Secret Wish

by Victoria Pinder

  She settled into the backseat of Rafe's car and closed her eyes. No one here would criticize her lack of boyfriends. No one here knew she still dreamt of one kiss years ago from a man she loved and lost.

  At least with her brother around she wouldn’t get hit on by random jerks. On a Thursday night, though, the crowds were usually young hipsters and not the Friday night party people, even during the holidays.

  She buckled her seatbelt. Rafe started the car, and she hit her brother's shoulder as she told him, "Buckle up."

  As they turned onto the main street, Rafe blew past a stop sign. Jose didn't even notice. She shook her head in the backseat.

  "The police force has made you a horrible driver, Rafe."

  Rafe didn't even turn to acknowledge her. "Lay off, Caro. We're here. Let's go inside and get drinks."

  They stepped out of the truck and closed their doors. The tropic night air that still had a tinge of the day's heat worked its magic on her muscles. The open area bar had Christmas white lights all around the outside walls. She relaxed as Rafe opened the local bar’s door for her.

  She tapped her brother's arm to get his attention as the music blared. She pointed past the white Christmas tree on the left. "I'll get a table. One of y'all get me a Corona with lemon."

  She walked away from the boys and turned the corner. Despite the tacky, never seen snow, Christmas decorations that looked like someone hit the clearance section of the dollar store, this bar had an open roof, and the moonlight shone down on them. It was a nice evening of seventy-five degrees. She glanced at all the tables, and as bodies parted, she hoped she spotted one close to the corner. She made her way there, but then almost tripped over a wall of giant muscles that stepped in front of her.

  The smell of familiar oak trees filled her nostrils. It was the scent of the man she’d never forget. She licked her lips.

  Then his arms wrapped around hers to ensure she didn't trip and fall on her face in her heels. Her heartbeat grew as she glanced up at the handsome man with blue eyes and light brown almost blond hair. It felt like she was reliving a dream.

  The man’s face was in shadows. The heat in her body told her it was Luke, but she couldn’t see. She played with her necklace, pulled away, and lowered her gaze. "Sorry, I didn't see you."

  His broad shoulders were so intense. Images of Luke washed over her ,but this man in the shadow was equally hot.

  Her pulse raced as every nerve ending told her this was not her imagination, as he said, "Don't worry about it."

  A second later, he stepped into the light, and the glint in his eyes grew. "Caro Soliz, is that you?"

  Whoever in charge of the music chose that moment to blow his speakers with increased volume as the song pierced through her. She couldn't hear anything beyond the beat, but she shouted, "Luke?”

  He leaned lower to her ear. As he came closer, she smelled oak trees mixed with a slight citrus, and her mouth watered.

  "You dated Jose at the UM."

  Luke Marshall. Their one kiss outside the library flashed again as her mouth tingled. "That was a long time ago."

  "Yes, it was."

  Nothing could have prepared her for this moment. She clearly couldn't think straight this second. Her lips puckered as she stood on her tip toes to answer him.

  "Right, I'm Caro. Luke, is that you?"

  Another woman, a blonde who was so thin and tall that her red dress clung to her like it was spray painted on her body. She could have anyone she ever wanted, placed her hand on his shoulder as if staking a claim. "Doctor Luke, we were waiting for you over here."

  The words doctor and Luke replayed in her head. He had planned to go to medical school, and it was why he left. She crossed her arms.

  "I'll be there in a minute." He turned to stare at the woman as she took her hand away and then his sexy blue eyes returned to stare right at her. The blonde sashayed away as Luke said, "Sorry, office party,” he mumbled. “Caro, it's good to see you. I always wondered what happened to you."

  Office party meant the woman wanted him, but he might not return the favor. Or he could be sleeping with her. She had no idea, but she'd like to know if he was free. She couldn't bring that up now, though, as that would ruin this moment, so she sighed and settled on her question.

  "I finished at UM and never saw or heard from you again."

  "Business school for you. I remember." She licked her lips as he lowered his gaze. "I moved to LA for medical school, Boston for my residency, but I finally moved back."

  Did his kiss now live up to her memory, or had she created a fantasy moment as her body tingled? Her body grew warmer near him, but in the corner of her eye, she saw Jose and Rafe. The air went cold around her. Luke must be assuming the wrong thing entirely as he stared at Jose.

  She stilled. "Wait, don't get the wrong idea, here."

  "You probably married Jose." Luke's face turned red.

  "No. Not at all. He works with my brother, that's it."

  Her brother placed his hand on her back. She held her hand up and waved. "Give me one second, Luke."

  Rafe didn't look at her and stared right at Luke. "Caro, we left you to find a table for us."

  She threw his hand off her and shook her head. "Can you not see I'm talking to this man?" She pointed to the outside patio, as the Santa head bobbed near the white plastic tree. "You go find a table, and I will join you in a minute."

  Rafe crossed his arms as he said, "Caro, I'm right over there."

  As they left for the moment, she turned towards Luke. "Rafe is my annoying brother, who acts like my stand-in father, and Jose is a fellow police officer with him. I broke up with Jose the day you left, right after you kissed me outside the library."

  "You told me you weren't the girl who cheated on anyone."

  She had said the absolute wrong thing. She had spent years chastising herself for her stupidity and not being able to think in that moment.

  "I needed to break things clean with Jose. I didn’t mean for you to leave."

  "I wish you had said that."

  She lowered her eyes. "Me too. I couldn't think that night."

  Luke's smile reflected her own. "I remember thinking if I had a girl like you, I'd do everything I could to ensure we had a future together."

  Rafe was a few feet away, but she could feel his and Jose’s stares on the base of her neck. Luke leaned closer again, and all she could smell was his woodsy essence. She licked her lips and imagined another kiss.

  "This place is loud. Would you like to go out front to talk for a moment?"

  "Sure."

  Her heart jumped, and she wanted to shout she'd go with him anywhere, but she wasn't stupid. Her brother, who acted the part of her father since their own father died years ago, would ruin this in a few minutes. Her heart warmed as she took his hand. The skin-to-skin contact sent a shockwave through her.

  She nodded her head. "Let's go."

  He led her through the crowd and held the door open for her. She passed his wall of muscles. Goosebumps grew on her arms, though she ignored them. This was her chance for a new memory. She walked to a pretty spot near some palm trees wrapped in white lights. He followed.

  The music now wafted in the air instead of blared as he said, "You always smell like peaches."

  Her eyes widened. "I do?"

  He angled his body away from her as he tried to hide how his eye twitched. "That was lame. I'm out of practice."

  She didn't move as she didn't want to do anything to discourage him. "How?"

  He moved closer. "I haven't tried to speak to anyone since I moved to Miami. I've been so busy setting up my practice."

  She massaged the base of her neck. With luck that meant he hadn't talked to the blonde either. Caro never had a crush on another, and Luke stirred up parts of her that she had assumed died. She averted her gaze.

  "Impossible. You must have a family."

  His smile could light up the stars in the sky. "I moved here to be closer to my mom and siste
r. I returned less than a month ago, and I've not unpacked most of the boxes in my house."

  As the head maid for Peter Morgan, she often had times to watch television and this week on Jennifer's telenovela, her character had said she avoided a man with mommy issues. Caro narrowed her gaze. She already had her own meddlesome mom, though she couldn't hold it against any guy who suffered like she did. For Luke, she'd be open.

  She arched her eyebrow. "Momma's boy then?"

  He straightened his shoulders. "Absolutely not, but my family went through some hard times, and I should be there for them if they need me."

  Whatever caused those hard times had put lines in his perfect face. Her heart broke for him, and she prayed everything turned out for the best. She reached for his arm to support him, but a jolt of energy rushed through her. It ignited the storm within her, which she struggled to ignore.

  "That's good that you're there for your family. Mine is always around me."

  He leaned closer without crowding her. "So what is it you do?"

  No man smelled so hypnotizing. The forest near wherever he lived must have smelt nicer than the swamp Miami was next to. She was clearly off the charts with this spark she felt and couldn’t remember the last time this had happened. She wouldn't tell him her day job, or how she scrubbed toilets everyday, but instead she could speak about her dream and what she worked on that fed her soul.

  She tugged her ear. "I'm working on becoming a fashion designer, though I do have a day job to pay the bills until I can make that happen."

  He took out his cell phone and held it in front of him. "Caro, can I get your number? I'd like to take you out on a real date, where no one is staring at us through the windows."

  She turned around and saw his coworker that interrupted them. Now she had to ask what the deal was. "Are you sure that's your coworker?"

  "What?" His eyes widened, and he shook his head. "Yes, absolutely. She's a doctor. I met her a half an hour ago."

  The woman's gaze seemed predatory, but Caro relaxed and turned toward him alone. Her instincts said to trust him. She reached out and grabbed his cell.

  "Then okay, give me your phone." She typed in her telephone number and handed him his phone. "It's under Caro Soliz."

  "I remember your name. I’ve thought about you for years now."

  The goose bumps on her arms told her how much she melted this close to him.

  He slipped his phone in his back pocket, but his gaze never left hers. "I'll call you tomorrow. I'd like to see if you're as sweet as I remember."

  She smiled wider. "Luke, keep talking like that. I like good guys."

  He turned and placed his hand on her shoulder. Another shudder of desire raced inside her, and she lost the ability to think as he said, "I'll bring you back to your brother."

  She stared at the table. Jose stood. He must remember Luke from UM. Jose could completely ruin her mood right now.

  Her brother sipped his beer but then his gaze captured hers. He too had the ability to be an annoying killjoy. She slowed her step.

  "Luke, you don't have to go over there. I'll be fine."

  Luke stepped closer as he opened the door and the music blasted right toward them. "I don't want him following us when I call you."

  Or did he want to stare down Jose? Coldness crept through her as her eyebrows arched. "Are you sure?"

  He continued to follow her onto the patio. "Yes, he can't be that horrible, and I protect my sister too."

  The last thing she needed was two alpha men talking about her in the third person. She had no idea what to say next, and the music made it impossible to talk anyhow. She stayed next to him as she joined her brother's table, staring at both men as they sipped their beers.

  "Rafe, Luke insisted he bring me to you, so he could say hello."

  Rafe stood and glared at Luke. "At least he understands you have family."

  Luke was a medical doctor, and he was more important to society than her idiot brother playing his macho stare down game.

  Luke held out his hand for Rafe to shake. "I do understand, and I wanted to let you know I intend to call Caro tomorrow to set up a time where we can go out."

  She'd never understand men. She pressed her lips together as Luke quietly said, "Good night."

  She fixed her hair as her brother said, "I like this one, Caro. He shows respect. I will tell Mom tomorrow."

  Her cheeks must be red as she felt flushed. Luke took her hand and fire burned inside her as he said, "I will speak with you later then."

  Her body seemed to want instant sex right now, but she wasn't that girl. She took her hand away but glanced into his big blue eyes.

  "Bye, Luke."

  She watched him join a table and sit three seats away from the blonde.

  Her brother finished his beer, and said, "Caro, that guy makes the rest of us look bad."

  She crossed her arms. He would find a way to ruin her mood, but she asked anyhow. "How?"

  Jose pushed his beer to the middle of the table to indicate he was done.

  Rafe stood. "I would never go to a family member of a woman I met here."

  Of course, though her brother's taste in women weren't that high. "Not every guy is like you, and we didn't meet here for the first time. I knew Luke in college, and then he left for medical school."

  "I always thought you chose him over me when you broke up with me." Jose pursed his lips and stared at his empty bottle like it was all that truly mattered.

  The small of her back tingled. She would choose Luke over anyone and had ended things with Jose.

  She stood and glanced over her shoulder.

  Luke also seemed to be leaving his table.

  She didn't want to run into him in the parking lot with her brother. Whenever the date was she'd get to truly see who Luke was. Right now she slipped between her brother and Jose as they left through a side door and passed the red poinsettias that decorated the entrance.

  As she hopped into the backseat, Rafe started the engine, and Jose fixed his seatbelt in the passenger seat. Rafe turned around and said, "I hope your date goes well."

  "Me too."

  The song ‘Hark The Herald Angel Sings’ blasted through the parking lot.

  Tonight she'd dream and play the 'what if' game in her head until she couldn't imagine anything other than Luke's handsome face. It would be nice to believe in finding a good guy, though she'd not put stock in that wish just yet. She needed to be practical and focus on the dress that might launch her career, and figuring out an opportunity to speak to Victoria Morgan at the wedding. She'd not think about Luke or love or anything else that she had no control over.

  Every thought of Luke left her needy and breathless.

  Chapter 3

  Caro checked her phone, and it was still fully charged at six o'clock in the morning. Today she had to leave work early and get the red dress to Jennifer. The sun wasn't up yet, but green jello shot remains greeted her car as she parked near the back of the Morgan Mansion on Star Island. If this was the driveway, she couldn’t imagine the bay patio where the party took place.

  With a sigh, she realized she needed more time. Last night's caterers for the Morgan business party had left a disaster. She pressed her lips together. She’d never order from them ever again. Caro's sneakers stuck to the ground as she stepped out of her car. She slipped her hand into her pocketbook and hugged her cell phone.

  Luke would call today. She took a deep breath and shook her head. She knew better than to expect someone from a bar to ever call, but this was her dream date. Her skin tingled with anticipation as she took the grocery bags out of the backseat to bring inside, and her heart pattered that Luke was special.

  She should have realized years ago that the reason she dated Jose had been to spend time with Luke at his fraternity. She had spent more of her year of dating Jose at Luke's side. The kiss that had shaken her world had also opened her eyes. Now was her second chance.

  As she wiped her feet on the rug at the do
or, she heard Peter Morgan tell his fiancé Belle 'I love you' from the front door. He must be heading off to work.

  Caro hugged the groceries closer. Maybe Luke would be the guy to make her heart flutter as he told her 'I love you.' She had spent years waiting for him.

  She continued inside and placed her groceries for the day on the counter.

  A moment later, Belle came into the kitchen hymning ‘Joy to the World’ and said, "Morning, Caro. I don't think the caterers did a good job last night. If I can help you, please let me know."

  She must not have gone outside to see the disaster. Belle was sweet and about to marry her boss, so she'd never ask for help. Instead she opened the refrigerator.

  "Tomorrow is your wedding. I can clean it up. Don't worry. Do you have any last second wedding plans that need my help?"

  "No. I need a new job, so I'm not sitting at home all day long bothering you."

  Caro continued to place the food into its proper places. "It's fine, Miss Belle."

  "As I said before, please just call me Belle. I'm only human."

  Work was work, and the Morgan family would never approve. Caro stood and retrieved the eggs from the bag. "Why do you want to work when Mr. Morgan has more than enough money to feed the country if he chose to?"

  Belle unpacked the milk and passed it to her to place in the refrigerator. "I'm liable to get bored. He offered me a job at Morgan Enterprises. I don't know if I can work there, but I don't know if I can stay home all day long either. I've had a job since I was nine years old and could do math for my dad's company."

  Caro needed this job for now, and the future wife should appreciate a maid. If she had the opportunity, she'd work for Victoria Morgan's new fashion company. She tilted her head and studied Belle.

  "Why not work with Peter? I'd take that job. It's better than sitting around doing nothing, if that's truly your problem."

  Belle squeezed the flour she had taken out of the bag. "I want to be respected at my workplace because I work hard and I'm smart, not because I'm married to the boss."