Dare to Surrender Read Online Free PDF

mean.”
    “I’ll be utterly civilized. I can’t promise Garrett will behave the same way, but he’ll only act if provoked. Ex-Navy SEAL and all that.”
    “Who is Garrett?” I asked.
    “Our bodyguard.”
    There it was again. That possessiveness in his words and tone. Just like my room, our bodyguard presumed we were in a relationship of some kind. We barely knew one another. What I did know was that he unequivocally turned me on in a way no man ever had. He also made me feel safe, wanted, and cared for.
    But I was starting over, I reminded myself, and that included being smarter. What that entailed, I hadn’t yet decided.
    “All done with the questions?” he asked.
    I managed to nod.
    He hit one button. “Daltry? Gabriel Dare.”
    I ran my tongue over my dry lips. “You have him on autodial?” I asked loudly, then snapped my mouth shut as Gabe continued, his eyes on me as he spoke to Lance.
    “I’m not so hot, and I’m not your buddy. Not anymore. Just giving you a heads-up. I’m cancelling all my accounts with you effective immediately. Just to be clear, do not make any more trades in my name. All my stocks and finances will be transferred by end of business today.”
    My eyes opened wide. I’d had no idea Lance managed Gabe’s financial accounts. Then again, Lance was with the best-known firm in Manhattan, and Gabe clearly did business with only the best. Their relationship had just ended … because of me.
    The blood drained from my head, and I sank deeper into the bed, lowering myself against the mattress that had given me such a good night’s sleep. Now it supported me when I started to shake.
    Gabe walked over and placed a firm hand on my shoulder. His touch burned my skin, reassuring me as well as confusing me.
    “Not that I owe you an answer,” Gabe said into the phone, still speaking to Lance. “But if you want an explanation, I’m happy to provide one. Because you’re a fucking prick who doesn’t know how to treat a lady, that’s why.”
    Gabe was defending me. Surprise, gratitude, and a host of unfamiliar emotions washed over me. My own parents hadn’t defended me throughout my teenage years. Lance sure as hell had never truly supported me in any way. Yet Gabe was pulling what had to be million-dollar accounts from Lance’s firm. Because of me.
    I didn’t know what to do with this. I didn’t want to owe him, and yet gratitude flowed through my veins like freshly tapped maple syrup. Yeah, I remembered that day in elementary school. Useless information , I reminded myself and focused instead on the strength of Gabe’s hand on my shoulder.
    I started breathing again, picking up on Gabe’s words mid-conversation. “I’m not answering any more of your damned questions about Izzy, and I don’t expect she’ll want to hear from you again.”
    I had never been called that before. I liked it.
    Whatever Lance said, Gabe smirked and said, “I want her things delivered to my office immediately. Any money she came into your relationship with, I expect a check for that amount on my desk by the end of the week. And tack on interest.”
    Now I could still hear Lance shouting into the phone as Gabe disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto the bed.
    “You okay?” he asked me.
    I nodded. Then I did the dumbest thing I could do considering all the changes I’d promised myself I’d make in my life. I jumped up, flung my arms around his neck, and kissed him. Full on the lips. His masculine scent overwhelmed me, causing a fluttering deep in my belly and a quickening between my thighs. But his firm lips didn’t move.
    He didn’t respond.
    Didn’t melt like I was melting.
    Disappointment filled me, followed quickly by humiliation I was only too familiar with. How many times had I tried to seduce Lance, only to have him pull my arms off him so he could roll over, claiming exhaustion?
    I’d overreacted, mistaking help for something more, and since I didn’t need or want that something at