Read Online Stranded in Paradise (The Blake Boys Book 13) by Rhonda Laurel - Free Book Online

Summer the wedding they’d dreamed about when they were kids. She knew, if no one else did, what her sister’s perfect day would be like.
    Determined to have fun but away from Jared, she signed up for a doubles tennis tournament and ended up being paired with a guy named Graham. He was a handsome investment banker who had a nice smile and a good serve. They were beating the pants off all challengers, and after she shot down a few obvious flirtatious quips from him, she found herself having a good time. When he asked her to have dinner with him that night, she said yes and was pleasantly surprised that he was a nice guy who thought he had to be flirty to get her attention.
    Now she was getting ready for a sightseeing tour. No way Jared would be going on a tour. He seemed adventurous, like he’d go out on his own and explore. That was fine by her. He was keeping his promise to stay away from her. She thought she saw him hiding behind a plant in the lobby earlier. He was almost trying too hard to stay away from her.
    She stepped onto the bus and took her seat. The brochure said they’d be seeing most of the island and had a two-hour layover at the casino. It was going to be a small group today. There were only nine people on the bus. The tour guide was taking a final head count and checking his clipboard.
    “Hi everyone, I’m Dave. I’ll be your tour guide for the day. We’re going to have a fabulous time. We just have one late comer and here he is now.” Dave stepped back to let the last person onto the bus.
    Autumn’s heart skipped a beat when Jared hopped on the bus. She scrambled around in her bag for her sunglasses and hat. Once she put them on, she tried to pretend she was looking out the window and maybe he wouldn’t notice her. But it didn’t work. He waved and when he reached the row, he plopped down next to her.
    “Hi,” he said.
    “Hi. Funny running into you here.” She removed the accessories.
    “I know what you’re thinking.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “Do you now?”
    “I didn’t plan this. It was a spur-of-the-moment sign up. So no need to call home.”
    She laughed. “I don’t know. Teri-Lyn’s powers are far-reaching.”
    He laughed too. “I agree.” The bus pulled off, jostling them both. Jared instinctively reached out and put his hand on her arm to steady her. “So how have you been enjoying your time off?”
    “I’ve been exploring the wonders of the island and staying out of your way. How about you?”
    “Keeping a low profile and reading the spy novel I brought.”
    “And don’t tell me, when you’re not hiding away like a hermit you check in with work?”
    “Guilty as charged.” He raised his hands in acknowledgment.
    “Couldn’t resist, could you?”
    “My resistance has been pretty low to many things lately.” He grinned. “But I did leave a new employee in charge to field calls until I return. She’s a cousin, but I still have an obligation to check in with her to make sure she won’t quit before I return. Oh, I have been jogging on the beach. And I got interior design ideas for Summer and Bo’s house.”
    “Good for you.” She smiled. She’d overheard a few of the women at the spa talking about a tall drink of water that jogged on the beach in the early morning. From their description, she suspected they were talking about him.
    A few minutes later the bus stopped. As they got off, Jared held out his hand to help her down off the bus. The guide went on about some battle that occurred there, but she really couldn’t hear because Jared was asking her a thousand questions about Summer and Bo’s wedding plans. They shuffled back on the bus for the next stop. Autumn took her time sitting down, hoping he’d get the hint and take another seat. Instead he waited for her to fuss with the chair. She didn’t continue the conversation they were having outside hoping he’d get the hint. This continued on for the next few stops, but he wouldn’t relent. He kept up