Romancing the Alpha: An Action-Adventure Romance Boxed Set by Anna Hackett, Anna Lowe, Leigh James, Ember Casey, Zoe York, Ruby Lionsdrake, Zara Keane, Sadie Haller, Lyn Brittan, Lydia Rowan Read Free Book Online Page B

about her avoidance of the ridge at all.
    How could she explain the feelings in her head and heart? They didn’t even make sense to her. She just knew that standing on that ridge would be a special moment, and it needed to happen during the race.
    She didn’t care if that plan wasn’t logical.
    Preparing for each stage of the race was smart. Leaving a good part of day two unrehearsed was the opposite of smart.
    Her heart didn’t care.
    But now her heart had some new and conflicting emotions banging around in there, too. Like a sense of obligation to the giant man walking quietly at her side. He’d been nothing but lovely since they’d arrived, and it was all for her benefit.
    If she could give him more of herself, she would.
    If he’d just fuck her, he could have that part, no problem.
    But the other parts—the parts he’d as much as stated he wanted—she didn’t know how to share them.
    Her secret hopes and fears.
    She tamped down the anticipatory feeling of standing on the ridge and having that moment of long-lost connection, sensing her mother next to her. She might not sense anything. The ridge here in Hawaii might just be another pretty vista, like climbing in the foothills near San Diego.
    “Turning here?” Cade asked quietly, breaking into her thoughts. He pointed at the narrow path veering to the left.
    She nodded roughly.
    “I’ll go first, okay?”
    “Thanks.” Didn’t quite seem fair that after being cold and closed off to him, but she still got to stare at his butt. Karma might eventually catch up to her, but for now, she’d take a deep breath and enjoy the view.
    This path was an ankle-twist waiting to happen, though, so most of her attention was on the ground and each careful footfall. But every time she glanced up, he was still as thick and broad and tight and perfect as ever.
    Cade’s body alone would be a good reason to give dating again a try. Although the fact she just thought of him as a piece of meat might be a reason not to. But damn…he was impressive. And not only on the outside. Not having sex with him—at some point—would be something she’d regret for the rest of her life.
    So, he wanted her to dig deep and find some feelings.
    She could do that.
    Even if it gave her hives.
    When the access path opened up on the side of a steep slope—the descent route—she put her hand out and stopped him. After taking a couple of deep, steadying breaths, she looked him straight in the eye. “So you never really explained why you volunteered for this. I mean, other than to be nice to me.”
    Cade took a few breathes of his own, holding her gaze the whole time. “I’m not a complicated guy. I had time off, and this was something I wanted to do.”
    “But why?” She licked her lips, her mouth dry and not because she hadn’t taken a sip of water. “I’m not being nosy, I’m trying to understand what motivates someone to do that.”
    He shrugged. “For the same reason you went racing to Cassie’s side in the hospital.”
    “That’s different.”
    “Is it?”
    “Of course. She needed me.”
    “And who do you need?”
    She swallowed hard. Nobody. With good reason. “I’ve always been pretty independent.”
    “That’s not an answer.” He grinned. “But I’ll forgive you because you still shared something.”
    “And because you’re trapped halfway up a mountain with me?”
    “Don’t do that.” He leaned in until she could see the flecks in his eyes. He smelled far too good for a guy who’d been hiking for an entire morning. His shirt was wet down the middle, soaked with sweat, and she wanted to peel it off him, even as he looked like he was about to lecture her. “I don’t think you’re difficult, Mel. And I’d happily be stuck anywhere with you, even though you make getting to know you
really
hard.”
    The first thought that popped into her head was that she didn’t know why he wanted to know her. But it only took a millisecond to figure out he wouldn’t like