What He Didn't Say Read Online Free PDF

near miss with the river boulders. “I’m one hundred percent intact.”
    Glancing at Holt, she stilled. His gaze lazily drifted down the length of her and back up again. A shiver raced through her when he gave her a wicked smile along with a thumbs-up. She glared at him before turning away so she could concentrate.
    â€œLook, Mom. I’m checking out. I’ll call you and Dad tonight and give you all the details.”
    â€œAll right, dear. Drive safe. Stop a few times to stretch your legs. You’re too much like your father. Once you get in a car, all you want to do is drive until you reach your destination. It’s not good for you.”
    Emma-Lee rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mom. Bye.” She hung up and turned back to Holt.
    As she pocketed the phone, she gave him an apologetic smile. “My folks were worried. You know how parents like to fuss.”
    He gave her a strange, questioning look. “If you say so.”
    Over his shoulder she saw a banner hanging over the entrance: The Amanda Forrester Jump for Cancer. Horror rushed through her as she realized the connection.
    All she had seen when Holt’s donation query came in to Double S was that his event was for cancer. Not the actual name. With visions of bridge jumping when she had checked in and images of the intriguing man himself dancing in her head afterward, she had been oblivious to any sign.
    â€œOhmigod.” She lifted her hands and covered her face. “Amanda Forrester, the woman this event is for. Is she your mother?”
    â€œWas.” A cool, shuttered expression appeared in his eyes. “She’s dead.”
    â€œOh, Holt. I’m so sorry.” She reached and rested her hand on his forearm. Beneath her fingers the tendons were as taut as steel. She could feel the tension humming through him.
    He slid his hands into his jean pockets, so she was forced to let go. “That’s okay. She died from cancer a long time ago.”
    â€œHow old were you when you lost her?”
    â€œTwelve.”
    She couldn’t imagine losing a parent at that age—or any age for that matter. Her parents were her rock and foundation.
    â€œHow awful for you and your father!” Emma-Lee hesitated. “Your father is…”
    â€œStill alive, yes.” He nodded. “We muddled through mother’s death, but I had always wanted to do something in her memory.”
    She gave him a tremulous smile. “And you pulled it off. This was a truly memorable weekend, Holt, for all of us who got to participate. An honor, in fact. Thank you.”
    Surprise flickered across his face. “I should thank you for all the help you gave me.” He glanced at her suitcase. “Are you checking out?”
    She nodded. “Yes. I need to get going. I want to visit with a friend in Charlotte before I head home.”
    â€œReally, Charlotte?” Holt narrowed his eyes. “Can I be this lucky? Ted left with the car to take care of an urgent matter this morning, and I need to get to Charlotte to meet with a programmer. I was waiting down here while they located another rental car for me. I wonder if I could…”
    Her sympathy propelled by manners caused her to respond without thinking. “Of course, I’m happy to give you a lift.”
    â€œPerfect.” He reached out and grabbed the handle of her suitcase. “Let’s get you checked out.” He turned toward the reception desk but not before she caught a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
    Any lingering trace of compassion vanished. What had she gotten herself into? Several hours of driving with a man she still didn’t know well?
    Oh, boy. Another thing not to mention to her parents tonight. However…
    Emma-Lee pulled out her phone, snapped a picture of Holt as he approached a clerk and e-mailed it to Sandy along with a note of what time she would be arriving as a precaution.
    When Holt glanced back, she dropped the