Forbidden Lovers

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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 (#u09ebbd11-0500-560d-b941-c1c34eb85b47)

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.