Page 116 of Taken Away

Another enthusiastic lick landed near her temple.

“Moose!”

The huge fluffball took that as encouragement.

His tail wagged hard enough to shake the sofa.

Bennett was laughing outright now.

The traitor.

Aubrey peeked one eye open.

Moose stood over them, looking absurdly pleased with himself.

“You are the least intimidating guard dog in America.”

Moose huffed.

Then dropped all one hundred and twenty pounds of himself onto the polished concrete beside the couch.

Aubrey collapsed backward.

Defeated.

For a moment she simply lay there.

Warm. Comfortable.

And suddenly aware of the central air humming, keeping the glass room crisp against the June heat outside. A thin line of condensation traced the bottom edge of the windows.

Then she realized something else.

Beneath the throw, she was completely naked.

Tangled flush against Bennett’s massive, bare torso.

Heat flooded her face.

She instinctively gripped the edge of the blanket, pulling it tight around her shoulders.

Bennett noticed immediately.

A slow grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Oh, there she is.”

Aubrey narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Whatever it is you’re about to say.”

His grin widened.

“Morning-after embarrassment.”