by Anna Lowe
Even in the dim light, she could see his eyes shine in recognition. It was his card to her — his proposal, from all those years ago.
A year ago we met on this very mountain and you changed my life. I’ll love you forever, Cara. Will you be mine?
The card was frayed and warped from their wild escape, but the words were still there, along with her answer.
Yes, Tobin, yes. I’ll be yours forever.
She’d added a little more underneath, and her heart was in her throat as his eyes slowed to read it.
Second try, she’d written in. I’ll love you forever, Tobin. Will you be mine?
It wasn’t the same mountaintop and it wasn’t Valentine’s day. She hadn’t organized a candlelight dinner, but somehow, it felt even more right now than it had back then.
His eyes shot up to hers, and the blue of his eyes was fierce. “I’ve always been yours, Cara.”
She more or less threw herself at him then and mumbled into his shoulder. “I know. I’m sorry. For everything.”
He put his forehead against hers and spoke so quietly, she could barely hear. “I’m not.”
Another little bit of Tobin wisdom. The more she thought about it, the more she knew he was right. For all the regret, the pain, the empty years, they’d earned it this time. Earned each other and their happiness. Because that’s all she could see from where she stood to the horizon: a lifetime of happiness with her man.
“I mean it, you know,” she sniffed, brushing a mitten across her cheek. “Be mine, as in, all the way.”
“I mean it, too.” Then he flashed one of his trademark naughty grins. “I wonder how long marriage licenses are good for in this state?”
He might have been joking, or might not have been, but she sure wasn’t. “I checked. Sixty days, so our old one is expired. But the nearest office is ten miles away, and it opens at nine in the morning.”
His eyebrows shot up and he tilted his head right then nodded slowly. “You have done your homework.”
“I’ve had a lot of time to plan.” And hope, and fret.
He clapped in an all-right-then motion. “Great! We can get married tomorrow.” His voice was light, but he was studying her reaction like he still wasn’t sure she meant it.
She meant it all right, but there was a catch.
“Unfortunately, there’s a three-day waiting period after you apply.”
He blinked. “Wow. You really have done your homework.” Then he shook his head. “Like after waiting six years they think I need to think this over?”
She laughed aloud, and it felt good. Great. Liberating.
“More like, after six years, I think we can survive three more days.”
“Not so sure,” he pouted and reeled her back in.
She snuggled up against him. “Just think of all the catching up we can do in three days.”
His mouth curled up. “I like the sound of that.”
“Of course, we do need to figure out a couple of things.”
He eyed her suspiciously. “Like what?”
“Like how we’re going to get this to work.” She waved a hand over the ski slopes, then in the vague direction of the Boston suburb where her new assignment was.
“Simple,” he shrugged. “We just make it work.”
Typical Tobin. But he was right. They would make it work. And really, how hard could it be? When she’d turned down the promotion she’d been offered on the heels of the successful deal in Panama and asked for a transfer back to the US office instead, she’d insisted on two things. A three-week break before she started working again, and a flex-time arrangement where she was only required to be in the office every second week. Because work wasn’t everything in life. At least, she hoped it didn’t have to be.
One week out of two in the office. The rest of the time, she would work from home.
Home. She’d been hoping home would be wherever Tobin was, but this… Her eyes swept over the view. The barn, the hills, the snow. This was all an unexpected bonus.
So that part was easier than she thought. What else was on the list? Oh, yes. “Anyway, we can use the three days to plan our shotgun wedding…”
“Whatever you want, it’s fine with me.” He nodded like a gleeful puppy. “It’s perfect.”
“We have to plan our honeymoon, too.” She looked over the bustling scene. “Once ski season is over, I guess.”
“Honeymoon?” He laughed. “If you say Panama, I’ll—”
She put a hand to his lips, and he kissed it right away. “Definitely not Panama. Somewhere else. But somewhere warm for sure.”
He smiled and though the winter sun was getting low, it felt like summer had hit their section of the mountain.
“Preferably a place with no poison darts,” he said.
“Oh!” Her hands started to flutter as she remembered just how much catching up they had to do. “The darts weren’t poison.”
He tilted his head.
“I had them tested. They were coated with a strong sedative, but not the really potent stuff.”
He snorted. “Would have been potent enough if they’d hit us on the bridge.”
She shook her head. “The lab said it was slow-acting stuff. We’d have fallen off Lucy a mile or so down the road, but not on the bridge.”
“Why are you siding with them, anyway?”
Her chest went all warm, the way it always did when she thought about Tucumba. “Because I think Rodrigo and the rest of them are genuine people. Well, everyone but Lefebvre and his buddies. And the TeleCel guys who made the initial trip out to the village — Enrique and some others — are real jerks. I bet they stepped on a lot of toes. No wonder the villagers wanted the other company to win the bid.”
He pulled his lips into a tight line, considering. “So you’re saying you work for the bad guys?”
She let a smile out. “Not so bad after all. I talked them into a bonus payment for the village. The school got its new roof, plus a lot of supplies.”
His eyes slid over to the kids being bundled off the slope and nodded slowly. “Nice.”
“And you want to know the bonus?”
“Bonus?”
“The government insisted on beefing up patrols in the area to protect the new satellite dish, so maybe Tucumba won’t have to deal with those drug runners any more.”
He smiled. “That is good.” Then he scowled. “Then they only have that ass of an anthropologist, Lefebvre, to deal with.”
She shook her head. “Apparently, he left. Heading for the Amazon jungle. New cultures to study.”
“Right,” Tobin scoffed. “With new types of drugs to get him high.”
“Whatever.” She waved a hand. “It’s all good.”
“It is good.”
Tobin’s smile seemed to reach inside her and turn on every bulb. Yes, it was good. A good feeling to be part of it, too.
“But hey, don’t get me off the subject. We were planning our honeymoon.”
His eyes lit up. “How about a little east of Panama?”
East? “How far east?”
“Saint Lucia, maybe?”
“What’s in Saint Lucia?”
“You mean other than gorgeous Caribbean beaches and coconut-husk drinks?” Tobin laughed before growing serious. “There’s Serendipity.” He said it reverently, like his grandfather’s boat wasn’t just a boat but a family heirloom. Which in a way, it was.
“I thought your cousins Mia and Meredith got to sail it next.”
His whole body seemed to smile. “They did. I mean, they are. Meredith is bringing the boat there now.”
“Meredith?”
“Yup, she and her new boyfriend. And wait ’til you hear what happened to them.”
“Wait — I thought she swore off relationships since…” She trailed off, avoiding the subject. “Since you-know-what. Meredith has a boyfriend now?”
He chuckled. “Meredith found herself a guy in Grenada — a good guy.”
“Go,
Mer!” Part of her gave a big cheer. If anyone deserved happiness, it was Meredith.
Tobin nodded. “According to my mother, it’s downright scandalous. I say, about time Meredith had a little fun. She deserves it.”
“Who is this guy? What happened? And what about Mia?”
He laughed. “What happened to Mia is even crazier. She was scuba diving in Bonaire when…” He trailed off and put a finger to her lips. “A story for another time. Meredith is heading for Saint Lucia now, and I bet we can get Serendipity for a week or two when they finish up.” He slung an arm around her shoulder and swept a hand over the western horizon. “Just think. A winter here. You and me, curled up in front of the fireplace…”
“Fireplace?” She snuggled in closer.
He kissed the top of her head and looked toward the top floor of the barn. “Wait ’til I show you.”
So he wasn’t kidding her. She was already picturing the sweet little apartment there. Cozy as cozy could be.
“We spend the winter here,” he continued, “then set off on our next tropical adventure. A short one, at least. I’ve got business commitments, you know.”
His joking tone didn’t fool her because he stood straight as he said it. And yes, she’d be proud, too, if she were him. Heck, she was proud of him. Prouder than she’d ever been.
She breathed in and out, in perfect time with him. Maybe that was the key to happiness. Finding pride and joy in something other than yourself.
Click, went her mental camera, one more time. No caption on this one. Just the sketch of a heart with their initials inside.
She pulled him in for a full-body hug and a kiss. “I’m not so sure about the adventure part. The only adventure I want is a life with you.” He smiled against her lips, and she snuggled closer. His heat was reaching out to her, and she’d had enough talking for now.
“Now tell me, hotshot,” she finished. “How far is that fireplace?”
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Thank you for reading Entangled! I hope you enjoyed it and that you will leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Reviews help readers make informed choices, and they also help an independent author’s work reach a broader audience.
If you’re hungry for more Adventure Romance, you can get a free story by signing up for my newsletter. That will get you a free copy of Off the Charts, the short story prequel to the Serendipity series — all yours here! Signing up for the newsletter will also make sure you get updates about special deals and new releases in this series.
Have you read Uncharted, Book 1 in the Serendipity series? In it, you’ll get to know Seth and Julie, and also get a look at Tobin’s backstory. Get your copy here!
Read on for a sneak peek at Mia and Ryan’s story in Windswept, Book 3 in the Serendipity Adventure Romance series. That one is set in Bonaire, scuba capital of the Caribbean. Meredith’s story (Adrift, Book 4 in the series) releases in 2016.
A note from the author
I hope you’ve enjoyed your adventure in Panama! Before you check your map or contact your travel agent, let me come clean with the facts. While there really are tiny rainforest villages where indigenous people hold out against the onslaught of “civilization” (most of them every bit as hospitable as those in the fictional hamlet of Tucumba), most prefer to be left in peace. Some leaders are every bit as passionate as Rodrigo about protecting their traditional way of life. Most visitors never get to see this side of the country, sticking instead to Panama City, the canal zone, or the coasts. But even in these “tamer” areas, you’ll be fascinated by the wild landscape and cultural melting pot that is Panama. I sure was in the months I spent there!
Sneak Peek: Windswept
Book 3 in the Serendipity Adventure Romance series
Scuba instructor Mia Whitman has traveled to Bonaire to forget, not forgive, the man who broke her heart. But trouble is brewing in this Caribbean island paradise — above and below the waterline. When Mia witnesses a crime, she becomes a target, and even she has to admit that having a Navy SEAL-turned-New-York-cop at her side has its perks. Ryan Hayes has a knack for saving her life and stealing her heart — a tricky combination for a woman on the run. Before Mia can stop herself, she finds herself in deep — in love and in trouble.
Order your copy of Windswept here or read on for a sneak peek of Windswept.
Sneak Peek II
Windswept, Chapter One
“Is everyone ready for another great adventure?” the gray-haired dive master cried out.
Mia grinned as seven enthusiastic guests replied. “Yes!”
“Is everyone ready for the best dive here in Bonaire, scuba capital of the world?”
“Yes!”
Hans winked at Mia and went on with his trademark line. “Are you ready to rock and roll?”
“Yes!”
The dive launch motored out over the turquoise water, bumping gently over the afternoon ripples building in the bay.
“Okay, everybody, please welcome our crew today,” Hans continued. “We’ve got the lovely Mia, an experienced dive instructor from New York.”
Mia gave a little wave in the midst of checking dive gear without bothering to correct her boss. She’d only lived in New York for a few months before heading to the Caribbean, and those were months she’d rather forget.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the steel of the boat frame. Windswept as ever, her shoulder-length hair a mess even before her dive.
“Not only is Mia a dive master, she’s a sailor, too,” Hans continued like a proud father. “She’s sailing her boat around the Caribbean!”
Appreciative oohs and aahs went out from the guests, and Mia couldn’t help a fond glance toward Serendipity, moored on the far side of the bay. She might not have covered a lot of ground on Serendipity yet, but she and her sister were off to a good start. They had three months to explore the islands, live a few adventures, and soak in the sun. Plenty of time for a broken heart to get over a guy who hadn’t deserved her in the first place. So what if big, sweet, and gorgeous still visited her dreams?
“We’re lucky to have Mia filling in for us this week,” Hans finished.
She felt like the lucky one. When Hans had offered her the use of one of the dive shop moorings in exchange for helping out with the occasional dive trip, she’d jumped on the chance.
“And speaking of lucky, meet Lucky, our captain today,” Hans went on.
“Hi, Lucky!” the seven guests sang on cue. Or maybe six, because the last-minute addition to the charter, a man sitting near the stern, was still withdrawn in the shade of his hoodie.
“Hello, everyone!” Lucky turned from the wheel just long enough to smile broadly: a flash of ivory against his dark skin.
“Lucky’s back on Bonaire after years abroad. Lucky, what’s Bonaire’s best dive site?”
“The one we’re heading to right now!”
Everyone cheered. Everyone but the last-minute guest, who remained withdrawn. Maybe he was nervous. Hans said the man had easily passed the obligatory check-out dive that morning, but you never knew. Mia made a mental note to keep a close eye on him when the dive began.
“Mia, why don’t you introduce everyone for Stanley and Laura while we get to the dive site?” Hans said, faking a straight face.
“Yes, Mia, please!” Stanley said, swinging his video camera her way.
She stuck on a smile. One of the few negatives of her job: tolerating high-maintenance, high-paying guests.
“Sure,” she started. “We’ve got Stanley and Laura, happy honeymooners from Detroit.”
Stanley swung the camera toward his wife. “Love you, honey!”
“Love you, too!” Laura blew a kiss into the lens.
Love. Mia used to believe in it, too.
She shuffled between the gear cluttering the center of the launch, relishing the sea breeze in her hair and the sun shining high overhead.
“And we have Dirk and Anna from the Nethlerlands,” she continued, “on their twelfth trip to Bonai
re.”
“Thirteenth.” Anna and Dirk said at the same time.
“Lucky number thirteen,” the next guest joked.
Mia introduced him for the camera. “Bruno from Switzerland…”
Bruno waved.
“…and his partner, Marc.”
Marc threw an arm over Bruno’s shoulders and squeezed into the shot. “Hi!”
She was nearly at the stern now. “Here’s Hans, chief diver and owner of Calypso Dives on Bonaire for the past twenty-six years.”
That always gave her a little kick: Hans’ business was only two years younger than she was.
“Hallo!” Hans winked. “I was born in Holland, but I swear I’ll die on Bonaire! But not anytime soon, I hope!”
Everyone laughed. Mia, too, even though she’d already heard the joke several times. Hans’ good humor just did that to a person.
“And our last guest today,” she nodded toward the late arrival, “is…”
She watched as he lifted his hands toward the hood. Strong, tough hands. Tanned, like he spent a lot of time outdoors. He was bare-chested under the hoodie, as the stack of perfectly sculpted abs showed.
Too bad she’d sworn off men, because this one could have made a calendar: Hot Divers of the World.
She couldn’t help it; her pulse skipped a little faster as he took hold of the edges of the hood.
Then he threw the hood back, and everything in her screeched to a halt. The kind that comes when you hit a brick wall after roaring along at full speed. Her breath, her circulation, her thoughts — all on pause.
God, please. No. Not him.
Because she knew those piercing green eyes. The ruffled brown hair. The strong, square jaw. She knew every curve of his face, every contour of that hard body just as well as he knew hers.
Intimately.
A little sigh went up from the female guests at the sight of that face.
“Hello, Mia,” he said in a voice so low, it might have been a whisper.
“You…you…you…” she scrambled for something to say.
Stanley leaned in with the camera, and she wasn’t sure who she was closer to punching, him or her ex-lover.