Just like she’s been protecting you . And her daughters. And everyone, really. But not anymore, Sara. You’ve got us now—”
    “Stop saying that. Let me think.” Covering her face with her hands, she ordered herself to stop panicking. If she didn’t gain control of this situation immediately, this brave, misguided idiot was going to get himself and his brothers killed. She had to find a way to shut him up. Or to get Clay to do it for her.
    So she turned to her ex-lover and reminded him unhappily, “This is your fault. I trusted you when you said my journal was in a safe place.”
    “Your journal?” The truth seemed to dawn on Clay finally, and he spun toward Randy. “You read it? That’s what you’re babbling about? Protecting her from her husband?” Before Randy could answer, Clay told him