Read Online Own the Night by Debbi Rawlins - Free Book Online Page B

offering to put her up.” Noah went on to explain, while he sipped his whiskey and threw a ball for Dax until the bathroom light went off.
    Then he disconnected and took the mutt through the back door with him. He stopped in the kitchen, washed out his glass and left it on the rack to dry.
    Dax obviously knew they had a visitor, and took off around the corner. Noah called him back, heard his short bark, then heard Alana say, “Oh, aren’t you a handsome boy.”
    Noah left the kitchen and found her in the living room bent on one knee, petting Dax, who seemed determined to lick her chin. She seemed equally resolute in not letting him, straining backward until he’d nearly knocked her over.
    She wore Noah’s long-sleeved black T-shirt, and no pants. His heart lurched. He hadn’t even considered digging up a pair of sweats, though come to think of it, he wasn’t sure he owned any. All he ever wore were jeans.
    “Dax, come here.”
    She gamely said, “He’s fine.” Even as the dog took a sloppy swipe at her averted chin.
    “Dax,” Noah said sternly. “Come.”
    The mournful mutt’s tail stopped wagging and he dutifully reported to Noah’s side.
    She was all legs…smooth, toned legs. While tugging at the hem of the shirt, Alana braced a palm on the wall and slowly drew herself up. The fabric ended high on her thigh.
    Noah realized he should’ve offered her a hand, but he was so distracted by the expanse of creamy skin that he didn’t trust himself. And here she was worried about Dax slobbering all over her.
    “I see the shirt fits,” Noah muttered lamely, sucking in a breath when he noticed something else. No bra. Nice high, full breasts. Oh, hell.
    “Yes, thanks.” She glanced down. “It’s even longer than I expected.”
    Not long enough. Or thick enough. Not for his peace of mind. He backed up, massaged the tense muscle at the side of his neck. Tried everything in his power to keep his eyes above her shoulders. “I just remembered I might have a pair of flannel sleep pants.”
    She folded her arms across her breasts, fairly nonchalant about her sudden shift in position, but he had a feeling she was uncomfortable. He just hoped it had nothing to do with his reaction. “I wouldn’t turn them down,” she said. “It’s a bit cool.”
    “I’ll go check.” He couldn’t wait to escape to his bedroom before she saw that he was getting hard. Maybe she already had, though he didn’t think so. He’d purposely bent over to pet Dax.
    Hell, he was too old for his cock to be surprising him like that. He dug deep in his lower dresser drawer and came up empty. When it was warm he slept in boxers, and during the colder months he practically lived in long johns. She’d have to be desperate for him to offer her a pair of those things. They were old and needed replacing.
    But he remembered a Christmas gift that he’d never worn, and kept rooting around until he found it on his closet shelf still in the box. Blue-and-green-plaid sleep pants, medium-weight wool with a drawstring waist, or so advertised. They’d cover her legs. That would do both of them a world of good.
    Thinking about where the T-shirt hem hit her midthigh, exposing those sleek toned legs, had him stopping in the bathroom on the way back. He remembered her hard nipples poking at the soft thin cotton, and splashed ice-cold water on his face. God help him, he supposed it could’ve been worse had she chosen the white shirt.
    He waited until he felt reasonably under control and then joined her in the living room. She was sitting on the couch, her legs curled up under her while she cooed in a soft, melodic voice to Dax. The mutt’s admiring gaze was planted on her face and didn’t so much as waver with Noah’s approach.
    “You’ll probably have to roll them up.” He started to hand her the box, but then pulled the package out and shrugged. “A Christmas present from my mom.”
    “I see it was a big hit.”
    Noah smiled wryly, noting with