Lured In (Dark Paradise, #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

something to eat right away.
    “No, let them set up,” I replied softly.
    “Stubborn as always!” Matt came over to see how I was doing and gave me a smile and hug.
    “Stubborn as hell!” my dad and stepdad said simultaneously.
    “How do you know Abigail?” my stepdad asked Matt.
    Mr. Sexy turned his attention back to the conversation, watching with guarded interest.
    “I would like to know that as well,” my dad interjected.
    “We’ve been good friends since our days at G-town,” Matt said.
    “Good friends? Like friends with benefits?” my dad asked with raised eyebrows.
    Mr. Sexy gripped my hand hard.
    “Dad!” I shouted.
    “Oh no, Dr. Winterfield, sir. Not like that at all. She’s very much like a sister to me.” Mr. Sexy loosened his grip but not my hand. “She actually introduced me to the mother of my daughter; they’re best friends,” Matt continued.
    “Carmen?” my dad asked in slight amazement.
    “Yes, Dad, Carmen. You know, my best friend, Carmen!” I was still a bit taken back by his assumption. “And why would you assume I would consent to any such thing?”
    “Honey, I am sorry to have assumed such.”
    I frowned at my dad in anger, and he kissed my forehead where it wrinkled, silently apologizing for upsetting me.
    “You know your dad is crazy at times,” he said in defense.
    “Ms. Winterfield, please, can I grab you something to eat now?” Joan asked.
    I thanked her. “I can manage my own plate.”
    She nodded with a small smile and watched as I stood with Mr. Sexy’s assistance. Before I grabbed a plate, I turned to Matt and apologized to him for my Dad’s insane moment. I noticed my stepdad looking nonplussed by Mr. Sexy, who had taken a controlling interest in my hand for an unusual length of time.
    There was a heavenly spread of some of Ruth’s Chris’s most popular dishes. I grabbed a crabtini and jumbo chopped salad and sat down to eat.
    “You nearly fainted, and that’s all you’re going to eat?” Mr. Sexy asked in a scolding tone.
    “Yes,” I countered. He had a disapproving look.
    My stepdad had a look of doubt after hearing Mr. Sexy’s question.
    I gave my stepdad a pointed look and said, “I’m going out with Carmen tonight, and we will eat plenty.”
    I tried once again to reassure him that I was fine and that I did not skip eating intentionally, but from the look on his face, he wasn’t buying it. He leaned in to my dad and whispered something. My dad turned quickly to look at me, nearly dropping his food on the floor. I watched cautiously as my dad walked casually over; he looked upset and frustrated, and I cursed inwardly. I looked at Mr. Not-So-Sexy-Right-Now from the corner of my eyes. My dad set a plate of food in front of me and told me to eat.
    Trying to avoid causing more of a scene than I already had, I softly said, “No. I am going to have a late dinner with Carmen tonight. Feel free to call both her and Mom to confirm.”
    At that point I was ready to leave and go home, so I looked over at Uncle Ernie and asked, “Do I need to be here for the signing of the contracts?”
    “Not at all, sweetie,” he said, eating a forkful of his medium-well T-bone steak.
    “Great. I’m going down to my office to collect my belongings so I can head home now.”
    My dad and stepdad looked at me, and my stepdad suggested that I at least eat the crabtini and salad. I grabbed them and left the conference room in relief.

Chapter Three

    Carmen picked me up a little before 10 p.m., and we headed to Sens. I wore a knee-length cobalt blue ruffled chiffon cocktail dress with open-back beaded detailing and black pumps with a cobalt heel and carried a black clutch. Carmen wore a short black bandage dress with cobalt pumps and clutch to match. We arrived at the exclusive lounge at 10:18 p.m. and headed straight to the back of the line that extended around the corner.
    “I’m not standing in this long-ass line,” I said to Carmen, who was more excited than