Free Riptide (Limitless Book 1) by Kinsey Corwin Page A

before saying anything and I wanted to ensure that the company could survive without me at the helm, if for some reason, they found something and it was in advance stages.”
    Phoenix took a deep breath, then walked over to him and gave him a hug. When she released him, she held onto his hand and looked up into his eyes. “I’m sorry that you’re not feeling well and that you didn’t feel comfortable enough to share that news with me, so I could be there for you from the start. In the last twenty minutes, you’ve destroyed everything I’ve ever cared about: my relationship with Hunter, my love for your company and what it represents, and the trust once shared between a father and daughter. Honestly, Dad, right now I don’t want to even be in the same room with you.”
    ***
    H unter heard the front door close. He had very little to pack and he’d grabbed his things and left them by the front door of the main house. All he needed to do was find Phoenix, and talk to her about what she’d told her father. There was nothing he wanted more than to have her at his side, but he knew the relationship with her father would be permanently damaged. He didn’t know if she realized that in the heat of the moment and he needed her to think it through. No matter what, he would stand by her decision. He sought Phoenix out, but when he’d heard her father’s voice, he didn’t want to make the situation worse and opted to take one last walk down to the beach. He picked up a small piece of driftwood.
    “Hunter...” Her voice soft. “I’m sorry.”
    “For what?” He dropped the piece of wood and turned to her. “None of this is your fault and our relationship would’ve come out eventually.”
    “But you were right; we should’ve told him sooner. Maybe we could’ve avoided all of this.” She crossed her arms over her stomach, a look of distress lining her features. He wished he could erase the last past forty minutes of the day by making love to her. Now nowhere seemed safe to explore their relationship. The pictures proved that.
    “What are you thinking about?”
    “Wondering where the pictures came from and how violated I feel.”
    “Angel, I understand and feel the same way, but those photos...they represent an amazing connection between two people. Yes, those moments were private, and while it was a complete violation of our privacy, I love you and it will take a lot more than what happened in there to change that.” He drew her into his arms. “But your dad...he doesn’t see it the same way. I don’t want to be responsible for taking away the last person that keeps him sane.”
    “I’m a grown woman and make my own decisions. Thought you would’ve figured that out by now.”
    “I do, and trust me, I’m not going anywhere. Just want you to think about what being with me means for you and the relationship you have with your dad. Considering he’s as stubborn as you are, it could take some time for him to come around.”
    “He’ll get over it.”
    “He will, eventually.”  He had little doubt Colton Nash would do whatever he needed to in order to get his daughter back in his good graces, but until then the emotional damage Phoenix would suffer would be unmeasurable. “My real concern is, will you?”

Chapter Eight
    “P hoenix, you’ve had your fun and proven your point. But if you keep this up, Hunter will lose everything. I will pull his contact and Limitless will no longer represent him.” Her father leaned back from the camera.
    “He doesn’t care. For once, why can’t you just be happy for me? Believe that love is sometimes more powerful than anything else?”
    “If you truly believe that, then you need to say goodbye. Come home. Let him ride on Saturday and do what he’s always dreamed of.”
    “You are seriously threatening his career?”
    “No. You are by continuing this.” He grimaced as he shifted in his seat and she felt her chest tighten. Part of her desperately wanted to be cold,