Summer Lovin Read Online Free PDF

check out the situation first.” The tick in his jaw became more pronounced.
    She made a mental note to have Quinn look deeply into their family history. If he had been thirteen when his sister ran away, what had his parents done about finding Faith before the trail had grown cold? Ryan Baldwin’s silence spoke louder than any words could and perhaps whatever was behind that reticence would provide her with the leverage she needed to stall his revelation to Sam.
    She sidled up beside him, this time more aware of his expensive cologne, a scent that under other circumstances she could definitely get used to. “I’d like to propose a deal. A quid pro quo of sorts.”
    â€œAgain, I’m listening.”
    â€œYou just can’t spring this on my family or Sam. She’s fragile and needs to get to know you first.”
    He nodded in understanding, his expression softening. “That sounds fair. What are you proposing?”
    â€œKatherine, the social worker, has put off the final evaluation a few weeks while she’s away on a family emergency. They’re so overburdened they can’t spare anyone for this case. I suggest you hold off telling Social Services or Sam who you claim to be.”
    â€œWho I am. ”
    She shook her head, refusing to accept him at his word just yet. “Whatever. What I’m suggesting is that you continue your charade. Pretend to be a social worker and come by as often as you like during these last few weeks of the evaluation period. You’ll get to know Sam and see her in her element here.”
    He frowned. “That sounds awfully one-sided. What do I get out of this?”
    â€œMy cooperation in getting to know Sam. If you dump this news on her, I can promise you every defensive mechanism she has will surface and your chances of winning her over will be slim. She considers me her sister. She trusts my judgment. Like it or not, you need me, Mr. Baldwin. So do we have a deal?” She held out her hand.
    He hesitated for a second, before grasping her hand. If Zoe thought the first sparks between them were a fluke, she immediately discovered she’d been mistaken. The man might have lied from their first meeting, might be the biggest threat to the Costas family since her father’s bout with cancer, but somehow the attraction was there, strong and undeniable.
    She gathered her composure—which wasn’t easy when she liked the feelings he evoked—and yanked her hand back. “One more thing.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” he asked, flexing his fingers as if he needed to shake himself free of her touch.
    She understood and had to force herself to focus on their predicament. “When Sam gets her birthday gift, you will grin and laugh and look the other way.”
    â€œWhat’s the gift?” he asked warily.
    â€œYou’ll see.” Despite herself, she couldn’t help but grin.
    Â 
    R YAN TRIED TO MAKE HIMSELF comfortable at the party. With the truth out in the open between himself and Zoe, he felt as if he’d just dodged a bullet and also knew for a fact that he’d bought himself some time at the Costas home. As tough as it was to admit, Zoe had raised many good points, the most important of which was that he needed her. Zoe’s parents were Sam’s guardians, which put them at a legal advantage. Emotionally, they also had the upper hand since they knew Sam and understood how she would react to his sudden appearance in her life. He’d foolishly thought he’d be rescuing her from hell and she’d greet him with open arms. Zoe made him realize Sam might well resent him for all the years she’d suffered in foster care, and now that he thought about it, such a reaction would be understandable.
    No fourteen-year-old would be able to rationalize the situation enough to forgive and forget immediately, no matter how much he wished otherwise. Still, he tried to play devil’s advocate,