Surrender to Love by Raine English Read Free Book Online

into his, and he helped her up. Her nearness kindled feelings in him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He swallowed tightly, knowing he’d best suppress them. He had a job to do, and getting emotionally involved with her would only confuse things. “See there?” He pointed across the water. “That’s Boston. If you come here at night, the city lights look like thousands of candles, hence the name Candle Ridge.”
    “I’d like to see that.”
    “I’ll bring you back sometime.” His eyes locked with hers, and he noticed they’d darkened to a deep blue-gray. Maybe his charm was working a little, after all. “Someone must be missing you a lot this summer.”
    “If you’re asking if I have a boyfriend, the answer’s no, and I plan on keeping it that way.”
    “Do I detect a note of bitterness?”
    “That’s putting it mildly.”
    “Care to talk about it?”
    She bit her lip and looked down at the ocean. When she lifted her gaze, there was no missing the pain reflected there. “I had a boyfriend…for five years. He cheated on me. With a good friend.”
    He could tell her feelings were still very raw. “Let me guess, that’s why you’re here—to get away.”
    “Has anyone ever told you that you’re very perceptive?”
    “Maybe a few times.”
    “All right, I’ll admit it. When my grandmother called to ask me to spend the summer with her, my first reason for accepting was because it would get me far away from Concord. But I really wanted to get to know her too. Especially, since she’s been so ill. Who knows, I might not have ever gotten another opportunity.” She sighed and clasped her slender hands together.
    “Your ex must’ve been a real jerk.”
    “Well, I certainly think so now.” She dropped her lashes quickly, and he knew it was to hide the hurt. “Let me ask you something. Why do guys cheat?”
    “I don’t know that I’m the right one to answer that question. I suppose it might be because some guys are just dicks.”
    “You mean you’ve never cheated on a girl?”
    “Nope. But then I haven’t been in many relationships either.” He hunched his shoulders forward and shoved his hands in his pockets. There was a sourness in the pit of his stomach as he thought back to when he was sixteen and to the day his mother died. She was there one minute and gone the next. He’d tried to save her, but the riptide had been too strong. That didn’t stop his father from blaming him, though, and wishing Easton had been the one who’d died. He lost both his parents in one day and vowed never to love another human being so much that their loss could completely destroy him. He’d turned to booze and women for comfort. If it hadn’t been for his grandfather, Easton’s demons would still be controlling him.
    A cool breeze blew over them, and Tara shivered. Easton slid off the hood of the car, then reached through the open window for the sweatshirt she’d left on the seat. He climbed back up next to her and slipped it over her shoulders, letting his fingers linger a moment on her soft, smooth skin. His gaze dipped down to the top of her scoop-neck tee, where the generous curves of her breasts peeked out. A fire was growing inside him, and he ached to touch her.
    Without overthinking his next move, he pulled her to him. She felt weightless in his arms, her soft curves molding to the contours of his body. “I’ve been wanting to do this,” he whispered against her hair.
    When she didn’t resist his slow, thoughtful kiss, he explored her mouth with a hunger he didn’t care to admit. Her velvety warmth set him on fire, and he drank in her sweetness.
    After their lips parted, she rested her head against this chest. “Remember your promise,” she said softly.
    “What promise is that?”
    She looked up at him with a pensive shimmer in her eyes. “Not to break my heart.”
    He tried hard not to look away but was afraid she might see the guilt on his face, knowing full well he might not be able