The Wedding Gift by Cara Connelly Read Free Book Online Page B

history and a comfort level that made it easy, nonthreatening. Like hanging out with a brother.
    Which was just as well, he reminded himself, coming full circle back to Snow White. She was way too fragile for a guy like him. He had all the experience she lacked, and then some. And his huge appetite would scare the hell right out of her.
    He knew it, accepted it. Usually, took it in stride.
    But Jesus, her nipples.
    He crawled down the bed and closed himself in the bathroom again.
    Another shower would be too weird, so he bit down on a towel while he did the deed.
    J AN SMOOTHED THE sheet over her lap. This was going to be weirder than she thought.
    It was one thing to flop with Mick on his couch as Rick and the gang hacked their way through a herd. It was quite another to lie in bed together.
    Even zombies couldn’t make it seem normal.
    Mick came out of the bathroom and grabbed two beers from the fridge. “Thanks,” she said as he swapped a cold one for her empty.
    He flashed a quick smile, then crawled up on the bed and made himself comfy, one long leg stretched out, the other bent at the knee. His beer rested on his abs, as flat as a table. The tanned fingers he curled around the bottle were nicked with white scars.
    Jan stole a look at his face from the corner of her eye. A mistake, because in the lamplight’s glow he was even more McGorgeous than usual.
    His lashes looked longer, his lips fuller, his jaw more defined. And his hair, disordered from his shower, cried out for her fingers to comb it back from his brow.
    The situation was so not conducive to a good night’s sleep.
    Yet Mick seemed annoyingly unaffected. He was Mr. Relaxed, while she kept popping a sweat.
    Lifting her hair off her neck, she fanned herself with it. “Are you hot?” she asked.
    â€œSo they tell me.”
    â€œHar har. I mean should I turn on the AC?”
    â€œUp to you. I’m good either way.”
    She turned it on, a low hum.
    Season four began. The room cooled, and she slid down under the sheet. “Are you cold?” she asked. “I can turn it off.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    Why was he being so difficult?
    She punched her pillows. “I might fall asleep.”
    â€œGo ahead.”
    â€œCan I turn off the light?”
    â€œIf you want to.”
    Grrr.
    She left it on. “Are you getting under the sheet?”
    â€œEventually.” He sipped his beer, eyes on the TV.
    â€œThis mattress is pretty comfortable.” She jounced her hips.
    He sipped his beer.
    Jerk. Why was he unfazed, while she had ants in her pants?
    â€œSo, do you think they’ll be happy?”
    â€œWho?”
    She rolled her eyes. “Cody and Julie, who else?”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t they be?”
    â€œHe’s a doctor, and Julie hates doctors.”
    He dropped his gaze to her, finally. “They’re in love. That should take care of it.”
    â€œYou think love conquers all?”
    â€œIt should conquer stupid shit like what somebody does for a paycheck.”
    His eyes were so blue, she could get lost in them.
    She focused on the ceiling instead. “My mother wants me to marry a doctor. Or a lawyer, or an accountant. Someone who doesn’t put his life on the line.”
    â€œMakes sense,” he said. “She doesn’t want you to grieve like she did.” He turned back to the TV. Sipped his beer. “You feel the same way about it?”
    Good question. Her mother had drilled it into her head for so long, she hadn’t considered other options.
    But then, she hadn’t considered a bikini either.
    What if the field was wide-open and she could marry anyone, no matter what he did for a paycheck? She thought about it.
    â€œDepends on the guy,” she said at last. “If I love him, I’ll want him to do what makes him happy. If it turns out I can’t live with whatever that is, well, that’ll be my problem.”
    â€œIf you left him, it