Under Pressure

by Kira Sinclair

  She was scared of trusting the wrong person again. And Asher scared her more than anyone else ever had. He could seriously hurt her.

  But was that really a valid reason to not even try?

  She knew the answer was no, but taking that leap of faith was harder than she’d ever expected.

  Picking up the phone, Kennedy made her weekly call back home, starting with Jackson.

  Her brother answered, not even bothering with a hello. “How’s Seattle going?”

  She wanted to lie to him as she’d been doing since she got here, but tonight the words wouldn’t come.

  “I...really miss home.”

  There was a long silence, followed by a chuckle. “Thank God.”

  “The job is...interesting, but it isn’t what I expected. I took it thinking I’d have a chance to use the skills I’d learned, but I’m not, Jackson. I crave the kind of responsibility I had at Trident.

  “Real estate is outrageous, and the apartments I can afford don’t allow dogs. I miss Max and I’m sure mom and dad will get tired of keeping him at some point. I miss my condo with a view of the water. I miss everyone at Trident. I miss the laid-back atmosphere and sense of family.”

  “Then, come home.”

  Jackson made it sound so simple. And maybe it was.

  Her heart was back in Jacksonville. The woman who’d left everything behind to travel across the country for a new adventure wouldn’t hesitate to go after the man she wanted in her life.

  And she wanted Asher.

  17

  ASHER STARED OUT the windows in his home, watching nothing. Behind him there was a glass of whiskey sitting on the table, ice melting, untouched. The moment he’d poured it he knew it was a mistake...it reminded him of her.

  He’d spent the past three weeks trying to prove to himself that he could survive without Kennedy. He wasn’t sure anyone was buying the act.

  Just this afternoon he’d told Jackson that he planned to take a diving job in Australia. Trident didn’t necessarily need the work, but he needed the break. Everywhere he looked, the ghost of Kennedy haunted him.

  Maybe a change of scenery would help. God knew he’d attempted to exorcise her with other women, but that hadn’t gone well at all. He’d been to bar after bar, but despite being approached by countless women, none of them could hold his attention. And he’d always gone home alone.

  Because none of them were Kennedy.

  A knock on the door startled him out of the unpleasant thoughts. Frowning, Asher turned away from the view he hadn’t really been watching anyway and crossed to the front door, opening it.

  Kennedy stared at him, her hands fidgeting at her waist, as if she didn’t have a clue what to do with them.

  “Wh-what are you doing here, Kennedy?”

  Asher ground his teeth together. After everything that had happened between them, the sight of her set him so off balance that he lost his words.

  “Can I come in?”

  Asher thought about telling her no, but what point would that serve?

  Sweeping back an arm, he silently indicated she could enter, and then shut the door behind her.

  She stood in the middle of his living room. A sense of déjà vu overwhelmed him, which didn’t help to settle the anxiety jangling his nerves. That first night hadn’t ended very well. He really didn’t have a desire to relive it.

  “You back in Jacksonville to get the last of your things?” he finally asked.

  She shook her head and took a single step forward. “I’m here for you.”

  “For me?”

  Kennedy nodded, a brief, jerky movement. What the hell did that even mean?

  Turning away, Asher let all of the pain and exhaustion that had been eating him up just pour out of his words. “What do you want, Kennedy?”

  He didn’t hear her approach, but his entire body bucked when her hands came to rest on his back. He stalled, unable to keep walking away from her, even if his head was screaming at him that it would be better to run.

  “I love you.” The words came out choked, her voice soft and barely recognizable. His heart thudded unevenly in his chest. Slowly, he turned.

  Could this be real? Or had he fallen asleep on the couch again and started dreaming?

  “What?”

  “I love you. I think I’ve probably had feelings for you for a long time, since you rescued me that night from jail. But you kept pushing me away.”

  “Because I couldn’t let myself want you.”

  “I get that. I’m Jackson’s little sister and your employee. But on the Amphitrite we were able to move past that.”

  Her hands slipped up his arms, over his chest to rest on either side of his face. “You’re a good man, Asher. No matter what happens between us, I want you to know that. Don’t let anyone ever convince you that you’re not worth everything, because you are.”

  God, he wanted this. Wanted what she was offering him. But could he trust it?

  “How is this going to work, Kennedy? I live here. You live in Seattle. I’m willing to give long distance a shot, but are you? It will be difficult.”

  She smiled up at him, her gorgeous golden eyes twinkling.

  “Do you love me?”

  He wanted to say no, knew that it was probably the best way to protect his heart. But he couldn’t. “Yes.”

  Her smile widened, brightening up the gloominess that had entered his life the minute she’d left.

  “I resigned my job in Seattle.”

  “Kennedy,” he groaned. “You can’t do that. You’ll regret your decision at some point, and I don’t want you to resent me. I’ll...sell my part of Trident. Surely someone in Seattle needs an ex-navy SEAL.”

  Kennedy laughed, throwing her head back and giving everything she had to the moment. Asher didn’t really see what was so damn funny.

  Her arms wound around his neck, and, going up on tiptoe, she rained kisses across his face, punctuating each of them with words. “I didn’t give up my job for you. Or just for you. Working at Masters, Cooper and Dillon wasn’t what I thought. It didn’t challenge me or give me a chance to grow the way my position with Trident did. I missed everyone here. Sure, you were a factor in my decision, but not all of it. Trust me, I’ll never regret choosing to come home. Especially since you’re here.”

  Asher stared down at Kennedy, hope bleeding through him. Could this really be happening? She’d come home for him.

  She’d chosen him. She’d chosen them.

  Wrapping his arms around her, Asher boosted her up his body until her legs twined around his hips. She let out another giggle, sinking into his kiss when he sealed his mouth to hers.

  They reveled in the moment, adrenaline, excitement and pure joy suffusing him.

  Until she pulled back, arms straight, and frowned. “There is one problem, though.”

  The somber expression on her face had his heart flipping over with dread. “What?”

  “My condo’s no longer available. I have no place to live, so I’m moving back in with Mom and Dad. How good are you at climbing trees?”

  Was she serious? If that was the only problem they encountered...

  “Ex-navy SEAL, remember? I’m pretty damn good at climbing whatever you put in front of me. But, that won’t be an issue.”

  “Oh, yeah? Why?”

  “Because give me a month, and I’ll have convinced you to move in with me.”

  Kennedy laughed, the tinkling sound the best thing he’d ever heard. “Keep dreaming, frogman. I think we need to take things slowly.”

  Asher just smirked at her, certain eventually he’d get his way. He knew exactly how to play her body to get a yes from her when he really wanted one.

  He wanted Kennedy in his life, in his home, in his bed, because she chose to be there. But he wasn’t above providing some enthusiastic incentive.

  Sweeping her into his arms, Asher strode down the hallway to introduce her to the bedroom that would eventually be theirs.

  Epilogue


  IT HAD BEEN a long process, but the dive team had finally begun excavating the hold of the Chimera a few weeks ago. It had taken nearly two years from Jackson and Loralei’s discovery, but they’d reached the end point. Kennedy stood on the deck of the Amphitrite, excitement and anticipation churning in her belly.

  Despite how busy everyone was, they’d all made time in their schedules to be present.

  Jackson and Loralei had returned from their honeymoon a month ago. Knox and Avery had left their newest project off the coast of Turkey to return to the Caribbean. Avery had finally finished her PhD six months ago, and the two had recently been trying to find a date to get married somewhere in the middle of their crazy work schedules.

  Asher had gotten his way, and she’d moved in with him, although it had taken about five months instead of one. And she hadn’t regretted the decision a single day. He’d been making noises about rings lately, but so far she was resisting. Not because she didn’t want to marry him, but because she liked driving him a little crazy.

  She’d probably cave on that point the minute he got down on one knee.

  But right now, everyone’s focus was on what lay inside the hold of the Chimera. This moment was a long time in the making.

  Asher walked across the deck, slipping his arm around her waist, and together they strode for the far railing. He tucked her in front of him, positioning his body behind her and wrapping an arm tight around her middle.

  Happiness bubbled up inside Kennedy as she leaned against him. Coming back to Jacksonville, Trident and Asher had been the best decision she’d ever made.

  The documentary had not only been a success, but had gained them some serious media attention when it aired during prime time on one of the major networks. In fact, they’d had several offers from production companies requesting to be present for this moment.

  But Jackson, Knox and Asher had all decided it was more important to share the moment with just the Trident family.

  All the attention had meant her job had gotten very busy. So busy they were already discussing the possibility of hiring her a marketing assistant.

  “I didn’t miss anything, did I?”

  Beside them, Loralei said, “Not yet. They’ve attached the lines to the chest and are about to crank up the crane to lift it.”

  Months ago the team had discovered a chest inside the hold. The moment pictures of it had appeared on their video screens, excitement had rippled through the team. Today, they were finally ready to raise the chest.

  Across the deck, Knox directed the crew operating the crane. Jackson was down with the dive team.

  An avalanche of water gushed across the deck as the worn wooden surface broke through. The crane groaned under the weight, swinging it and placing it gingerly onto the deck.

  Kennedy’s breath backed up into her lungs. After over one hundred and fifty years beneath the water, the thing was delicate, hinges rusted and wood rotten. The smallest impact could make it collapse. As it was, they were going to need to get it into a chemical and water solution pronto to prevent as much erosion as possible from sudden exposure to the air.

  But they’d all agreed to open the chest together.

  Jackson hauled himself onto the deck, shedding equipment and pushing his wet suit down around his hips as he went. He snagged Loralei’s hand, and they joined Kennedy, Asher, Knox and Avery, crowding around the chest.

  The wood was dark, having soaked up water and salt. Metal curved along all of the edges, and a large lock held the lid closed.

  They’d called in an expert on Civil War era locks. Crouched on the deck, the locksmith made quick work of opening the corroded metal and then stepped back.

  Kennedy watched as her brother’s gaze traveled from Knox to Asher and finally landed on his new wife.

  Leaning down, he pressed his lips to Loralei’s. “No matter what’s inside, I want you to know you’re the treasure I found when we discovered the Chimera.”

  Her sister-in-law sighed, a sweet, soft sound that made Kennedy smile.

  Asher’s arm wrapped around her, and his lips found the warm curve of her neck.

  Across from them, Knox bounced on the balls of his feet. “Let’s get this over with. The anticipation is killing me.”

  “Patience, frogman,” Avery said, running her hand down his arm and laughing at him.

  Together, all three men stepped forward and grasped an edge of the lid.

  The hinges groaned, refusing to budge for several seconds before finally letting go. The lid swung back, and everyone gathered around gasped.

  Bright Caribbean sunlight glinted off a small stack of gold bars. Kennedy pressed closer, trying to get a better view.

  “Holy shit,” she breathed, bracing her hand on Asher’s back. She could feel the barely suppressed tremor running just beneath his skin.

  “How many bars are there?”

  “Twenty or so.”

  “Anyone know how much money that is?”

  Jackson looked up at her, shock widening his gaze as he breathed, “Around ten million dollars.”

  Nearby, the entire crew began whooping and hollering.

  Asher grabbed her by the waist and swung her around. He buried his face in her hair and whispered, “We’re set, baby.”

  Kennedy grinned, pushing away from him so she could look up into his face. “Just remember, cupcake, I loved you long before you were rich. I don’t give a damn about the money.”

  He tangled his fingers in her hair, his expression serious. “I love you more than you’ll probably ever know, Kennedy Duchane.”

  He kissed her, the familiar heat and awareness rolling through her. She’d never get enough of this man. He completed her in every way possible.

  Kennedy gripped his wrists, holding on to him. Her heart felt as if it was ready to burst.

  The Chimera might be the site of tragedy, but over the past two years she’d brought them all together. And that was better than a chest full of gold, better than any treasure Kennedy could imagine.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from IGNITED by Kimberly Van Meter.

  (Book One of A WRONG BED CHRISTMAS)

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Blaze story.

  You like it hot! Harlequin Blaze stories sizzle with strong heroines and irresistible heroes playing the game of modern love and lust. They’re fun, sexy and always steamy.

  Enjoy four new stories from Harlequin Blaze every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Other ways to keep in touch:

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Ignited

  by Kimberly Van Meter

  BOOK ONE OF A WRONG BED CHRISTMAS

  1

  ALEXIS MATHESON WAS dreaming of Christmas cookies and homemade candies and stressing over how her candy thermometer was not working properly—when the scenario changed abruptly.

  Suddenly, she was wrapped in a shadow lover’s arms, enjoying a sizzling kiss that was hotter than baking peanut brittle and she hazily wondered who her dream lover was and why she was torturing herself with a sex dream when she’d sternly declared a moratorium on sex until she got her head on straight.

  Ugh. Plainly her brain thought that might take forever.

  Ah, dream lover was pretty good with his tongue and hands! Now, why had she determined sex was a bad idea for the time being?

  She moaned, wrapping her arms around her lover, sighing with pleasure as his mouth blazed a trail down the column of her neck, nipping and nibbling and sending goose bumps tripping down her skin.

  Everything felt so real and yet dreamy at the same time. Hell, if dream lovers were this entertaining, maybe she could give up wide-awake sex for good.

  Ha! Very funny.

  She groaned again as a s
trong hand found her breast and squeezed and suddenly her eyes fluttered open at the realization that something didn’t feel right—no, it felt fabulous, but that’s not what she meant—she no longer knew if what was happening was only in her mind.

  Before her sleep-fuzzed brain could fully react, she was being kissed again and, damn, it was good.

  But wait a minute...she’d gone to bed alone!

  An instant shot of adrenaline chased away her sleepy enjoyment of Mr. Talented Stranger and replaced it with a holy-shit-I’m-about-to-become-a-statistic jolt of awareness and she shoved at the big body covering her, landing a strategic hit to his groin area as she kicked.

  He grunted in pain and rolled to his side, doubled over.

  Every serial-killer book and movie she’d ever happened to read or see jumped to mind as she used her feet to shove the stranger’s massive body right off the edge of her bed and onto the floor.

  “This bed is already occupado!”

  Once she heard the thump of his body landing on her carpet, she sprang from the bed and flicked on the light, snatching the first thing she could grab, and hurled it at the stranger when he stumbled to his feet. Oh, good Lord, he was naked.

  He dodged the shoe, yelling, “What are you doing? Stop throwing shit! You’ve already mashed my nuts, lady!” as he shielded his frank and beans and blinked against the light like a mole squinting at the sun. “Watch it!”

  “No, you watch it, this is my room and, more important, my bed. You have ten seconds to tell me who you are before you get a Martha Stewart smackdown.” She hefted the book in her hands with the smiling domestic goddess gracing the hardcover to show she meant business, but the sturdy, dark-haired guy looked strong enough to take a hit without breaking a sweat. Even under the circumstances, Alexis would’ve had to have been blind to miss the fact that her intruder had a body that was worth taking a second look at. Go figure. A sexy intruder. Why did she have the worst luck with men?

  “Calm down,” he grumbled. “Put the damn book down, you crazy lunatic.”

  “Wrong answer,” Alexis retorted and heaved the book straight at his head.