Free The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance by Cami Checketts, Jeanette Lewis

pool area. She couldn’t handle one more leering look from her father’s “friends.” Especially Hugh. He made her skin crawl with his shirt unbuttoned to his belly button, exposing nasty dark hair and more gold chains than any self-respecting man should ever wear. She giggled at herself. No man should wear gold chains.
    She sobered quickly and shook her head. Teach her to ever believe her dad’s stories. He’d begged her to come to dinner tonight, claiming her mom missed her so much she was making herself ill. What a crock. She’d barely seen her mother before this group of disgusting men had descended on the house. What was her dad promising them? He was such a slime ball.
    Arms snaked around her stomach. Alyssa squeaked and dropped her drink. The glass shattered, spraying her legs with shards of crystal, ice, and water.
    “I knew you’d find a way to get me alone,” a voice said in her ear as too-soft lips nuzzled her neck. “I’ve seen you eyeing me all night.”
    “Let me go,” Alyssa demanded, straining against his grip.
    He whirled her to face him, but didn’t loosen his hold. It was Hugh. Oh, no. He was grinning at her like she was the prime rib. Gross.
    “Don’t worry, love, I won’t hurt you. Just want a little taste of this… beauty.” He leaned closer. His breath reeked. Alcohol and fish. He must love oysters. She was going to be sick.
    Alyssa was able to free her hand and smack him hard across the face. “Get away from me!”
    Hugh grabbed both of her arms and squeezed. “That’s no way to treat a prospective buyer.”
    “What?” she managed, gasping from the fear of what he would do and the pain in her biceps.
    “Don’t play stupid. It doesn’t fit you.” His hot, foul breath brushed her cheek as he leaned in.
    “I have no clue what you’re talking about, but my father is going to be livid if you don’t release me.” She strained against his grip but it was like iron. Sadly, she knew her threat was empty. Her father had made it clear years ago how she was supposed to behave around his friends.
    “Your father. Ha!” Hugh chuckled heartily. “Your beloved father is the one who put you up for sale. My buddies and I came here tonight to preview our beautiful piece of livestock. I think it’s worth a lot.” He tried to pull her close.
    Alyssa spit in his face. His eyes hardened and he released one of her arms and grabbed the collar of her blouse. One rip and it shredded in his hands. “Now that’s more like it.” He grunted and grabbed her breast.
    Raising her right knee, she felt her bones impact his disgusting softness and almost recoiled but instead used every ounce of leg strength to make him hurt.
    Hugh gasped and his grip weakened.
    Alyssa tore herself away.
    “I will buy you,” Hugh groaned out.
    Alyssa sprang awake in her bed.
    She looked around, trying to get her bearings. She was in Hawaii. Hugh and her dad were nowhere around. She fell against the pillows, her tears hot against her cheeks, hoping she’d never have to face the nightmare or her father again.

    Alyssa’s phone rang as she was re-packing her camera. Beck had asked if he could take them to lunch and Granny was still sleeping even though it was late morning. Alyssa had been relieved to have time to shake off the recurring dream in the bright sunshine. The nightmare didn’t come as often anymore, but it always played almost verbatim. The attempted rape was horrid, but the worst part was knowing how twisted her father’s mind was. He’d always told her he would “take care of her” she just hadn’t fully comprehended he meant to do it by selling her to one of his friends and thinking that they’d all be one happy family. No, thank you.
    She’d enjoyed her walk around the neighborhood with her camera this morning, searching for new shots. Luckily, the boys were up to their Ripstiking antics and she’d gotten some fabulous shots of them teaching the younger children in the