Read Online Forbidden, Tempted Series (Book 1) by Selene Charles - Free Book Online Page A

counter. “I did ask Adam. Though I didn’t want to let go of so much money.”
    Flint grabbed the box of spaghetti and dropped the pasta into the water, stirring it quickly before placing the lid on.
    “And?” She hopped on the counter. Her stomach grumbled loudly.
    Her dad grinned. “And he said Accounting didn’t make mistakes, not to waste his time with stupid questions, and hung up.”
    “Yeah, Dad... seriously, what an ass. I can’t believe you want to keep working for that guy.”
    “Flint DeLuca, no swearing.” He frowned, then popped a can of tomato paste onto the can opener, which buzzed loudly.
    She could have told him that she’d been swearing like a sailor for the past year, that he’d been too drunk to notice and that he’d even joined in occasionally, but that would be cruel. It was good to see her dad acting all domestic and concerned again—she wasn’t ready to pop his bubble.
    “Fine.” She held up her hands, crunching on a raw piece of spaghetti she’d left in the box. “But for real, he’s really mean. I don’t like how he talks to you.”
    He shook his head. “And I appreciate that, but it’s going to take a lot more than a couple of brusque words for me to bow down. I’m a man too, Flinty.”
    “Daddy...” She kissed his cheek. “Of course you are. The best one I know. I just love you, that’s all.”
    The grin was back. Bruised male egos, God help them... her mother used to always say a kiss and a hug went a mile when it came to soothing the beast, and of course, she’d been right.
    Her dad squeezed her shoulders, then he scooped the tomato paste into the meaty, oniony richness.
    She inhaled the tangy pop of tomatoes. “Wow, that smells good.”
    “Things are gonna change around here, DeLuca. You’ll see. From now on, we’ll have dinner together. I know I won’t be home at night, but I’m trusting you not to bring home any weird boys with piercings and tattoos.”
    “Dad,” she moaned, rolling her eyes. “Are you serious? Please, stop embarrasing me. Besides, I might be gay.”
    “You’re not.”
    She huffed. “What if I am? What if I haven’t told you because I’m afraid?”
    “Flint DeLuca, are you trying to tell me something?” His brown eyes pierced her. “Are you?”
    Flint shook her head. “No. I’m not. But you just assumed it was gonna be a boy. It could be a girl and then you wouldn’t have to worry about babies.”
    He lifted a brow as he stirred quickly. “You drive me crazy, girl. And for the record, it wouldn’t matter. I’d love you anyway. Got that?”
    His brows lifted when she didn’t answer. “Got it?” he asked again.
    “I got it, Daddy. And I love you too.”
    “That’s right you do.” He flashed her a quick grin, which only made her roll her eyes and smirk back. “But for real, to use your lingo, no babies.”
    Her father wasn’t a prude, in fact he’d made it pretty clear that he understood she was reaching an age where she might begin to do things with guys, but she just wished he’d drop it already. She wasn’t stupid.
    “Oh my God, Dad. Wrap it up, I get it. Jeez.”
    “You better. If you don’t have any, I’ve got some in my bedroom dresser. Top drawer.”
    She curled her nose. “I’m, yeah...” Flint dropped the half-eaten spaghetti stick and hopped off the counter. “There are no words. And besides, why do you even have those? Have you met someone?”
    Scoffing, he lifted the spaghetti lid and stirred the noodles one last time before giving a satisfied nod. “I was married once you know, Flint. Mom and I didn’t want any more babies, not in our line of work.”
    She loved her scatterbrained father, she really did, but sometimes she felt like more of a grown-up than him. “You do know those things are probably moth-eaten by now, right? They’ve got a shelf life.”
    “And how would you know that, young lady?” He slipped on a pair of oven mitts and carried the pan of pasta to the sink, draining the