Blind Ambition by Gwen Hernandez Read Free Book Online Page B

from leaching into his voice. “Because the way I see it, there’s no safe place for you here. Not anymore. And I’m being paid to take you home to Seattle”—to Daddy Billionaire—“not to spring you from that hellhole just so you can get snatched again.”
    Her gaze settled on the water and she rested her elbows on her knees, holding the remainder of her food in one hand. “I need to check on Garfield, the other nurse in my clinic. He was stabbed when Rugby…when Frederick’s thug took me.” Her brows furrowed and she took a deep breath. “And there’s a little girl named Flore I have to find. She was recovering from an asthma attack when the rebels came. I helped her escape, but I don’t know if she made it back to the orphanage.” She looked at him, and he nearly lost himself in the oceanic depths of her eyes. “I’m trying to adopt her.”
    His eyebrows shot up and he rocked back on his heels. Well, shit.
    He’d imagined her as a mother once. To his children. He’d fallen so hard and fast during their three weeks together it had scared him witless, but in his mind he had seen their future playing out into marriage and kids and forever. He’d even contemplated leaving the PJs for her.
    Fool.
    She rushed to fill the silence before he could think of a response. “Part of the adoption process requires me to reside on the island continuously for six weeks. It’s been a month since I submitted my paperwork, so I only have two weeks to go.” Leaning forward, her voice grew stronger as she said, “If I leave now, we’ll have to start over. Flore will be stuck here for another six weeks, surrounded by armed militants, struggling to keep her asthma under control. She needs a healthy environment, a good diet, and access to consistent medical care. I can give that to her, but not if I leave.”
    “And why do you have to be the one to adopt her?” he asked.
    “Because there’s no one on the island willing to take on a nine-year-old.” She squeezed her hands into fists against her heart. “And I love her.” Her voice cracked. “I love her, Dan.”
    The look on Alexa’s face made it hard to draw breath. It was the one he’d once desperately hoped to see when she looked at him.
    God, he wanted to hate her. She was ruining his plans. No bonus meant another year of paying off bills, another year until he could start rebuilding his savings, another year before he could move forward with his life. How much easier all this would be if she were some spoiled, snobby heiress who’d gotten in over her head. He’d been angry and hurt for so long, surviving by convincing himself that she couldn’t possibly be as amazing as he remembered. But goddammit, she was.  
    She was selfless and caring and strong.
    And he was so fucked.
    Closing his eyes, he rubbed a hand over his face and took a deep slow breath. Now what? “None of that changes the fact that you’re in danger.”
    She stood. “I’ll pay you whatever my dad was paying if you stay until I can take her home.”
    The offer was tempting. She’d have a guard and he could get the money after all. Except the thought of taking money from her chafed. Besides, he had other obligations. “I can’t do it.”
    She bit her lip. “I know we have a rocky history—”
    He gave a bitter laugh. Was that how she saw it?
    “But,” she continued, “I need your help. And I trust you.” She stepped closer, her golden-red hair glowing in the bright sunlight. “I’m not sure how my dad found you, or why, but I’m glad he did.”
    That made one of them. He shifted sideways to put more distance between them. “Even if I wanted the job, I can’t do it. I have to be back in the States by Friday night. Mick Fury’s getting married and I’m the best man.”
    “Really?” For a moment, the furrow between her brows eased. “He’s the last guy I ever thought would settle down.”
    On that they agreed. He’d known Mick had a thing for Jenna for years. He just