Close To You: Part 1 Read Online Free PDF

snorted. "Sorry. You caught me off guard!"
    "You know?" Hunter asked, laughing.
    "Well, I sort of signed up on a whim. I was looking through my Facebook and I saw this ad," Scarlet started to say.
    "Me too!"
    "Really?"
    "Yeah. I clicked it, thought, I must be out of my mind, then found myself signing up. I never thought anything would come of it," Hunter said.
    Scarlet happened to look down at his feet. He wore brown leather, low-cut boots. They suited him.
    "I kept checking mine, out of curiosity more than anything," Scarlet said.
    "Well I had a look around every now and then," Hunter said. "But you can tell what people are like. I only had to look at some of their profile pages. Nearly all the women on there are after one thing only. But then I saw yours. It was so different, so honest, I knew I had to make contact."
    "Well, I really don't know what I was doing it for," Scarlet said. "Maybe to meet someone a bit different to the kinds of men I'd usually meet?"
    Hunter licked his top lip. "And, uh, am I different?"
    "Yes. You're like nobody I've ever gone out on a date with before."
    The Lincoln slowed to a stop. She hadn't noticed the trip across town to the seafront. Hunter got out of the car, then leaned in and offered her his hand.
    "Milady?" he asked her. Scarlet took his hand and got out.
    "What about the Lincoln?" Scarlet asked him as they walked away from it. "Is he just going to sit there?"
    Hunter shrugged. "He'll wait for us. Anyway, don't worry about Max. He's stuck on Candy Crush. He won't even notice we're gone."
    * * *
    Hunter wasn't exaggerating when he told her that Shore was on the beach, because it really was. Inside, it had seating for perhaps fifty diners, but they didn't bother with eating inside, although it was nice enough.
    "I only ever come here when it's warm. Eating outside is what makes this place special," Hunter explained.
    Shore had outside seating . . . directly on the beach itself. A path separated the promenade area and the sand. They'd built a decked area directly opposite the restaurant, over the sand with enough space for twelve tables. Each seated two, with a small gas lantern at the centre.
    "I'll go in and order. What d'you want to drink?" Hunter asked her as he pulled a chair out for her.
    "Oh, whatever you're having, I'm not fussy," Scarlet said.
    "What about seafood? Anything you don't like?"
    She shook her head.
    "Okay, I'll be right back," he said. She watched him go, surprised that he'd go anywhere there wasn't table service. And it seemed strange to watch the CEO of an entire company taking her order.
    But still, it was nice. Refreshing. That fits him well , she thought. Much like the warm breeze rushing in off the sea, a hundred yards away from their table, Hunter was a breath of fresh air. She knew what he meant about only eating there when it was warm enough to sit outside. It was quite magical, and there weren't many people there that evening. It was like they had the entire beach to themselves.
    Hunter returned carrying two tall beers.
    "That's surprising," Scarlet said. She thanked him for her drink.
    "How's that?" he asked, sitting down opposite.
    "I took you for a wine man," she said. "I'd have never fit you with a glass of beer."
    He opened his hands, a cheeky grin on his face. At that moment a gust blew in off the surf, ruffling his shirt, exposing more of his tanned chest. He had a slight sprinkle of hair there. "I'm but a simple man."
    She cocked her head to one side, really looked at him. "You know, I think you are. Away from the suit and everything, I mean."
    "Yeah  . . ." he said and took a deep breath. Hunter looked away then, out to the sea, the flicker of the little gas lamp casting soft shadow across his features. "It's a blessing and a curse sometimes."
    Before she could ask him what he meant, a waitress came by with their order. Scarlet's eyebrows rose in surprise.
    "I hope that's okay," Hunter said as Scarlet looked down at her fish and chips. "If