All in the Game by Barbara Boswell Read Free Book Online Page B

alone with him. On a tropical island late at night, both of them legal, consenting adults.
    Her imagination raced to places that made her blush.
    It was definitely to her advantage that he believed she was cool enough to plot and plan and play a game. Now all she had to do was keep up the pretense.
    It wouldn’t be very hard to do, Shannen pep-talked herself, as she slowed her pace. She wasn’t a giddy schoolgirl anymore, she was a mature woman known for her competence and self-control.
    All she had to do was be herself—her current self. To tell Tynan Howe that this was the last time she would sneak around the island to meet him, and nothing he could say or do could change her mind.
    That was all she had to do.
    Â 
    The moment Shannen spied Tynan Howe/Hale standing in the secluded grove of palm trees, the confidence-boosting tape she was playing in her head became a jumble of blather.
    Fortunately, she had a moment or two to regain her composure before he sensed her presence. She knew he couldn’thear her approaching. The wind and the sounds of the nocturnal birds and animals provided ideal cover.
    That secret moment or two also provided her with time to study him, and helplessly Shannen made a thorough mental inventory.
    He was tall and tanned and muscular, and his Victorious crew T-shirt and loose khaki shorts emphasized his build to perfection. His face was all arresting masculine features: the coffee-colored brown eyes alert with intensity and intelligence, the strong jaw and sharp blade of a nose, the mouth well shaped and sensual.
    His dark-brown hair was cut short, perhaps in concession to the island heat? She remembered he’d worn it longer nine years ago, when at twenty-five, he’d been a legal adult and she, only seventeen, was not.
    Unbidden came a visceral pang of memory, that hungry yearning she’d felt back then every time she’d looked at him.
    It was remarkably similar to what she was feeling right now.
    Shannen was aghast. This was a mature woman known for her competence and self-control? She had to get out of here, and fast!
    â€œShannen,” he called to her quietly.
    Too late she realized she had accidentally moved into his line of vision. Okay, let’s get this over with! She took a deep breath. “Hello, Mr. Hale. ”
    Her deep breathing had the unfortunate effect of making her sound throaty and breathless. That was certainly unintended. Shannen frowned.
    â€œDo you disapprove of my alias?” Ty walked forward to meet her, his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed and cool and calm, everything she knew she was not.
    She resented his composure mightily. “You can call yourself anything you want, it doesn’t matter to me.”
    â€œI wonder who voted to oust Cortnee tonight?” Tystopped in front of her and attempted another conversational sally. “It seems obvious that Jed cast the vote against Konrad, but the vote against Cortnee came as a surprise.”
    Diverted, Shannen nodded her agreement. “I thought the five of us would unanimously vote against Jed, but there were only four votes against him. Enough to send him away, thank heavens. Maybe either Konrad or Rico decided they’d had enough of Cortnee?”
    â€œOr you or your sister did,” suggested Ty.
    â€œWe both voted against Jed. Bad enough he’s an insufferable braggart, but hearing he’s such a user totally clinched it.”
    â€œIt’s a secret ballot, so who knows? Unless you and Lauren discussed your votes?”
    â€œWe didn’t have to. We can’t stand Jed. And what a poor loser he was, throwing that big tantrum. It was pretty funny when Konrad couldn’t stop laughing, though.” Shannen smiled at the memory. “Konrad’s been absolutely giddy today.”
    â€œThe Internet discussion boards will be lit up over this,” said Ty. “Jed does have a loyal following, who will be furious that he’s out of the