His voice is familiar. Overpowering. Sexy.

But he can’t be the man she loved...

Because Matt Harper is dead.

Julia Espinoza fell for Matt Harper despite his pirate reputation and the social gulf between them. Then he broke her heart. Now she’s made a life without him...until a stranger returns looking and feeling remarkably like her lover. When one no-strings night reveals the truth, unraveling all the schemes dividing them may be their only second chance...

KIMBERLEY TROUTTE is a RITA® Award–nominated, New York Times, USA TODAY and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, a wild cat, an old snake, a beautiful red iguana, and various creatures hubby and the boys rescue.

To learn more about her books and sign up for her newsletter, go to www.kimberleytroutte.com.

Also by Kimberley Troutte

Plunder Cove

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Forbidden Lovers

Kimberley Troutte

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-07669-2

FORBIDDEN LOVERS

© 2018 Kimberley Troutte

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedicated to Anne Marsh for helping me

find the keys to this awesome joyride.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

History of Plunder Cove

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

History of Plunder Cove

For centuries, the Harpers have masterminded shrewd business deals.

In the 1830s, cattle baron Jonas Harper purchased the land grant of Plunder Cove on the now affluent California coast. It’s been said that the King of Spain dumped the rich land because pirates ruthlessly raided the cove. It is also said no one saw a pirate ship after Jonas bought the land for a rock-bottom price paid with Pieces of Eight.

Harpers pass this tale on to each generation to remind their heirs that there is a pirate in each of them. Every generation is expected to increase the Harper legacy, usually through great sacrifice, as with oil tycoon, RW Harper, who sent his children away ten years ago.

Now RW has asked his children to return to Plunder Cove—with conditions. He is not above bribery to get what he wants.

Harpers don’t love, they pillage. But if RW’s wily plans succeed, all four Harpers, including RW, might finally find love in Plunder Cove.

One

Matt Harper was this side of heaven and jetting for the sun.

Grinning, he ran his hand over her sexy, smooth curves and drove her higher. Faster. Stronger. She purred beneath him and he felt the subtle vibrations in his core. She was hot as hell, all power and finesse, sleek and intelligent. Today, he’d take her to the limits and let her break free to glory. She was made for a guy like him, not the mean old man who’d purchased her to look at her. What a waste. It broke Matt’s heart to think that this sixty-five-million-dollar honey would sit around and collect dust.

His girlfriend for the day was a new Gulfstream G650ER—a sweet piece of aircraft his father had purchased for Harper Industries. Why? It wasn’t as if his father was going to fly by his oil derricks to scare the workers like he used to. If gossip rags were to be believed, his father was avoiding the public and holing up in Casa Larga—the family’s summer home. Matt didn’t know about public avoidance, but he hadn’t seen his father in ten years. Make it fifty and Matt would’ve been fine.

He banked left and the Harper mansion came into view. His jaw tightened. In the Air Force, Matt had a name for each sortie his team flew. Every target he dropped bombs on was called Casa Larga.

He slammed his fist into his thigh. This was jacked up. He’d rather be in battle—hell, anyplace on the planet—than here. And yet, here he was.

Why in hell had his father called him home?

He landed at Harpers’ private airport and shut off the engine. Now if only he could shut down the brutal memories pummeling him from all sides.

Like his father’s hands used to.

He was seventeen again, with blood in his mouth, fists up, and daring RW to slap him one more time. Dad had given him plenty of orders before, but the ultimatum that day had gutted him.

Since you won’t stay away from the girl, you’ve got a choice. Leave now for the Air Force academy or watch what happens to your little girlfriend. I have intel, my boy, the kind that destroys an entire family. Is that what you want to happen to her?

No one could stab you in the back like a Harper.

Were the threats real? Matt hadn’t known back then, still didn’t know, but Julia had been his girl and he’d loved her, plain and simple. He’d had no choice but to protect her and save her family from whatever RW Harper had on them. Matt had been shipped off to the Air Force academy that day. He hadn’t gotten to kiss Julia goodbye, but he’d believed he’d come back for her. What a crock.

Ten years later he’d succeeded in putting it behind him, mostly. But what he couldn’t get past, no matter how many gorgeous women later, was the girl he’d been forced to leave behind. Julia had promised to be his forever, until she married someone else three months after he’d left. He’d been cut and shot, but nothing in the Air Force hurt as bad as receiving news of Julia’s wedding from home. It was the final blow and he’d sworn he’d never return to Plunder Cove.

Until RW made him a deal: fly the Gulfstream to Plunder Cove and Harper Industries would purchase the last plane required for Matt’s fleet in Southeast Asia. An investor had bailed on him and Matt’s new airline company needed that final aircraft. He’d had to take the deal. And, just like that, RW Harper—pirate slash oil tycoon—had bought him.

He would not hang around Plunder Cove long enough to see Julia Espinoza, or whatever her last name was now.

After this, Matt Harper was done.

* * *

Matt stopped in at Juanita’s Café and Market. It was one of his favorite childhood hangouts in Pueblicito—the tiny village on the edge of his family’s property.

The first summer he’d gone into the place, he was eight. He’d been overwhelmed by interesting smells and sights. He couldn’t understand the Spanish signs, and the boar’s head behind the meat counter had freaked him out, but the Mexican candy was intriguing. He’d never seen anything like it so he’d swiped a handful. His mother had been horrified that he’d, first, gone into that dirty place and, second, taken anything from “those people.” She’d made him go back and pay for the candy.

Juanita herself had given him a stern look and told him she expected him to work for his crimes. He’d swept the entire store. It was the first time he’d worked for anything, or felt a sense of accomplishment. He’d returned the next day and asked if he could steal something else.

“Why? Didn’t you learn your lesson?” she’d asked.

“Sure, I did. I want to sweep again. Work is fun.”

Juanita had thrown her head back, laughed and then hugged him. She’d smelled nice and her arms had been warm and soft. He’d wished his mother would hug and smile with her whole face like Juanita did, not just with her thin lips.

“Claro, amorcito.” She’d released him and handed him a broom. “Use this anytime you want. I’ll pay you in dulces.”

A bargain was struck. When his family visited for the summer, he spent a lot of his vacation helping Juanita. He had all the sweets he could want. And churros. Holy crap, he’d forgotten about the churros.

His mouth watered as he waited at a table outside for Juanita to take his order. Some of the same old codgers sat at the other tables eating menudo and yakking above the polka beat playing in the background. It was as if he’d never left. Except that Julia wasn’t with him this time.

A young girl slapped a basket of chips on his table followed by a small bowl of salsa. “Ready to order, mister?”

“You’re not Juanita.”

“Good one. And you’re not George Clooney. Juanita is working her other job today. I’m Ana.”

Other job? Was Juanita in financial trouble? “Where? I’m an old friend in town for a few days. I’d like to see her.”

“Sorry. It’s a secret job. As in, I don’t even know where she is. You want something to drink?”

Matt couldn’t help feeling crushed. Juanita was the only one who’d seemed to really care about him. “Beer, please. Do you have churros today?”

“Every day. I’ll be right back.”

He ate his chips and dipped them into the world’s hottest salsa. His ears burned from the heat and sweat rolled down his back. He’d missed this. When Ana brought his beer, she said, “Go easy, mister. That stuff’s hot. I’ll bring you a water, too.”

He nodded and gulped beer to cool his tongue. It didn’t help.

At the table next to him, two women loudly discussed dresses and shoes. “Well, I don’t care if you all are going in pirate costumes. I’m wearing the new dress I ordered. It’s not every day a girl gets invited to the Harper mansion.”

He almost choked on his beer. The women didn’t look familiar and there was no way RW Harper had invited total strangers to his house.

“Excuse me. Did you say there is a party at the Harpers’?”

The lady leaned closer. “Yes, Mr. RW Harper himself invited everyone in town.”

Now he knew something was wrong. His parents had made it a policy not to fraternize with “the help” and since most of the people who worked for the Harpers lived in Pueblicito, the entire town was off-limits. Not that he’d paid any attention to that rule. “Do we know what the occasion is?”

“No, we do not, guapo. But if you are looking for a date...” She raised her hand.

The other woman slapped her arm with a menu. “Maria, you’d better put your hand down. Jaime is your date.”

The woman pouted. “Jaime hates to dance. I can tell by looking at this guy’s muscles. He knows moves that would make a girl’s head spin...” She turned back to him. “You’re a good dancer, right?”

He laughed. “I was taught that dancing is for girls.”

“Well, that’s stupid. Who do you think dances with the girls?”

“Most of the time we dance with each other and the guys just shuffle their feet.” A voice came up behind him. “Sorry, my cousins are a little excited about the party. I don’t know why. I wouldn’t go to that blowhard’s house if you paid me.” She stepped around him and stole a chip from her cousin’s basket. “Not that I’d be invited.”

Julia.

An electric current shocked every cell in his body. His chest tightened. It was hard to swallow. His heart...was it still beating?

Julia’s dark hair captured sunlight and reflected it like stars in a midnight sky. He knew the strands were soft and would slip through his fingers and curl around his hand. If he tugged gently, her head would tip back, revealing the long neck he used to kiss. She would squirm and try not to giggle when he nibbled and whispered against her soft skin because she was so ticklish. Damn, he used to love that.

She had tiny lines around her deep brown eyes and her sensuous lips but her expressions were exactly what he remembered. Her voice sounded like the one he still heard in his dreams. Although he’d changed in a million ways, she still seemed...perfect.

“You’re not allowed to go, chica,” Maria said.

“You shouldn’t have ticked off Mr. Harper until after the big party.” The other woman clicked her tongue. “Can I wear your red dress?”

Julia shrugged and sat with the women. She was taller than he remembered and those curves. Damn! Little Julia Espinoza had grown into a gorgeous woman.

“Sure, Linda. Why not? Where am I going to wear it?”

She turned her attention to Matt, tipped her head and shielded her eyes. “Do I know you?”

* * *

Julia couldn’t see his eyes behind his mirrored aviation glasses, but something about him struck a familiar cord deep within her. He was tall, very tall—easily six foot two—and broad-shouldered. His arms were muscular and tanned. His dark hair was cut in a military style and he had a short-cropped beard. Was she always going to be attracted to military men?

He scooped up a chunk of salsa on his chip and promptly started coughing.

“Careful, that stuff is hot,” she warned.

His throat was long and corded as he swallowed, his jaw square. Yummy. His nose was straight with a scar across the bridge like he’d seen a few battles of his own. Dangerous.

What would it feel like if she ran her palms up his bearded cheeks? Soft, prickly? He had a scar on the corner of his lip. Would he be sensitive there if kissed? He was studying her. His face was hard, set in stone like one of the Greek gods she’d read about in college. Only they didn’t wear aviation glasses.

Oh, man, am I staring at him?

Yes, Julia, you are.

“Um. You look like someone I once knew. My mistake.”

His square jaw lifted. “Your mistake.”

“Yes, sorry.” She turned back around and talked to her cousins, but her thoughts were on the handsome stranger. For some reason, she thought of Matt and tears pricked her eyes.

“Are you listening to me, chica? What shoes should I wear with your red dress?” Linda asked.

Julia held up her finger and spun around to face the stranger again. He was drinking his beer now. “Are you in one of my classes? Environmental Studies? Law 107?”

His bottle froze midair and a dark eyebrow rose above his glasses.

“Does he look like one of those pretty boys from college? No way. He’s a pilot. I saw the fancy plane circling the airport,” Maria said.

The man raised his beer. Didn’t say a word.

“You should try my machaca. Especially tasty for breakfast.” Linda shifted closer so the man had a better shot of her cleavage. So obvious. She’d been divorced for six months and had three kids.

Julia looked at him again. Did he work for Mr. Harper? Was he a business partner? Friend? And was he frowning? Julia couldn’t tell with those darned glasses.

“Linda’s burned eggs are nothing compared to my menudo. What do you say, guapo? Need a place to stay?” Maria all but purred.

He put his bottle down. “I’m not staying.” His voice was deep and had an edge to it. He seemed annoyed.

“We’ve bothered you. Please ignore us,” Julia said softly and motioned for her cousins to turn back around.

Linda ignored her. “A pilot! That’s so interesting.” The word came out sounding more like sexy. “Staying for the party tonight?”

“Maybe.” His gaze was on Julia. Why did that make her stomach flutter?

“Oh, take Julia, then. Someone needs to get her out of the house,” Maria said.

“No. I can’t,” Julia said.

“Got it.” He motioned for the check.

Wait, did he want to take her to the party? Her? That hadn’t happened in...she couldn’t remember how long. “It’s not you...it’s...I’m not allowed to go,” she said.

He sat even straighter, as if he was angry. “Your husband won’t let you out of the house?”

“I’m not married. It’s just...” Her cheeks flushed like they did when she was embarrassed. She blew out a breath. “RW Harper has a restraining order against me. I can’t go within ten feet of Casa Larga.”

He sat back in his chair and stared at her. She could see herself in his glasses and hated how small she looked. How fragile. She straightened her back.

“That’s right. Our little Julia wants to sue Mr. Harper,” Maria explained. “As if a lone woman could take on one of the most powerful men in America.”

Linda shook her head. “Should’ve waited until after the party. Nothing this exciting has ever happened here.”

The pilot shook his head as if he was...what? Amused? She rushed on. “Look. Someone has to stop that menace. It’s bad enough that his oil derricks are out there—” She motioned toward the ocean. “We know what happens if one of them starts leaking. But now he’s going to build in snowy plover habitat! He must be stopped. They’re endangered.”

“Come on, chica. You’re getting worked up over little birds again. And we have company.” Linda smiled at the man. “Good-looking company.”

“What’s Harper building?” he asked.

“She doesn’t know. It’s a rumor, that’s all,” Maria said.

“I’ve seen tracks by the nesting sites. A man like Harper doesn’t care who he hurts.” That last part came out tight, as if her throat was closing. Why all the emotions today? She grabbed Maria’s beer and took a sip.

Linda chimed in. “You need proof before you can sue someone like Mr. Harper. You should’ve waited.”

“Proof?” he asked.

“Yes. I think he’s got plans inside Casa Larga. I’ve seen contractors go in there. Lawyers. A carpenter. If I could just see the plans, understand what he’s developing—” She stopped. Why was she telling him this? What if he worked for Harper? “I’m not the kind of woman who breaks into a man’s home. I swear.”

“I could help you.”

His voice. Something about it thrilled and teased her. Her gaze was riveted to his mouth. The scar on the bottom added an extra zing to a pair of full lips. What would it be like to kiss that scar? Or kiss any part of a man? It had been so long...

Maria elbowed her.

She blinked. “How?”

“I’ll get you inside. Harper is expecting me. Come as my date tonight.”

“¡Órale, chica! You can dress as pirates and go undercovers.” By the twinkle in her eye, Linda was messing up her Spanglish on purpose. Her cousin meant sheets, not covert missions.

His lips lifted and her insides turned to mush. For just a second there he looked like...no. She couldn’t think about Matt. Projecting those feelings onto a stranger would get her into trouble. Deep trouble.

“Why do you want to help me?”

“‘Someone has to stop that menace.’” He repeated her words. “Like to see you do it.”

Why? He didn’t know her from anyone. It was more than likely that Harper had messed with this guy, too. Get close to a pirate and you get robbed—she’d learned that the hard way.

But Linda was right. Nothing this exciting had happened around here. The last time she’d been inside the mansion was with Matt. She’d need a strong male by her side to shield her from those painful memories. “Pick me up at Bougainvillea Lane, 3C. Need directions?”

He half snorted. “I can find it.”

With only three streets, Pueblicito was probably the smallest town he’d ever seen.

“Your churros, mister.” Ana, the waitress, deposited a heaping plate of the crispy, twisted doughnuts in front of him.

“Thanks.” He ran a finger through the cinnamon sugar and tasted it. He groaned with contentment.

“Hot and sweet?” Her voice was huskier than normal. She licked her lips without meaning to.

He pinned her with his gaze. How she wished she could take off those glasses and see into his eyes.

“So, um, got to go.” She stood before she embarrassed herself further. “I’ll find pirate costumes for us. See you at seven.”

She started walking before realizing that she didn’t even know the pilot’s name. Man, how hard up for a date was she?

“I’ll be there, Julia,” he called out.

Her footsteps stuttered at the way he said her name, but she didn’t turn around. Familiar. Overpowering. Sexy. She fought the waves of desire and kept her feet moving away from the table. The pilot was not the boy she’d given her heart to, no matter how hard she wished he could be. Her one and only love had been shot down in battle ten years ago.

Matt Harper was dead.

Two

Every nerve in his body was firing, demanding him to grab that sweet ass of hers and press her up against the wall. He wanted to kiss the breath out of her lungs and never stop. Hell, he was pathetic. The woman hadn’t even recognized him.

Way to crush a man’s ego, sweetheart.

She walked away and he was powerless to pull his gaze off her. Pathetic.

“Show her a good time, guapo. But don’t break her heart.” Maria waggled her finger at him.

“Won’t be here long enough for hearts to break.” He swallowed the last of his beer.

Linda winked at Maria. “Good. He’s exactly what she needs.”

“A hot pilot to sweep her off her feet and fly away before he gets possessive?”

Linda huffed. “Maria, either dump Jaime or learn to live with him.”

Maria raised her hands. “I was just saying we all could use a little no-strings fun, but Julia deserves it more. After what happened...” She looked at Matt. “Well, she’s been through some stuff.”

She deserved what exactly? Hell, he’d been agonizing over a chick who’d forgotten him the minute he’d left. She’d called him her mistake. He should charter a plane and fly out of Plunder Cove right now.

Even so, the “stuff” worried him.

I have intel, my boy, the kind that destroys an entire family. Is that what you want to happen to her?

Had his father’s threat come to fruition? Was Julia in trouble?

“I’m glad you’re taking her to the party. She needs a little fun in her life,” said Maria.

“Should be interesting.” He said it like Linda had. But instead of the dirty sex she’d implied, his word meant closure. If he got lucky, there’d be both.

Hell, yes, he was going to the party for answers. Why did RW want him to come back? Was it to torture him by waving a gorgeous ex-girlfriend under his nose? Was his father that twisted? If so, Matt would tell the old man off on his way out of Dodge. But not before he made sure Julia was safe.

Those were his reasons for taking her to the party tonight. It had nothing to do with how sexy she looked coming and going. Or all the hot things he wanted to do to her, with her. One no-strings night with her might be just the thing he needed, too.

He’d be her mistake one last time and then he’d leave for good.

* * *

Matt paid his bill and said goodbye to Julia’s cousins. On his way to the parking lot, he placed one phone call. “Bring the Batmobile, Alfred.”

There was no doubt that his father owned some uber-expensive sports car he could borrow because speed was the one thing Matt and RW agreed on.

Five minutes later he looked up when a silver Lamborghini Veneno pulled into the parking lot.

“Holy hell.”

Veneno was an Italian word that translated to “poison.” Lamborghini had sold only three of these bad boys for roughly 4.5 million smacks each. Barely able to believe his eyes, Matt hightailed it to the driver’s side.

The window went down and a droll voice from inside said, “You rang?”

Matt leaned his head in the window. “Hey, Alfred. Good to see you.”

His father’s driver, whose real name was Robert, was bald now and more wrinkled than Matt remembered. “You’re still calling me that? I thought you would’ve outgrown your Batman obsession by now.” The twinkle in his eye was a dead giveaway that he was pleased Matt had used the nickname.

“Bite your tongue. No one outgrows the Dark Knight.”

Matt and his little brother, Jeff, had pretended to be Batman and Robin for years. They’d christened the family driver “Alfred.” Robert had acted huffy at first but quickly warmed up to the game.

Alfred got out and took Matt’s pack and duffel. When the trunk opened, the new-car smell was close to orgasmic.

“Let me drive,” Matt said.

“Your father nearly killed me the last time I let you drive the Bugatti.”

Matt grinned. “Nearly killed me, too, but it was worth it.” Especially the joyride he’d taken with Julia. He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers. “Keys.”

“Fine. But if you dent this one, I quit.” He placed the key fob in Matt’s hand and climbed into the passenger’s side.

“Surprised you haven’t quit already.” Matt started the car and the engine roared to life.

“Eh, what would you Harpers do without your fantastic driver?”

Matt looked down at the odometer. “Seven miles? I wouldn’t call that driving. Is the old man just petting this car?” Matt saw the flinch before Alfred righted his face to neutral. Something was on the man’s mind. “What’s up? Has my father really become a hermit?”

The man just sighed. “He’s had a hard time, Matthew. I’m glad you kids have come home.”

“Jeff and Chloe are here, too? How the hell did he get them to come back?”

“It’s not for me to tell. Suffice it to say you and your siblings will hear about it tonight.”

“At the party.”

“Yes.”

“That’s not good enough. Spill. What’s he up to? Does it have anything to do with Julia?”

“I can’t say.”

Matt narrowed his eyes. “Can’t or won’t? This is me, Alfred. I won’t tell my father a word you say, I promise.”

Alfred’s gaze focused out the windshield. His arms crossed. The man’s lips were sealed, apparently.

“I have to wait to hear the big news with the whole town?” Matt grumbled.

“Yes.”

Forget that, he’d question one of the staff.

“Before you try to sweet-talk the ladies in the kitchen, no one else knows what your father is planning. He is indisposed for the rest of the day. You’ll simply have to wait a few hours like the rest of us.”

Huh. Matt’s curiosity was growing and so was his sense of danger.

Alfred pulled his safety belt tight. “Try not to run us off the road in the meantime.”

“A little faith, my man. I fly jets now. I think I can handle a little car.” He pressed his foot down and gravel sprayed the empty lot.

“Holy mother.” Alfred crossed himself.

Matt laughed. He cut his eyes toward his passenger. “Relax. Wow, was I that bad as a teenager?”

“Terrifying.” But he said it with a smile. “Always in a hurry to fly out of here.”

“Yeah. I was.”

“I understood you, Matthew. I was a teenager once back in the Dark Ages.” He chuckled. Weird, Matt had never heard him laugh before. It must have sucked to be a driver for the Harpers all of those years. “And it seems you got exactly what you wanted, Captain Harper. You flew away.”

Exactly what he wanted? Not by a long shot. “Sorry I made things tough on you.”

What was his father’s evil plan? Matt would find out tonight with Julia by his side. He’d shield her from any fallout and stop his old man before he could hurt anyone else.

Just like old times.

The Dark Knight drove the Italian poison straight into the villain’s lair.

* * *

Julia paced her tiny bedroom. “I can’t believe I agreed to do this. Why did I agree to do this?”

“Because that pilot was smoking hot!” Linda fanned herself.

Yes, yes, he was. But she still wasn’t sure why he wanted to take her on a date. She was so far out of the dating scene that a guy would need binoculars to find her in the single-girl weeds.

“What am I going to wear to this thing?”

“Not your red dress. I already called dibs on that baby,” Linda said. Both she and Maria were sitting on the edge of Julia’s bed, painting their nails.

Julia opened the window to let the polish fumes out. “I can’t believe I am doing this.”

“You said that already, mujer. Hurry up, you don’t have that much time to get ready.” Maria waved her hand to dry her nails.

“What am I going to wear? Harper cannot recognize me or he’ll throw me out.”

“That ought to make a great impression on the pilot,” Maria said.

“Ask Tía Nona. She’s got all sorts of pirate costumes,” Linda said.

“Because?”

Linda shrugged. “She’s got a thing for pirates?”

Julia snorted. “Not hardly. She always harped on me to ‘beware the pirates—especially that Matt Harper.’ Super annoying. He was nothing like his pirate ancestors.”

“You mean the Harpers who sailed pirate ships or the ones who bought our ancestors to work for them?” Maria asked.

“More like traded our ancestors for cattle. Cows were worth more than our people. Harpers are thieves.” Linda blew on her nails.

Maria shook her head. “No, they are pirates.”

Julia didn’t need the history lesson. “Matt wasn’t like any of them. He was...sweet.”

Linda shook her head. “Nothing sweet about that boy. He used to wear black T-shirts, holey jeans and drive that motorcycle like it was on fire.”

She smiled. Man, was he ever sexy on that bike. “He never crashed, not even once. And he drove carefully when I was on the back.”

“He skipped classes,” Maria added. “Brought you home late.”

“Only a couple of times.”

“Stole candy from Juanita,” Linda said.

“He was eight! And he paid her for it. Geesh, I had no idea you guys hated him so much.”

“I stopped caring for that boy when he broke your heart,” Maria said.

“He died, Maria! Fighting for our country.”

Linda shrugged again. “He didn’t say goodbye.”

Well. There was that.

She plopped down on the edge of the bed, between the women who’d been like sisters her whole life. In truth, they weren’t even real cousins since Julia was adopted. Still, the woman who raised her as her own child was Linda and Maria’s aunt, which made her their cousin. Everyone accepted her as a true relative.

Her biological mother had abandoned her, she’d never met her father and the only guy she’d really loved had flown away.

Matt had been the one person she’d trusted not to leave her behind. She’d given her heart and body to that boy. She’d finally told him she loved him and the next day he’d left for the Air Force academy. No letter. No call. She’d never heard from him again.

Is it me?

She took a choppy breath and her cousins both wrapped their arms around her.

“You’ll mess up your nails,” she said softly.

“Messes can be fixed,” Maria said.

Not all of them. She closed her eyes.

She’d never hold Matt again. Kiss him. Feel his fingers running through her hair, across her skin. Listen to the heart beating so strong and sure in his chest. No more Matt and Julia against the world. He was gone, his ashes scattered at sea.

She’d suffered a brutal period of depression. Pain and loss had ripped through her with an extra pounding of betrayal. She’d imagined seeing Matt everywhere. A figure walking on the sand, a fast car speeding by, some guy going into Juanita’s—they’d all been Matt. Her mind and heart had been shattered.

But she wasn’t alone. Her beautiful cousins and aunts had fought to save her. Hanging on with gentle, strong arms, they’d chipped away at the black night that had swallowed her whole. They’d forced her to blink open her eyes and see the love all around her. They’d helped her pull herself together to cherish the one gift her pirate had given her—the most beautiful and sweet treasure in the world.

“Mama? Where are you?”

“In here, Henry.” She gave her cousins each a smile of gratitude and rose to her feet. “Come help me find a costume.”

Three

“He’s here!” Henry shouted.

Oh, no. “I’m not ready! Tell him...let him...”

She was trying to pull up her fishnet stockings when her boy’s voice carried down the hall. “Hi, my name’s Henry. Nice to meet you. Mama says you’re a pilot.”

“Your mama?” His voice was so deep and rich that it sent shivers up her spine. In a good way. Too bad he was surprised she had a kid. Oops. Didn’t she mention that?

“Help yourself to a beer in the refrigerator. Henry can show you where the costume is,” she called out. “If you feel like slipping out the door, now would be a good time.”

“I’ll wait. You don’t have to hurry,” he said.

Wow. He was sticking. That was a good sign. It was ridiculous how happy she felt about not being alone again tonight.

“Nice place you have here, Henry,” he said.

Oh, now he was just being kind. Her place was tiny and old. The Harpers had built the cottages for the townspeople way back in the 1800s. The houses were lined up next to each other, so close that she knew what her cousins were watching on TV next door. Most of them were two-bedrooms with a small living room, minuscule kitchen and a covered porch. They were designed to house workers and their families. Nothing fancy, nothing beautiful. She’d spruced hers up with paint in muted sunset shades. The walls were covered with happy pictures of Henry and birds.

“So, have you flown your plane to lots of places, like, um, Mexico? Or Los Angeles?” Henry asked.

Those were the two places her son had been studying in school. Julia smiled and finished rolling up her stockings.

“The plane I flew today isn’t mine. But I used to fly fighter jets in the Air Force,” he said.

“Really? That’s so cool. Ever been to ’Ganistan?” Henry asked.

“Afghanistan?”

“Yeah, that’s it. My daddy died there.”

Julia gasped and then covered her mouth. Who told Henry that? She hadn’t given him many details about his dad’s death because...well, she couldn’t. To this day, she found it brutally difficult to talk to him about the way his father passed. She quickly pulled up the stockings.

“I’m sorry.” The man sounded sincere. “I was there. I can tell you that every single man and woman fighting in Afghanistan is a hero in my book.”

“Mama says he was a great man. The only guy she loved.”

She pressed her hand to her heart. She was happy Henry listened to her, occasionally, but this conversation had to be a tad awkward for her date.

“Give him the costume, Henry!” she called out.

“Okay. Here. Let’s try this hat thingy on first. Cool! Now the eye patch.”

“How do I look?”

“Perfect! Like a real pirate.” Henry sounded proud.

“Jack Sparrow? Dread Pirate Roberts?”

“Those are fake. We need a real pirate name. What’d they call you in the Air Force?”

Julia’s ears perked up. What was his real name?

“Captain.”

“That’s it! Aye, aye, Captain.” Henry giggled.

Not helpful.

She stepped into the flowing red skirt with the impossibly long slit up the side—hence the reason for stockings. The shirt was white and off the shoulder. She bent over, adjusted her breasts and looked in the mirror. She looked like a harlot. No, that wasn’t it, she looked like Julia Espinoza pretending to be a harlot. Too much like herself to be truly incognito. Shaking her head, she applied the dark red lipstick. Nope. Still Julia. Well, there was nothing else to do but to add Tía Nona’s long, blond wig.

Did blondes have more fun? She’d find out. She was desperate for a little fun for one night.

She came out to find a yummy pirate on her front porch, bending over the lizard cage. She had a great shot of his backside, which looked pretty darned good in those black slacks. He wore a cream-colored shirt and had Henry’s bright yellow pirate bandana on his head. Holy mama.

“What do you think?” She held her breath.

He rose. His eyes—or rather eye, since one was under the patch—was blue and held her gaze with intensity. Slowly, he took her all in, starting at the lacy off-the-shoulder, bosom-lifting blouse, down her red skirt to the fishnets and red stilettos. Then all the way back up again.

The look he gave was pure heat. Goose bumps ran up her arms, shoulders, and danced in her scalp.

“I like your real hair better.”

Not a blond man, huh?

“Okay. But would you recognize me in this?” she pressed.

He wasn’t looking at her wig. He was gazing at her lips and she had the feeling he wanted to kiss her.

“Always.”

She swallowed. She’d just met the guy and yet something inside her that had been dead for years woke up, uncoiled and pleaded for his lips.

Geesh, the harlot costume was getting to her.

He turned back to the lizard’s cage and spoke to Henry. “Old Man Harper only sees what he wants to see. We’ll trick him.”

She stepped closer. “So...we’re calling you Captain.”

“Apparently.”

“What does that make me? Wench? Swabbie?”

He touched her arm. All her senses focused on that warm hand on her skin. “You are my first mate.”

Oh, my.

“Ready?”

No.

A hundred times yes.

Maybe.

Oh, God. Am I doing this?

She bit her lip and nodded.

She kissed Henry on the cheek and he quickly wiped the kiss away. “Mama! Not in front of people.”

Just then Tía Nona hobbled her way onto the porch. “What’s going on here? Another party? Oh, Julia, my skirt fits you well, but careful on the blouse. Your treasures might pop out.”

“Tía Nona! We have company.” Julia raised her voice for the old woman.

“I am not blind, mija.” She stepped closer to get a better look at the man but stumbled on her last step as if her leg gave out. Captain rushed forward and caught Tía Nona before she fell.

“I’ve got you,” he said.

“Are you okay?” Julia asked. Even in the dim porch light, her aunt was pale, shaky.

Tía Nona studied his handsome face. “You...you are...?”

He still held her. “They’re calling me Captain tonight, ma’am.”

Tía Nona blinked slowly and reached up to touch his bearded cheek with her arthritic fingers. Julia was mortified. What had gotten into her old aunt? The man didn’t move, didn’t flinch. Julia was mesmerized by the display. She had no idea what was happening. But his face was full of compassion as he held very still.

“I’m an old woman with many faults. She’s my hija, Captain. She’s all I’ve got,” Tía Nona said. “Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Madre, mia, I hope you do. One day, perhaps. For now, be careful.” She released him. To Julia she said, “Never forget, nene.” And then she hobbled into the house without another word.

Never forget, little one? What was her old aunt babbling about?

“That was weird,” Henry said.

“She seems tired.” Strange and old. Maybe the onset of dementia? What would Julia do without her aunt? Tía Nona had always taken care of Julia even through the loss of Matt. Tía Nona had helped put all the shattered pieces back together again. Tía Nona was the mother Julia never had.

“Be good for Tía Nona, Henry. Go to bed on time. If you need anything, call Tina next door. She’s staying home with the new baby.” She kissed her son one more time before he could wiggle away.

“Aye, aye, Captain.” Henry saluted them both.

“Goofball.”

Her date escorted her down the stairs and around the front of the house. A silver motorcycle sat in her driveway.

“Wait. That’s a Harley.”

“Surprise.”

The emotions hit hard. She had a death grip on his arm and her teeth were clenched tightly. The last time she’d been on a motorcycle, she’d had her arms wrapped around Matt. She’d pressed into him as if he were her body armor. He’d protected her while driving them both toward freedom. When she was on the back of his bike, nothing could catch them or hurt them. Bad stuff was left in the dust. It was like flying. She’d trusted him with her life. With her love.

She’d never trust like that again.

Letting go of Captain’s arm she stepped backward. “I can’t go on that.”

“Why? I thought you liked motorcycles.”

Who told him? Linda and Maria must have given him an earful behind her back. She was lucky he’d showed up at all.

She did like motorcycles, had loved them once, but this was no ordinary bike. Oh, God. It looked just like Matt’s. Pain ripped through her chest.

She turned away from the two-wheeled dagger in her heart. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I thought I could, but obviously I’m not ready.”

* * *

“Tell me what the problem is and I’ll fix it.”

What in the hell was going on with Julia?

First, she acted like she didn’t remember him and now she was having a meltdown next to his bike? It was almost as if she had PTSD. But why?

He decided to play her game for a while, until he figured things out.

“It’s personal.” She sighed. “Which tells you absolutely nothing, right? Wow, what a great first mate you’ve chosen, Captain. Feels like this ship is sinking already. I’d understand if you want to take someone else to RW’s party. You’ll have more fun without me.”

“I want to have fun with you.” Like old times, only better.

“But I don’t know how to...to do...this...” She motioned between them.

He liked where her mind was going. Hated the terror on her face.

“Listen, Julia. We’ll dance, drink champagne, eat, laugh. It’s just a party. Come with me.”

She shook her head. “It’s not fair to you.” Her brow creased. “If you knew what was good for you, you’d hop on that Harley and go. You don’t want a broken girl tonight.”

He rubbed his thumb over her chin. “Broken?”

Her eyes welled.

That got him. Julia had always been fierce and brave. Had that husband of hers hurt her? If so, the dude was lucky he hadn’t made it out of Afghanistan or he and Matt would be going a few rounds right now.

Hell, he was still recovering from the fact that Julia had a child with that jackass. It ripped him up. He’d never wanted kids. Why ruin a child’s life like his parents did his? It never crossed his mind that Julia would marry someone else to have a child. Is that why she did? To have the baby Matt wouldn’t give her?

“I can’t ride that bike with you,” she said.

Dammit, what happened? Julia had always loved riding on the back of his bike. His plan had been to get her to wrap her sweet arms around him and press her full breasts into his back. Then they’d cruise and he’d kiss her senseless and remind her how much she’d missed him. Afterward they’d go to the party and dance the rest of the night. With any luck, he’d wake up with her in his arms.

That was how it was supposed to go. But somehow his plan had gone south.

“Julia. Talk to me.”

“The Harley reminds me of—” she blew out a long breath “—things I’m trying to forget.”

That was a gut-punch he didn’t see coming. At the café, she’d called him her mistake and now their adventures on the bike were things she tried to forget? Clearly, she was trying to kill their past.

“Fine,” Matt growled. “You don’t want to go with me. I get it.”

Putting his helmet on over the pirate bandana, he swung his leg across the bike. He needed to put some distance between him and the woman who was driving him crazy. Hell, maybe he’d skip the party and leave Plunder Cove tonight. He’d done his father’s bidding. He’d get the plane he needed without hearing whatever announcement his father had planned to make.

He could go back to forgetting Julia. Somehow.

“Wait!” She put her hand on his back. He felt that touch all the way to his groin. “Can you be patient with me? I haven’t been on a date in a long time. I’m saying all the wrong things, but I want to be with you tonight.”

“You do?”

Her gaze was on his lips. “I really, really do.”

Her husky voice was his undoing. He froze. He wanted to kiss her, but she seemed fragile. He didn’t want to push her—yet.

He handed her a helmet. She climbed on the bike, wrapped her arms around him and held on.

They’d make new memories on this machine tonight. Ones he could take with him when he left Plunder Cove once and for all.

Four

Matt loved driving his old, faithful Harley with Julia on the back. It felt familiar, comfortable and so damned good. Instead of winging through the curves like he used to do, he drove slowly along the coast. Sure, he was stretching out the ride, but Julia didn’t seem to mind. She put her head on his back and seemed to relax.

The night was warm with the ocean fog hanging in the distance. The sliver of moon winked at him as if it knew how hard Matt’s heart was beating. The breeze against his face smelled like the sea and Julia.

The long lane to Casa Larga came up too quickly. He drove under the lacy pepper trees and purple jacarandas. Luminaries lit up the driveway, making the normally private mansion seem strangely inviting. He idled in the driveway in front of a line of parked cars. Julia’s cousins were right—everyone was here. For an extra beat, he sat there memorizing the feel of Julia against him.

His Julia. One last time.

He cut the engine, swung his leg over and offered his hand to her. “Ready?”

She took his hand quickly and held on tight. “Yes?”

“I heard the question mark, sweetheart. It’s going to be okay. Trust me.”

She bit her lip. “I...do?”

He laughed. “Getting closer. Think the word...” Circling around, he came up behind her and whispered in her ear, “Fun.”

He couldn’t help but notice the shiver and slight roll of her shoulders. She was still ticklish. Good to know.

“Fun,” she said softly.

“What we have here is a two-part mission. Part one—” he lifted his finger “—get inside the mansion to seek intel to stop plover destruction. Part two—” another finger lifted “—have the time of our lives. We’re not leaving without having fun. Got it?”

She nodded.

“Good enough.” He led her toward the front door.

She stopped. “Oh, no. There’s a guard at the front. See him?”

“Yes, I see him. Let’s go around the side,” he said. He’d recognize his dad’s bodyguard anywhere. The man had been one of the two goons who’d escorted Matt off the property ten years earlier. It still pissed him off. The itch to bloody the man’s nose was real, but what good would that do?

She cocked her eyebrow. “You found a secret entrance since this afternoon? You’ve been busy.”

What was he supposed to say to that? If she thought hard enough, she’d remember how to get in through the side garden. This wasn’t the first time he’d snuck Julia Espinoza inside Casa Larga. He took her hand and they walked past the rose garden. Up ahead was the gazebo under the coastal oaks. He’d kissed her against the railing in the gazebo the last time they were here.

“We don’t have to go in just yet.”

“Okay,” she croaked. Her voice gave her away. That and the way she didn’t know where to put her hands. They went to her throat, by her sides, clasped.

“Don’t be nervous.”

“You’re not?”

“A little.” Hell, okay, a lot. About the party. About her. “But we’ve got this.”

“This is all foreign to me. Last week I was taking my finals in Environmental Science and Law and I was restricted from entering Casa Larga. Now I’m here with a...a...date.”

Could it be any harder for her to say the word? He didn’t want to dwell on it so he changed the subject. “Do you like your classes?”

Her eyes lit up. “I love them. I want to be a lawyer. I really do. Those poor birds can’t defend themselves against corporate monsters.”

“Like RW.”

Her eyes widened. “Um, and others who suck all the goodness out of the environment for their own personal gain. Meanwhile, species are going extinct and our air and water is becoming polluted. I want better for my son, for everyone.”

Passion for her cause lit up her expression. God, she was magnificent. He ran the backside of his knuckle over her cheek. “I agree.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into his hand. “That’s why I study so hard. Two more semesters and I can take the bar exam. Next to being Henry’s mom, it’s the one thing that gives me purpose. Something I can be good at.”

It pleased him that she had found a noble cause. She’d always been a caring person and a spitfire. It made perfect sense that this is who she would become—a strong woman who knew her mind and fought for the innocent creatures of the world.

“I like that. Julia Espinoza, Planet Saver.”

She cocked her head. “Now you’re making fun of me.”

“No, way. Your eyes light up when you talk about environmental law. Strong women are sexy. It’s great to be doing what you were born to do.”

“Yes.” Her voice was very soft.

“Setting difficult goals and flat-out going for them? In the Air Force, we call that ‘balls to the wall.’”

She laughed. “I don’t have balls.”

“Are you kidding me? A single mom raising a son while putting herself through college? Your cajones are humongous, lady. I’m jealous.”

She blushed.

Thinking about his package, was she? He dragged his thumb across her bottom lip. Silky, warm, his. No woman he’d known had a mouth like Julia’s. He bent to put his lips where they belonged.

Used to belong.

A woman screamed in the distance.

“What was that?” Julia asked.

Another woman yelled, followed by a slew of Spanish words. Julia ran toward the sounds and Matt was quickly in pursuit. They raced across the aggregate pathway and stopped in front of a large dolphin fountain where two elderly ladies had climbed in. They splashed each other like kids at a public pool.

“Tía Alana! Tía Flora! What are you doing?” Julia asked. “Get out of there before anyone sees you.” Julia looked at Matt. “They’ve fallen off their rockers.”

“Watch it or you and guapo will be next,” Alana threatened, lifting her arm to splash them.

Flora laughed, hiking up her dress and exposing her thick legs. “Señor Harper said to enjoy ourselves. He’s the boss.”

“You’ll have restraining orders on you, too, if you don’t get out of there.”

“Nope. We have to take our fun where we can get it. We don’t have hot hombres,” Alana said in a teasing voice.

Julia slapped her hand over her mouth in the cutest version of horror he’d ever seen. She hooked her arm in his and started pulling. “I don’t want to be here when the guards show up.” As they walked the lantern-lit pathway, she added, “I have a big family and they’re all a little crazy.” She smiled. “But I love them.”

“You’re lucky to have a family who cares for you.”

They’d made it to the house. “You don’t have a family?”

He looked at her with his uncovered eye. “I don’t have anyone.”

What in the hell? He hadn’t meant to say that. He ignored his feelings 99 percent of the time. Julia could pull his inner thoughts out of him in a way no one could.

“Really?” The mix of compassion, sorrow and longing on her face made him want to demand answers.

I did have someone, but you gave up on us. Why’d you stop loving me?

He ground his teeth. She wasn’t going to see him fall apart. They were past that now. Instead, he opened the side door and stepped into his favorite place in the mansion—the kitchen. As a kid, he’d sought solace here when his parents were fighting. The kitchen ladies had made growing up a Harper bearable.

“Evening, ladies,” he called out.

Donna, his favorite chef of all time, was using a scary-looking knife to slice large barbecued tri-tips. “Busy here.”

The other staff members were plating appetizers and refreshing the cheese and fruit displays.

“Just passing through.” He snagged a chunk of hard cheese and two glasses of champagne. “Sustenance.” Breaking off a piece of cheese, he fed it to Julia. “Need your strength to keep up with me on the dance floor.”

She chewed, and swallowed a sip of champagne. “You said dancing was for women.”

“That’s what I was taught, but I picked up some moves.”

“I’d like to see them.”

“You will.” He laced his fingers with her empty hand and led her down the hall toward the music. “I’m going to use them all tonight, sweetheart.”

* * *

Oh, mama.

She wanted to learn a few moves from this smoking hot man. Okay, all the moves.

She’d only slept with one man—Matt Harper. And calling him a man was laughable. He’d been seventeen and she’d started to wonder if she’d ever have hot sex with a grown man. At this time in her life she didn’t need a husband, or anything long-term. Where would a man squeeze in between her son, her family, school, animal activism and her budding career? No one should feel like he was the last priority on her list.

But, heaven help her, she missed passion. And being touched. Sheesh, when Captain whispered in her ear and touched her cheek, she’d all but combusted. When he’d fed her and laced his fingers with hers, she felt...cherished.

Which was a big batch of crazy mole. A man she’d just met couldn’t adore her like Matt had.

Captain was a hot pilot who’d happened to land on her doorstep. For tonight only. He was a good choice for a few hours of passion, no doubt about it. As long as she kept her memories from jumping out right and left to attack her heart. The bike, the garden where they used to walk hand in hand, the gazebo where she’d received her first kiss... Matt was everywhere.

The first year after he’d died, she’d seen him in every guy’s face, every swagger. She’d heard him calling her at night and would run outside in her pajamas to find an empty yard. It had taken a long time to get control of her desperate imagination and yet here it was bringing Matt along on the first real date she’d had in years. It wasn’t fair to her date or to her.

How could she tell Captain he walked like her old boyfriend? Sort of smelled like him. And his voice, although deeper, had the same cadence. When he touched her cheek, she’d closed her eyes and Captain was Matt. Gah! She couldn’t tell him that.

The only difference was the way he drove the motorcycle. Matt would’ve taken those curves faster and leaned in like he was one with the machine. This guy was far too safe on the bike for her liking.

But she did like him. He was sexy, strong, gentle...and did she say sexy? Plus, when he’d admitted he didn’t have anyone, her heart had puddled in her chest. Her instincts were to reach out and pull him under her wing like she did all strays. She sensed a deep sadness in him. Maybe because she was sad, too.

If she had a hot man to heat up her sheets for a while, maybe she could forget about the deep chasm in her heart that refused to heal. Captain was just here for a few days. She couldn’t keep him. No, this connection with him was about one hot night.

I’m definitely going to learn his moves.

“Ready to be blown away?” he asked, his hand on a door handle.

The sounds of music and people were coming from the other side of that door. She knew what she’d see when he opened it—the grand hall. The last time she’d been in there she’d danced with Matt during his seventeenth birthday party. Well, she was dancing and he was crunching her toes. She’d had to throw her sandals away after the party. Bruised toes and broken shoes hadn’t mattered one bit because that night he’d told her he loved her.

Pressure built behind her eyes. No. Stop. Matt is gone.

“Julia?”

She let out a deep breath and fixed her harlot blouse. “Show me what you’ve got, Captain.”

“That’s my girl.” He threw the doors open wide.

Five

“The music’s getting loud downstairs.” RW poured champagne into a crystal flute and handed it to Angel. “To you, my darling.”

She clinked her glass with his water bottle. “To second chances.”

He’d toast to that. She was his second chance, even if she didn’t want to be. Couldn’t be because she was his therapist. He’d never known what it felt like for someone to understand him, to see his inner demons and not run away.

Angel had saved his life, plain and simple, and now she pushed him toward the final phase of his therapy. Together they had hatched up an intricate plan designed to heal all the wounds created by his illness. He didn’t think the plan would work, but for her, he would try.

After her first sip she asked, “Did they all come?”

“Chloe and Jeffrey arrived this morning. I haven’t seen Matthew yet, but the staff tells me he’s around. I’m waiting for him to make his presence known.” RW tried to relax his fist. He was holding his bottle too tightly. The veins in his neck were pounding. “I’m sure however he chooses to arrive, it will be a showstopper.”

“Give him time. He’ll come around.”

“Maybe. He’s a Harper, after all. We’re all a bit bullheaded.”

“Don’t I know it.” She winked at him. Playful and sweet. He’d be lost without this woman.

“You’ve changed me. You see that now, don’t you?”

She eyed him. “Well, you do look as handsome as a pirate.”

Not what he meant. He wanted to press her, ask if she’d thought about his offer again. But his instincts said to wait and give her time to consider it. Consider them.

She drank the last of her champagne and put the glass on the marble table. “All right, pirate. Go down to your party. Just remember the plan. It’ll work.”

“What if it happens again?” He swallowed hard, not wanting to remember how he used to be, unable to stop.

She put a cool hand on his. “It won’t.”

When she smiled up at him, the gnawing, twisting thing in his gut eased. She was the only one who could calm him. With her by his side, he dared to believe he was ready to put the plan in motion and call his children home. He touched her bare shoulder with the back of his knuckle. God, she was so soft, so perfect. “Will you stay?”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Why? I invited the whole town. No one will put two and two together. Plus, I bought the pirate costume for you. You’ll be unrecognizable.”

She rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Can’t take the chance.”

The darkness swirled inside, yanking on him, trying to drag him under. His voice came out broken and raw. “I can’t do this without you, Angel. Please.”

RW Harper didn’t beg but everything had changed when Angel came into his life.

Her gaze met his. He could only assume she saw his demons, the ones that had nearly killed him and all he loved. The ones she was fighting to destroy. That had to be the reason she dipped her head in affirmation. Because she didn’t love him, couldn’t love him. And soon, after the plan was complete, she’d leave.

If he didn’t get stronger, that thought alone would end him.

Six

Julia gasped when Captain pulled her into the crowded hall. It looked the same as it had for Matt’s birthday party ten years ago. Her chest squeezed so hard that breathing hurt. Everything ached. She felt small, ragged.

She pulled her hand from his. “I have to go.”

He faced her and probably saw full-fledged anguish in her eyes. Instead of letting her go, he stepped into her space. He put his hands on her shoulders and said, “No one will hurt you here. I promise. Please stay.”

He lied. She was already hurting, big-time. “You don’t understand.”

A trumpet blast made her jump. The band struck up a beat and the singers started in on one of her favorite songs.

“Think of the birds you want to save. Plus...” Captain crooked his finger at her. “I can’t show you my moves if you won’t step onto the dance floor with me.”

She bit her lip. The plovers needed her. She did love this song.

And she wanted this man.

Julia gave him her hand and let him lead her in. “This song is really good for—”

He spun her under his arm. “Salsa. Relax, I’ve got this.” And just like that she was dancing with a pirate.

Barely twenty seconds into the song, she realized she’d met her match. Everyone was watching, but Captain hadn’t stopped watching her. It gave her a zing up her spine to be the focus of his attention.

“You dance well.” She meant it as a compliment. So why did her voice dip with sorrow?

Because part of her wanted to believe that somehow Captain was Matt reincarnate. The way he danced destroyed all hope. Matt could barely move his feet to a beat while her date danced salsa like he’d had years of practice. He wasn’t her boy. It was time to let Matt go for good and enjoy this hot man who’d dropped in for a night.

“You’re not bad, either.” He pulled her closer so her breasts pressed into his hard chest. “For a girl.”

He grinned and she forgot about the past. She lost her mind. Those lips! She couldn’t stop gazing at them.

Placing her hand on his jaw, she enjoyed the feel of his beard under her palm. He stopped dancing. He studied her intensely. Had the music slowed or had the world stopped moving? She didn’t know. All she could focus on was the way he looked like he could make love to her right there on the dance floor.

And she wanted him, the past be damned.

She wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. The kiss she gave him wasn’t small or sweet. Her lips had been lonely for so long that they just took over.

Fire licked through her core and her heart pounded hard. She was overcome with need. For this man. Right now.

He held her cheeks and gave back as good as he got.

It wasn’t enough. More, more, more! everything in her cried. She ran her tongue inside his mouth, tasting, exploring. The groan he made told her she was doing something right. One of his hands released her face and pressed into the small of her back, holding her to him, keeping her right where he wanted. She was breathing fast and burning up.

People around her disappeared. She completely forgot where she was, who she was, but she knew exactly what she wanted. More!

The taste of him, the way he kissed, made her head spin. His lips were perfect. They fit as if they were made for her. A fever of desire engulfed her.

Heaven help her, she wanted that hand on her back to move lower, to squeeze. More, Matt!

Matt?

She pulled back and blinked at Captain. What in the world? For just a second there she’d thought...but that wasn’t possible.

When would her stupid head get it?

Captain’s grin was gone, replaced by an intense expression that spoke volumes. He was as worked up by the kiss as she was. They were fully clothed and in public.

What moves would he show her when they were alone?

A slow, sensuous song started playing and he spun her around until her back was against his chest. He pressed one hand to her belly and they rocked together to the beat. Slowly, he ran his other hand up her arm, down, petting her skin. Every nerve cell she owned sizzled. He moved the hair of her wig and kissed her neck.

She gasped and closed her eyes.

He nibbled on her ear and pressed himself against her. “Feel how much I want you.”

There was no doubt about what she was feeling. She swallowed hard and simply nodded.

While they rocked from side to side, his knees bumped her legs and he nibbled her ear. Waves of shivers rolled over her body. It felt so good. He made circles with the hand on her belly, dipping lower, lower...stopping too soon. She rolled her hips, trying to get those fingers where she needed them. She wanted him to cup her through the skirt, to hold her nice and tight. He was pushing all her buttons and there was no way to go back now. She wanted to cry out for more.

“Miss Espinoza, you have defied the restraining order,” an authoritarian voice said behind her. “You need to come with us.”

Julia’s eyes flew open to see two guards surrounding them.

Captain growled, “Like hell she will.”

“Sir, this is official business. Step back so no one gets hurt,” the second guard said.

“Take her,” the head guard said. Obeying, the other man grabbed her arm.

“Back the hell off!” Captain gave him a shove and stepped in front of Julia, shielding her with his body. “Touch her again and someone will get hurt. I’ve waited a long time to settle a score with you two.”

The first guard frowned and the second pulled out his gun. Several women screamed. Most of them were Julia’s relatives and she couldn’t let anyone get hurt.

“No!” Julia yelled. “Stop. I’ll go with you. Just put that thing away.”

Captain shook his head. “You’re not going with these goons.”

The head guard stepped forward. “Stay out of this or we’ll have you both arrested.”

“On what grounds?” Captain growled.

“Trespassing.”

Captain laughed and then looked around the room, searching for...who? His gaze settled on someone Julia couldn’t see behind Captain’s big frame.

“Why didn’t you fire these two jackasses already?” he asked.

The room went still. All eyes were on Captain.

Who was he?

After a few beats of silence, the head guard spoke up again. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, mister. But enough is enough.” He reached for Julia, yanking her sleeve off her shoulder. She had to scramble to keep “her treasures” from popping out of the blouse, just as Tía Nona had predicted.

Captain took a swing and cold-cocked the guard. He was out before he hit the floor.

The other guard’s eyes went wide. “Don’t move!” He stepped forward with his gun aimed at Captain’s chest.

“No!” Julia cried out.

But Captain didn’t flinch. He actually said, “Drop it.”

Julia was terrified his bravado was going to get him shot.

“Please, Captain. Let’s just go,” she begged.

He didn’t move. “Stay behind me, sweetheart.”

RW Harper’s voice boomed. “What in the hell is going on here?”

Captain didn’t turn or take his eye off the gun. “About time.”

Julia’s heart sank. Was Captain RW’s partner or a friend? Whatever the case, he wasn’t on her side if he was buddies with that monster.

“Speak!” RW demanded.

“You tell me, Dad. Why are you trying to have my ex-fiancée arrested?”

There was a collective gasp in the room.

Julia couldn’t make a sound because she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t see straight. Or think.

Dad? My ex-fiancée? The words didn’t make sense. Her heart beat in her ears and her vision tunneled.

Air, I need air.

“Put the gun away,” RW ordered. He turned his attention to Captain and, to Julia’s utter surprise, he clapped the man on the back. RW was smiling so big that he looked like a different man. She’d never seen Mr. Harper when he was not angry. “Matthew! So glad you came home.”

Matthew? She was weak; her legs wobbled.

Someone behind her clapped. Another followed suit. Applause, whistles and hoots filled the room, along with prayers of “¡Gracias a Dios!” and “It’s a miracle!”

Julia couldn’t speak. Her head pounded. Her throat closed.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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