Welcome to Paradise: Welcome to Paradise, Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

so desperately had grown up into a sexy, talented woman, and instead of hating him for the way he’d treated her, she’d come back to a town she despised just to see him.
    And just when he thought she couldn’t surprise him any more, she threw him for another loop.
    “I missed you, Nate.”
    His mouth went bone-dry. “You did?”
    “Yeah.” A secretive little smile swept across her mouth. “We had fun together, didn’t we?”
    “Yeah, we had fun.”
    To his sheer disappointment, her hands dropped from his shoulders and she took a step back. But then he saw the mischief dancing in her eyes and realized she wasn’t about to abandon him. “Why don’t we get a drink and catch up some more?” she suggested, already turning toward the bar without checking to see if he was following.
    Which was exactly what he did.
    As if a magnet were pulling him toward her, he followed Charlotte’s delectable backside and forced himself not to question this sudden stroke of good fortune.
    Charlotte had forgiven him, and for the first time in years, there was a spring to his step as he went to join the only woman he’d ever loved.
     
     
    He smelled really good. Too good, Charlotte amended as Nate bent to whisper something in her ear and the intoxicating scent of soap and spice and something deliciously masculine floated into her nose. She couldn’t believe how easily he’d bought her lie. Maybe he was so desperate to be rid of his own guilt that he actually believed she’d gotten over what happened between them.
    But she hadn’t.
    Although she’d had second thoughts about this silly seduction plan, the way Nate so carelessly brought up the past had seriously grated. Yes, she’d seen some guilt in his eyes, but she’d hoped for more. It’s been a long time . Fifteen years, and those were the first words he said to her? How about, Fuck, Charlotte, I’m so, so, so sorry for what I said. For ripping your heart out and stomping on it with my boot. For making you so insecure you couldn’t have sex for four years after what I did.
    But no, she got It’s been a long time .
    And then when she’d acted as if his betrayal didn’t bother her, his face had brightened up like a kid’s eyes on Christmas morning. He’d probably been thinking, Hey, I got off easy. She doesn’t even care that I dumped her three seconds after taking her virginity.
    Jerk.
    Though really, what had she been expecting? That he’d get down on his knees and grovel for her forgiveness?
    Well, no. But she’d at least hoped to see some shame on his part.
    I never got to apologize to you .
    Then do it now, she’d wanted to yell. She might have lied and said she’d forgiven him, but he should have still apologized, still tried to explain his actions. Instead, he’d let it go as effortlessly as she’d pretended to.
    “I own all your records.”
    His husky voice jolted her from her angry thoughts. Surprise joined the anger when she registered what he’d said. “You do?”
    “You’re so talented, Charlie,” he said roughly. “I always knew you’d make it to the big time.”
    The nickname made her heart somersault. Damn him. Why did he still affect her this way?
    Before she could reply, a tall brunette hesitantly approached them, a napkin and pen in her hand. “I don’t mean to bother you, but would you mind signing an autograph?”
    Charlotte pasted on a smile, all the while trying to figure out who the woman was. Cara something or other. Or was it Tara?
    “I’m Tara,” the brunette added with a tentative smile. “We had P.E. together senior year.”
    Right, Tara. Charlotte resisted the urge to glare as she suddenly remembered precisely who Tara was and what she had done. Tara and a few of her friends had stolen Charlotte’s clothes from the locker room after gym class one afternoon. They’d probably hoped she’d venture out in the hall, in all her nude glory, looking for help, but Charlotte had simply sat down on the hard wooden bench. And