That Dating Thing by Mackenzie Crowne Read Free Book Online

face and he plucked a jalapeño from the full tray. “We men have radar about that kind of thing.”
    She snorted. “Some men may have gaydar, but from the way Coop was looking at you, he isn’t one of them.”
    Brian avoided her slapping hand, snagging seconds.
    “No wife, Rye Bread.” He waggled the pilfered jalapeño in front of her nose. “The field is clear. Unless he’s gay.”
    “Fat chance of that.” Considering how his eyes cataloged every inch of her body that first day, she doubted there was anything gay about Cooper Reed. She smiled sweetly. “But that doesn’t rule out a girlfriend.”
    His grin sharp, Brian lifted one shoulder in a lazy shrug. “Girlfriends can be replaced.”
    “Get away from me, Don Juan,” she grumbled, hefting the tray. “And don’t do me any more favors.”
    The sound of his wicked laughter followed her into the living room.
    “Coop and I were just discussing next month’s fundraiser.” Sil looked over at Rylee’s approach. “He has some connections in the city I’m hoping to tap.”
    She offered a bland smile in response. The foundation, or more precisely, her connection to it, was a subject she’d rather avoid while in the presence of an attorney with the D.A.’s office.
    She set the tray on the coffee table. Brian dropped a pile of napkins beside it before seating himself in the last unoccupied chair. With Elliott and Sil cuddling on the couch, the only open seat was on the loveseat beside Coop. Rather than join him, Rylee rested a hip on the arm of Brian’s chair, shoving back when he jabbed her in the ass with his elbow.
    “I hadn’t realized your aunt is the Silvia Burke, associated with The Adam’s House Foundation,” Coop told Rylee.
    Rylee checked the chastising glare she wanted to send Sil’s way. What could she be thinking, bringing up the foundation with Cooper Reed?
    “You know of Adam’s House?”
    “Who doesn’t?” He turned to Sil. “It was formed in honor of your son from what I’ve read.” Sil nodded. “I’m sure he’d be proud.” He turned back to Rylee. “Affordable housing for returning combat vets is a worthy cause.”
    “Very worthy,” she agreed.
    “Coop has a contact in the fashion industry,” Sil announced. “A couple of items from several designers would add definite New York panache to the silent auction, don’t you think?”
    Rylee bared her teeth in a warning smile, then turned to study Coop. “The fashion industry, huh? I wouldn’t have thought a lot of high crimes and misdemeanors came out of the garment district.”
    “My connection with the fashion industry is more in the way of a personal association.” He smiled, a slow curving of those perfectly cut lips below eyes twinkling with pure blue sin.
    She’d just bet the association was personal. What woman could resist that deadly combination of I-want-to-taste-you lips and I-promise-you’ll-enjoy-it eyes? Even though he was off limits, his bad boy smile made the breath back up in her throat. She swallowed against the heady rush swelling in her chest, competing for space with her constricting lungs.
    To counter the corresponding breathlessness of her response, she cocked her head and crossed her arms. “With a model, no doubt.”
    “The contact I mentioned used to be a model.”
    She didn’t spin around to smirk at Brian, but she wanted to. Instead, she settled for shoving an elbow at the shoulder closest to her hip.
    “Now she’s the personal assistant to one of the designers,” Coop continued. “She and her husband are friends of mine.”
    Her ass received another jab, accompanied by Brian’s self-satisfied grunt. She ignored both.
    “I could introduce you to her if you’d like,” Coop offered. “You could pitch her Silvia’s fundraising idea.”
    Invitation filled the blue-sin gaze holding hers, for more than just a simple introduction to his friends.
    She could almost hear Sil’s silent urging. Say yes, Rylee. Say yes! Rylee refused to