Naughty by Nature Read Online Free Page A

hither’ look?”
    Indie gave her a
withering glance.  “Probably because he was standing in front of the minister
and couldn’t very well respond in kind.  Not everyone is as daring as you.”
    Tessa shrugged. 
“Okay, I’ll give him that one.  But there's more-”
    “Tell me later.” 
Indie cut her off mid-speech.  “We’ve been in here more than five minutes. 
They’re probably wondering where we are.”
    “Yes, but he-”
    “Come on, Tessa.” 
Indie reached out and took Tessa’s hand and pulled her to her feet.  “Tell me
while we’re on our way.”
    “I tried again at
the reception.”  Tessa’s voice was breathless as she tried to keep up with
Indie.  “When you guys were cutting the cake…I looked at him across the
room…and even gave him a smile…and all he did was glare at me.”
    Indie gave a hiss
and Tessa couldn’t figure out if it was a hiss of impatience or annoyance. 
Probably both. 
    “Tessa, that’s
just Wolf.  Half of the time he looks like he’s angry at something.  You can’t
take it personally.  That’s just who he is.”
    “Well, I don’t
care.  He’s rude and I don’t-”
    “Just be nice,”
Indie whispered.  “We’re here.”
    And then they were
stepping into the dining room where the two men were already seated at the
table, their plates piled high with fried chicken, coleslaw and baked potatoes.
    “Hey, you started
without us.”  Indie’s voice was super bright, probably to hide any funny look
on Tessa’s face.
    “Sorry, couldn’t
wait.”  Stone picked up a piece of chicken and took a bite.  “Who knew how long
you ladies would be powdering your noses?”  He gave Wolf a knowing look. 
“Gossiping, more likely.”
    “What did you
say?”  Indie went to stand by his chair.
    “Uh, nothing.”  He
ducked his head and attacked his baked potato with gusto.
    “I thought so,”
Indie said, cracking her knuckles menacingly.  Then she grinned and bent down
to kiss Stone on top of his head.  “You go ahead and eat all you want, honey. 
You're growing boys.”  
    Tessa paid no mind
to what Indie and Stone were saying.  She was focused on Wolf who had turned
toward her, the usual scowl on his face, and then he was staring down at her
feet.
    And that was when
she remembered.  No shoes.  Great.  So much for looking classy and elegant.
    Then a thought
came to her.  What did it matter, anyway?  Heck, it was only Wolf Spencer and
he wasn’t even interested in her so why bother trying to impress?
    So as he stared
down at her feet, the pink-painted toenails winking at him, Tessa sauntered
over to the opposite side of the table and sat down.  Then she looked him
straight in the eyes, daring him to say a single word.
    He didn’t.
    He'd better not –
Mr. Arrogant – for she would have a proper answer for him.  Tessa’s face was
serious as she watched him from across the table.  And, as usual, he was
wearing his ‘forever scowl’.  Indie had said that was just him, nothing
personal, but how could it not be personal when you gave a man your best smile,
used your eyes to tell him you were totally interested, only for him to give
you a glare in return?  Unforgivable.
    But then another
thought came to Tessa – as they so often did.  Rather than letting him throw
her into a bad mood and spoil her evening, why not have some fun…at his
expense?
    A smile tickled
the corners of her mouth as she stared at him.  He must have felt the change in
her because he cocked an eyebrow as if in curiosity and then his face grew even
darker than before.  He was probably suspicious.  Well, he had every right to
be, because before he left that evening she was going to make him sorry he’d
disrespected Tessa Tyndale.
    “Here you go,
Tessa.”  Indie reached out and pushed the basket of crispy fried chicken toward
her.  She’d gone and sat across from Tessa, right beside Wolf.  Traitor.  Tessa
gave her a healthy glare for that move.
    But then