Read Online Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry - Free Book Online Page A

as he hit the button for the garage door. Angie had been busy putting her studio back together and they hadn’t seen much of her lately. It would be good to catch up with her. Good to assure himself that she was recovering okay from the break-in.
    It would also give him a chance to hassle her about the rental listings he’d sent to her, too. He’d touched base with a handful of his real estate contacts and put the feelers out for a suitable studio space for her, determined to get her out of that death trap of a building. So far, her only response had been silence. If she thought that stonewalling him would make him give up, she didn’t know him very well.
    He released Charlie from his car seat and locked the car. Michael could hear voices and laughter as they entered the house. He walk into the kitchen and found Angie and Eva putting toppings on three pizza bases.
    “Hello,” he said.
    They looked up with identical surprised expressions, obviously so involved in their conversation they hadn’t heard his arrival.
    “Perfect timing. Dinner is almost ready,” Angie said.
    Charlie immediately went to Angie, gazing up her worshipfully.
    “Why, hello there, Charlie Bear,” she said, tapping his nose lightly.
    She looked different. For a moment Michael was puzzled, then he realized it was because her hair was tucked high on her head in a ballet dancer’s bun. She was wearing her yoga gear, too—tight black leggings and a soft-looking pale pink top with sleeves that stopped at her elbows.
    “Mrs. Linton left a note for you before she left. Something about having a doctor’s appointment next week,” Angie said.
    “Right. Thanks.”
    “Guess what we’re having for dinner, Daddy?” Eva asked.
    “Could it possibly be pizza?”
    “Yes! With the lot. I mean everything. ”
    “She’s not kidding on that one.” Angie cast a significant glance toward the pizza Eva was working on.
    It was piled high with salami, cheese, tomato and mushrooms to the point where it looked more like a pie than a pizza.
    “Check that out. Sure you don’t want to throw a chair or table on top of that thing, too?” he asked Eva, dropping a hand onto the back of her neck and squeezing lightly.
    She tilted her head backward so she could look at him upside-down. “Which pizza do you think is the best?”
    Michael pretended to consider the options. “I like the simplicity of this cheese-and-tomato one, which I’m guessing is for Charlie. And Angie’s is nice and colorful…”
    Eva gave him a look, clearly knowing when she was being strung along. “Just admit it. Mine is the best,” she said with the unashamed egotism of a six-year-old.
    “It does look pretty special.”
    “Let’s put it on the top shelf so all the many, many layers will get a chance to cook through.” Angie slid the pizza onto a baking tray and turned toward the oven.
    He followed her movements idly, not really paying attention, but when she bent to put the pizza in the oven his gaze slid down her slim spine to her backside, perfectly showcased in black Lycra.
    He quickly looked away, but not before he’d noticed that Angie had a very nice ass.
    He cleared his throat. “I might go change while those cook.”
    “Sure,” Angie said.
    He could feel heat in his face as he headed for the bedroom and he hoped like hell that she hadn’t noticed. He kicked his work shoes off with more force than was strictly necessary once he was in his room. He had no business noticing her ass. She was Billie’s best friend. Better yet, she was his friend. The shape and size of her ass was utterly irrelevant. Certainly it was of no interest to him.
    No interest whatsoever.
    Even if it was a very fine, very firm-looking ass.
    Giving himself a firm mental shake, he concentrated on pulling on his jeans.
    * * *
    A NGIE CHECKED ON THE pizzas, then poured herself a glass of wine. She was glad she’d given in to the impulse to surprise Michael with dinner. Even though she hadn’t seen him