Taking Over Read Online Free Page A

lot
to do around the lake, treat it like a vacation.”
    “I
promised Keller.”
    “I
won't tell.”
    “I
know you think it's okay to break promises, but it’s
not okay with me.”
    “Keller's
blowing the whole situation out of proportion. It'll be fine.” She crossed her
legs and slid her skirt up a little. “I'll do whatever you want if you stay in
the guest house.”
    “Sorry.
That trick won't work on me.”
    “Fucking boy scout.” She turned to
the window and rested against the seat, closing her eyes. Her grip on her
shriveling world was slipping away. She had no idea what was going to happen.
If her churning stomach was any clue, it was going to get ugly.
    Once
they got past the Chicago traffic, the driver told them they had a little over
an hour before they arrived. She pulled out her phone and busied herself with
cleaning out her inbox.
    “Rob
told me you were happy your mom remarried.”
    “I
was.” She clenched her jaw. “I still am, actually. He makes her happy.” Her
mother had been on the verge of dying of a broken heart, before Dale first
started coming around. Pretending to be okay for her mother had been tearing
her to shreds, but Gina learned early in her own grief that her mother did
better when Gina was happy. If Dale hadn’t made her mother happy, Gina would
have forced him out of their lives a long time ago. The creep had only one
talent and it was making her mother giggle. Still to this day, he made her
laugh.
    “He
can't be all bad then.”
    “Fabulous.
You can be his friend.” She stuffed her phone in her purse and dug around for
her scarf. The bit of exposed skin around her neckline needed to be covered. A
small step in protecting herself from Dale and his wondering eyes, but she'd wear
it like armor. She fussed with a few different knots until Marcus yanked the
scarf free.
    “What
are you doing?” He held the scarf just out of her reach.
    “Give
me that back!” Before she thought better of it, she leaned over and fell across
his lap, reaching for the scarf. At the same time, she became aware of his hard
cock pressing into her side and froze. “I thought my tricks didn't work on you.”
    “My
dick may have a mind of its own, but don't worry, sweetheart. I can control
myself.” He shook the scarf. “I’ve never seen you try to cover your cleavage.”
    “I
knew this was a bad idea.” She yanked her scarf from his grip. “You shouldn't
have come with me.”
    “Keller
didn't give me much of a choice.”
    “Well,
give the man a medal.” She wrapped the silk around her neck, made a simple knot,
and worked at it until it covered everything. “I've told you I don't need you.
We can ask the driver to pull over.” She moved forward to knock on the window.
    “Cut
it out.” He grabbed her wrist and drew her back against him. “I'm going with
you.”
    She
jerked from his hold and crossed her arms.
    “Look,
I just want to make sure Keller gets his funding back.”
    “Sure,
it's all about Keller. I'd bet it has more to do with your pretty, new friend,
Janna.”
    “She
is pretty and she belongs to Simon. Stop trying to pick a fight. I'm coming
with you and sticking by your side until this business is fixed.”
    ****
    An hour later, they pulled into a long
driveway surrounded by a mass of large trees. It opened to one of the grandest
looking houses he'd ever seen. He’d heard from Rob that it was large, but he’d
never pictured this. Through the trees, he could see a bit of the lake. It was
peaceful.
    “How
big is this place?”
    “I
think there are ten bedrooms in the main house. It's only about ten thousand
square feet.”
    “Only?”
    “There
are several around the lake that are twice the size.” She walked past him to
the front door.
    “You
don't stay in the main house?”
    “No.
You'll see. There's not enough room for us once you get around the ego of my
stepfather.” She pushed the doorbell. “The guest house is positioned between
the pool and the