Hold on to Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

hangers, just stuffed clothes inside, then went into his bathroom and gathered his toiletries. After throwing on his boots, he came back into the bedroom and bent to zip his bag. Something sharp poked into his hip.
    Slowly, he reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring, then just stared at the shimmering diamond. Another wave of agony washed through him, but this one was quickly followed by a burst of anger at his own gullibility.
    There were very few things in life a man could control. His heart, however, was one of them.
    Fuck relationships. And most definitely, fuck happily ever after .
    He grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

    L aughter echoed from inside Ryan and Kate’s house in the Sausalito hills. Simone’s pulse beat hard and fast as she stood on the porch, knocked on the door, and waited.
    Tears still threatened, but she swiped at her cheeks to clear away the remnants of her breakdown in the car and worked up an impassive expression.
    The door pulled open, but one look was all it took for Simone to realize she hadn’t done a thing to fool anyone.
    “Simone?” Ryan asked. “What’s wrong?”
    Oh no. She wasn’t going to lose it in front of him too. “Nothing,” she said quickly. “I just came to get Shannon.”
    “Katie!” Ryan yelled, swiveling his head toward the hall. Then to Simone, softer, “Come inside.”
    Simone pushed the hair back from her forehead as she stepped into the foyer of Ryan’s big house. Kate’s voice echoed from the direction of the kitchen, followed by girlish giggles. Her skin prickled with heat. All she wanted was get to Shannon and get the hell out of here.
    “What happened?” Ryan asked, closing the door behind her.
    “Nothing.” She didn't want to get into it with him. Not only was Ryan Mitch’s brother-in-law, they were best friends; had been since college. “Everything’s fine. I-I just need Shannon.”
    “Simone?” Kate’s concerned voice from the hall brought Simone’s head around. Her friend’s worried eyes darted from her to Ryan and back again.
    Shit. She was going to lose it if she didn't leave now. “I just came to get Shannon.”
    “But I thought—”
    “It’s okay,” Ryan said quickly. “Simone, I’ll go grab Shannon’s stuff.”
    He squeezed Kate’s arm as he passed, heading for the great room at the back of the house, where the girls were laughing.
    Stepping close, Kate rested both hands on Simone’s upper arms. “What happened? What did that brother of mine do to upset you like this?”
    “Nothing.” Simone shook her head and swiped at her cheek. Dammit, she felt like she’d cried more in the last hour than she had in the previous year. “He didn’t do anything. It was me. It was all me.”
    “Oh, Simone,” Kate said softly.
    Okay, that was it. As much as she could take. Her talk with Will, the scene with Mitch… It all came barreling in and robbed her of what little strength she had left. “I can’t talk about it. I just need Shannon.”
    “Sure. Whatever you need. We’re here for you.”
    Ryan came back down the hall with Shannon’s bag. Shannon followed quickly at his heels, along with Julia, and the two were speaking quickly, obviously curious about what was going on. But the moment Shannon spotted her mother in the entry, her entire face fell, and her feet faltered.
    No I missed you, Mom! No I’m so glad to see you! Just hard dark eyes, so much like Steve’s, staring back at her. The kid obviously knew something had happened. She was way too perceptive. And she'd already lived through way more than any ten-year-old should have to experience.
    “I thought Shannon was going to spend the night?” Julia asked, looking from one adult to the other.
    Thankfully, before Simone could think of something to say, Kate forced a smile and looked down at her daughter, then to Shannon. “Not tonight. Shannon’s mom missed her. We have lots of time for sleepovers. We’ll just reschedule. Shannon, are your shoes in the