Bring the Heat by Margot Radcliffe (13 ebook reader .txt) 📕

he needed to know that she was okay with who he was off this yacht. He could give away all his money today and he’d still be the same person and he didn’t want to constantly worry that he would scare her away. He wanted her because she was strong, because she could stand up and be a partner with him, someone who walked beside him as they took on the world. That was what he intended to do and she was the only one he’d ever thought was up to the challenge. Underneath the quick smile and light conversation he offered to other people, he wasn’t an easy person to be with. She could ask the string of women who’d walked straight out of his life without a backward glance. He needed one who wanted to stay even if it was difficult.

He kissed her again, this time joining her tongue with his, reminding her of what they’d just had together. “Damn right it was worth it.”

She searched his eyes because his voice had turned gruff with bottled-up emotion. Now that he’d had a taste of bliss, he couldn’t imagine going back to his life before Molly took a risk and came on this boat, taking a break from her job, flying across the country, sailing throughout the Caribbean all to spend time with a guy she used to date. He had to believe it meant something.

“You okay?” she asked, concern in her eyes.

“Yeah, just as long as you’re not going anywhere.”

She shook her head and he closed his eyes in relief.

CHAPTER TEN

MOLLY HAD WOKEN up without a blaring alarm for the nearly two weeks that she’d been on Oliver’s yacht, feeling blissful. She’d fallen asleep in his arms last night, but when she reached out a hand for him she only got cool sheets instead of his warm body. Rising from the bed, she noticed that the bathroom was dark, which meant he wasn’t in there, either. Quickly getting ready for the day, she made her way to the galley kitchen and found him making breakfast again, shirtless with the gray swim shorts riding low on his waist showcasing the deep ravines of his lower abs.

“Pretty sure as the boat’s engineer I should tell you that you cooking shirtless is a fire hazard.”

He turned to her fully, a huge grin on his face. “Fire hazard? How so?”

“Because if you get injured from some blowback grease then I might be forced to cook in your place.”

Oliver shook his head and pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss. “Good morning.”

“You, too,” she returned, peering over his shoulder onto the griddle. “Pancakes?”

He nodded. “Sunday is for pancakes.” Flipping over a row of them, he caught her as she stepped away to go get a mug of coffee. “You like them, right?”

“Of course,” she said. “I’m a human being, aren’t I?”

He gave her hand a squeeze before letting her go. She held back a sigh because mornings with Oliver and pancakes were amazing.

She piled the fruit, maple syrup, sausage and their coffees on a tray and followed Oliver up to the sky lounge again. It was definitely their favorite place on the boat and since it was on the same level as the bridge, he could easily check the maps and controls of the boat while still having access to the minibar, the Jacuzzi and a deck with comfy chaise longues.

They were in the middle of eating when Oliver’s phone rang and she startled. Their communication with the outside world was pretty limited at this point, but the shrill ring was a loud reminder that it still existed.

Frown lines appeared on his face as he read the screen. “I have to take this,” he said, sounding irritated. Then he left the table completely.

Wanting to give him privacy, she played around on her own phone, but when she got bored of waiting, she headed inside to take a shower. She didn’t know where he was on the boat and thought she’d be safe using the one in the master suite, but as she got closer to the room she realized he’d gone there to have his conversation.

She would never have dreamed of eavesdropping, hated the very notion of it, but she was stopped midway down the hall by the sound of her name.

“I don’t even know someone named Molly, Mother,” Oliver said, his voice normal and as if he wasn’t pretending she didn’t exist. “So I’d say your sources aren’t worth the money you’re paying them.”

A pause.

“Of course I know what I’m doing, and I don’t give a fuck.”

Silence again and then a mumbled “I apologize for the cursing but nothing else. I’m not coming back to the firm and I’m certainly not marrying Lila!”

Molly decided to leave then because he’d deliberately hidden himself to take the call, but then he continued, this time his voice angry and frustrated. “I’m not coming home anytime soon, so you can set me up on all the dates you want, Dad can threaten to promote someone else, it doesn’t matter. He should have already promoted someone else because I might come visit you guys again at some point if you stop this constant hassling and threatening, but I will never step foot inside the firm again. I’ve already liquidated a good chunk of my assets so there’s no going back. I’m out, Mom. Get used to it. You either want me in the family on my terms or you don’t want me in the family. Those are your only options.”

Molly bit her lip, listening to him, wondering what she’d do if her own dad only wanted her around if she did what he wanted. It was just a concept that was so foreign to her she could barely imagine it, let alone have seen that Oliver was living it.

“I don’t care! I’m not fucking doing it!”

Molly jumped as she heard Oliver actually shout and knew she should leave, but her heart was breaking for