Seduced by the Game by Catherine Gayle, Cassandra Carr, Toni Aleo, Jami Davenport, Cindy Carr, Nikki Worrell, Jaymee Jacobs, V. L. Locey, Bianca Sommerland, Lisa Hollett Read Free Book Online Page B

shrugged
slowly. “I don’t know, maybe because I’m the only girl? My mom passed away when
I was six from breast cancer.”
    “I’m sorry,” he said, his
heart going out to her.
    She gave him a tight smile
before she went on. “Thank you, but they’ve been a little smothering since
then. I think they are scared I’ll get hurt, when I could take out anyone who
tried to hurt me. They are nuts and overprotective, which reminds me, I’m sorry
Grady did that. He’s a bonehead.”
    “He loves you; I
understand it. Anyone ever touches Kacey, and I’ll do the same. It’s a big
brother thing.”
    “I guess, but he goes over
and beyond the big brother requirements. He’s treated me like a walking time
bomb since the diagnosis. It’s annoying.”
    Karson stopped and glanced
over at her. He could see it all over her face. She hadn’t meant to tell him
that. “Diagnosis?”
    Clearing her throat, she
asked, “Huh?”
    “You said diagnosis.”
    She laughed, waving her
hand at him. “I don’t know why, silly me.”
    Still looking at her, he
said, “I know this is new, but I know when you are lying to me. Lacey, what
diagnosis?”
    Dropping her fork, she let
out a breath before wrapping her fingers together in her lap. She picked at the
nail polish that was flaking off her fingers. Karson watched as she took in a
deep breath before letting it out again. Looking up at him, she said, “I had
breast cancer.”
    His heart stopped as she
held his gaze. “You had it, too?”
    “Yeah, that’s how they
found out about it. My mom had, so I was at risk. They suggested I come in
early, just as a precaution, and found it.”
    “Do you still?”
    “No,” she answered,
shaking her head.
    “Well, that’s good, great
even, that you fought it. Why are you bashful about something like that? You
should be proud that you are a survivor.”
    “I am. It’s just that I’ve
been sick for so long, and I am just now getting back to me. You know what I
mean? Like, I still don’t look like me. I used to be healthy looking and my
hair was so long, but the chemo took it, and then I—” She stopped suddenly and
shook her head. “It’s just that I have this second chance and I want to make
the most of it, but sometimes I am so scared that I’m not the girl I used to
be.”
    Turning to her, Karson
took her hand in his. “I didn’t know that girl, but I bet she was as amazing as
you are now. You’ve taken something that could be a tragedy and are
capitalizing on it, wanting to help women feel sexy after something that could
make them feel like they aren’t female anymore. Breast cancer is scary. I
admire you for what you’ve overcome and for your plans for the future. You are
amazing, Lacey, and gorgeous. Don’t ever forget that.”
    Her mouth pulled up at the
side as she looked away bashfully. He said, “And to let you know, I’ve fallen
just a bit more for you. You blow me away, Lacey. The more I learn about you,
the more I know this instant attraction to you is more than I thought. I hope
you’re ready.”
    Confused, she asked,
“Ready?”
    “Yeah, ready for the kind
of relationship that will ruin you for anyone else. Not that we have to worry
about that, because I know this is a forever kind of thing.”
    “You’re so confident,” she
said, shaking her head, a grin pulling at her lips.
    “Yeah, because I know what
I want, and when I want something as bad as I want you, I know I’ll do anything
to keep it.”
    “I admire that about you.”
    “Good… because I’ve never
been in love, and I want to do this right. I want to do you right. I read once
that being someone’s first love is great, but to be their last is beyond
perfect. I want that with you, and I don’t care how crazy that sounds.”
    Looking away, she pulled
in a deep breath before looking back at him. “You scare me shitless, Karson King,
because I have decided to trust you. I hope to God that everything you say will
be true, because cancer broke