Read Kiss Me Forever (Bachelors & Bridesmaids #1) for Free Online Page B

her, and Andrea walked into the impressive entryway. The floor was marble title. Oil paintings adorned the walls, and an enormous staircase curved around a pillar as it rose up to the second floor.
    "Wow," she muttered. "Nice digs."
    He grinned. "You haven't seen the rest of the house."
    "I doubt I'll be disappointed. Can I have a tour?"
    "Another time. We need to leave now to meet my friends."
    "Are you sure we don't have a few moments?" She was itching to take a look around his personal space, because nothing about the front rooms seemed remotely personal. Off to one side, the living room was in shadows, but she could see the same kind of luxurious furniture and art through the archway.
    "Don't worry. You'll have a chance to see the house later." He opened the front door, and she followed him out to the circular drive where his Mercedes was waiting.
    "Where are we going?" she asked, as she got into the passenger seat.
    "A small party some friends of mine are throwing."
    "That's rather vague. At some point, the two of us need to sit down and talk privately."
    "Of course."
    "So, do you live alone?" she asked, as he pulled out of the driveway.
    "I do."
    "No live-in staff?"
    He shook his head. "I have a cleaning service that comes in once a week, and a personal chef that makes meals for me when I'm going to be home."
    She wasn't surprised to hear that. Still she couldn't help wondering how fun it was to live in such a big house all alone.
    "What about you?" he asked. "Where do you live?"
    "I have a one-bedroom apartment in the Sunset. I moved in about three months ago, and I'm excited to have my own place. While I've loved all my roommates, I've been living with different women for the past eight years, and I shared my last apartment with four women. It was a little too chaotic."
    "It sounds crazy. I can't imagine."
    She doubted he could imagine. His life was quite different from hers. "My entire apartment would probably fit into your living room. Don't you ever feel a little lost living in a mansion by yourself? How many bedrooms are there?"
    "Six. I have visitors, but like you, I also prefer to be on my own."
    "You've never had a woman move in with you?"
    "That's a personal question," he returned.
    "Well, I'm a reporter. I ask personal questions."
    "No."
    "That's it?" she prodded.
    "You asked, I answered."
    "Elaboration always makes for a better article."
    "Then ask a more interesting question."
    She sighed. Alex Donovan was definitely not going to make this easy. As he turned down the next block, she realized they were heading toward the Marina, and memories of a fateful fourth-grade fishing trip flashed through her mind. "We're not going out on a boat, are we?" she asked.
    He turned into the harbor parking lot. "We are. My friend has a beautiful yacht. You'll love it."
    She was absolutely sure she would not love it. But she couldn't back out of the trip now. She wouldn't have too many chances to talk to Alex, and she only had ten days to put the story together.
    After he parked the car, she got out and met him on the sidewalk. There was a brisk wind, which did not make her feel any better about the upcoming trip.
    Alex gave her a sharp look as she zipped her jacket. "Are you okay?"
    "Fine," she said with determination. She told herself she wasn't ten years old anymore and sailing on a yacht would be nothing like going out in a small fishing boat.
    Two hours later she knew it was worse.
     
    * * *
     
    While the yacht was massive in size, it was no match for the wind-driven waves that lifted the boat up and down in joyful glee. The first hour had been okay. Andrea had concentrated on getting to know Alex's friends, and the party of twenty had remained docked at the pier with several waiters passing out appetizers and champagne.
    Everything had changed when they sailed out into the bay, gliding slowly along the shoreline, taking a good view of Alcatraz Island before heading out for the turbulent ocean waters on the other side