Read Online To Win Her Love by Mackenzie Crowne - Free Book Online

could, his head jerked up and his eyes went wary. His dark brows rose and his Adam’s apple bobbed on a heavy swallow. She followed his gaze to the top of the staircase.
    Murphy bounded down the steps, a neon green bow unraveling at his throat. The frilly pink tutu wrapped around his sleek chest slipped toward his back legs. Giggles competed with the thump of tiny feet descending the stairs. In the lead, as usual, Angel was the first to spot Jake. Her eyes went wide, and she stumbled to a stop.
    Gracie yelped out a warning, but it came out too late. Charlie promptly plowed into her twin. In a tangle of arms and legs, they tumbled down the remaining steps. Like human bowling balls, they swept the dog’s legs out from beneath him and landed in a heap on the landing.
    Gracie gasped. Beside her, Jake stepped forward, his hand outstretched. He needn’t have bothered. The girls sat up immediately, their eyes wide with hesitant curiosity. Murphy scrambled to his feet and performed a full body shake. The tutu slipped farther. Then his head snapped up and his intent, dark eyes landed on the stranger at Gracie’s side.
    Stepping forward, she meant to throw herself in the path of the fur-covered missile launching off the landing. With canine dexterity, the forty-pound scrapper avoided her outstretched hands. He shot past her, the green bow flapping behind him like a neon silk contrail.
    She spun.
    Jake’s big body stiffened as he braced against the impending collision. Murphy landed sure-footed, only to skid across the hardwood floor. Momentum carried him strait for Jake’s long legs.
    No stranger to dexterity, Jake danced to the side. He snagged the dog’s collar and halted his progress. Murphy wriggled wildly, the claws of his scrambling paws clicking on the hardwood floor. He bucked, and Jake pivoted his upper body sideways.
    The move would’ve worked, too, if Murphy was a normal dog, intent upon jumping up to plant his paws to Jake’s chest. She knew from experience that wasn’t the case.
    “Murphy, no!”
    Quick as a flash, he dropped his nose and whipped up his head. She cringed as his skull made solid contact with Jake’s unprotected crotch.
    A loud oof accompanied the unexpected head butt. Jake’s briefcase clattered to the floor. Stunned pain etched his features.
    “What the fu—” When he bent forward, the duffle slid from his shoulder to join the briefcase at his feet. He cupped one hand over his injured crotch and shoved the dog away with the other. Jaw clenched and long legs bent, he crossed one knee in front of the other. His eyes slid shut on a pained moan.
    Gracie bit her lip at his vulnerable contortion, leaping forward to grab Murphy’s collar before he could launch a new assault. Long, dark lashes lifted to reveal Jake’s pain-hazed eyes. They pinned her to the spot.
    “ Oh crap.” She leaned down to wrap her arm around Murphy’s neck.
    Jake’s chest expanded on a ragged breath. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, then snapped his teeth shut on another low moan. If looks could kill, her dog’s spotted hide would soon be bleeding from a dozen cuts. Unfazed by the daggers shooting from Jake’s eyes, Murphy’s wagging tail sliced the air as he strained against her hold.
    Then the daggers changed targets.
    Considering her admission of a similar fantasy moments earlier, she couldn’t blame Jake for his accusing glare. But geez, what did he think? She’d used telepathy or something to get her dog to do what she couldn’t? If only . Yet, the results were the same. Swallowing against the slightly hysterical giggle clawing its way up her throat, she straightened and patted Murphy on the head.
    Charlie’s quiet voice interrupted the angry flush flooding Jake’s features. “Is that him?”
    Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the girls watched Jake with curious, identical blue eyes. Angel’s black brows were beetled in a frown spookily similar to his. Gracie turned. Jake had straightened to his full