She playfully slapped his arm. “You never call!”
Shame roared through him. “Sorry. I’m bad with phones.”
“Text me once in a while, dork.” She kissed his cheek and whispered, “Saw you dancing with a gorgeous pirate. Please tell me it was Julia.”
He whispered back, “It was Julia.”
She clapped her hands in glee. “Knew it! Way to go, bro.”
“Look what the night dragged in.” Rising from the couch, Jeff offered his freckled hand. He was the ginger in the family.
Matt shook, noticing the firm grip. His brother definitely worked out in New York. “Wow, you’ve grown six inches, at least. You’ve almost caught up to your big brother.”
“I grew seven and a half inches, and look again. I passed you, old man.”
They stood nose-to-nose. Damn. Jeff was taller. “Huh, you wearing high heels? Three-inch girl’s stilettos?”
Jeff socked him in the arm. “Nope.”
Matt rubbed his arm. Why was he everyone’s sparring bag? “You hit like the last girl who punched me.”
“Yeah, I can see the bruise. How did you insult her?”
“I admitted to being a Harper.”
Jeff nodded. “That explains the black eye.”
Chloe threw her arms around both of them. “So good to see you guys! I missed you like crazy.”
“Missed you, too, Fish.” He used the old nickname. His sister used to like to swim and surf with her brothers. Man, she’d been fast in the water for a little kid.
Matt looked up to see RW watching the reunion. He had his hands shoved into his pockets and his eyes seemed rheumy, like he’d been drinking all night, but there was no glass in sight. And RW Harper didn’t drink.
What’d happened to the proud, mean man Matt used to know?
“Hey, Dad. What announcement?” Matt said.
RW took that as his cue to come closer to the trio. Slowly.
“He hasn’t told any of us,” Jeff whispered. “I get the feeling it’s bad.”
“Maybe not,” Chloe said hopefully. She’d always been the cheerful one in the family. He had no idea where she got it.
RW passed them and walked toward the railing. “Let’s gather the troops.”
Matt raised an eyebrow. Jeff shrugged. Chloe’s gaze was on her father, her arms still wrapped around her brothers.
“Cut the music,” RW called down to some guy in the crowd. When it was quiet, he lifted his voice and looked out over the gathering like a king on his thrown. “Thank you all for being here. A special thanks to my children for coming home.”
Matt crossed his arms. Home? Casa Larga had stopped being that long ago. If it ever was.
RW continued. “Tonight, I will share with you a new Harper Industries project.”
Uh-oh. Was this the snowy plover destruction project? He wished Julia was here to hear the announcement.
Everyone waited for RW to go on. “Casa Larga will be upgraded into a five-star resort and spa. Complete with tennis courts, golf course and all the amenities high-end clientele would seek. It will benefit everyone in Plunder Cove.”
Chloe’s head swung toward Jeff’s. Matt noticed the flash of interest in Jeff’s blue eyes, too. Hotel management had been his thing before he’d gotten into the reality TV business. Now he was famous for critiquing the most elite of hotels on his show.
It was all interesting, but Matt didn’t know how this news would benefit anyone or anything other than RW’s bank account. The people downstairs started whispering among themselves, probably thinking the same thing. What had the Harpers ever given them? The townspeople had worked for the family for centuries and yet most of them were barely existing above California’s poverty level.
“In gratitude for the work you and your families have done for me and my family over the centuries, twenty-five percent of the profits will be set aside for the townspeople of Pueblicito. My lawyers have already drawn up the contract. I suggest you elect a representative, or a board, to sign for you and handle the money.” RW smiled. “It’s going to be in the millions.”
A roar went up in the hall. Matt stared at his father. It was the craziest thing he’d ever heard him say.
“Please enjoy the food and refreshments and stay as long as you’d like.” RW turned back to his kids. “How’d I do?”
Matt shook his head. “Are you on meds?”
Chloe elbowed him in the ribs.
RW’s smile fell. “Why would you say that?”
“You don’t give money to charity, let alone a whole town.”
RW straightened invisible wrinkles out of his perfectly pressed shirt. “It’s time to give back, my son. I thought you’d be pleased.”
Pleased? Maybe, if his dad actually went through with it. More than likely, RW was running some sort of scam and the people of Pueblicito would never see a dime.
“I’ve always thought this area should be better developed. You’re going to need a good team for the hotel and restaurant renovation. Want me to provide some names?” Jeff said.
“I already have the one name I need.” RW clapped Jeff on the back.
Jeff stepped back. “No. That’s not happening.”
RW spread his hands. “This is what you were trained for, my boy. When you were little you said you wanted to build a fancy hotel. Well, this is it. Don’t you want to be the creator of the best resort and restaurant in North America?”
Matt could tell by the way the muscle in Jeff’s square jaw tightened that he was thinking about it. Watch out, bro. He’s trying to suck you in. For what purpose, Matt didn’t know, but RW worked people over until he got what he wanted.
Jeff must’ve remembered that, too, because he said, “Can’t do it, Dad. My show is really taking off. We just got signed for another year.”
RW blew through his lips. “That ridiculous show where you go behind the scenes to reveal the dirt behind the top-rated hotels? It’s sleazy and beneath your talent. You want to do that for the rest of your life, Jeffrey?”
Matt could see the telltale redness of anger under Jeff’s collar. Soon his ears would be red, too. Leaning against the railing, Matt growled, “Way to step all over his career.”
Chloe came to her brother’s rescue. “Dad! Secrets and Sheets has really high ratings. All my friends love it. Plus...” She leaned into Jeff. “They think you’re cute.”
Jeff shook his head. “I don’t really expect a guy like you would understand why hotels need good critics to keep them honest.”
“Critic? They’re calling you a wannabe, son. You shouldn’t want to be anything other than what you were destined to become—great. That’s what I desire for you. For all of you.” RW’s gaze fell on Matt and then Chloe. “And I am ready to give you what you need to fulfill your potential. All I ask in return is that you stay here in Plunder Cove to see it through in case I am...elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere?” Chloe’s voice cracked. “Where are you going?”
“I can’t say, but it’s important I get this project in order.” RW smiled. “I have plans for all of you. Chloe, my sweet girl, you can use your Sports Science degree to be the athletic director at the family resort. You’ll be wonderful at it. You can plan all the events and outings for the clients. Anything your heart desires.”
Chloe’s mouth opened and closed again as if she didn’t know what to say. But Matt could see the glistening in her eyes. Of the three of them, Chloe was the one who belonged in Plunder Cove. A guy would have to be blind to not see how much she loved the place and her brothers. Blind, or mean. RW had sent her away, too, banished her from the kingdom just like he had her brothers. It must’ve broken her heart. It was just one more thing Matt would never forgive RW for.
“Hold up. What are you doing now, Fish?” Matt asked. “In your career, your life.”
He
grimaced. He should know the answer. Damn, why hadn’t he kept in contact? He shouldn’t have punished the messenger for the bad news about Julia’s marriage. Besides, he suspected their mother had forced Chloe to write the letter that had exploded his world.
Chloe’s face quirked. “You, uh, are not going to believe this. I’m sort of famous, too. In Hollywood, anyway.”
Jeff wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Yes, you are. Miss Yogi to the Stars.”
Chloe laughed. “You’ve heard of me?”
Jeff laughed. “Who hasn’t? My producer has been bugging me for an introduction. He’s toying with an idea to start a show about you. I’ll give you his card before I leave.”
Matt quirked an eyebrow. “What’s a yogi?”
Jeff shook his head. “Dude, you’ve never heard of yoga? Hot babes stretching, posing, tight butts. You need to get your head out of the clouds.”
Chloe slugged Jeff in the arm. “It’s more than sexy stretching, dork. Try my class and I’ll introduce you to muscles you didn’t know you had.”
“I know where my muscles are.” Jeff rubbed his arm. Apparently, he’d felt that punch.
Matt shrugged. “There’s your answer, Dad. When you weren’t looking, your three kids grew up and got lives. I’m starting an airline in Asia, which you knew already, since you are contributing a plane. I’m not staying around to...what? Fly in your billionaire clients?”
“Sounds like your childhood dream, doesn’t it? Flying planes on your own schedule with time to ride your motorcycle, hang out with the locals and swim in the ocean.” Strangely, RW did not seem perturbed or dissuaded. “Take the weekend to think about it. All of you.”
Chloe raised one finger. “I, uh, don’t need the weekend. I hate the fakeness of Hollywood. It’s impossible to make real connections there. For the past ten years, I’ve wished we could be a real family again. If I have half a chance to work with my brothers...” She rose up on her toes and kissed Jeff’s cheek and then Matt’s. “I’m going to take it.” She blew RW a kiss. “Thanks, Dad. Count me in.”
“I’ll stay until Monday but then I need to head back to New York. My wannabe show is poised to make millions. I’m not walking away. But I can find you some of the top men in the business for the renovation and hotel management,” Jeff said.
“Sleep on it for a couple days.” RW shifted his weight. “Perhaps you’ll realize what an opportunity this is for you. For the family.”
Matt narrowed his eyes. What was RW’s evil scheme here? Whatever it was, he wasn’t going to be controlled by his power-grubbing father. Been there, survived it, moving on.
“I’ll stay the weekend. Must be something I can do to pass the time,” Matt said.
It took lots of work to keep his grin from turning into a full-fledged smile. Oh, he was going to do something, all right. Make that one sweet someone. Matt already had plans over the next couple of days.
Julia had voiced her needs and he’d promised to give her four orgasms in one hour. He couldn’t wait to get started.
Nine
Julia woke, showered, put on a skirt and a lacy, pink T-shirt, scrubbed the kitchen counters and popped a Spanish frittata in the oven all before the sun came up.
Sexual frustration? Check. Nervous energy? Double check. Scared out of her mind? Triple check. Matt was coming to breakfast. Her Matt. How had he survived? Why hadn’t he called her? Written?
What happened?
No, don’t think, just enjoy it while it lasts.
Matt was in Plunder Cove alive and sexier than ever.
And he was hers for one weekend.
Her heart pounded, thinking about their kisses last night and that dance. She was getting hot all over again. She rinsed a clean cloth under the faucet and pressed it to her forehead.
Henry shuffled out in his pajamas. “Mama?” He rubbed his eyes. “Whatcha doing? Do you have a fever?”
Yes, yes, I do. The kind only Matt Harper can cause.
“I’m cleaning. Company’s coming for breakfast.”
“Who?”
“The pilot. We called him Captain last night. His real name is Matt.”
“Sweet! He was cool.”
She smiled and pressed his bed-hair down with the wet cloth. “Yep.”
Matt Harper had always been the coolest guy she knew. She’d been smitten the day she’d met him when she was only twelve and he was thirteen. She and a couple of friends were hanging out at Juanita’s, eating multicolored snow cones, when a cute boy with dark hair rode by on his dirt bike. He came back around, popping a wheelie in front of her.
“Show-off,” one of the girls mumbled. “Look at him. Such a bad boy. Nothing but trouble.”
Oh, she was looking, all right. “Who is he?”
The girl slurped juice out of her cone. “Just some boy who cleans up for Juanita. He acts like he owns the place.”
The other girl snorted. “No duh! He does own the place. That’s Matt Harper. You know, RW’s son?”
“Really?” The girl’s voice sounded different then. Like she was watching a prince pop wheelies.
Matt rode by again, this time with both of his hands behind his head and his gaze on Julia.
“Ooh, la, la. I think he likes you, Jules,” the second girl teased. “Better wipe the shaved ice off your face. He’s coming over.”
She scrubbed the stickiness off her cheeks as Matt came skidding in sideways in front of them. He had blue eyes and a grin that made her stomach dance.
“Wanna ride?” he asked her in a voice that slid over her skin, warming her icy lips.
One girl shook her wrist and snapped her fingers—the sign for H-O-T.
“Me?” Julia croaked.
“Yeah, you, beautiful.” He grinned and her legs went wobbly. Her cheeks were on fire and something weird was happening in her stomach.
“Tía Nona will kill you, chica,” the other girl said.
“Come on. I’ll go slow.” He was cute and seemed sincere.
She threw away her snow cone. “I don’t know how to ride a bike.”
He put his hand out. “Doesn’t matter. I do.”
She’d never held a boy’s hand before. She took it and quickly climbed on the bicycle seat.
“Lift your feet a little and relax. I’ve got you.” He stood and started pedaling.
She’d never trusted a stranger with her life before. Something about Matt Harper made her try. Since her own parents didn’t want her, she doubted anyone else would. Until Matt Harper, the cutest bad boy in Plunder Cove, had singled her out for a ride.
He took her down to the beach and they went swimming. It was the single most fabulous day of her young life. Only to be followed by better days and nights with Matt Harper over the next four years. She’d given him her heart the moment she’d sat on his bicycle seat. They were just kids, but for the first time Julia knew what love was.
She gave everything she had to Matt Harper.
And he’d blown everything apart. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. The broken shards left in her chest were not going to anyone but Henry—the son Matt didn’t know he had and said he didn’t want.
He’d told her more than once that he would never end up like RW and all the other bastard Harpers before him because he wasn’t going to be a father.
But now that he was a father, should she tell him? Would he hate her for it?
Would he stay?
She shook her head.
Falling in love was a girlish dream that had no place in her life now. She’d have one last fun-filled weekend with Matt and let him go. Somehow.
He knocked on her door and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
“He’s here!” Henry announced.
With her hand pressed against the bongo drums in her chest, she nodded. “Why don’t you put on s
ome real clothes and I’ll let him in? Something clean!”
Henry raced off to his bedroom and she hustled to the door.
There Matt stood, with a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand, looking like the bad boy of her dreams. “Hi, beautiful.”
The adjective didn’t even begin to describe the man filling up her doorway. “Hi.” The sound came out breathy.
She let her gaze travel from his intense blue eyes, over his full lips and square jaw. He wore a chain around his neck and a telltale bump under his T-shirt. Interesting. He still wore his dog tags. The black T-shirt pulling across his chest was much tighter than the pirate shirt he’d worn last night and it highlighted his broad shoulders and muscular arms.
He held still as she took him all in. Her hungry gaze traveled down his pecs, over each bump of his six-pack abs to his... Oh. He was aroused already.
He wasn’t the only one.
She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Henry wasn’t behind her and grabbed Matt by the front of his T-shirt and pulled. His lips crashed into hers. His frame—everything about him was large and hard—crashed into her, too. They fell back against the wall with a bang that she hoped seemed louder to her than it really was. If Henry ran in and saw her making out with a man in the kitchen, it would be...awkward. Since she could still hear her son ruffling through his drawers in his room, she ran her fingers through Matt’s hair and kissed him for all he was worth.
He yanked the flowers she’d just smashed out from between them and held them over her head, caging her against the wall. His mouth lit her on fire. Her brain kept squealing, I’m kissing him. This is real. Matt Harper came back!
“Mama, is my Pokémon shirt clean?”
Move away from the hot pirate. She couldn’t do this in front of Henry.
She wiggled out from under Matt and called out, “Doubt it. You wore it the last three days in a row.”
“It’s barely dirty,” Henry whined. “Only has a few stains and doesn’t smell like my socks. Can I wear it?”
“Find another, Pig-Pen.” She motioned Matt inside her home. “Come.”
“Nearly did, babe. I really liked your good-morning kiss.” He handed her the mangled bouquet. “I brought flowers.”
Forbidden Lovers Page 6
