The Rebound Pact by Eliza Knight Read Free Book Online Page B

around as she reached the foyer, realizing she hadn’t grabbed her panties from the pot rack. Holden had followed her, a grin on his lips as he leaned against the archway leading to the kitchen. She’d never seen a sexier thing in her life than Holden, totally satisfied in the way he’d just fucked her and been fucked in return.
    “I’ll keep them. They make a nice addition to the pots.” He winked.
    She laughed, then ran her ass out of there, Len nearly a distant memory.

Chapter Five
     
     
    “ H ow was your workout?”
    Gabrielle jumped at the sound of her dad’s voice as she quietly entered the house. She turned to find him sitting on the couch in the den just to the left of the front door, reading a book. A dim light lit up his face in the otherwise darkened room. Glancing furtively around him, she didn’t see Max. Thank God. She felt a little like a teenager creeping inside after having snuck out. And she was obviously not wearing gym clothes. He smiled at her and instantly her stomach stopped twisting.
    “ It was...great.” Jeez she felt guilty for half-lying. Her “workout” had been awesome. Just not at the gym.
    “ See anyone I know?” he asked casually.
    H ow exactly did she answer that? She waffled between telling the truth that she had seen someone and lying altogether. Telling him the truth now, she might be able to gauge his response to his feelings about Holden. No need to tell him exactly what happened. A sanitized version would do. “Holden.”
    “ The Holden?”
    She laughed. “Yeah. I guess he likes evening workouts too.” Oh, she felt dirty…
    Her father’s smile widened and he nodded, closing his book, but marking the spot with his finger. “Well, I’m glad there was someone up there you knew.” He checked his watch and looked pointedly at her dress. “The gym closed a while ago. Did you guys go out after?”
    Gabrielle cleared her throat, feeling like a complete jerk. She rarely lied, and never to her father. “Um, yeah. I had a change of clothes in my bag just in case I ran into anyone I hadn’t seen in a while. We went out for a drink, nothing more.”
    He shrugged. “Sounds like fun. You’ve had a rough week. You deserve a bit of fun. I’m glad to have you here. I know you probably can’t wait to get your life back on track and all, but… It’s been lonely here all by myself.”
    Gabrielle set down her purse on the table by the front door then leaned against the den doorjamb. She was relieved at her father’s reaction. A part of her worried over what he’d think of her coming home. The situation with Len. And she worried a lot about his state of mind. “Yeah. I’m glad to be home too, Dad. Seems like I just need a change of pace Maybe you need one too.”
    He smiled sadly. “No doubt I do, but I was pretty worried about you. I know your mom was too. Working three a.m. to midnight at La Peche was never bound to last,” he offered.
    “I know. You’re right.”
    He tilted his head to the right and studied her. “Guess you have Len to thank for that.”
    Her thumb immediately rubbed over the place on her finger where a ring used to sit. She’d spoken to her father briefly about what happened with her and Len when she’d gotten home that afternoon.
    “What do you mean?” She took off her heels and stretched her feet.
    “Despite the pain he caused you, in essence, he’s helped you move forward.”
    “Not that I’ve gotten very far. Seems more like I’ve gone backward.”
    Her dad waved away the comment. “No. You came home to help your poor old dad. And to visit with Max.”
    “You always know just the right words.”
    “That’s what I’m here for. The Belle Ami Merlot was delicious. They do wine tours on the weekends and tastings. Maybe the three of us can go on Saturday?”
    “I’d like that.” And she would, not because she’d get a chance to see Holden—she’d avoid him like the plague in public. No, she was excited to spend some time with