Read Online Kiss of a Stranger (Lost Coast Harbor #1) by Lily Danes, Eve Kincaid - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lily Danes, Eve Kincaid
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He’d lain awake a long time the night before, his body demanding a release he couldn’t provide. He kept replaying their kiss, and each time his dick snapped to attention. Her lips, her skin, the way she’d pressed herself against him—like she craved him. Like she longed to feel every inch of his body pressed against hers. It lit something inside him he thought was extinguished long ago. He’d forgotten what it was to be needed.
Maddie wanted him. He was supposed to use that against her. Every day that passed was one more day Oliver Hastings got away with his crimes. One more day he needed to remain in Lost Coast instead of traveling north to see Mateo.
One more day he didn’t need to face her look of betrayal if she ever learned why he was there.
The mechanic had stopped by and examined every inch of equipment on the docks. The guy swore there was nothing wrong with the machines, but he took them apart and put them back together, just to be sure.
Whatever happened two days ago, Gabe was starting to think it had actually been an accident. God knew it wouldn’t be the first one in his life. Besides, he only arrived in Lost Coast the night before. No one would know he was in town, let alone trying to get a job at Hastings Shipping.
And if it wasn’t an accident, it was more likely Oliver had been the target than Gabe. The thought cheered him up immeasurably.
He chucked Harold the keys to the forklift and checked his watch. “Almost there. You guys mind if I tag along tonight? I hear Fridays at Vista del Mar are standard for us lowly laborers.” He grabbed a huge crate and moved it with ease.
Harold watched him and snorted. “See kid, you might as well announce you’re an outsider. Everyone knows it’s called VD by the Sea.” He waited to make sure Gabe got the joke, then guffawed at his own wit. “Most days, we’d be happy to have the new guy buy us drinks, but we’re skipping tonight. Wanna be fresh for the Hastings party.”
Gabe’s head snapped up so fast he might need a chiropractor. “Party?”
“No one told you? Hastings has this big to-do every year. Usually it’s for his clients and the more respectable people in town, but this year he decided to invite us reprobates. You got a suit?”
Gabe’s laugh was incredulous. “Do I look like someone who owns a suit?”
Harold scanned him, noting the stubble, scar, and tattoo peeking out of his right sleeve. The old-timer snorted. “About as much as I do, but I’ve got one from my wedding. Still kind of fit in it.”
“Let’s try again. Do I look like someone who’s had a fancy wedding?”
“You can borrow one of mine. We’re about the same size.”
Gabe schooled his features, trying to hide his shock as he turned to face Oliver.
The man was relaxed, smiling even. “It’s a party for you guys. You shouldn’t miss it because you don’t have something to wear. I’ll have someone bring it around your place. It won’t be a perfect fit, but it’ll do.”
Gabe could only nod his thanks. He squinted at Oliver as he walked away, trying to figure out the man’s game. “Why would he do that?”
“Oliver? He’s just like that. Never found a stray he didn’t try to help.” Harold gestured, impatient for Gabe to get back to the cargo.
He’d been a stray. Barely getting by after juvie, working one job after another and never getting ahead. When he was finally ready to head north, he took whatever he could get to make it a few more miles in the right direction. Someone had seemed to take pity on Gabe and gave him a one-time trucking job that would pay enough to cover the rest of his trip, with enough remaining to start over.
That man was no good. Gabe knew that firsthand. He just hadn’t expected Oliver to also seem so nice.
The party was in full swing. He’d purposely delayed his arrival, because it was easier to go unnoticed in a crowd. Gabe still attracted plenty of curious glances, but no hostile ones. With his tattoos
Maddie wanted him. He was supposed to use that against her. Every day that passed was one more day Oliver Hastings got away with his crimes. One more day he needed to remain in Lost Coast instead of traveling north to see Mateo.
One more day he didn’t need to face her look of betrayal if she ever learned why he was there.
The mechanic had stopped by and examined every inch of equipment on the docks. The guy swore there was nothing wrong with the machines, but he took them apart and put them back together, just to be sure.
Whatever happened two days ago, Gabe was starting to think it had actually been an accident. God knew it wouldn’t be the first one in his life. Besides, he only arrived in Lost Coast the night before. No one would know he was in town, let alone trying to get a job at Hastings Shipping.
And if it wasn’t an accident, it was more likely Oliver had been the target than Gabe. The thought cheered him up immeasurably.
He chucked Harold the keys to the forklift and checked his watch. “Almost there. You guys mind if I tag along tonight? I hear Fridays at Vista del Mar are standard for us lowly laborers.” He grabbed a huge crate and moved it with ease.
Harold watched him and snorted. “See kid, you might as well announce you’re an outsider. Everyone knows it’s called VD by the Sea.” He waited to make sure Gabe got the joke, then guffawed at his own wit. “Most days, we’d be happy to have the new guy buy us drinks, but we’re skipping tonight. Wanna be fresh for the Hastings party.”
Gabe’s head snapped up so fast he might need a chiropractor. “Party?”
“No one told you? Hastings has this big to-do every year. Usually it’s for his clients and the more respectable people in town, but this year he decided to invite us reprobates. You got a suit?”
Gabe’s laugh was incredulous. “Do I look like someone who owns a suit?”
Harold scanned him, noting the stubble, scar, and tattoo peeking out of his right sleeve. The old-timer snorted. “About as much as I do, but I’ve got one from my wedding. Still kind of fit in it.”
“Let’s try again. Do I look like someone who’s had a fancy wedding?”
“You can borrow one of mine. We’re about the same size.”
Gabe schooled his features, trying to hide his shock as he turned to face Oliver.
The man was relaxed, smiling even. “It’s a party for you guys. You shouldn’t miss it because you don’t have something to wear. I’ll have someone bring it around your place. It won’t be a perfect fit, but it’ll do.”
Gabe could only nod his thanks. He squinted at Oliver as he walked away, trying to figure out the man’s game. “Why would he do that?”
“Oliver? He’s just like that. Never found a stray he didn’t try to help.” Harold gestured, impatient for Gabe to get back to the cargo.
He’d been a stray. Barely getting by after juvie, working one job after another and never getting ahead. When he was finally ready to head north, he took whatever he could get to make it a few more miles in the right direction. Someone had seemed to take pity on Gabe and gave him a one-time trucking job that would pay enough to cover the rest of his trip, with enough remaining to start over.
That man was no good. Gabe knew that firsthand. He just hadn’t expected Oliver to also seem so nice.
The party was in full swing. He’d purposely delayed his arrival, because it was easier to go unnoticed in a crowd. Gabe still attracted plenty of curious glances, but no hostile ones. With his tattoos
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