A Man to Remember by Mary Tate Engels Read Free Book Online Page A

beach…"
    Alyse faced him and drew on her bravado. As much as her aroused body wanted this, she knew it was too risky. She had to stop things while she could.  "Lousy pickup line, Jake. We won't be making our history that way. If you were thinking about a quick romp on the beach, forget it."
    He spread both arms and took a step away from her electric body. "Okay. You're in charge. I thought I saw a little seduction in your body language."
    She folded her arms and looked away. What did she want? Did she know?
    "Hey Alyse, let's talk. I need a beer. Maybe you, too." He found a shady spot, opened up the cooler and spread a blanket that was folded inside.
    By the time she joined him, he was downing a beer and she had cooled a bit. He handed her a beer.
    She placed the frosty bottle next to her cheek. "I think we were both under misconceptions before coming here."
    "Not me. I only want the use of your boat. I'm willing to pay. That's it." He didn't even look at her as he spoke. And damned if he'd touch her again. The risks for him were too great. He needed her boat more than he needed her. He couldn't mess this up now for a piece of ass.
     
    Alyse looked at him. Hell yeah, he was hot and bothered. And aroused. So was she. And she'd just thrown cold water on both their desires. She dug her toes in the sand and thought ironically of Bristol Bordeaux, badass babe. What would she do? Alyse knew well that she'd have this man if she wanted him.
    Jake started talking and she listened quietly while she drank her beer. "My dad was in the Army, and we lived everywhere, from South Carolina to Oregon. Finally, we ended up in El Paso, where I went to college. I took a few business courses, but have always been a hands-on kind of guy. Dad wanted me to go Army, but I preferred the Navy and ultimately joined the Seals. A knee injury sent me home where I took a job in a little boot shop run by a Hispanic man. Lorenzo taught me the trade. And I fell in love with leather. When I started my own business, I hired him. And his sons. I am not a rich man, but I can make my own way."
    Alyse took a drink of her beer and tried to skirt financial details of her family. But wealthy is wealthy, and that's all she knew. "My only brother, Greg, and I grew up in San Diego. Our mother died when we were young, and for convenience, under the guise of a better education, our father sent us to private schools. We hated it, but that was our life. After graduating college, both my brother and I came back to California and started working for father. I've been everything from interior decorator to concierge. Right now I'm a sort of troubleshooter and travel from hotel to hotel, making sure the standards are high, which means the places are beautiful and meeting every wish of the customers. Greg has a more important job, that of chief operations officer."
    "Hotels, as in plural?"
    "Father has a few in California."
    "And you're divorced? No kids?"
    "Nope. Divorced from a man hand-picked by my father. Should have learned from that one. But Father insisted that Evan was different and had a brilliant business mind." She paused to laugh. "Not! We were down here to look over some property, maybe find something good for another hotel. But Evan only wanted one thing – to hop in my bunk. When I said no, he lost interest in the business prospects."
    Jake shifted and looked away from her. "I'm not most men. And I'm definitely not looking for a rich father-in-law."
    "You're divorced? What about the kids?"
    "Their mother and I share custody. That's why I have to get back as soon as possible." He opened the cooler and pulled out a couple of plastic containers and forks. "Care for some fabulous ceviche?"
    She grinned. "So this is your Mexican picnic?"
    "Yep. But gotta have chips and salsa." He popped open a bag of chips and spread it all out on the blanket. "This is just the appetizer for those shrimp tacos I promised."
    Alyse dug into the ceviche with the appropriate sounds of