Danger in Paradise Read Online Free PDF Page A

two little girls weren’t paying any attention to anyone else. They were too caught up in their game.
    She didn’t have memories of her childhood. Even her time in the foster system was scratchy until she turned about eight or nine. That first year was a blur of caseworkers and foster parents. Vague snatches occasionally popped into her mind. She often dreamed about a woman singing her to sleep, but the memories were fuzzy. Possibly not even real. Still, she could almost swear one of the little girls she’d just seen had been herself. Which was impossible, if not insane.
    “Are you okay?” He took his sunglasses off and turned so that he held her by the shoulders. Tingles shot down her arm. She never allowed virtual strangers to touch her, but at the moment, she needed it.
    For a moment she struggled to breathe, but his firm grip steadied her. “I’m fine.” Heat rushed to her cheeks, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. This was the most money she’d made on one job and she didn’t want to screw it up.
    “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to get you some water?” His deep voice somehow grounded her.
    “No, I think I just got a little overheated, that’s all.” She let out a self-deprecating laugh, hoping he believed her. On her dive trips, she spent days out in the sun. It was something she was used to. Maybe he wouldn’t realize that.    
    His charcoal eyes studied her, as if he could read her thoughts until finally he released her. Her body mourned the loss of those strong, steadying hands on her bare skin. It was almost like he’d branded her with that simple touch. Feeling her face heat, she dipped her gaze to avoid his, and made the mistake of noticing his lips. An unexpected jolt of awareness shot through her, straight to all her nerve endings. She’d been aware that he was good looking—especially since she was a photographer—but knowing something and having her body realize it were two different things. She was just as appreciative of a fine male specimen as the next woman, but actually being aware of one man was rare. Very rare. Right now it was so easy to imagine what it would feel like to have those full lips pressed to hers. Her fingers balled into fists and she had to stop herself from reaching out and touching him. She cleared her throat and started to say something but Luke smiled tightly then stepped back.
    “I’ll be in the house if you need me.”
    Before she could think to ask where her room was, he’d disappeared through the hedges.
    * * * * *
     
    Luke hurried back to the Santiagos’ villa. Away from the woman with the big eyes that called to all his protective instincts. Hope had looked terrified, not overheated. Something had happened out there and for whatever reason, she’d lied to him. He’d probably scared the hell out of her, grabbing hold of her like a monk who hadn’t touched a woman in a decade, but something about her called out to his most primitive side. He wanted to stroke and kiss every inch of her body.
    As he walked onto the veranda, his cell phone buzzed. “Hi Sonja.”
    “Hello Lucas.” Even if his caller ID hadn’t told him who was calling, her soft Afghani accent was unmistakable. Though she’d lived between the Caribbean and the United States for years, she’d never lost that distinctive speech pattern.
    “Is everything okay?” he asked immediately.  Sonja rarely checked up on him. Normally when she asked him to do something, she let him do his job. Family friend or not, he wasn’t going to be micromanaged.
    “Of course, I’m just checking in to make sure you arrived safely.”
    “We got here about an hour ago and she’s already started working.”
    “Wonderful…what is she like?”
    “She seems to know what she’s doing.”
    “Oh.” Her voice had a touch of disappointment.
    “She’s who you wanted, right? You haven’t changed your mind?”
    “No! I mean, no, of course not. I just wanted to know