Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads

by Nicole Morgan

  She lowered her fork and her face blushed as she looked down. “If he is my brother, then my father never told me or my siblings, but I think he might have told my mom.”

  Gabe had never responded to his text about Navid, but then again he wasn’t sure it sent from the helicopter. He ought to check, but that wasn’t important right now. He brushed some of Scarlett’s blonde hair out of her face. “What makes you think that?”

  She put her fork down and reached for his hand. “I remember some small things, like when I was a little girl, my parents didn’t talk for a few years. I always felt if I did something, they might laugh or cry or say something to each other, and then like magic the tension would go away. Everything became better when my father stayed home more and stopped flying everywhere, though.”

  If Scarlett’s father had a child, he’d ensure it was taken care of and not left alone—not like he was. He tried to understand. “So your father knew about Navid?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, “but I do think my parents worked out some issues between them twenty years ago, and now that I’m an adult I am pretty sure it was an affair.”

  If her mother was anything like Scarlett, cheating was foolish. He didn’t know her parents, but he could be there for Scarlett. If his uncle had reached out to his mother, even once, she might be alive, and he wouldn’t have so much bitterness built up inside his gut. The bitterness was what kept him from her joy and warmth. “When this is all over and you can go home, you should ask them.”

  “Oh, I will.” She placed her napkin on the table and stood up, holding out her hand. “Take me to bed and make love to me all night long, James. I need you.”

  He lost the ability to fight his attraction for her in the face of that request. He stood up and reached under her knees to pick her up. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” He lifted her and she kissed him as he carried her toward their bed.

  CHAPTER 10

  Scarlett woke up to James shaking her. She moaned, but he shouted, “Get up.”

  The air sparked and then it felt like something buzzed past her as the window shattered. James threw himself over her and rolled them off the bed. He put his shirt and boxers on and his clothes scratched her naked skin. She grabbed her bra and underwear from the floor near her bed. “What was that?”

  He led her toward the door and shoved her into the hall as he closed the door behind him. “Someone landed. Follow me.”

  “James, you’re bleeding!” She glanced backwards, but he pushed her forward. She walked but tugged her underwear on. A second later, he pressed a button and opened the wall across from the guest bedroom. She tightened her bra and ran.

  Bullet holes laced the bedroom door and she threw herself onto the ground. He turned and grabbed her arm to drag her inside. “Scarlett, get in!”

  It must be the promised safe room.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man with brown eyes. The walls around her seemed to reverberate with coldness. She couldn’t even scream, but in a second she was in total darkness. Her entire body became petrified and she couldn’t think anything except James has to be here.

  If she could open her lips, she’d call out for James. First she needed the ability to breathe. She tried to get up but wobbled. In a flash, she heard a bang. “James? Where are you?”

  “Hold on,” James shouted, and she heard metal bolts locking together.

  Safe room. Safe. They would be fine.

  She repeated the words in her head, but stayed on the ground hugging her knees to her until the lights flickered on. Her hands shook, but she could breathe easier once she saw the blue hue of his gaze. “James, is this the safe room?”

  “Yes. Maddox could drop a nuclear bomb on us and we’ll survive. My uncle was paranoid, thankfully.”

  A bunker on a tropical island. She rubbed her arms to get rid of the goose bumps and to stop shaking. “What if we drown?”

  His gaze narrowed and he stopped moving. “How?”

  “A bunker on an island can’t be underground and islands are at low sea levels.”

  Okay, that sounded more like science fiction now that she’d said that out loud, but her mind wasn’t clear right now. She clutched a table with a computer sitting on it, and somehow hoped the steadiness of the room would straighten her out too.

  “We’re watertight. I told you my uncle was paranoid. We’ll be fine.”

  “I know I should be calmer, but I’m scared.”

  “Relax. We’ll be out of here long before we have time to flood.” He kissed her cheek.

  Rational thinking would save them. She took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right. What do we do?”

  “Call your brother and the police.” He pointed with his left hand, and she peered at the blood that stained his shirt on the right.

  She had to help him. She jumped to her feet and walked around him to assess how bad it was. On his right shoulder in the back, there was a clear bullet hole. “How? You’re hurt. We have to stop the bleeding.”

  “I’ll be fine.” He waved her away and sat at his laptop.

  “Let me see.” Years ago, she’d had emergency training. Though it seemed like it happened in a different life, she could remember and help. First, she had to see how bad this was. She tugged at his shirt.

  He winced and handed her a satellite phone. “Get your brother on the phone. I’ll get my shirt off.”

  He lifted his shirt, and her gaze focused on those sexy abs of his while he peeled away his ruined green t-shirt. Then her brother answered. “Gabe, it’s me,” she said.

  “Scarlett, where is James?” Once again Gabe probably assumed she would never know anything.

  She swallowed and let that childish thought go. Right now, they needed to get James to a hospital. She put the conversation on speaker and said, “He was shot. We’re in his safe room on his island in the Keys.”

  “Is he there?”

  “Yes, I’m here.” He dropped his shirt on the table beside them.

  “What do you need?” Gabe asked.

  She wasn’t needed on the phone so she stood and checked James’ shoulder. Behind him she had a better look at the wound, and it seemed fixable. It was possible that there weren’t any bullet fragments inside, but if there were, they would poison his body. She chewed on her lip and then went into the bathroom to look for medical supplies.

  James answered her brother. “Maddox has a high-speed boat and access to military-grade semiautomatics. You should have the location.”

  Gabe said, “I’ve sent people, and they’ll be there in ten minutes. Stay safe.”

  Good. That sounded final. Her nursing skills would hopefully only be needed for the hour, and she’d not worry about dying from a flash flood or global warming anymore.

  “I’ll ensure nothing happens to your sister.”

  “Scarlett,” Gabe said, “you used to want to be a doctor.”

  At least he remembered something good about her. She stopped chewing her lip, picked up the plastic bag of surgical bandages she’d found, and placed them on the table. “I’m already on it, but I’m glad you remember. James was shot in the shoulder. The wound looks clean, but I don’t have supplies to really check, and if help will be here soon, it’s better to keep the wound dry.”

  Gabe warned. “Don’t be brave and try to leave, sis.”

  There he went making her sound foolish. She opened the bag with a bit more of a rip than expected. “I like my head attached to my body.”

  She studied James’ puncture wound as he finished the conversation with Gabe. A few minutes later, he hung up.

  Neither of them said anything. She took her time and used some gauze to clear the area to see exactly how deep the wound was.

  Suddenly the room pounded with deafening noise and she used her hands to cover her ears. “James!”

  He stood and massaged her shoulders. “He’s shooting at the door. We’re fine.”

  The noise lessened. Neither of them we
re hurt, but her hands trembled nervously anyway. “I don’t like the sound. You didn’t soundproof this bunker?” She uncurled her fingers and wished her heart wasn’t racing still.

  “I didn’t build it, so I didn’t think to add more to it.”

  “But you’re sure we’re safe?”

  He massaged her shoulders and hugged her with his left arm. “Absolutely. I read the design schematics.”

  “When we get out of this, make it soundproof.”

  “Okay.”

  For a second he didn’t say anything. She held her stomach, unable to believe she was here. He broke their silence first. “You wanted to be a doctor?”

  “A long time ago.” She stepped out of his embrace and returned to her tools. “In high school. I like science.”

  “That doesn’t fit in with the spoiled princess you think you are.”

  She motioned for him to sit in the chair. “I never said I was stupid, just lost.”

  He sat down and stared at her through the nearby mirror. “So, how’s my shoulder?”

  If they were going to be in here for twenty-four hours, then he needed help now. Hopefully that wasn’t the case, so she held still. She hoped he wouldn’t fight her if she had to help.

  She glanced at the clock and chewed on her lip. It was better for him if she helped now. She picked up the tools, choosing wisely. “Well, I’d like to get out the bullet, if that’s okay with you.”

  “If you know how, please.” He lifted his shoulder but a second later winced.

  With one more glance at the tools she’d removed from their plastic wraps, she nodded. At least she had everything she needed. She cleaned his wound then picked up the metal tool for extraction, but froze when she was about to touch him. “This might hurt, but I have no idea how long we’ll be in here.”

  He nodded. “Just do your best.”

  “It’s quiet now,” she said, and hoped he’d keep the conversation light. With a small prayer under her breath, she pushed in and locked on the bullet.

  A monitor beeped. She refused to look, and continued to tug out the bullet.

  “He’s circling the bunker to see how big it is.”

  Okay. She’d not think about Maddox right now. Her hands stayed steady. She wouldn’t hurt James, despite how fast her pulse was.

  “Well, that’s just lovely.” She slowly removed the bullet. Time and a real doctor would figure out if there were long term effects, but she hoped not as she dropped the bullet on the tray. He’d have a nasty scar, but he should be good for now. She cleaned the area again, then bandaged him up, satisfied.

  The silence continued outside. James took her hand once she was done with the roll of gauze. “Your brother’s cavalry will be here soon.”

  Conversation helped her stay in the here and now. She sat beside him and asked, “Did you know Gabe is now dating Maddox’s sister, Megan?”

  “I guessed that. She seemed nice on the phone.” He shifted his weight to be closer to her.

  “At least you talked to her. I’ve refused, but my parents already think she’s lovely and perfect despite the fact her brother shot them.” The tone of jealousy in what she said hit her hard, but the truth was she had no reason to think that. Her parents loved her. “And I get that she’s how we even know her brother was the one after my family and that’s how they met. I just have a hard time believing her story that Maddox wasn’t the same man her brother was as a child. If the situation reversed though, I don’t think I could fall for my enemy’s family.”

  He brushed her hair out of her eyes. “Sounds like your parents have big hearts, like you.”

  “I don’t have a big heart. I just said I haven’t talked to her.”

  “You readily accepted Navid into your definition of family. No one ever did that for me when it came to my own blood.”

  “That’s just stupid on their part.”

  “You say that because you have a big heart and you’ll talk to her in person, which is probably what you’re waiting for.” Something flashed on the tablet and reflected in the mirror. James stood up and went to get the tablet. “Don’t move.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, but she hoped this was all over. She folded her arms in front of her and prayed. “I’m tired of being scared and it’s strange you know me already like that.”

  “Your heart is your most attractive quality.”

  She had no words.

  He rejoined her on the seat and showed her the tablet with the video feed. “Maddox is running. The helicopters are here.”

  She peeled her gaze from him. There was no reason she’d ever see him again once he no longer protected her and her business deal was done. She stroked her neckline, wishing she’d kept her silly necklace on in her sleep earlier. “Does this mean we’re no longer going to be alone?”

  He put the tablet down and stood up. “Yes. Don’t worry. Our marriage will end just like you wanted it to. I won’t fight you on it.”

  No. If she’d learned anything these past few days it was that he was perfect and that she wanted to be with him. She wanted him to say ‘I love you.’ The thought wouldn’t leave her alone, but she kept silent. Instead she asked, “James, what if Shepard’s offer doesn’t help me?”

  He turned toward her, and this time it sounded like he was distant and far away already. “Then consider mine a backup. You know you can name your terms with me.”

  No, not really. They were done. “Okay,” she murmured. “Thanks.”

  There was no way she’d do anything but remain silent now. She couldn’t force him to love her. Any tears she shed over this would be alone and into her pillow, where he couldn’t see. Somewhere along the way, she’d fallen in love with a man who never wanted to be married.

  CHAPTER 11

  Sitting in Jackson Memorial, the closest hospital to Miami International Airport, James nodded along at the last thing the doctor said concerning his condition. The doctor closed his chart as the door opened. “Your wife did a good job patching you up.”

  The woman who might never love him back stood in the doorway. The doctor moved aside as James stood up from the edge of the bed he was sitting on. He went over to Scarlett and took her hands. “Scarlett, what are you still doing here? I thought you were going to stay with Gabe while I was here.”

  She looked at him and the vulnerability in her gaze caught him off guard again.

  The blue in her eyes shone. “I didn’t want to just come home and for us not to talk and besides you know that’s not going to work.”

  “Are we done, Doc?” James asked, turning around without letting her go. If this was his last chance to hold her, then he wanted to let the moment linger.

  “Yes, you two both can go.”

  James placed his hand on the small of Scarlett’s back and walked her out of the hospital room and into the hall. The sooner they left, the sooner he’d have to explain that he was her bodyguard again.

  At least that meant he’d spend more time with her, but this was all too much. As the elevator opened, he said, “Thanks for checking up on me.”

  Neither of them said much as they were crowded in with other patients, their family members, and nurses. When they reached the first floor people were everywhere, but luckily it was like there was a parting of the sea in the crowd. Without a word, he led her toward the front door.

  She tugged on his arm. “James, I want to talk.”

  Right now he couldn’t look her in the eye. If he let this conversation start, then their relationship might be over. She had always been clear about what she wanted. They stopped moving, and Scarlett placed her hand on his cheek.

  “Scarlett,” he said, “I don’t want to say goodbye to you when everything is over.”

  In the lobby, people brushed past them but no one stopped. Sometimes the safest place to have a conversation was with people everywhere.

  “I don’t want that either,” she said.

  “You don’t?” His heart stirred.

  She
puckered her pink lips. “I’m in love with you.”

  His entire body felt warm and his pulse raced with excitement. Then his lips met hers.

  Her kiss was better than any sugar-filled sweet. She made him feel whole.

  When they parted, he put his hand on the small of her back and led her outside into the steamy heat. He raised his hand and his car came for them. The driver hopped out and came round to open the door.

  James turned to Scarlett. “Get in the car.”

  She got in without a struggle. At least she was protected here, and the glass was bulletproof. The driver closed the door and she massaged James’ cheek to get his attention. “I know you don’t love me, but I wanted to say this. I never wanted our adventure to end, mostly because I didn’t want to lose you.”

  “Don’t love you?”

  The driver rolled the window up between him and them so they were utterly alone in the backseat. James scooted closer to her and their knees brushed.

  “Scarlett, are you sure?”

  She lowered her lashes. “That I love you? Absolutely.”

  Everything inside him screamed that this was it. He took a breath. “You’re the only woman who touches my heart and sees who I really am. Scarlett Hawke, I love you too.”

  Her eyes widened and a moment later she jumped into his lap and kissed his chin on her way to his lips, so she saw his smile. Then she closed her eyes and kissed him fast. Everything was perfect. When she ended it, she said, “James! Why didn’t you say anything?”

  His body grew hard from her touch, and he adjusted her so it would be less obvious. “I thought you wanted a divorce, and to prove to your parents that you can make it on your own without me, or them.”

  She pushed her hair out of her face and then hugged him. “I was pretty stupid. What matters is love and being with the people we cherish.”

  She smelled like home and flowers all mixed together. Before she came into his life, he’d been a shell of a person. The knowledge that he’d never repaid her brother left him cold. He helped her sit beside him again, and folded his hands between her legs. “I betrayed your brother’s trust.”