by Jeannie Moon
“Josie, I can’t be here indefinitely,” Lila replied. “It’s your house. Your family house.”
“Exactly. It’s my house. And I say you can stay as long as you need.”
Lila breathed out. She knew she was lucky to have a place to go after she lost everything, but she couldn’t take advantage. Insurance allowed her to replace her things, but the condo she’d been living in for the past five years was the place she’d been able to put down roots, and she’d miss it. Josie’s house was beautiful and right on the beach, but it wasn’t hers.
And it brought memories of Nick. Hot, sweaty, sexy memories of Josie’s brother, who had taken her on a passionate side trip when he visited a few months ago. Anton had just proposed and whisked Josie off to Marinbourg to meet his family.
Nick wasn’t happy about it. Anton was his best friend, and Nick had found out in the most unceremonious way possible that his best friend and his sister had been together behind his back. The man grumbled, and Lila, being the nurturer that she was, comforted him.
A lot. She comforted him a lot.
And the comforting could be broken down to one thing: they had wild sex for four days.
In her defense, Nick was much happier when they parted just shy of a week later. He was off on another secret assignment. He’d left her that morning to make a quick run to the Super Min, and never returned. All she got was a short text that said he had to leave and he’d see her when he got back in town.
She’d waited and waited, and now, four months later, none of them had heard from him. Josie was worried he’d miss her wedding next month. Anton wasn’t really concerned, saying Nick wouldn’t let them down, and Lila couldn’t identify exactly what she was feeling, but fear was definitely in there someplace.
Their time together had started out as a diversion, but it became more intense as the days wore on. Lila knew how she felt. She’d fallen for him and fallen hard. Nick, for his part, hadn’t acted like they were just casual.
That was how it ended. She hadn’t told Josie about it, but she would eventually. Especially since the baby in her belly would make her best friend an aunt.
“You’re going to need more space when the baby comes,” Josie said, “and the house is perfect for that. I’ll even spring for all the furniture.”
“Y’all are nuts. You’re not buying me furniture.”
“Is she still arguing with you, darling?” Entering the room and heading straight for his bride-to-be was Tony, or as he was known in formal circles, King Anton Edward of Marinbourg.
“Endlessly.”
“Lila, you should give up the fight. She’s never going to let you leave.”
Lila knew Josie could be stubborn, but living in her house when she was lying to her best friend was making Lila feel guiltier than ever. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say thank you,” Anton grinned. “That’s all.”
“Thank you.” Her voice cracked, overcome with emotion.
“Just keep one of the rooms free for Nick. As soon as he resurfaces, I’ll tell him you’ve moved in.”
“Right. Nick. How is he?”
She shouldn’t have asked that.
Josie twisted her fingers. “I don’t know. He’s been gone a long time, even for him.”
Nick was a man of mystery. It was a big joke, but the truth was he was away often and couldn’t really talk about his work. There was no doubt it was dangerous. Lila had seen more than a few scars on his body.
“He’s fine,” Anton said. “We’ve gone months without hearing from him.”
Lila knew that was true, but the concern on Josie’s face was palpable. That made her nervous—for her friend, for herself, and most especially, for Nick.
Walking through the house, Lila thought about how much her life was changing, and how much it was going to change. There was a good possibility she could lose her teaching job. And even if she didn’t, there were people in town who would make things uncomfortable for a single, pregnant teacher. Softly, she placed her hand on her belly, letting it linger, and thinking about the life growing inside her.
Lila wasn’t overly sentimental. At least, she kept telling herself that. She should be thinking about all the trouble this pregnancy could cause, but in truth, over the past few months, that mattered less and less. All she could think about was the baby. Regardless of what Nick or Josie or Anton thought, this child was her family, and that made her very, very happy.
She’d be a good mother. For Lila, no job in the world was more important. It was probably because she never had a mother of her own. Her daddy tried to do it all, but to Lila, that just made it more obvious that something was missing. A mother’s presence was without measure.
Sitting on the bed in what used to be Josie’s room, she stared out at the gulf. The water was calm, clear, and blue. She would be starting her baby off in paradise. And somehow she’d find a way to repay Josie for her kindness, but she wasn’t going to stay indefinitely.
“I won’t let you down, sweetie,” she said laying a hand on her belly. “I promise.”
“Like you could ever let anyone down.” Josie stepped into the room. “I don’t think for one second this child will want for anything, but most especially he or she will have all the love in the world. You aren’t capable of anything less, Lila.”
“Do you think so? There aren’t a lot of great mothers in my family history.”
“Maybe not, but your father adored you. You learned how to be a good parent from watching him. And from what you’ve told me, your mother had her strengths, even if she wasn’t ideal. You’re going to be fine.”
Josie’s arm looped around Lila’s shoulder, and the love and faith her friend held in her heart seeped right into Lila. Everyone needed a friend like this—someone who gave without question, without conditions, and without expectations. Someone who didn’t judge.
That’s why it felt so wrong not telling her friend the whole truth. But in her head, she knew she had to tell Nick first. Wherever he was, whatever he was doing, he deserved to know about his child before his sister or his best friend.
Unfortunately, at the rate things were going, it could be a while before Nick DiMarco walked back in her life. And that was a problem, because sooner or later, she was going to have to tell Josie and Anton that her baby was part of their family.
Chapter Two
Lila lay curled in her bed, listening to the waves. The house was empty. Josie and Anton had left right after dinner, boarding their private jet, and this time, Josie took her dog, Lucky, with her.
Secretly, Lila had been hoping she’d leave the dog to keep her company, but Josie had missed him, so Anton made arrangements for the pup to travel to Marinbourg with them.
It was unsettling being truly alone. At least when she was in her condo, there were people around. She could hear the neighbors coming in at night, or going out to work in the morning. Now the light from the moon shone in her window, the waves gently brushed the shore, noticeable in the silence…
And a door slammed.
Lila’s stomach lurched. Someone was in the house.
She heard a crash. “Fuck,” came the growl from the kitchen. Whoever it was must have thought the house was empty, because he wasn’t trying to be quiet.
What would he do when he found her alone?
Her heart started racing and a thump of adrenaline had her shooting out of bed and flinging open the closet door. There had to be something she could use to beat the son of a bitch with.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much. The best thing she found in the back of the closet was an old set of golf clubs. So old, in fact, the shafts were made of wood. It was better than nothing. If she was able to get a good swing, maybe she could knock the guy out long enough to get help. Lila doubted she’d actually be able to do that, but she had to try.
Slipping out of her bedroom, Lila wished she’d been dressed in more than a big tee shirt. She was almost naked underneath, wearing just a pair of boy short
s. All she could hope was that she hit the guy hard enough before he noticed she was there.
Inching her way down the hall, she stopped when she saw the tall shadowy figure looking through the kitchen cabinets. He was pushing around cans and boxes of food, finally grabbing one and reaching his hand into a bag of cookies.
What the hell? Some random hoodlum just dropped in for a snack? Moving into the kitchen slowly and silently while the intruder devoured her favorite oatmeal raisin cookies, she took him in.
He was tall and muscular, but not large. What he didn’t have in bulk, though, she bet he made up for in speed. Which meant she had to act fast.
Taking a step and stopping, then another, she paused about three feet away from the intruder. Her heart was beating hard, and her hands were so wet she was afraid the club would slip.
Raising it up over her head, she was just about ready to crash it down on his head when he spun around, grabbing the head and throwing Lila off balance. The man’s grip on the club kept her from hitting the floor too hard, but that didn’t stop him from pinning her to the ground with a good amount of force. He was so fast, so agile… Lila never had a chance.
God, she was scared. And she couldn’t breathe. Figuring she’d be dead soon she struggled, but to no avail. She wasn’t going anywhere. Damn. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to settle into the new place and make a life for herself and her baby. A baby that now might never be born.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered. “Please.”
The house fell completely silent. All she could hear were the waves on the beach.
“Lila?”
The voice. Warm and deep, it wrapped around her like a soft blanket. Nick.
Her eyes fluttered open and she took in his handsome face. His dark hair was longer, not cut in a military style like it was when she last saw him, and his jaw was covered in a neatly groomed beard. He looked breathtaking—like a pirate.
“What the hell are you doing?” he snarled.
“I was protecting myself. I thought you were robbing the house.”
“So you were going to hit me with a golf club? There’s a door in every bedroom. You run; you don’t try to fight off an intruder.” He tossed the club to the side with a thud. “Shit. I could have hurt you. Not your best move.”
His arrogant attitude was pissing her off, and that was on top of being furious that he’d dropped off the face of the earth. It didn’t matter that he was right about running, the bastard.
Still on the floor gazing up at him, Lila tried to free her arms. They’d made love on this floor. Impulsive and hot, he’d pinned her down then as well, but it had been a lot more fun. She’d never forget it, or how he made her feel. Sexy, desired…loved.
It had only taken three days for her to fall in love with Nick DeMarco, and it was very likely she’d never get over it. Furious or not, she’d finally met her match. Unfortunately, it didn’t sound like he felt the same.
“Can I get up?” she asked, wincing. “All of a sudden, everything really hurts.”
“Oh. Yeah. Of course. Sorry.”
Hopping to his feet, he grasped her hands and pulled her up. Lila immediately got lightheaded and found herself leaning against Nick’s strong chest. Perfect.
She had to pull it together.
He smelled like a storm. Crisp, electric. But he felt different. His body under her hands didn’t have the bulk it did just a few months ago. And she wondered why. Had something happened?
“Are you okay?” His concern was genuine. For now.
Finally, she stepped back. “Yes. Fine. I’m sorry about attacking you. It’s my first night here by myself.”
“Why are you here instead of your condo?”
This wasn’t a topic for the middle of the night. The adrenaline was starting to crash, her hormones were surging just being close to him, and the last thing Lila wanted to do was lose it in front of him.
“Why don’t we talk in the morning? I assume you’ve come to stay for a few days?”
“It might be a little longer.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. “Why are you here? What’s happened?”
His eyes drilled into her, locking her in place. “I…there was a fire. My condo…”
“A fire? How bad?”
This was a truth Lila had been avoiding. She didn’t have to talk about it with Josie because her friend had been on the island when it happened. She’d been Lila’s first phone call. Josie had seen the smoldering rubble. But it was in the past, and it was unlikely her home would be rebuilt.
“It was bad,” she breathed out. “I lost everything.”
There it was. Her life, and his glaring absence from it, was all too obvious now.
“Jesus. I’m sorry.”
Immediately, Nick’s arms banded around her, but Lila pushed him away. Tempting as it was to let herself be comforted, she had to keep her distance. He wasn’t staying. There was no way he was staying very long.
“We’ll talk in the morning,” she said, holding up her hand. “The guest room is all yours.”
He stood there. Staring at her. God, he was beautiful. She could go to him and he’d hold her, and for a moment Lila would feel better. Then her self-respect would kick her ass. She might be carrying his baby, but she couldn’t let him get inside her head again.
He’d leave.
He would always leave.
What the hell? Nick never expected to be on the receiving end of Lila’s wild golfing skills, but she’d managed to clip his arm before he took her down.
He hadn’t even thought. He’d just reacted.
Flattening an unarmed woman was definitely not going to rank as his finest moment.
Nick had done everything possible to get Lila out of his head. The truth was no matter how hard he tried, he’d thought about her every day since he’d left on his last mission. Now she was here, living in the house where he’d planned on hiding out until he could get his shit together.
The universe was fucking cruel.
The woman made him want in ways that were a problem for a guy like him. He had no roots, and even now, without the danger associated with his work, he still didn’t know what he was doing with his life. Lila definitely deserved better.
She was pissed off. That much was obvious from the way she reacted to him, but something else was eating at her. She was nervous, and while he liked that he made her nervous, he didn’t have any idea why that was.
Lila was strong and funny. She was adventurous in and out of bed, and when they got together four months ago, she knew exactly what she wanted. It was a huge turn-on.
They’d had a great time together. So good that leaving was hard for the first time in his life. Lila had gotten under his skin, and when he was away, he’d missed her. It was new. And he sometimes wondered if it was a distraction.
But distraction or not, when he woke up in the hospital after being rescued, she was the first person he wanted to see. Not his parents, or his sister, or his best friend. Lila was the one he almost asked for.
Almost. He’d promised to call, or write when he could, and he didn’t. He’d broken that pledge to women before, but those other women weren’t Lila. Even as he lay in his hospital bed, he thought about calling. But asking her to get on a plane to Germany after months without a word was wrong. He didn’t need her visiting out of pity or obligation.
God, she’d lost everything. The trauma of watching your life go up in flames was bound to change a person. But it still didn’t explain why she was so nervous. He needed to know more.
Slamming a cabinet door, Nick swore under his breath. He was damned confused. The Lila he knew would have given him hell. Instead, the woman who had just attacked him with his grandfather’s ancient golf club was quieter, more controlled.
Nick thought it could have been the shock. The fact that she thought she’d had to defend herself in the middle of the night that affected her. She was obviously scared. And she’d made one other
thing perfectly clear.
She wasn’t happy to see him.
Making his way to the bedroom Josie always kept made up for him, Nick dropped the duffle on the floor and walked to the doors that led out of the house to the beach. The moon shone down, making the sand and water sparkle.
It reminded him of some time he spent in Indonesia. The situation they’d dropped into was abominable, but there were moments like this during those crazy days, a few seconds of total peace, that allowed him to clear his mind.
He’d always liked Mimosa. The memories of vacations with his family, of his grandparents, brought a smile to his face. He still believed it was a good idea to come to Barefoot Bay, but he’d have to prepare himself for a tough conversation with Lila.
All things considered, it was probably a good idea to leave his bag packed in case she didn’t want him to stay.
Pulling out his cell, Nick pressed a few buttons and waited. It was barely six in the morning in Marinbourg, but Tony would be up. The man never slept.
“So you are alive.” Tony’s voice held an edge. “Nice of you to let us know.”
“Funny. How’s the castle now that Hurricane Josie has moved in?”
Tony chuckled. “The staff didn’t know what to make of her at first, but they love her. My mother and sister can’t imagine the place without her, and even my father is charmed.”
Thinking about his little sister, the future queen, Nick’s heart warmed. “She does that to people.”
“She does, my friend. She certainly does.” Anton’s voice betrayed how much he cared about Josie. It was that—the love—that helped Nick get past the fact that they’d hidden their relationship from him. “So, are you going to tell me where you’ve been, or is it top-secret?”
“I can’t,” Nick responded. “But I can tell you that I’ll be around for the wedding.”
Tony exhaled. “Don’t let Josie down. If you say you’re going to be here, you have to be here. No running off to overthrow some government.”
Should Nick tell him? Tony was his best friend, and he knew, more than anyone, the kind of life Nick led. Or used to lead. “I’m not going anywhere.”