Obsessed (Hostile Takeover #1) by Tawny Taylor Read Free Book Online

her husband standing behind her, smiling, she said, “Dirk can help you with bring in your things.”
    I shook my head. “It can wait until later. I’m in no hurry to unpack.” My stomach rumbled and I grinned.
    “You’re hungry!” Mom proclaimed. “My girl is hungry. Let’s get her inside and feed her.” She grabbed my hand and pulled. “I made up a grocery list. Kent has a full kitchen. All the foods you like. You know I don’t like to see you so skinny.”
    “Yes, I know,” I said, laughing. “Thank you.”
    Inside, memories of the last time I’d been in this house came flooding back and instantly I became tense and uncomfortable. But I did my best to hide my anxiety. While Mom dug out some sandwich stuff and piled a sky-high concoction of meat, cheese and bread together for me, she jabbered nonstop about how wonderful Kent was, how generous he was being to all of us but especially me because he’d offered to let me live in his house rent-free, and how he’d also offered to buy my groceries, anything I needed until I was on my feet. I wanted to set her straight, and tell her what kind of guy he really was, but I didn’t. Instead I endured the cheerleading for over an hour until she gave me one last hug and said she was heading home to cook her husband dinner.
    Relieved I wouldn’t be hearing any more gushing compliments about my host, I began unloading my car. I’d hauled in at least half my stuff when a sleek black Jaguar came prowling up the curved drive and stopped next to my snazzy new SUV. The driver’s side door swung open, a well-shod foot stepped out, and then there he was, in the flesh, my landlord and my stepbrother.
    “I see you’ve made it safely,” he said with a big Cheshire grin. “Welcome home.”
    “Thank you,” I said, returning his smile. I bit back a less-than-friendly retort and instead reached for the next load of boxes.
    Unfortunately, Kent didn’t head inside. He circled around the rear of my SUV and stood there. I felt him, the heat of his gaze, searing my back.
    Arms empty, I straightened up and turned around to ask him what he wanted.
    “Go inside and get yourself organized. I’ll bring the rest in for you,” he commanded.
    If those words had come from anyone else, I would have been happy to comply. But it had come from him . And he hadn’t suggested. He hadn’t asked. He’d told me. I wasn’t a little kid anymore. I didn’t always bristle when someone told me what to do. But I did get prickly when it was Kent Payne doing the telling.
    “That’s okay. I can get this stuff on my own,” I said. Ignoring the tingling sensation buzzing up and down my back, because they irritated me, I grabbed a box and brushed past him to go inside. Of course, he completely dismissed what I said and grabbed a big load of stuff before following me in.
    I set my stuff down in the hallway. I hadn’t known which bedroom was meant to be mine, and didn’t want to make any assumptions and just pick one, so I’d figured I would wait until Kent returned.
    “Why are your things out here?” he asked as he strolled past them, lugging several boxes.
    “I didn’t know which room you wanted me to use. I figured my stuff from my mom’s old place must be here somewhere, but I didn’t know where.”
    “Your things are in storage. I didn’t have them moved to a room yet. I assumed you would take your pick.” He turned into the doorway at the end of the hall. The sound of weight thumping on the floor suggested he’d unloaded his arms. I followed him inside.
    This was the biggest bedroom I’d seen in this house so far, nicer than the one I’d used during spring break. And it was next to Kent’s room. Which meant there was just one wall between my room and his. “Will this do?” he asked, as if he didn’t know the answer already.
    Like I would say no? Even if it was next to his, it was gorgeous, not to mention huge. No joke, this suite with the walk-in closet, massive bedroom and