9 Ways to Fall in Love

by Caroline Clemmons

  “I am a good jaguar tracker.” Tino squeezed her hand. “Do a little guide work on the side. That is how I met your daughter and happened into this mess.”

  Her father’s crooked grin and sparkling eyes said he knew the whole truth.

  “Yes. The Guatemalan government is pleased with your ability to track jaguars and other jungle predators.”

  Isabella was tired of waiting for her father to tell her why he was here. She also wanted time alone with Tino to remind herself of what she’d nearly lost. The heat of the altar reminded her of their love making. A primal beat had begun the minute Tino had placed her on the altar, and she wanted to tame the urge even her father’s stare couldn’t dampen.

  “Why don’t you tell me what exactly you do since it appears you were gone a lot on more than medical missionary trips?” She stared into her father’s eyes and waited. “And why did you have to keep track of me?”

  He cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. “Your mother has your genius. She’s worked for the Worldwide Intelligence Agency since graduating college. She’s their best kept secret. When it became evident you were following in her intellectual footsteps, we worried it would lead people to speculating about your genetics. So we opted to keep a low profile in your life.”

  “All those years...you denied me contact with you because I could blow mom’s cover? I would rather have stayed with you and hidden my intellect, if I’d been given the chance.” She shook her head and felt even sadder. The truth she’d always tried to deny slammed into her solar plexus. Her parents had put their jobs over her.

  “Does Virgil know your true identities?”

  He shook his head. “No. He just saw us the way we portrayed ourselves. A doctor with a philanthropic wife. If he lives, he can never know the truth. No one can.” His gaze shifted to Tino. “I’m telling you because Pedro says he sees a future between you and my daughter. And I know you can keep secrets.”

  “I don’t understand,” Tino broke in. “All the intelligence organizations in the world could have traced her back to you if they tried. Why so much secrecy?”

  “No, they can’t.” Her father peered into her eyes.

  The sadness she saw melted the metal bars she’d erected around her heart toward her parents. Her voice choked. “Why not?”

  “Our real names aren’t Mumphrey and all our records are official from the time of your birth. There’s no connection to who we really are in any paper trail.”

  “But people have seen us together. Virgil, others.”

  “Our paper trail is ambiguous. Our bureaucratic associates think we’re your godparents.”

  Tino held her closer. “That still makes her a target.”

  Her father nodded. “And that’s why I have a tracker on her. Up until this latest escapade where she slipped out without our knowledge, we’ve pulled strings to keep her in the United States. When Pedro told us of her whereabouts, I wasn’t worried knowing he’d keep an eye on you. But when he discovered this dig was for a reason other than extracting artifacts, he contacted me.” Daddy peered at Tino. “We’ve been monitoring Virgil since his disappearance last year. Which, now appears to be his discovery of this ceremony and his collusion with don Miguel.”

  Isabella stared at her father. All these secrets and unemotional clandestine meetings had her heart shriveling and her mind calculating.

  Frustration and dread fueled her next question. “Are you really my parents? Do we, mom and I, have Hopi ancestors?”

  Tino eased away as her father gathered her in his arms. “Yes, Isabella, I’m your father and your mother has wished a million times over she could have been there for you when you struggled so with your intellect and maturity. But we had to think of your safety, not our selfish needs.”

  She shoved out of her father’s arms. “What about my needs? Do you know how many times I had to listen to people talk about their parents and families and I didn’t have a clue what that was like? To wish I had a mother I could talk to, a father to be proud of me?” She shot out of his embrace and paced the room. Tino slid off the altar and stood in her path. His eyes said much more than his words ever could. He understood her emptiness. He’d had a family and lost it. He also understood her need to want one.

  Her father put his hand to his ear and nodded. “They have the items from Miguel’s hut in Virgil’s tent.” He motioned for them to leave the chamber.

  Tino stepped forward taking her hand. “We will be there in a moment.”

  At first she didn’t think her father was going to allow them to stay behind, but he nodded his head and exited.

  She folded into Tino’s arms and savored the kiss he placed on her lips.

  “You know we can sneak out the tunnel and spend some time just the two of us.”

  His words hummed across her skin. The idea tantalizing.

  “He’d only hunt us down. Let’s take care of the papers, then disappear.” She pressed against his body and drew in his strength.

  His hands slid down her sides and cupped her butt, drawing her pelvis snug against his desire. Her head tipped back, and he dropped kisses down her neck and across the tops of her breasts.

  “Querida, I’ve never been as scared as I was watching those madmen prepare to drive that knife into you. I had the strength of ten men to save you, but you were strong and saved us both.” His knee dipped between her legs and he lifted her, rubbing the ache that grew with his touch.

  “I wish to be unvirgined, again, right here,” she said, laughing at her improper use of language and thoughts.

  “Isabella!” Pedro’s voice called from the outer chamber.

  She sobered and slid off Tino’s leg. “Do you think my father bugged me again already?”

  “I’ll be glad to check you for any bugs.” Tino’s eyebrows rose in mock sincerity, and she broke into a fit of giggles.

  “We better take care of business so we can get rid of my father.”

  Tino straightened her clothing, and they left the altar chamber hand in hand. She didn’t want to leave Tino’s side—ever. But he still had demons to conquer, and she had to speculate on all she’d learned today about her family.

  Chapter 31

  The Hotel Casa Amelia lived up to Isabella’s memories of hospitality and coziness. Of course, sharing a room with Tino and spending the last two nights and most of the days wrapped in one another’s arms and making love had a lot to do with her newfound affection for the establishment. That and realizing life was too short not to spend every moment you could with the person you loved.

  “I still can’t believe Virgil actually planned to kill me because he believed I would discover he was a fraud in the archeological world.”

  “He also wanted don Miguel to continue funding his digs and the prestige of writing a paper on the sacrifice for the moon god,” Tino added, sliding a hand down her side.

  She shuddered and burrowed deeper into Tino’s embrace. “The scary part is he hadn’t uncovered the truth behind the tragic sacrifice.”

  “The whole dig was doomed with Miguel’s involvement and Walsh stealing artifacts and using you to bring in passports for the narcos.” Tino kissed her head. “The only good to come of the whole mess is you.”

  “Do you still plan to visit me in the States? We can look for your relatives.” She’d never felt as content as she did at this moment reclining against Tino’s chest, his arms wrapped around her naked body.

  Tino frowned. “There is no one to look for in the States.”

  Isabella pushed up and peered into his sad eyes. “You know the truth about my family. Tell me about your real family.”

  He drew in a long breath, kissed her forehead, and began, “Mi papá did not care for the way El Presidente Carlos Andrés Pérez ran the country and treated the people. Papá was a professor at the university and helped to organize riots. Because of his strong voice against our president, we had to leave the country and the rest of our family behind. My parents, my younger brother, and I
arrived in the United States with only the clothes on our backs. My father worked as a janitor until he could become certified to teach again. Our extended family remains in Venezuela. I cannot go back, and I have no family left in the United States.”

  Isabella hugged his neck. “What happened?”

  “My family would meet family members in Brazil since we are not welcome in our own country. My uncle would meet my father once a year and give him his share of the family’s sugar plantation income. One year, I did not travel with them.” He squeezed his eyes shut.

  Isabella kissed his tense jaw and waited.

  “On their last return flight, they were shot down over a drug dealer’s air strip in southern Guatemala. Paolo Garza.”

  Isabella’s heart ached for Tino. Her life, while lonely, was a romp compared to all the loss in his life. “Is that why you work for the DEA? To avenge your family?”

  He nodded. His blue eyes darkened. “I learned Garza had ordered all planes traveling over his air strips shot down. There are others besides my family who have been hurt by this man. I have vowed to either place Paolo Garza behind bars or see him dead.” His tight jaw and clenched hands proved his determination on this would not be swayed.

  Peering into his eyes, she realized they couldn’t have a future until he’d exorcised his demons.

  “I understand.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “So you have proper credentials to enter the U.S. to see me?” She raised an eyebrow and pushed her bare breasts against his hard chest, now savoring even more every contact she had with him. His mission in life could take him from her at any moment, and she planned to take advantage of all their time together.

  “Querida, you could not keep me away.” He tipped her face to gaze into his eyes.

  “You won’t have to worry about meeting my father.” She tried to edge her words with humor but it still hurt, knowing her past had been out of her control. Her father was in the WIA as well as her mother. That much he’d told her. She’d guessed the medical missions he went on were only covers for other assignments.

  “I do not agree with how your parents handled your childhood, but you have to accept it and move on.” Tino smoothed a finger across the wrinkle on her forehead.

  “I’m not sure how to deal with them now. Or if I even want to.” Her father had told her to contact them just as before. Nothing had changed, not even with her being an adult and knowing the truth. That hurt more than anything. She was now privy to their deepest secret yet they still weren’t letting her into their lives.

  Tino spread his hands over her abdomen. “You are certain you did not become pregnant from our lovemaking on the altar?”

  She smiled to dispel the worry in his blue eyes. Once all the tension and worry for her safety was concluded, he’d taken on the worry of her being pregnant. “I told you, it would take great effort to get me pregnant. Now if you hadn’t been using a condom the last few days…” She kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry, if it did happen you would be the first and only person I told.”

  “If that day came, I would marry you.”

  His eyes didn’t lie and, knowing his honor, she knew that was the truth. But she wouldn’t marry him or start a family with him until he switched occupations. She’d never wish her childhood on her own children.

  “Since I’m heading back to the university tomorrow, let’s enjoy our time together.” She rolled on top of Tino, slipping her arms around his neck. She didn’t want to think about the months that would separate them or the fact that until he caught Garza, he’d never be completely hers.

  Tino returned Isabella’s ardor. He didn’t like her changing the subject when he mentioned marriage. The new information about her family only muddied her previous evaluation of her life. He understood her need to collect her thoughts and emotions. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer when he was ready to ask her to marry him.

  He ran his hands down her body, drawing her closer, and inserting himself deep. She moaned and moved in a sensual rhythm that brushed her nipples across his skin, seated her deeper, and ignited the flames of passion only this woman had ever touched.

  Her sweet breath mixed with his, her legs wound around his, and he climaxed at the same moment her body quivered in his arms. They were meant to be together.

  Insistent beeping pierced his hazy thoughts. My cell phone.

  Tino kissed Isabella soundly, rolled her to the mattress and reached for his phone on the table by the bed. He glanced at the caller ID. His heart had started to slow from the lovemaking, now it accelerated.

  He flipped his phone open. “¿Sí?”

  “Garza is on the move.”

  “I’ll be there in the morning.” He snapped the phone shut and stood. “Querida, I have to leave. Garza is moving.” He quickly dressed and shoved his belongings into his pack.

  “You’ll be careful?”

  Her softly spoken words jolted him more than an electrical shock. He sat on the edge of the bed, pushed her beautiful, long, brown hair out of her face. He held her delicate face full of intelligence in his hands. “I will be very careful. More now than before. I no longer have only blind revenge in my heart. I also hold love for you.” He kissed her eyelids, nose, and full lips.

  Drawing back, he waited for her lashes to flutter up and he could see into her eyes. “Once I put Garza in jail, I will no longer chase drug traffickers and we can be together. I promise.”

  A tear sparkled in the corner of her eye. “I’m counting on you to keep that promise.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “It is a promise I intend to keep.” He kissed her, pouring his reverence and love into the union. He didn’t want to leave her loving arms, but he had another promise to fulfill. The one he had made to himself—avenging his family.

  Tino slipped out of Isabella’s arms and quietly exited the room. She drew in a deep breath, stilled her quivering heart, and reached for her phone. Her finger shook dialing the number she memorized at the age of six.

  “Hello?”

  “Daddy, I’m coming to visit. I want to become an agent.”

  *~*

  About the Author

  Paty Jager ranches with her husband of thirty-four years raising hay, cattle, kids, and grandkids. Her first book was published in 2004 and since then she has published seventeen novels. She enjoys riding horses, playing with her grandkids, judging 4-H contests and fairs, and outdoor activities. To learn more about her books and her life you can visit her website.

  http://www.patyjager.net

  Thank you for purchasing this Windtree Press publication. For other books of the heart, please visit our website at www.windtreepress.com.

  For questions or more information contact us at info@windtreepress.com.

  Windtree Press

  http://www.windtreepress.com

  Sweet Return

  by

  Anna Jeffrey

  Sweet Return

  By Anna Jeffrey

  Copyright 2013 Anna Jeffrey

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

 
Acknowledgments

  A special thanks to my neighbor, a retired oilman, for advising me on oil well drilling. Though I grew up in the West Texas oil patch, I've been away from it for many years and he helped refresh my memory.

  Thanks also to hardworking, egg-laying hens everywhere. We really do take those birds for granted.

  Chapter 1

  Saturday, 1 a.m.

  The headlights of Joanna Walsh's pickup cast two wide fans of gold over a highway so dark it looked like black water. She had met only two cars since leaving the city limits of Hatlow, Texas. She saw only one other vestige of civilization. It showed in the form of occasional narrow columns of white lights from distant drilling rigs spearing the black sky like javelins.

  Still half an hour from Lubbock, she pressed the accelerator more firmly—eighty, eighty-five, ninety...

  Beside her, swallowed up by an old brown barn coat, Clova Cherry, her friend of thirteen years and owner of the Lazy P Ranch, huddled in the passenger seat. "I asked 'em if he's gonna make it," she said, "but they didn't give me no answer. I don't know what I'll do if he don't make it."

  The "he" was Clova's twenty-nine-year-old son, Lane. Joanna heard the quaver in the older woman's voice, heard the fear, not just for Lane's well-being, but for the Lazy P’s very future.

  The phone call from Lubbock Memorial Hospital had come to Clova an hour earlier. Life Flight had choppered Lane to the hospital after EMTs pulled him from his overturned pickup truck. It had been discovered in a ditch beside the highway that ran between Hatlow and Lovington, New Mexico. Clova, in turn, had awakened Joanna from a sound sleep and asked that she drive her the seventy-five miles from Hatlow to Lubbock. As one of the few friends Clova had, Joanna wouldn't have dreamed of saying no.