Reluctant Romance Read Online Free

who nodded. “Yes, absolutely. I’m sure you kids will make it happen.”
    Risa stared across the table. Dan and Tristan were looking at her and Connor as if they were children who had no choice but to obey.  
    She dropped her gaze, picking at the edge of the napkin in her lap. It was clear neither her father nor Tristan would change their minds.
    Her only hope was to get Connor to convince his father the company was a bad investment.    
    “What kinds of things would you be looking for?” she asked, glancing sideways at Connor, then at his father.
    Connor shrugged. “Good solid profits, an aggressive five-year plan, proper accounting practices. You know, that sort of stuff.”
    “What about the employee packages, benefits, and such?”
    “Yes, well, that all figures into the financials.”
    Risa tore a piece from the bread on her plate and cut her eyes over to Connor. “Anything specific that you look for?” If she could find out what exactly he was looking for, maybe she could make sure he didn’t get the answer he wanted.
    He looked at her with furrowed brows. Risa pretended to be more interested in her bread than what Connor had to say, popping the piece into her mouth then dusting the crumbs onto her plate.  
    Connor opened his mouth to speak. Risa’s ears went into hyper mode, straining to hear what he had to say…but he never said a word. The waiter picked that exact time to appear with their dinner plates, interrupting the moment.
    The table fell silent while everyone dug into their meals. Risa finished off her martini. A pang of guilt stabbed her while she thought about her father’s dreams for retirement. He wanted the money from the sale of Healthy-Pet so he could travel the world, golfing and just enjoying life. She didn’t want to deny him that, but she couldn’t let the Dunns turn their company into something that was just about money and profits.  
    Digging into her steak, she felt a blanket of reluctant resignation settle over her. She would have to do whatever it took to make the company look like a bad investment. But she’d have to be smart about it.  
    Connor was no dummy. It would be disastrous if he figured out she was purposely making things look bad for the company. If anyone found out, she’d be risking her reputation, her relationship with her father, and the company she was so desperately trying to save.  

    ###
    Connor savored the last bite of his cedar plank salmon. A gourmet cook himself, he wondered if he could get the recipe from the chef. He was always looking for good recipes to add to his collection.
    He glanced sideways at Risa. Wisps of curls that had escaped from her braid, framed her face making her look young and vulnerable. Connor felt his heart beat faster when she looked over at him with her wide hazel eyes. He looked away, pushing the unwanted feelings aside.  
    His eyes narrowed as he thought about the earlier conversation. Was Risa fishing to find out exactly what kinds of things he was going to look at in order to determine if they should buy Healthy-Pet?   And if she was…why?  
    “…remember how we used to barbecue on Sundays?” Connor heard his father asking Dan Kennedy.
    Dan laughed. “You used to burn the hot dogs every time!”
    “Do you kids remember that?” Tristan asked Risa and Connor.
    Risa smiled. “I remember catching hell for eating all the watermelon.”
    Dan laughed. “You always did love watermelon.”
    “And I still do.”
    “Dan, I can’t believe you still live in the same house,” Tristan said.
    Dan nodded. “Now that Angie’s gone, I can’t bear to move. Seems like the whole life we built is in that house."  
    Tristan put his hand on Dan’s arm. “I know what you mean.”
    Connor felt his heart clench remembering his own mother. She’d passed right around the same time Angie Kennedy had. It was still a raw wound for both him and his father. He imagined Risa and her father shared the same feelings.
    Connor looked