Read Online Written on Her Heart by Paige Rion - Free Book Online Page B

Peter, his mouth slightly open. “Who’s this?” he asked, an edge to his voice.
    Andi had a feeling he knew who it was. Beside her, Ms. Perry smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort. Her stomach twisted in knots as she glanced back at Peter. “Uh, this is Peter.”
    Peter’s hooded gaze moved over Ford, his cool blue eyes frosting over.
    Andi swallowed. “Peter, this is Ford Delaney, the writer—my boss.” Moron. “Ford, this is Peter, my boyfriend. There was a misunderstanding. He dropped by but was just leaving.” She gazed at Peter, pleading with her eyes.
    “Sure, just leaving,” Peter said. “Here, Andi.” He handed her the flowers.
    Andi bit her lip and took them. Please, just leave.
      “See you in a few,” he said, then yanked her into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers.
    Andi’s eyes flew open and she pulled away. What the hell was he doing? Andi glared at Peter, her back to Ford so he couldn’t see, then turned. The sound of her harsh breathing filled her ears.
    “I’m sorry. I—”
    “No. It’s okay.” Ford took a step forward. “He may as well see where you’ll be spending most of your time this summer. I just came to get that file you promised me.” He moved toward Andi, his gaze on Peter never wavering, like a lion stalking its prey. He grabbed the file from Andi’s hand, lingering longer than necessary.
    “Thanks,” he said, caressing the words with his tongue.  He shifted his eyes to Andi before he turned to leave. He walked away but glanced back. “Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Be here early tomorrow. Eight o’clock. We’ll be taking my boat out. Most of the day will be spent sailing. I want to see Callaway Cove from the water. Is that okay?”

    Andi nodded, lifting her hand to her neck, where her skin pricked and caught fire at Peter’s unwavering gaze. “Yeah, sure,” she said, wondering what, exactly, had just happened.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    Andi swatted at a mosquito, the beam of her flashlight moving wildly as she trudged through the woods. Ahead of her, hazy, silver light filtered through the trees, letting her know they had almost reached the clearing to the cove.
    “I smell smoke,” Rachel hissed.
    They broke through the tree line and spotted Carma sitting by the water, the tip from a cigarette burning orange against the dark backdrop of the lake and sky. She turned toward them as they approached.
    Lifting her flashlight, Rachel pointed the beam at Carma’s face.
    “Hey!” Carma flinched and closed her eyes, raising the hand that held her cigarette in front of her face.
    Andi and Rachel laughed, then Andi stepped in front of Carma and said, “It’s so dark tonight, I thought Rachel was gonna piss her pants in the woods.”
    “Something touched me,” Rachel said, her tone defensive.
    “Sure it did.” Carma grinned.
    “You should’ve seen her face.” Andi laughed as Rachel glared at her.
    Rachel sniffed and shifted her gaze to Carma. “Are you going put that out so the rest of us can breathe?”
    Sighing, Carma bent over and stubbed the cigarette out.
    Andi grinned, then pulled a bag off her back and opened it. “We have these. ” She sang the words as she waved two large bottles of wine in front of her.
    “Thank God .” Carma snatched one from her hand, but Andi’s gaze caught something with the movement. She grabbed Carma’s arm before she had a chance to lower it. Holding it out, she narrowed her eyes before moving her flashlight over Carma’s pale skin. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but once they did, Andi gasped, her eyes wide. A smattering of garish, purple bruises covered the inside of Carma’s arm.
    “What the hell happened?” Andi asked.
    “Shh,” Carma hissed, her gaze flashing to Rachel, who turned in their direction.
    “It’s nothing.” Avoiding her gaze, Carma ripped her arm from Andi’s grip and put it behind her back. “I fell in the shower the other day and wrecked it.”
    Andi narrowed her eyes, unsure