Just My Luck by Rosalind James Read Free Book Online

too fast. She took a couple deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, rubbed her hands up and down against her thighs. Saw him watch her do it. Boy, this was hard.
    “Because you think the failure of your marriage was your fault,” he said after a moment.
    “Well, not that so much. It’s hard for a marriage to succeed when one person’s cheating, and has decided he doesn’t really like the other person anyway.” Since she was baring her soul here, she might as well go all the way. “But marrying him was my . . . not my fault, maybe, but my bad judgment. Before I get involved with anyone again, I want to make sure my judgment is a whole lot better.”
    “Right. You don’t need a lover just now. Message received and understood.”
    “That’s it,” she said with relief. “I don’t. And I don’t want to lead you on. Besides, I’m three years older than you.”
    She stopped in confusion. Why had she told him that? Because she was attracted to him, she realized with some surprise, even though he was nothing like the relatively handsome, slim man she’d married, or all the cute guys she’d dated in a romantic career that had begun well before she was fifteen. His harsh looks, the bulk and strength of him, instead of putting her off, made her want to move into his arms, feel them wrap around her, hold her close. Hold her safe.
    But it wouldn’t be safe, she reminded herself. It would be just the opposite. If she looked for her safety in yet another man, how had she learned anything at all?
    He nodded. “Fair enough. But could you use a climbing partner, and a friend?”
    “A friend,” she repeated slowly. “You want to be my friend? And that’s all?”
    “I won’t lie,” he said. “I try not to do that anymore. I want to be your lover. But I accept that that may never happen. And whether it does or not, I’d like—I’d really like—to be your friend.”
     

Thrills and Honesty
    Hannah looked back at the house as they pulled out of the driveway, waving to Jack, who was waving hard back at her from Kristen’s arms.
    “Are you sure?” she asked Drew. “That Liam’s . . . OK? To stay with them?”
    Drew glanced at her with amusement. “I’d trust Mako with my life,” he said simply. “Or more importantly, my son’s life. Most reliable bloke I know, eh, Toro.”
    “He is,” Nate agreed from the back seat. “Nobody better.”
    “But didn’t he have some trouble in the past?” Hannah persisted.
    “He did,” Drew said. “And got himself sorted, too.”
    Ally glanced across at Nate, but he was silent. Whatever the story was, she wasn’t going to get it from him.
     
     “How are you finding Wellington so far?” Nate asked when they were out on the water. He’d managed to launch them from the beach with a shove, and even climb in again behind her without any mishaps. Ally was actually a little sorry. She’d been half-anticipating going over, and enjoying the prospect of teasing him about it. He definitely needed it.
    “I love it,” she said, keeping up a steady stroke and feeling the calm that always came over her when she was surrounded by sea and sky, enjoying the effort, the rhythmic motion. She was going to be out here with him for a while, so she might as well keep this pleasant. She didn’t even have to look at him, after all. You couldn’t really turn around in a double kayak without tipping the thing, which was probably for the best in this case. “I’ve been wandering around getting happily lost, and finding my way home again. It’s a lively place, isn’t it? Lots of outdoor stuff to do too, which is my favorite thing.”
    “It can get a bit wet and windy,” he cautioned.
    “I’ve heard,” she said, unable to keep the amusement from her voice. “I’ve had a few discussions about the weather already, you see.”
    She heard him groan. “I’m rubbish at chatting girls up,” he admitted, surprising a laugh from her. “I never know what to say. Everything’s