Free Meet Me in Myrtle Beach (Hunt Family Book 1) by Brooke St. James Page A

Christian, her family's in Charlotte, and she doesn't just like me for my money. She thought I was planning on scrounging up enough money to help her pay her phone bill when I asked her to come help me. She probably would have done it for free. I happen to love her, and I think she'd be perfect for him."
    "She probably would be, but don't tell him that," Christy said. "You know how hard-headed he is."
    "We want him home, too," Dan said. "Don't you think we worry about him? Christy stays up at night thinking about him facing off with those hunters."
    "So, we're in agreement!" Diane said. "All the more reason for you to join my plan."
    "Your plan of making him suddenly fall in love with the perfect stranger you brought on vacation?"
    "Yes!" she said.
    I could hear the smile in her voice and I sank my face into my hands. Evan? I was invited here for Evan? I let out a long silent breath, trying not to feel overwhelmed.
    "What are we supposed to do, Mom? Make them an accidental candlelight dinner?"
    "No, but you could happen to mention how nice or pretty she is."
    "He can see that for himself," Dan said.
    "Bottom line is… if he knows we've got an agenda, he'll do the exact opposite, and he'll probably break her heart in the process," Christy added.
    "He won't break her heart," Diane said. "I saw how he was looking at her when she came down with her hair all messed up. He liked that."
    "Yeah, well, so did Cody," Dan said.
    "Cody liked it because he loves Ryan. Evan liked it because of what it said about her character."
    "I think you're reading into it too much," Dan said. "It's all gonna go to pot once Logan gets here, anyway."
    "What's that supposed to mean?" Christy asked, defensively.
    "It means the girl probably won't know Evan exists once she has stars in her eyes," Dan said.
    "That's not true," Diane said. "She's not like that."
    "I agree," Christy said, although her agreement was more in defense of her son's appeal rather than my integrity.
    Dan laughed. "We'll see." He paused for a second. "Here's Mia," he said, warning them to be quiet.
    I heard the sound of the door open followed by Mia's voice. "The quiche is ready," she said.
    "Thanks, sweetheart, we'll be right down," Christy said.
    "Not a word of this to any of them," Christy said, once Mia had the chance to close the door.
    "Obviously," Dan said.
    I remained as still as a statue until I knew they had all gone inside, and then I quickly but silently opened the door and ran in.
    I almost ran straight into Cody's arms. He had to catch me. "You okay?" he asked.
    "Yeah, why?" I asked, smiling as if nothing at all could possibly be wrong.
    "Because you were out there with your face in your hands, and then you ran inside like something was chasing you." He tilted his head and smiled ever so slightly. "Jaws?"
    I giggled and let my shoulders slump. "No. I was just out there thinking, and I didn't expect to run into you when I came in. I thought I was the only one upstairs."
    "I came up to tell you breakfast was ready."
    "Quiche?" I said, not even realizing that it was a slip.
    "Yeah, how'd you know?"
    "I probably smell it," I said.
    "Breakfasttt!" Ryan called as she came up the stairs. The very second she appeared, Evan came out of the bathroom. He was obviously fresh out of the shower because steam rolled out with him. He had on cargo shorts and no shirt, and he was towel-drying his long hair. All I could think about was the conversation I had just overheard. How in the world did they expect me to charm someone like him… and did I even want to?
    Cody caught sight of me shifting to avoid staring at his brother, and he said, "Why don't you put on a shirt?"
    Evan laughed at that. He scooped up Ryan. "Where's this breakfast I heard you talking about?"
    "Downstairs in the kitchen," she said, giggling like crazy. She ended on a squeal, because he began tickling her as he carried her down.
    "It's probably gonna seem like Grand Central Station in this house for the rest of the