Read Reckless (Fractured Farrells: A Damaged Billionaire Series Book 2) for Free Online Page B
Authors: Mallory Crowe
place to relax.”
“If it’s so great, why don’t you come in with me?”
“I’m working. I can’t play.”
“Come on. Jean and Colin are too busy to judge you for having fun.”
Malia glanced out over the water and he knew he was starting to sway her.
“Who were you on the phone with earlier?”
Robert sat back and considered how much to tell her. “A deal was supposed to be finalized today but the seller is backing out at the last minute.”
“Isn’t that a normal business thing? Deals fall through all the time.”
“Not this kind. We’ve been in negotiations for seven months.”
“So did he give a reason?”
A woman’s squeal came over the sound of the waves. He looked out to see Colin and Jean playing in the water.
“Come in the ocean with me, and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
For a moment, she didn’t say anything, but then she set her book down and stood. “All right, Farrell. I’ll play your game.” Without waiting a second longer, she pulled off her shirt and started to push her shorts over her tan legs.
Robert had to bite his lip as he tried to commit the image to memory. He only had a few minutes to savor the sight before she climbed over the edge and hopped into the shallow water.
Suddenly realizing that he was alone on the boat, Robert pulled off his white shirt and followed her into the water. If he stood, the water stopped at mid-thigh, but Malia was swimming to the other side of the boat.
Once he reached her, she turned around. “Okay, spill the beans. What is really happening?”
He didn’t know how he could be in one of the sexiest situations of his life and was being forced to talk about one of the least sexy topics.
“Last week, a corrupt congressman in California was arrested. A string of his emails was released to the press and it came out that he helped my company cover up an oil spill about ten years ago. So I’m in the middle of a shit storm of bad press and the seller doesn’t want his name associated with mine.”
“Did you have anything to do with the cover up?”
“I was just out of college ten years ago. I was lucky if Walter would let me open his mail, let alone clue me in on the shit he was involved in.”
“Well, if the press thinks you’re scum, you have to do something to convince them you’re not, right?”
He let out a little laugh. If only it were that easy. “You think I’m scum. What could I do to convince you I’m not?”
She crooked her head at him. “I’m harder to please than the press,” she assured. “Just think of it like some cheesy romance flick. When the guy messes up, he needs to pull off some grand gesture to apologize to the girl.”
“You want me to treat the press like a wronged lover?”
“No. Treat the earth like one. You said it was an oil spill? Pump a bunch of money into conservation efforts. All I hear about from the geology and biology students here is about all the grants they’re trying to get for conservation. Well, start throwing some money at it. Try to do good with all the cash your father got through less than honorable means.”
“The company donates millions to charities every year.”
“Well then, you need to be less modest. Make a big deal of it. Make an event. Make sure that people know it.”
“Malia, are you trying to help me?”
“I’m trying to use your forces of evil for good.”
“So does that mean you’re changing your mind about me?” He approached her slowly. She was kneeling down in the water, so the gentle waves brushed over her breasts.
Robert knelt so he was at her height as well. The water was cold at first, but the second he was under, it felt warm.
“No,” said Malia. “I haven’t changed my mind about you at all.”
“Then tell me something.”
“I don’t have to explain myself.”
But he continued on anyway. “I know you had fun with me on the beach. I know you liked kissing me. So what the hell is stopping you?”
“I still
“If it’s so great, why don’t you come in with me?”
“I’m working. I can’t play.”
“Come on. Jean and Colin are too busy to judge you for having fun.”
Malia glanced out over the water and he knew he was starting to sway her.
“Who were you on the phone with earlier?”
Robert sat back and considered how much to tell her. “A deal was supposed to be finalized today but the seller is backing out at the last minute.”
“Isn’t that a normal business thing? Deals fall through all the time.”
“Not this kind. We’ve been in negotiations for seven months.”
“So did he give a reason?”
A woman’s squeal came over the sound of the waves. He looked out to see Colin and Jean playing in the water.
“Come in the ocean with me, and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
For a moment, she didn’t say anything, but then she set her book down and stood. “All right, Farrell. I’ll play your game.” Without waiting a second longer, she pulled off her shirt and started to push her shorts over her tan legs.
Robert had to bite his lip as he tried to commit the image to memory. He only had a few minutes to savor the sight before she climbed over the edge and hopped into the shallow water.
Suddenly realizing that he was alone on the boat, Robert pulled off his white shirt and followed her into the water. If he stood, the water stopped at mid-thigh, but Malia was swimming to the other side of the boat.
Once he reached her, she turned around. “Okay, spill the beans. What is really happening?”
He didn’t know how he could be in one of the sexiest situations of his life and was being forced to talk about one of the least sexy topics.
“Last week, a corrupt congressman in California was arrested. A string of his emails was released to the press and it came out that he helped my company cover up an oil spill about ten years ago. So I’m in the middle of a shit storm of bad press and the seller doesn’t want his name associated with mine.”
“Did you have anything to do with the cover up?”
“I was just out of college ten years ago. I was lucky if Walter would let me open his mail, let alone clue me in on the shit he was involved in.”
“Well, if the press thinks you’re scum, you have to do something to convince them you’re not, right?”
He let out a little laugh. If only it were that easy. “You think I’m scum. What could I do to convince you I’m not?”
She crooked her head at him. “I’m harder to please than the press,” she assured. “Just think of it like some cheesy romance flick. When the guy messes up, he needs to pull off some grand gesture to apologize to the girl.”
“You want me to treat the press like a wronged lover?”
“No. Treat the earth like one. You said it was an oil spill? Pump a bunch of money into conservation efforts. All I hear about from the geology and biology students here is about all the grants they’re trying to get for conservation. Well, start throwing some money at it. Try to do good with all the cash your father got through less than honorable means.”
“The company donates millions to charities every year.”
“Well then, you need to be less modest. Make a big deal of it. Make an event. Make sure that people know it.”
“Malia, are you trying to help me?”
“I’m trying to use your forces of evil for good.”
“So does that mean you’re changing your mind about me?” He approached her slowly. She was kneeling down in the water, so the gentle waves brushed over her breasts.
Robert knelt so he was at her height as well. The water was cold at first, but the second he was under, it felt warm.
“No,” said Malia. “I haven’t changed my mind about you at all.”
“Then tell me something.”
“I don’t have to explain myself.”
But he continued on anyway. “I know you had fun with me on the beach. I know you liked kissing me. So what the hell is stopping you?”
“I still