Ignite by Karen Erickson Read Free Book Online Page B

Your father is a freaking legend around these parts.”
    It took everything within him not to grimace. Or worse, tell his new captain to fuck off. He hated hearing anyone talk about his so-called legendary father. The man merely did his job. He wasn’t a legend. Yeah, he knew Holden ate that crap up with a giant gold spoon, but not West. He never had. The constant comparisons to his father were the main reason he got out of Wildwood.
    Now he worried it might’ve been a major mistake to come back.
    â€œGlad you think so highly of him,” West said, his voice tight. He saw the questioning look in Tate’s eyes and mentally told himself to relax. “Looking forward to working with you and everyone else this season.”
    â€œIt’s going to be crazy, I can practically guarantee it.” Tate grinned again. “But we’re ready. I’m figuring you are, too?”
    The assured smile West offered him felt natural, as did the words that slipped past his lips.
    â€œI was born ready.”

Chapter Four
    â€œS O YOU BROKE up with him.” Rebecca Hill smiled at Harper, reaching out to pat her hand. “It was probably for the best. I never really thought the two of you suited.”
    Her grandmother slung the insult with a sweet smile so Harper really couldn’t be offended. Her grandma hadn’t approved of her relationship with Roger from the beginning, and Harper could never figure out why. Throughout her life she’d valued her grandma’s opinion so much, but for once, she’d gone against her advice. Moving in with him had thrown practically the entire Hill family into a tizzy.
    But Harper had thought they were going to get married and she’d gone for it anyway. Despite the disapproval. Despite her friends asking if being with Roger was what she really wanted. She’d ignored them all, firmly believing she knew best.
    What made it worse? She’d have to quit her job. Working for Roger . . . she couldn’t do it. Being essentially his secretary for the last two years? Why had she let herself become trapped in such a menial job? All for a man?
    She almost wanted to slap herself.
    â€œYou were right,” Harper admitted, swallowing past the bitter lump in her throat. “I should’ve listened to you.”
    â€œThere, there.” Her grandma patted her again before wrapping her hands around the large coffee mug sitting in front of her. “We all need to break free and try something on our own. Most of the time that involves not listening to what well-meaning people tell us. Unwanted and unasked-for advice is the worst, isn’t it?”
    The absolute worst. She’d already dealt with the lecture from her mom and had been thankful her father hadn’t had much to say about it. She just wanted to move on and not focus on any of that anymore. What was done was done.
    â€œWhen was your break-free moment?” Harper asked. If she said marrying Harper’s grandpa, she’d want to bang her own head against a wall. Her grandparents had the sweetest relationship in the world. Everyone aspired to be them, including Harper. She’d been incredibly close to her grandpa, spending most of her time with him when she was little, up until he died unexpectedly when she was fifteen. She’d been devastated. The entire Hill family had been in a state of shock over the sudden loss. Her grandmother had mourned properly then soldiered on, and even eventually opened her own business.
    And they were sitting in the same business at this very moment.
    â€œAfter your grandfather died, there were all sorts of people offering up every little bit of advice you could imagine. Most of my friends, my family, and especially your father.” Her eldest son. “They all wanted to tell me what to do next, how I should live my life, but I was still young! Despite being a grandma and settled, perfectly content in the life we’d created together, I