Mom for the CEO's Daughter Read Online Free Page A

Missy inviting Gabe and Stacy to supper.
    She licked her cool, dry lips. Having Gabe and Stacy go to the neighbors’ for supper was a good thing. It would be nice to be able to roam around Charleston while he was gone.
    Alone.
    Her heart sagged. He really was gone now. Not physically, but the dream that he would be her suitor, her lover, her husband was gone. He’d never again look at her with desire in his eyes. She’d always find pity there. But if she had to move heaven and earth, she would not let him know that he’d hurt her.
    Gabe came into the den about ten minutes later. “Stacy’s at the beach with the neighbors.”
    She smiled. “Yes, I heard her squeal of joy.”
    Gabe laughed. “She loves those kids.”
    She glanced down at her electronic tablet. “Maybe you should move down here permanently?”
    â€œThe McKenzies only come here a few times a year.”
    She didn’t look up. “There were seven emails from Bronson this morning.” She handed her tablet to him across the desk. “Letting them stew overnight was a very good idea. They seem more receptive to negotiating now.”
    He took the tablet. “Before we get into this, I just want to say that I handled that whole deal this morning badly. There were so many different ways to approach it, yet I chose the one that lambasted you. I’m sorry.”
    â€œNo harm done.” A lie. But a necessary one. It was an easy way to let him off the hook so they would never talk about it again.
    She looked up at him. “Why are you surprised you went right for my weak spot?”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œGabe, this is what you do for a living. You find a person’s weakness and you use it to get what you need. And you got the result you wanted. Any crush I might have had on you has totally been obliterated.” She smiled, though it hurt her heart to do it. “So we’re good.”
    His eyes narrowed, then opened again. “Is that really how you see me?”
    â€œThat’s really how you are. You’re a bull dog when it comes to negotiating. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
    â€œIt is if you’re doing it in your personal life.”
    Shaking her head, she chuckled. “That’s exactly my point. I’m not part of your personal life. I’m part of your work life. That’s where you want to keep me and that’s where I am.” She paused, smiled. “Now, can we get to work?”
    ***
    They started discussing the deal, but what Kara had said gnawed at him. No. It wasn’t what she’d said. It was her easy acceptance that he’d used her past—her weakness—to get what he wanted.
    He sucked in a breath, trying to rid himself of the slimy feeling that enveloped him. “Wyatt and Missy invited us to dinner tonight.”
    She laughed airily. “No, they didn’t. They invited you and Stacy.”
    â€œMissy said, I quote, ‘Would you guys like to come to supper tonight,’ and to me, that includes everybody in the household.”
    â€œOkay. I get it. But actually, I could use a night by myself tonight.”
    â€œDon’t pout—”
    â€œDon’t insult me!” Her demeanor changed as quickly as a tornado drops from the Kansas sky. “I’m not pouting. I’m a twenty-seven-year-old single woman in a beach town. I want to go out.”
    â€œOh.” His pride took a direct hit, but at least they were talking normally again. “Well, okay. That– I mean, you should—” He swallowed. “Enjoy yourself.”
    But that evening while he was at the McKenzies’, eating barbequed ribs that fell off the bone and watching Missy’s three little munchkins spoil his daughter, his thoughts were on Kara.
    What had she worn?
    Had she packed something as sexy and surprising as her hot pink bikini had been? Like a tight little red dress? And was she now flaunting