Closer To You (Suits in Pursuit) Read Online Free Page A

glare. “Yes! Axel, stop teasing me and tell me where we’re going.”
    The cool breeze coming in from the open window calmed his nerves. “Okay. Okay. We’re going to spend the weekend at my cabin. It’s near a quaint little town in the north Georgia Mountains.” The right indicator light blinked as he switched lanes getting behind a blue minivan. Better to be in the slow lane for this conversation.
    “ Sounds lovely.” She turned toward the road and closed her eyes.
    He cleared his throat. “I’ve made sure we get to spend time together on Saturday evening.” His white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel helped him brace for impact.
    Her eyes spr ang open, and she jerked forward as she turned to face him, harnessed by the seat belt pressed against her pastel pink shirt between her breasts. “Only on Saturday night? What does that mean? Is there something you’re not telling me?” Her voice pitched.
    “ Well … tonight Ryker and mom and dad are joining us at the cabin. And tomorrow, the guys are going fishing ...” He paused, and then glanced at her, watching her expression.
    Her mouth fell open. “What! You didn’t tell me that I was going to meet your family.” She placed her hand on her forehead. “Things are moving too quickly,” she muttered under her breath and shook her head. “I’m not ready to meet them yet. I didn’t pack appropriately. Do they know anything about me?” She rattled off, her voice raising several octaves.
    Shifting in his seat, he stiffened. “Yesterday, I told mom that you’d be coming. They’ve known about you for a while.” He cleared his throat again. “I may have mentioned you a few times.” He couldn’t help the guilty grin that spread across his face. “Don’t worry about your clothes. You always look gorgeous.”
    She stared at him with narrowed eyes, scowling. “I can’t believe you. Meeting your parents isn’t something you can just spring on me at the last possible minute. What do they think about your dating a black woman?” He could see the worry on her face, her forehead wrinkling the way it did when she was frustrated or upset about something.
    Lips pressed together, he regarded her with a gentle touch to her arm now folded across her chest . “I’ve never mentioned your race to my family. It doesn’t matter. Kerrigan, you’re not some strange three-headed alien. You’re a human being, and I love you. The color of our skin shouldn’t make a difference. Besides, I happen to think that our contrasting skin tones are visually stunning when we make love.”
    A subtle shade of rouge tinted her cheeks at his remark, but it didn’t deter her irritation. “Axel, you can’t make light of this. You and I might not have any issues with our differences, but some people might. I’m not accusing your parents of being racists, but prejudice is alive. I am acutely aware of that fact every day. The color of my skin shouldn’t matter, but sometimes it does. What do your parents think about interracial relationships?” Her frigid tone and glossy-eyed stare hit him in the gut like a sack of potatoes.
    Q uiet for a moment, he thought about the position he would be putting her in.
    He reached over and grabbed her hand. “Baby, I’m sorry. I understand how you feel. I wish I could take away your pain.” He regarded her with a half smile. “I’ve never talked with my parents about interracial dating or relationships, and I honestly don’t know what they’ll think, but they raised me to treat all people with dignity and respect, regardless of race, gender or social status.” He glanced at her trying to gauge her reaction. She was an ice cube, motionless and staring at the winding, tree-lined road ahead.
    He pulled his hand away, needing both of them on the steering wheel as the vehicle swerved over onto the shoulder and came to an abrupt stop.
    She gasped. Her eyebrows pressed together in a V, and the harsh intensity in her eyes faded, her expression