“Matt might be happy about it,” Juanita said. “Men grow up and change their minds.”
“Or he could be furious or feel trapped. He’s dreamed about being a pilot since he was five years old. That dream doesn’t include me and Henry. What if leaving is the right thing for him?”
Julia shook her head. “I’m afraid. What if I tell him that he’s a daddy and he feels forced to stay here out of a sense of duty? He’ll lose his dream, his destiny. And he’ll eventually hate me and Henry for it. It’s not fair to him or my kid.”
Juanita’s pretty face was creased with sadness. “If Matt was a scary guy, I’d support your decision. I’d do everything I could to keep you and Henry safe. But we’re talking about Matt here. You should give him a chance to be a great father. He’s not RW. Never has been.”
No, but could she risk everything on a pretty dream just because she wanted it to be true?
“I am going to be with him as much as I can this weekend and when it’s over I’ll let Matt decide his own path. If he stays, it’s because he loves me and cares for my son. If he leaves—” she sucked in a deep breath “—I let him go. Please don’t tell him about Henry.”
Juanita’s gaze searched her face one last time. “You sure?”
Not about anything. “Yes. That’s the way it has to be.”
* * *
Ana, the waitress, arrived, carrying all three dishes. “Pancakes with ham?”
“Yo!” Henry said.
“¿Machaca?”
“That’s my girl’s,” Matt said, pointing to Julia. “No tomatoes. Corn tortillas. Side of guac.”
Julia smiled. “You remembered.”
“Of course. I remember everything you like.” He hitched an eyebrow and she got all tingly inside. Again.
The waitress put the last plate down in front of Matt.
“¿Lengua?” Julia was shocked. “Since when?”
“Thought I’d order something different.” He cut off a slice and held the forked meat in front of Henry’s face. “Here, you try it first.”
Henry shook his head. “Eeew. Cow’s tongue? No way. That’s a big n-o! Never eat something that tastes you while you taste it.”
Matt burst out laughing. The rich baritone was music to her heart. Henry laughed, too, and the music became a symphony for her soul. For the first time in a decade, she had a glimpse of real happiness.
It terrified her. She didn’t know if it was scary because it was only temporary or because she wanted it so desperately.
Matt brought the meat to her lips. “You try it.”
Lengua wasn’t her favorite, but she opened her mouth and let him in. She chewed slowly, deliberately, her gaze pinning him. She swallowed and licked the corner of her mouth. “Yum.”
She saw the moment his teasing expression turned to desire. His pupils dilated. His breathing changed.
He cleared his throat and turned back to his meal. “All right, kid, here we go.” Matt cut off another slice and chewed. “Well. It doesn’t taste like chicken. Not too bad, but I think I’ll stick with ham next time.”
The waitress came to check on them and stayed to chat. “Did you guys hear what happened at the Harpers’ last night? Everyone’s talking about it. ¡Híjole! I’m going to buy a new car with my share of the money. I can’t believe it. How about you?”
Matt shifted in his chair uncomfortably. “I wouldn’t count on that money.”
Ana frowned. “Why not?”
Julia tugged on his arm. “What’s this about?”
Matt softly said, “I’ll tell you later.”
The waitress would not be deterred. “Mr. Harper is going to turn the old mansion into a luxury resort and give the townspeople a share of the profits. Millions! That’s what he said. I’ve had my eye on a cute red Mazda. Can’t wait to call her mine.”
Matt didn’t look happy. “Yeah. Well. I’d wait to cash the check before you go car shopping.”
“Millions!” Henry spoke up. “That’s a lot.”
“It’s not happening,” Matt said.
“That’s not what Mr. Harper said.” Ana crossed her arms. “He should know.”
“Exactly. Can you remember the last time Harpers gave you money other than wages? A tip, even?”
The truth sank in. “Thanks a lot.” The waitress threw up her hands. “The first good thing happening to this town in forever and you...you...” The rest of the words were in Spanish, punctuated by the stomping of her boots as she walked away.
Matt pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do I dare ask what she said?”
“Something about the killer of pretty car dreams,” Henry interpreted. “So? What are we going to do with our money? Can we buy a plane? I want to fly like my daddy did.”
Matt’s head lifted. “Your dad was a pilot, too?”
Julia sighed. She could not go there now. “Tell us about the money.”
“That’s just it. There is no money for anyone except for RW Harper. Pirates never change.” Matt sounded more resigned than angry.
Henry looked crushed.
Matt put his hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, kid. But I know this guy well enough to tell you he doesn’t pay anyone more than he should. If he can cheat or pay less, he will. He’s selfish that way. At least we know he’s not out to kill off the snowy plovers. That’s a good thing, right?”
Henry pouted. “I guess.”
“How do we know that?” Julia asked. “RW may want to use that patch of beach where the plovers lay their eggs for a snack bar or Jet Ski launch, or who knows what? We need to find out exactly what he’s planning, Matt.”
“I agree, sweetheart. This whole thing smells like bad news to me. First, he boots his children out of the kingdom and goes underground for years, then he pops up announcing he’s paying people he’s despised his whole life. And everyone buys it?”
His voice was getting loud. She touched his knee under the table and he let out deep breath. “I just don’t get it. Why do people believe him? You know what he’s like.”
She did remember. “I don’t believe him,” she said. Not after the way he’d treated his son. She would never forgive Mr. Harper for hurting Matt.
Henry put his elbows on the table. “Me, neither.”
Matt nodded. “Okay. Let’s figure things out so that no one gets hurt.”
“Like real crime fighters!” Henry said.
Matt high-fived him. “Yes, sir. A team.” He took her hand and put it on top of theirs. “The three of us.”
It was all she could do to keep her bottom lip from quivering. God, she wanted the three of them to be a team.
As they left the café, a car pulled up next to them and a woman leaned out the window. “Ooh, la, la. It’s the salsa dancers.”
Julia waved. “Hi, Linda.”
Henry ran around to the back of the car to talk to his second cousins.
Linda acted like she’d swallowed a canary. “I took your red dress to the cleaner. Should be ready for you to wear tonight.”
“Tonight?” Julia asked.
“Sí, chica. My mother says she wants to get a better look at your man. Come to dinner tonight. My place.”
Matt wrapped his arm around her. “We’d love to. Thanks.”
She shot him a look. “Don’t we have other plans?”
“We do, yes. Major plans, before and after dinner.” Now Matt had swallowed the canary.
“Mama, can I go over to Linda’s house and ride bikes?” Henry asked.
“If Linda agrees.”
“No problema. I’ll keep an eye on him while you two...” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Do before dinner.”
Julia’s face was even hotter.
“Thanks, Linda. We’ll come over around six?”
Linda winked. “¡Hasta luego! Get in the car, Henry.”
“’Bye, Mom.”
“Be good,” she said. And the car drove away.
Matt pulled her closer. “Now I have you all to myself.” He kissed her in broad daylight on the sidewalk in the middle of town. As if it was a natural thing to do.
As if he would kiss her like that forever.
She never knew a heart could beat faster and shatter at the same time.
Eleven
They stopped by her house and picked up a few things.
“Don’t forget your bathing suit,” Matt said. “I’ve commandeered the pool house as my temporary digs. It’s as far away from RW as I can get while still being on the grounds.”
Her lips quirked. “Since when did we ever need suits?”
“Ah, babe. If it were up to me, we’d run around naked all the time. But my sis and brother are visiting and might be in the pool, too. Better keep things PG-rated, at least outside. Inside...” He kissed the nape of her neck. “That’s another story.”
She shivered, liking the sound of that.
They strapped on their helmets and Julia wrapped her arms around his strong back. They rode Matt’s bike back to Casa Larga.
Once there, he led her straight to the kitchen. “Going to need sustenance.”
The kitchen staff seemed to love having Matt home. They prepared a tray full of fruits, nuts, crackers and prosciutto. He grabbed two bottles of sparkling water. “And hydration.”
She blushed, wondering how strenuous the before dinner events were going to be.
He led her back outside and through the gardens to the pool. Someone was swimming laps, her strokes long and graceful.
Matt clapped. “Fish has been practicing. Bet she’d beat me in the 50-meter now.” He leaned over the water and called, “Chloe!”
The figure did a flip turn and swam over to the edge of the pool where Matt and Julia were standing. When she removed her goggles, her blue eyes went wide.
“Julia!” Chloe said. “Oh, my gosh! It’s wonderful to see you. I’m sorry I didn’t get to say hello at the party last night. My brother had you otherwise occupied.”
Had everyone seen them dirty dancing?
“Nice to see you, too. How’s the water?” She changed the subject as quickly as possible.
“Come in. It’s perfect.”
“Okay. I’ll put on my suit.”
Matt pointed to the pool house while he put the tray of food on a table in the shade. “You’ll find towels and sunblock in the bathroom.”
She ventured inside a pool house that was three times larger than her home. Heck, it was larger than any home in Pueblicito. It came complete with a kitchen, large-screen television, a wet bar and a pool table. She couldn’t understand how the boy who enjoyed sweeping Juanita’s, fixing his dirt bikes and hanging out with the locals came from a home like this. It boggled her mind anyone lived like this. Wealth was as unfamiliar to her as having parents.
She felt like she needed to tiptoe toward the bathroom. When she passed his bedroom, she stopped. Her hand went to her chest. There on his nightstand was a picture of the two of them in the silver heart frame she’d given him for Christmas years ago. She’d scrawled “Love, Your Julia” with a silver sparkly calligraphy pen.
He kept their picture by his bed?
It had to mean something. She dared not hope too hard. Matt wasn’t going to choose her, not when his career waited for him. It might have been his father who’d lied about Matt’s death, but it had been Matt who hadn’t said goodbye or made contact with her. It was Matt who hated to be in Plunder Cove for more than a weekend. It was Matt who couldn’t stand to be in the same house, the same town, with his father.
Nope. Better to be realistic here and accept the worst before it hit. She was flying high now, but the fall was coming and it was going to do more than knock the wind out of her. She might not be able to get up this time.
Now that she knew Matt was alive but had chosen to leave her...how would she move on?
She forced her feet to take her into the bathroom to change.
* * *
Matt put his swim trunks on in the shower stall by the pool.
Chloe got into the hot tub. “So? You two look as happy as you ever were.”
Matt grimaced. “Yeah.”
He jumped into the hot tub, splashing his sister. Water sloshed over the waterfall into the pool.
“Hey!” She splashed him back. “I heard a sour note in your voice. What’s going on?”
He tipped his head toward the sun. “She’s in love with someone else.”
“No. Who?”
“Her dead husband. You know, the guy you wrote about while I was getting my ass handed to me in boot camp?”
It was her turn to grimace. “Oh, wow, that was a hard letter to write. Mom made me do it. She said you needed to know and it would help you in the long run. Did it?”
“It gutted me.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She reached out and touched his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
As always, he pushed the pain down in his chest, trying to ignore it. “Not your fault.”
“So, her husband died?”
“Yes, he was a pilot. Can you believe that? What are the odds we’d both be in Afghanistan and only one of us make it out alive?” Apparently the wrong one came back to her. “She has a son. He’s amazing.”
“Wow. I had no idea. What are you going to do?”
“Spend the weekend with her. And then leave while I still can.”
“Leave? Why don’t you stay and remind her how good you two are together?”
His throat constricted. “I lost her a long time ago. I can’t stay here with a woman who can’t love me—”
The sliding-glass door opened and Julia stepped out.
“Later,” he warned Chloe.
When his sister smiled that way, he knew she wasn’t going to give up. The Harper gene was strong in that one. “Let me help,” Chloe said softly.
No. He didn’t need help. He needed a fast plane to get him out of town. That was what he thought until Julia dropped the towel and Matt forgot to breathe.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Her legs were long, her hips and thighs were perfectly proportioned. Her tummy was a little softer than he remembered and her hips had a sexy womanly spread. Simply gorgeous.
Julia eased herself into the hot water.
“I’m just going to get warm and then you two can have the hot tub all to yourselves. Wouldn’t want to be the third wheel,” Chloe said.
“You’re not...” Matt was busy devouring Julia with his eyes.
Chloe laughed. “Yes. I can see that. I’m going.”
“Wait. Will you take a picture of us?” Matt dried his hands off on his towel and handed Chloe his phone.
“Of course. It’s good to have memories.”
Matt wrapped his arm around Julia, pulling her close to him on the step. Julia planted a kiss on his cheek and Chloe smiled before heading into the house. They were still holding one another. Steam rose off their bodies.
“Are you ready to have another warm-up?”
“Another...?” Her voice was high, breathy. Just like he liked it.
“We’ve got to practice a bit before we work up to four in an hour. You can’t rush these things.”
Before she could make another sound, he pressed his lips to hers and dragged them both under.
Twelve
She’d never been kissed underwater in a hot tub before. With Matt’s lips on hers, who needed to breathe? He pulled her up. His hands ran down her shoulders and back. Water poured off her skin. Grabbing her butt, he yanked her closer so that she could feel exactly what was hard under the water.
“I want you bad, Julia.” He nibbled her ear. That was bad and so good. “Let’s go inside the pool house. I want to touch a
nd kiss every bit of you. I’ll pay special attention to what you like so I can do it all over again.”
She had a feeling she was going to like whatever he did. Swallowing hard, she said, “When do I get to do those things to you?”
He ran his knuckle across her collarbones. “Babe, I’m yours. Whatever you want to do to me, with me, I’m game.”
She licked her lips. “What in the heck are we waiting for?”
“I like the way you think.” He all but hauled her out of the hot tub. He grabbed a towel and dried her off, slowly, sensually. The thick cotton smelled good and felt even better. When he got to her bathing suit bottom, she gasped.
“Like that?”
“Matthew Harper, take me to your bed before I throw you down and have my way with you right here!”
His eyebrow lifted. “I’d like to see you try.”
She gave him a half-hearted shove.
On the way to the pool house, he snagged the tray of food and the two bottles of water. He popped a red grape into her mouth. “Blood sugar. Gotta keep it up for what comes next.”
“Lots of promises, Harper. Show me the goods.”
He playfully swatted her butt. “Oh, I’ll show you, babe. Prepare yourself, because this is all I could think about since we danced last night.”
Good to hear she wasn’t the only one.
He placed the tray on his nightstand next to the silver heart picture frame. Their young, smiling faces and her scrawling love note was there as if he wanted her to notice.
What did it prove? That he still had those feelings? It was impossible. She wasn’t that young girl anymore.
“I’m surprised you kept that,” she said quietly.
He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the navy blue comforter for her to join him. “Why?”
She sat next to him, her arm touching his. “It was a long time ago.”
“Sometimes it feels like just last summer. Except last summer I was doing sorties in the Middle East.” He ran his finger down her shoulder and leaned in close. He smelled like a mixture of chlorine and the musk she loved.
He made circles on her bare shoulder, dipping underneath the strap of her bathing suit. “Back then I’d wake up and stare at this picture, wondering how I got so lucky. I couldn’t believe you were ‘my Julia.’ Let alone that you could love me. There’s something I never told you...” He gazed into her eyes, the expression in those deep baby blues apologetic, serious. “I should’ve told you, it might have changed things.”
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