Riptide (Limitless Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

married. It left him vulnerable and at risk. She hated that this woman she didn’t even really know still held the potential to destroy the man beside her.
    “Whatever. I don’t remember her, so as far as I’m concerned I don’t want to be like her and will do whatever I can to not follow in her footsteps.”
    Her father leaned against one of the large wood pillars that held up the patio cover crossing his arms and studying her with an intensity that made her squirm. “What’s eating at you?”
    “Nothing.” No way could she tell her father of her personal involvement with the face of his surfing division. Or how she was falling for Hunter and wished he’d never signed the deal with Limitless. And she definitely wasn’t telling him that she was breaking not only the rules he instilled in her, but her own set devised to keep her from turning out like the woman who’d abandoned them both. Not now. Not ever. “I didn’t get a chance to eat before I got to the airport. Want to grab some lunch? You could tell me what was so important it couldn’t be discussed over the phone.”
    “I’m going to have to take a rain check on lunch. I have a prior engagement. However, I have a favor to ask of you.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke. “I need your help.”
    Without saying much, suddenly the reason he’d asked her to meet him at the vacation house instead of the office made sense. A feeling of unease settled over her and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
    “I’ve tried to rely on others, but much to my dismay, this particular client has refused to see anyone, please? I really think you can help me out with this guy. You have a gift. People seem to let you in even when they don’t want to.”
    “Still don’t see how that makes me qualified to poke around in their heads or right for you to even ask me to.” She had a sneaking suspicion she knew the name that was going to roll off her father’s tongue. No matter how long she tried to prolong that moment of having her fears confirmed, she knew she wouldn’t like the answer. Like recovering after your first failed attempt at taking a wave. You just had to get back on the board, learn the rhythm, and study the ebb and flow of the water until you were ready to take on the wave. This was no different. Face it head-on. A million alarms went off in her head as she focused on the vast sea of blue off in the distance. It was the one place she felt at peace and she waited for that calm to wash over her. “Who is it?”
    “Hunter Sullivan.”
    The surf gods were laughing at her. They had to be. Damn tricksters and meddlers of fate...the whole lot of them. This could not be happening. “ What? ”
    “I need him ready for the Limitless Classic at North Shore in two weeks. He bottomed out at Maverick’s about three months ago. Hasn’t quite gotten his head back into the game.”
    Hunter wouldn’t walk away from a career just because he’d wiped out. Even the best hit bottom from time to time. There had to be a reason and she was certain it drove the need and roughness she’d seen in him last night. “You aren’t telling me everything.”
    Three months ago. She tried to remember what happened in the surfing world around that time, but she’d been in Africa with several volunteers from Limitless, so she drew a complete blank. No doubt she’d missed a few things during her rush to catch up when she’d returned.
    “Hunter ended up in the boneyard, his side torn up by the reef. His best friend got caught in a riptide and never made it out.” A puzzled expression settled over her father’s face. “I know you read this story. We did a feature in the magazine that month on—”
    “ Slade Everett .” Her heart ached as she remembered how often she’d tried calling Hunter, left messages, all of which were not returned.
    “Yes.”
    By the time she’d returned home, Slade’s funeral had already passed. She’d been upset that she’d missed it but also knew