Mom for the CEO's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

growing up poor doesn’t make you unlikeable.” He sucked in a breath, shoved his hands in his pockets. “I think it must make you more likeable.” He shrugged. “I thought about you all night. Realizing how far you’ve come is impressive. I want to whip the tar out of your mum, but,” he caught her gaze. “I like you. A lot.”
    Her head spun. “Because I grew up poor?”
    â€œBecause I understand you now.” He looked away then back at her. “I’ve worked with you for an entire year, but I always sensed you were holding something back. Today, everything you’ve said and done in the past year makes sense. It’s crazy, huh?”
    It was crazy. She’d kept the secret of her past for decades because she believed it would make people shy away from her, or pity her. But searching his pale blue eyes she didn’t find pity. Or fear. Or even confusion. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time, meshing together the woman he knew as his assistant and the part of herself she’d only shown him this week.
    â€œHow did you do it?”
    â€œSurvive?”
    He nodded.
    â€œMy wits.”
    It was now or never. He liked her. He’d said it. Plus, the fact that he knew her whole story was strangely liberating. It was as if they were getting a fresh start. But he clearly needed help making the transition.
    She stepped close, put her fingers on his forearm. “I don’t want you to see me as some poor waif begging for food. Or a stiff-lipped college girl doggedly going after what she wants.”
    â€œHow do you want me to see you?”
    â€œAs a woman.” She spread out her arms, letting the breeze catch the scarf she was using as a wrap. “Just somebody you could like.”
    â€œI do like you. I’ve always liked you.” He stepped closer, realizing it was true. He’d always felt that they clicked. He’d believed that’s what made them a good team. Now he wondered if it wasn’t something more. An instinct that said they belonged together as more than coworkers.
    Cupping her chin he tipped her face up and brushed his lips across hers, once, twice, his eyes never leaving hers. Her hands tentatively slid to his shoulders and stopped. He pulled her closer. She smiled, and that was all the invitation he needed.
    He pressed his mouth to hers. An unfamiliar hunger riding his blood, he coaxed her lips open with his tongue and let his instincts take him—take them both. She opened for him, and with the wind in their hair and the sound of the surf urging him on, his fingers raced down the long column of her neck, smoothed over her shoulders and cruised down her back.
    The sweet longing that rose up in him should have been out of place next to the raw hunger that drove him, but it somehow complimented it. He pulled her closer, tucking her body tightly against his. And let the arousal swell on a wave of desire. He’d never felt this craving before. A restless yearning that swam through his veins and all but sang along his nerve endings. Hungry, dangerous, he ploughed his fingers into her hair and took.
    â€œDaddy! Daddy!”
    Stacy’s call broke through the haze of lust and reached his brain. He pulled back, but he couldn’t completely break away. He stared into Kara’s eyes. Dumbfounded. Confused. What the hell had just happened?
    â€œDaddy! Daddy!”
    This time he heard the wobble of tears in his baby girl’s voice. He turned to find she was running toward him, Missy McKenzie on her heels.
    She flew to him and he stooped to catch her.
    Two steps behind her, Missy stopped. “I’m sorry, Gabe. She was okay until we put the kids to bed. Then she burst into tears and said she wanted to go home. Nothing we said would talk her out of it.”
    Hugging Stacy to him, he said, “That’s okay.” He peeked down at her. “She doesn’t look any the worse for