His Seduction Game Plan by Katherine Garbera Read Free Book Online Page B

“Not for me. I wish I could just say forget it and walk away, but I can’t,” he said, turning and pulling Ferrin into the shadow of his body. He carefully took her sunglasses from her face and their eyes met.
    Her eyes were troubled. He wanted to find a way to relieve her and make her feel that if she gave him access to the past nothing bad would happen to her father. But Hunter had no real idea of what was there. And walking away or letting her walk away from him didn’t feel right. He couldn’t understand why keeping Ferrin with him was so important. He only knew that it was.
    â€œI would walk away from the past if it would let me go. I would do that for you, honey, but it’s out of my hands. Bringing the facts to light is the only thing that will put the past to rest.”
    * * *
    Hunter was intense when he stared into her eyes. If the devil looked like Hunter she’d gladly sell her soul to him. But he wasn’t asking for her soul. He wasn’t even asking for her heart. He was asking for a chance at normal. Something that had always eluded her.
    Not because of her father, though there were times when she blamed him for that. But she knew it was all down to her and her ideas of what life and relationships should be. She felt odd a lot of the time because to her it seemed everyone had something normal to draw from. Not her disappointment with her father.
    She tipped her head forward and their foreheads touched. She saw that Hunter had closed his eyes, and took advantage of the moment to study his face closely. She noticed the tiny scar underneath his right eye and how thick his eyelashes were. She brought her hands up to his face, cupped his jaw and felt the feathery smoothness of his beard under her fingers. Hunter captivated her.
    She’d been trying to protect herself by throwing up barriers between them. By making her father’s files and Hunter’s hotness into things that should make her back away. But they didn’t. He was complicated and intriguing and he drew her the way a flame drew a moth, even though she was smart and knew she might get burned. She also knew it was worth it.
    He was worth it.
    And hell, if she were completely honest, she’d admit she was worth it, too. She deserved the chance to be with a man like Hunter. No one said every relationship had to last forever. In fact, she’d be happy with a few weeks. Just something fun.
    Surely he could do fun?
    He seemed like the poster boy for fun.
    She brushed her finger over his soft beard and then his lips. They were firm but also soft. His eyes opened. There was something unreadable in his gaze but she didn’t let that bother her. She let the salty sea breeze sweep through her and carry away her worries and her fears. Fear had kept her in that big mansion on the hill in a dark house with a father who by turns resented her and pretended to dote on her. Fear had been responsible for her making those boxes into an ultimatum and fear had driven her out of that house this morning and straight to this man.
    Hunter.
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome,” he said, stepping away. They got back on their boards and returned to the shop and changed. When they both came out of the changing rooms they were awkward. Or maybe it was just her. Hunter came forward and took her hand in his, threading their fingers together again and leading her back toward where they’d left the car. “I can’t imagine what it was like growing up with Coach as a father.”
    â€œIt wasn’t bad or good. He just ignored me. I think if I’d been a different sort of person I might have pushed harder to make him notice me. But instead I just stayed in the shadows.”
    â€œYou weren’t always in the shadows, were you?”
    â€œWith him I was. I did well in school and my mom and my stepdad are really great. So I had this weird upbringing where I was the center of attention and then