Read Online Trick by Lori Garrett - Free Book Online

shoulders, and I gasped when he braced my back with one hand and slid the other down. His palm lay flat on my stomach and his middle finger ran over my clit in quick, maddening circles.
    I came undone, my breasts pushed flat against his chest, my arms locked around his neck. A second before he was ready to come, he pulled out, groaning against my neck as his body jerked and released.
    “You could have come in me,” I whispered, running my fingers through his damp hair. “I’m on the pill.”
    He tied my suit back on with focused attention. “I don’t want to take any chances. The last thing you need is for your future to be over cause you’re knocked up with a Hunt baby.”
    The moment shattered like a glass dropped to the cement.
    We fixed our suits and waded out of the water. When we came to the back porch of the beach house, I took his hands.
    “I don’t want to have children yet, but I’d be proud to have yours someday, Gunner.”
    He tightened his fingers over mine and his mouth went flat and hard. “I appreciate you saying that, baby. I really do. But know this now: that’s not a possibility. I’ll never hook you that way.”
    There were so many things I wanted to say, but Gunner pulled me into the house, grabbed a bottle of tequila and a cup of ice, and told me to get in the shower and get ready for him.
    I couldn’t resist following his command, so I did, and I never regretted it.
    Except I wish I’d told him that being hooked to him was the only thing I would ever want. Under all the arrogant swagger, Gunner Hunt needed to know someone loved him with their whole heart.
    I gaze out at the wide open summer afternoon and wonder if I should just run to him now.
    But I have a dinner party to get through. I don’t need to raise my father’s suspicions. Upset as he is about the idea of me pursuing ballet, and even as mortified as he is about New York City, nothing could hold a candle to the pure outrage he’d feel if he knew I was so much as thinking of holding hands with Gunner Hunt.
    Good thing my daddy doesn’t know I’m constantly thinking about doing so much more than holding Gunner Hunt’s hand. So much more.
    I swallow hard as a fresh rush of memories hits my brain, then turn to go to the kitchen and make sure nothing is needed for dinner tonight.
    I have a feeling I’ll figure out a way to skip out at the end and make Gunner Hunt my personal dessert.

    ********
    “Clay, this is my daughter Harlow. Harlow, Clay Wilson.”
    “Pleasure,” Clay says. He extends his hand and I shake it quickly, but not before running my thumb across his palm and confirming exactly what I suspected. Perfectly smooth hands. Hands that haven’t seen hard work. There’s no doubt in my mind Clay doesn’t know how to please a woman with them. They’re nothing like Gunner’s hands.
    Clay is handsome. Charming. I’m sure he’s a perfectly nice guy. And I’m sure when he’s older, he’ll have a beautiful home like my dad owns, and look just like any of the other guests here tonight. He’ll be happy enough, but there will never be any spark in his life. And even though my life would probably be easier if I could, I’ve never been able to accept that as my fate. I want to know that even on the crappy days, I’ve lived so much more than most people. That I loved wholly and crazily. I want that spark. Every day. That’s what dance is for me, and that’s what Gunner is, too.
    “I invited Daisy. She’ll be by once she runs home to change. You don’t mind, do you, Dad?” I ask, as we all make our way to the screened in porch where dinner is ready to be served. There are white twinkling lights and handmade menus at each place setting.
    Apparently, Dad’s girlfriend has been getting her Pinterest on.
    Dad glances up and shakes his head.
    “No, of course not. Would have had Clay bring a friend along if I knew we’d be having another guest, though.” Dad laughs and claps his hand onto Clay’s back, but I know