A Reason to Stay

A Reason to Stay Read Online Free PDF

Book: A Reason to Stay Read Online Free PDF
Author: Kellie Coates Gilbert
Tags: FIC042000, FIC044000
and further embarrassment? Instead she’d take it out of her personal budget—cut back on her trips to Starbucks this month.
    Her smug rescuer ran his fingers through his wet dark hair and stood. “Hate to tell you this,” he warned, following her off the boat. “But you aren’t going to find an open motel room between here and the Woodlands, not during the Texas Bass Championship.”
    Drat! She hadn’t thought of the mob of people in town for the event. Faith looked to Chuck as if expecting him to come up with another plan. He remained quiet, obviously not having one.
    The guy from the boat jumped onto the dock and extended his hand. “My name is Geary—Geary Marin. Look, I live just over there.” He pointed to a condominium complex on the point across the inlet. “You’re welcome to use my place.”
    She dared a closer look, noticed his ratty cowboy boots, wet and crisscrossed with scratches. He wore faded jeans, a belt with some type of fish on it, and a light blue shirt. He bent and retrieved a Bassmaster baseball cap from off the dock, where he must have dropped it before making his water rescue. His rolled shirtsleeves revealed forearms deeply tanned and muscled.
    Cute, but definitely redneck.
    She wondered what he did for a living—when he wasn’t playing volunteer.
    She squared her shoulders and shook her head. “No—I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
    He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He turned and headed for his red boat tethered to the dock. “Take care,” he said as he moved on.
    She realized then that she didn’t have a better choice. Or any other choice, for that matter. Where else would she be able to clean up?
    In a moment of panic, she reached in his direction. “Wait!”
    Geary turned.
    â€œLook, I guess my options are fairly slim here.” Faith glanced at Chuck. “You’re coming with, right?”
    Chuck nodded, clearly amused at the situation. “We’d better get a move on if you still want to try for interviews with some of the wives.”
    She nodded. “We’ll have to stop at a drugstore for a hair dryer.”
    Geary Marin slipped his cap in place. “Not a good idea if you’re in a hurry.” He cocked his head in the direction of the highway, now clogged with traffic. “Why don’t you let me take you over to my place in the boat?” He raised an eyebrow. “That is, if you are up for taking some advice.”
    She ignored his loaded remark and simply repeated herself. “I need a hair dryer.”
    â€œYou can use mine,” he offered.
    Okay, she was already uneasy going to this stranger’s house. Using the guy’s personal toiletry items was going well beyond her comfort level.
    â€œWe don’t really have a choice, Faith.” Chuck was already heaving his black bag into Geary’s boat. He turned and tossed his keys to her. “What are you waiting for? Get your other suit out of the news van and let’s go.”

4
    F rom inside Geary Marin’s boat, Faith watched the marina fade from sight as wind whipped her hair. She turned and nestled deeper in the seat, her hand clutching the handle on the side as they raced across the water at a speed that made her a bit nervous.
    As if reading her mind, he shouted over top of the engine, “You okay?”
    She nodded and held on tighter as the boat hit rough water, hating that her only choice had been to accept his invitation. He was nice to offer and all, but she didn’t really have time for this little detour. The sooner she could get showered and back to business, the better.
    In what seemed like no time, they neared the shoreline and he slowed, easing the boat to the dock. The condominium complex was not so unlike her own, except for the expansive lawn between the buildings and the lake, and all the pretty landscaped beds filled with sego palms and hibiscus.
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