Read Online Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War by Michelle Hardin - Free Book Online Page A

straightened his clothing and self-consciously fixed his messy hair. He couldn’t wait for her to cut it. He knew she’d want to do it as soon as she saw how much it had grown since they’d last seen each other. Just the thought of her touching him again made all of his blood immediately rush to his—
    “Nathan,” Kyle laughed.
    Nathan’s head snapped up from his thoughts. “I’m … nervous,” he confessed.
    All of the men smiled or shook their heads. “This woman must be something,” Freddy said. “You say she looks like Anastacia Stone?” he asked Kyle. When Kyle lightly chuckled and nodded in reply, Freddy arched an eyebrow. “Well damn. I better fix myself up, too.”
    They watched Freddy spruce himself up with amusement.
    “Seriously, guys,” Nathan said. “I feel like I’ve been stress eating and shit. All of that fucking Russian cuisine goes straight to my ass. I was in good shape last time I saw her.”
    “I’m sorry,” Mickey said, holding up one finger in the air to get their attention, “but did you just say cuisine ?”
    Lucca, Kyle, Freddy, and Dante had to turn away from Nathan to quiet their laughter.
    Nathan glared at the asshole. “I’m fucking serious! Wanting to look good for my wife doesn’t make me a bitch!”
    “Stop this, brat, please. I can’t take it,” Freddy laughed. “There are times when you make me forget you are an underboss.”
    “I can’t stop! I’m fucking nervous. I haven’t seen her in weeks, and I’m pretty sure I look like shit. Not to mention I haven’t showered since yesterday morning.”
    “I’m sure Carter has seen and smelled you in worse states than this,” Lucca said through a chuckle.
    Nathan couldn’t deny the truth in Lucca’s words. He and Carter were married. They’d seen the good, the bad, and the ugly that the other had to offer, yet somehow it didn’t affect the attraction they felt for one another in the slightest. Nathan wasn’t the sexiest, nor the freshest after a workout, but according to Carter he was the sexiest man on earth when he was covered in sweat.
    “You don’t smell bad, Nathan,” Dante stated. “If you did, I would have told you. You’re the cleanest person I know.”
    “Jesus Christ, Russian, you sound like a woman,” Freddy said in exasperation. “Open the door so that I can meet this woman that has you by the balls.”
    The guys snickered and Nathan shot Freddy a fierce glare before turning back to the door. He twisted the knob, finding that the door was already unlocked. When they walked in the house, the unmistakable smell of Carter’s cooking was thick in the air. She was cooking his favorite meal; he’d know that smell anywhere. Sirloin steak and pasta with her famous homemade cream sauce. He could’ve sworn he’d also smelled a roasted chicken, too—he knew she would couple that with a fresh vegetable salad—and he detected a small hint of a sweet dessert in the background of the overwhelming scent of the main course dishes. It smelled like she was cooking for an army.
    “Damn,” Freddy whispered from beside Nathan. “It smells like your wife is expecting company.”
    Nathan frowned. She didn’t know anyone in the town near this land. Plus, there were only a few houses nearby, and those were about five miles away. Nathan had bought out the land years ago and made this home secluded so he could have his privacy during his time away every year.
    Nathan’s thoughts were interrupted when he heard deep laughter coming from his kitchen.
    “What the fuck,” he snapped through clenched teeth.
    The intense rage was instant. What the fuck was another man doing in his house? And where the hell was his wife?
    “Who the hell is here, Nathan?”
    Nathan didn’t know who asked the question, nor did he care; he’d already pulled out his gun and was now storming toward the kitchen. Whoever it was had about five seconds to tell him were Carter was, and then Nathan was going to put a bullet through his