Read Online The Defender (The Carrier Series Book 2) by Diana Ryan - Free Book Online Page A

kept smiling. “Okay then, Your Highness. Where did you get this fancy car?”
    “Would you believe I won the lotto?”
    “No.” I looked out the window as he drove past the baseball fields.
    The corner of his lips turned up as he searched for another
answer. “Quiz show champion?”
    I couldn’t hold back a smile. “Absolutely not. Try again.”
    “You’re a tough audience…hmmm…well, I don’t think you’d actually
believe the truth, so you’ll have to settle for…pop star!” He turned the car
left onto Main Street.
    “Yeah, right. I like royalty better.”
    He looked out the windshield smiling curiously. “Fine, royalty it
is. Just call me Prince Adam.”
    We drove through some residential areas and drifted into UWSP
territory. I watched Gerke Field pass on our right. I knew something suspicious
was brewing, but I wasn’t about to push it. I barely knew Adam, after all.
“Alright, Prince Adam. Where are you taking me today?”
    “Back to your house.”
    “I guess I set my bar too high.”
    “No offense intended, but you need a shower first.”
    I laughed out loud. That was not what I expected to hear but it
was probably true. I did need a shower. “I thought Europeans didn’t shower every
day.”
    He shook his head. “Nasty rumor. The French don’t bathe for days.
Londoners, if we stink, we shower.”
    “Fair enough. Turn here on Fremont.” Adam turned his
fancy-schmancy car down the street.
    “I’ll drop you off. Could you be ready in forty-five minutes?”
    “Now turn here on College Avenue.” I pointed through the
windshield. “Sure, I’ll be all clean and fresh for your olfactory nerves. We’re
the last house on the block.”
    “Oooh…did you look ahead in your biology textbook, Dr. Gardner?”
    I gave him a fake angry face and Adam chortled gleefully. He
pulled to a stop in front of the two-story, creamy yellow house. A dark,
screened-in porch hung off the top floor.
    “See you later, Your Highness.” I flashed a smile from the lawn,
and he called, “Cheerio, Ava!”
    Inside, Elaina and Sharon were sitting around the living room
playing one of our all-time favorite board games, Sequence. Elaina was kicking
Sharon’s butt, like always.
    “Hey! There she is!” Sharon’s face lit up when she saw me.
    “Kasie told us we may have to send a search party after you!” Elaina
played a blue poker chip on the board.
    “Naw, Adam is pretty cool. I totally trust him.” I took a seat on
the couch for a quick second. “Actually, I’m just home to shower and change,
and then I’m going back out with him again.”
    Elaina put down her cards and sat forward. “Really? So are you
ready now to admit you like Adam as more than a friend?”
    “No,” I said quickly. “I mean, I don’t think so.”
    Oh no, my cheeks were burning pink!
    “At this point he has just been really great company. He’s easy to
talk to and I feel comfortable with him, but I’m pretty sure there isn’t any
physical attraction between us.”
    Sharon seemed to be studying my face for the truth. “I guess I’ll
believe you. But are you sure he feels the same way? You don’t want to lead him
on and then break his heart, do you?”
    “Of course not.” Maybe Sharon was right. “I promise I’ll be
careful. If he ever gives me a signal that says more than friends, I’ll get the
heck out of there right away!”
    “Good plan.” Sharon placed a red chip over the king of spades.
    “Okay, I’m off to shower. He’s gonna be back in forty-five
minutes.” I left the living room and headed for my bedroom. I checked my phone
sitting on the window ledge above my bed— no new messages . I undressed,
pulled my silky green robe off the hook behind my door, and then grabbed a
white towel and some clean clothes from the laundry basket on the floor.
    The hot shower massaged my sore muscles and refreshed my sweaty
skin. After the quick shower, I dressed and blow-dried my hair. I was applying
makeup when I heard the