When Passion Flares (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 2) Read Free Page A

shoulders and his necktie almost strangling his throat. He loosened the knot to give himself some air. By the fifth ring on the other end of the line, Hunter swore he had stopped breathing. I just want to hear her voice.
    “Yes? Hello?”
    Finally, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Kerri’s voice filtered through the phone. Hunter heaved the biggest sigh of relief in his life. “Kerri. It’s me.”
    A pause. Then, “Of course it’s you. Don’t you think I’ve known who’s been calling?”
    “Then why didn’t you answer? I’ve gone crazy imagining what has happened to you.”
    “Happened to me? Do you think my parents locked me in some tower to keep me pure and secluded from the rest of the big, bad world?”
    “…Maybe?”
    At last, Kerri laughed a little, although it did not assuage any of Hunter’s worries. “You better believe I got a stern talking to. But I am hardly a princess locked in a dungeon. My mother has been watching me like a hawk, that’s all. This is the first time since we were together last that I’ve had my phone to myself. She got lazy and forgot to take it away from me tonight.”
    So they are monitoring her… Or at least Brenda was. Hunter figured if Raymond had found out, he would have heard about it. From the other end of Raymond’s fists. “I’m glad you’re okay. Kerri, I have to see you.”
    “Have to? Or really want to? Go on, flatter me.”
    It was that sort of talk that made Hunter smile and want to shower his girlfriend with every compliment in the world. Oh, he would flatter her. He would flatter her to suffocation if he could. What were their families to them when they had fun like this to share? In any other circumstance, we could be together. The more he became entranced by Kerri Mitchell’s beautiful existence, the more Hunter thought of the term “star-crossed lovers.” Something he hadn’t thought of since high school English class.
    “I want to see you too.” The words trembled at the tip of Kerri’s lips. “Oh, this has been the worst. I’m afraid my mother is up to something.”
    “My father certainly is.” Hunter told her about what he heard in his father’s study.
    “Something on my family? I have no idea what it could be. Then again, it’s not like I know everything that goes on around here. I’m just an ornament to these people.”
    “It could be anything. It could even be completely false, knowing how these things go.”
    “Uh huh.” Hunter was sure he didn’t have to tell her twice about it. “At any rate, we need to figure something out soon. Specifically, when are we going to meet again?” Kerri lowered her voice. “I miss you. A lot.”
    Hunter did not expect that tone of voice to punch him in the gut. “I miss you too,” he said softly. “Well,” he reclaimed the confidence that was almost sapped out of him, “I don’t know about you, but I still have free reign. Or at least I don’t think I have anyone following me around.”
    The chuckle coming over the phone told Hunter he had no idea what he was talking about. “It’s not like I’m under house arrest. But I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is watching me. You can probably guess how my mother is.”
    Controlling? Fearful? The exact opposite of Ronnie? Hunter did not envy his girlfriend. “If there’s something you need me to do, say the word.”
    Kerri took her time responding. “Come rescue me, Romeo. Your princess awaits you.”
     
    There were a lot of things weighing on Kerri’s mind those following days, but nothing as heavily as what her mother was scheming behind the scenes.
    She has got to be kidding me. Kerri woke one sunny morning to find brochures about Rome, Venice, and Milan slipped underneath her bedroom door. Brenda had circled anything that seemed “hip and cool” through the eyes of a woman who had long been out of touch. Don’t think I’ll be going on any Gondola rides soon. Kerri had nothing against going to Italy one day.