Read Online Hold Me Closer (Sea Island Brides Book 1) by Georgia Kelly - Free Book Online Page A

didn’t care who got hurt in
the process.
    “Can
I ask you a question?” She turned to look at his mother and
sister who had drifted over toward the pool.
    “Of
course,” he said, following her eyes.
    “What
do they think of this phony engagement plan? I mean, obviously you’ve
already told them about it, but do they approve?”
    “They
agree it’s the best way to avoid a scandal,” he said. “My
twin brother Harlan has his doubts about the plan, but everyone else
knows it’s the best way to turn the tide in our favor.”
    Annabelle
straightened at the mention of Harlan’s name. “Where is
your brother?" she asked casually, her heart racing. "I was
hoping to meet him tonight.”
    “Harlan
was in town for a few days between acting gigs, but he’s just
flown to Japan to shoot a small role in a new movie,” he said.
“We’re hoping some positive press in Japan will help
convince Takahashi to close the deal.”
    Annabelle
nearly choked on her mint julep. Japan? That was a world away. All
her hopes of speaking to him in private went out the window.
    “When
is he coming back?”
    “After
the deal is finalized, I hope,” he said. “My brother Jack
is over there, too. He thinks the owner of the company has been
stalling because he’s not sure he wants to trust a family of
American kids with his precious company. This engagement couldn’t
have come at a better time. In a way, the tabloid photos were a
blessing in disguise. Maybe you’re my guardian angel.”
    The
way he looked at her sent sparks flying below her navel. She doubted
he would still feel the same way if he knew she was the one who’d
set him up. Still, the attraction between them was undeniable. She
fought the urge to move closer. To feel his warmth against her skin.
    It
was distracting, and it annoyed her. She didn’t want to feel
this way about him. She wanted to hate him.
    Annabelle
didn’t dare to even look at him. She was terrified of the way
her body reacted to his simplest touch. She blamed the romantic
setting. The wind in her hair. The waves crashing onto the sand just
a few feet away. Any man standing next to her would surely bring
about the same response under these circumstances. There was nothing
special about this particular man. She needed to believe that.
    “Annabelle.”
    He
moved closer and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Annabelle
wrapped her hands tighter around her glass, doing her best to
concentrate on the condensation gathering on its surface.
    “There’s
something I need to tell you.”
    Curious,
she looked up at him, trying to read his expression. Had he
discovered her secret? A flash of panic passed through her, but as
she studied his face, she could easily see that it wasn’t anger
he was feeling. It was something far more dangerous.
    Desire.
    “Even
before those pictures came out in the papers, I was having a hard
time getting you out of my mind.” He put a hand on each of her
shoulders and gently spun her around to face him. “You have no
idea how difficult it was to walk away from you that day by the pool.
Maybe now that our circumstances have changed, I won’t have to
walk away.”
    Was
he being sincere? Or simply trying to take advantage of the situation
and her agreement to play the part of his girlfriend?
    Annabelle
clenched her teeth. If he thought getting her into bed was going to
be easy, he had another thing coming.
    “I
suppose this is the moment where women usually fall into your arms,
grateful to be in your presence.” There was more bite in her
voice than she intended, but Annabelle was having a hard time
controlling her emotions. How could she have let herself be pulled in
by his charms? Hudson Montgomery was the enemy. Plain and simple. He
wanted to use her for his own benefit, then throw her away.
    Well,
he had another thing coming to him if he thought he could treat her
like every other woman he’d been with over the years.
    Hudson
cleared his throat, a questioning look darkening