Read Seductive in Stilettos 2: New Adult Romance for Free Online

that I was going to be a Marine. Except, when I hit eighteen, the last thing I wanted to do was take orders from someone. Especially someone like him. I wanted to serve, just not like that. I wanted the Foreign Service. You know, get to travel."
    "That's great. And you have to be super smart for the Foreign Service. It's really prestigious."
    Shane nodded. "He didn't see it like that. He didn't like my choice so much, so he cut me out of his life. Six months ago, I heard he'd had a massive heart attack, so I went home to see him."
    "Oh, my God. Shane, I'm so sorry."
    He shrugged. "Don't be sorry. He sure wasn't. He had a secondary event when I was with him. He was so busy screaming about how much he hated me that he didn't give any thought to his heart. Let's just say he hadn’t had any sort of epiphany with his heart attack. Still the same son of a bitch he was when I was a kid."
    "What happened?"
    He hung his head. "He died. Doctors said his heart couldn’t withstand the strain of the second heart attack."
    She knew that look. Guilt. She saw it on her father's face every time he looked at her. "Shane, you can't possibly blame yourself for what happened."
    He shrugged again. "Funny how that is. I certainly didn’t like him. Must have wished him dead in that way that kids do, thousands of times. But the moment he was gone, I felt guilty, and somehow heavy, like I should have done something to prevent it all.” He shook his head as if to clear the memory. “Anyway, I came back to San Diego for a fresh start. For a chance to follow my own dreams. To let go of some of that shit." So softly she almost didn't hear him, he added. "Let go of some of the fear."
    "How's that working out for you?"
    He glanced at her from under sooty lashes. "The outlook has drastically improved in the last week or so."
    She flushed. Was it possible he meant meeting her? "Wonder why that is?"
    "Wonder why? Must be new friends. So, did your dad ever ease up on you? I don't see the men in black right now."
    "Well, a little. I'm still surprised he lets me walk around by myself. But it's for the best. Imagine trying to make friends when you have a three-hundred-pound armed man behind you. It's sort of difficult. But I've gotten used to keeping to myself."
    "Well, now you have me as a friend."
    She scrunched her nose. "I'm not sure you count."
    "What? 'Cause I'm a guy? I can be a friend. Or are you one of those people who thinks guys and girls can't be friends because someone always wants more?"
    Yeah, in this case that person was her. "I know the saying in theory, but I don't have any guy friends, so I wouldn't really know."
    He popped a piece of melon into his mouth. "Well, now you are up one male friend."
    Yes, if by “friend” he meant she wanted to strip him naked and lick chocolate off his abs. "Cool."
    "And as your friend, can I just ask what you were doing with that loser last night?"
    She covered her face. "Oh, God, please don’t remind me. I'm mortified. Syd will never let me live it down once she wakes up. But I was determined to be normal for once. Meet someone nice and more appropriate to date." She gave him a sheepish smile.
    "Well, if you want to do some normal stuff, how about we try something a little tamer, like movies and hanging out? We'll work our way up to dealing with fraternity boys."
    "Oh, sober, I know how to deal with some handsy guy. Dad made sure I learned self-defense."
    His brows rose. "Wow, then what do you need me around for?"
    She popped a piece of sausage into her mouth. "Arm candy."
    There was that grin again, and Tris was suddenly blinded. He was too good-looking. And seemingly completely unaware of his effect on her. Or their waitress, for that matter, or half the patrons that had the bad luck of being up at this hour. Every now and again, some googley-eyed woman would slide him a furtive glance. He appeared not to notice.
    "Can you give me your phone for a sec?"
    She frowned but pulled it out and gave it to him.