Welcome to Paradise: Welcome to Paradise, Book 1 by Elle Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

in Paradise, she hadn’t given in to the urges telling her to strike back at everyone who’d hurt her. She’d stood up for herself, sure, told certain slimy boys where they could shove their sleazy advances, but when it came to girls like Lexie and Bree and Tara, she hadn’t done a thing in retaliation, even though she frequently felt like pulling their hair right out of the roots.
    Being cruel to Nate made her anxious. Nauseous too. Could she really sleep with him a few more times and then recite his own heartless speech back at him and waltz right out of town?
    “Remember, he deserves it,” her assistant said, confidence ringing in her tone. “He took your virginity and whipped it back in your face. If a guy did that to me, I’d go vengeful bitch on him.”
    Georgia’s remark made her laugh, but it also succeeded in reminding her of the night at the lake after she and Nate had made love for the first time.
    The sex sucked. Seriously, Charlotte, I thought you’d be better than that.
    Her fingers clenched over the phone. Somehow, between the thrill of seeing him again and the even bigger thrill of having sex with him, she’d forgotten those words. But now they came back in full force. She squared her shoulders, a wave of resentment swelling in her belly.
    “Don’t worry, I remember everything,” she mumbled into the mouthpiece. “I’ll call you with an update tomorrow.”
    She hung up then glanced at the breakfast tray Sue had left outside her door this morning. A piece of toast, some jam and a big mug of coffee glanced back at her, but she suddenly had a craving for something more filling. She pictured the bacon and egg platter Betty served at the diner, and her stomach growled in response. Might as well kill two birds with one stone—satisfy her appetite and make another appearance in town. She didn’t particularly want to do the latter, but she’d promised herself that she wouldn’t hide away while she was here. She was Charlotte fucking Hill. She wasn’t allowed to be scared of a bunch of mean-spirited, judgmental jerks. Not anymore.
    After a quick shower, Charlotte slipped into a pair of comfortable jeans and a sleeveless green tee that hung down to her knees, tied her red hair in a high ponytail and left the suite. As she stepped into the balmy morning air, she inhaled the clean summer breeze and admired the cherry blossom trees lining the quiet street. She hadn’t bothered renting a car, and so she took off at a brisk walk and headed into town.
    Her ponytail swooshed back and forth, tickling her neck and bringing a smile to her lips. It had been so long since she’d taken a walk by herself. In New York, her bodyguards accompanied her almost everywhere. Here, she could go unnoticed and enjoy the fresh air, without worrying about anyone popping out of a bush to get her autograph. She was surprised that Mayor Price had actually complied and kept her presence hidden from the media. The press still believed she was in New York, and Georgia would be driving to and from the recording studio in Charlotte’s tinted-window Town Car, to fool any curious reporters into believing Charlotte was still in the city.
    When she entered the busy diner ten minutes later, she could swear the entire place went silent. It lasted only a second, but long enough to make her experience a flicker of insecurity. She was used to whispers and stares from New Yorkers she passed on the street, but in Paradise, whispers and stares only meant she was being belittled again.
    To her surprise, the waitress was a girl who’d gone to her high school. Jessie something or other. Jessie greeted her with a genuine smile and led her to a secluded booth in the back. The morning chatter picked up again, and she received only a few curious glances as she sat down and picked up the menu.
    After she’d ordered, she settled back in the familiar vinyl seat and sipped on the coffee Jessie poured for her. Relief filled her belly as she realized