Forbidden Lovers

“A hot pilot to sweep her off her feet and fly away before he gets possessive?”

Linda huffed. “Maria, either dump Jaime or learn to live with him.”

Maria raised her hands. “I was just saying we all could use a little no-strings fun, but Julia deserves it more. After what happened...” She looked at Matt. “Well, she’s been through some stuff.”

She deserved what exactly? Hell, he’d been agonizing over a chick who’d forgotten him the minute he’d left. She’d called him her mistake. He should charter a plane and fly out of Plunder Cove right now.

Even so, the “stuff” worried him.

I have intel, my boy, the kind that destroys an entire family. Is that what you want to happen to her?

Had his father’s threat come to fruition? Was Julia in trouble?

“I’m glad you’re taking her to the party. She needs a little fun in her life,” said Maria.

“Should be interesting.” He said it like Linda had. But instead of the dirty sex she’d implied, his word meant closure. If he got lucky, there’d be both.

Hell, yes, he was going to the party for answers. Why did RW want him to come back? Was it to torture him by waving a gorgeous ex-girlfriend under his nose? Was his father that twisted? If so, Matt would tell the old man off on his way out of Dodge. But not before he made sure Julia was safe.

Those were his reasons for taking her to the party tonight. It had nothing to do with how sexy she looked coming and going. Or all the hot things he wanted to do to her, with her. One no-strings night with her might be just the thing he needed, too.

He’d be her mistake one last time and then he’d leave for good.

* * *

Matt paid his bill and said goodbye to Julia’s cousins. On his way to the parking lot, he placed one phone call. “Bring the Batmobile, Alfred.”

There was no doubt that his father owned some uber-expensive sports car he could borrow because speed was the one thing Matt and RW agreed on.

Five minutes later he looked up when a silver Lamborghini Veneno pulled into the parking lot.

“Holy hell.”

Veneno was an Italian word that translated to “poison.” Lamborghini had sold only three of these bad boys for roughly 4.5 million smacks each. Barely able to believe his eyes, Matt hightailed it to the driver’s side.

The window went down and a droll voice from inside said, “You rang?”

Matt leaned his head in the window. “Hey, Alfred. Good to see you.”

His father’s driver, whose real name was Robert, was bald now and more wrinkled than Matt remembered. “You’re still calling me that? I thought you would’ve outgrown your Batman obsession by now.” The twinkle in his eye was a dead giveaway that he was pleased Matt had used the nickname.

“Bite your tongue. No one outgrows the Dark Knight.”

Matt and his little brother, Jeff, had pretended to be Batman and Robin for years. They’d christened the family driver “Alfred.” Robert had acted huffy at first but quickly warmed up to the game.

Alfred got out and took Matt’s pack and duffel. When the trunk opened, the new-car smell was close to orgasmic.

“Let me drive,” Matt said.

“Your father nearly killed me the last time I let you drive the Bugatti.”

Matt grinned. “Nearly killed me, too, but it was worth it.” Especially the joyride he’d taken with Julia. He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers. “Keys.”

“Fine. But if you dent this one, I quit.” He placed the key fob in Matt’s hand and climbed into the passenger’s side.

“Surprised you haven’t quit already.” Matt started the car and the engine roared to life.

“Eh, what would you Harpers do without your fantastic driver?”

Matt looked down at the odometer. “Seven miles? I wouldn’t call that driving. Is the old man just petting this car?” Matt saw the flinch before Alfred righted his face to neutral. Something was on the man’s mind. “What’s up? Has my father really become a hermit?”

The man just sighed. “He’s had a hard time, Matthew. I’m glad you kids have come home.”

“Jeff and Chloe are here, too? How the hell did he get them to come back?”

“It’s not for me to tell. Suffice it to say you and your siblings will hear about it tonight.”

“At the party.”

“Yes.”

“That’s not good enough. Spill. What’s he up to? Does it have anything to do with Julia?”

“I can’t say.”

Matt narrowed his eyes. “Can’t or won’t? This is me, Alfred. I won’t tell my father a word you say, I promise.”

Alfred’s gaze focused out the windshield. His arms crossed. The man’s lips were sealed, apparently.

“I have to wait to hear the big news with the whole town?” Matt grumbled.

“Yes.”

Forget that, he’d question one of the staff.

“Before you try to sweet-talk the ladies in the kitchen, no one else knows what your father is planning. He is indisposed for the rest of the day. You’ll simply have to wait a few hours like the rest of us.”

Huh. Matt’s curiosity was growing and so was his sense of danger.

Alfred pulled his safety belt tight. “Try not to run us off the road in the meantime.”

“A little faith, my man. I fly jets now. I think I can handle a little car.” He pressed his foot down and gravel sprayed the empty lot.

“Holy mother.” Alfred crossed himself.

Matt laughed. He cut his eyes toward his passenger. “Relax. Wow, was I that bad as a teenager?”

“Terrifying.” But he said it with a smile. “Always in a hurry to fly out of here.”

“Yeah. I was.”

“I understood you, Matthew. I was a teenager once back in the Dark Ages.” He chuckled. Weird, Matt had never heard him laugh before. It must have sucked to be a driver for the Harpers all of those years. “And it seems you got exactly what you wanted, Captain Harper. You flew away.”

Exactly what he wanted? Not by a long shot. “Sorry I made things tough on you.”

What was his father’s evil plan? Matt would find out tonight with Julia by his side. He’d shield her from any fallout and stop his old man before he could hurt anyone else.

Just like old times.

The Dark Knight drove the Italian poison straight into the villain’s lair.

* * *

Julia paced her tiny bedroom. “I can’t believe I agreed to do this. Why did I agree to do this?”

“Because that pilot was smoking hot!” Linda fanned herself.

Yes, yes, he was. But she still wasn’t sure why he wanted to take her on a date. She was so far out of the dating scene that a guy would need binoculars to find her in the single-girl weeds.

“What am I going to wear to this thing?”

“Not your red dress. I already called dibs on that baby,” Linda said. Both she and Maria were sitting on the edge of Julia’s bed, painting their nails.

Julia opened the window to let the polish fumes out. “I can’t believe I am doing this.”

“You said that already, mujer. Hurry up, you don’t have that much time to get ready.” Maria waved her hand to dry her nails.

“What am I going to wear? Harper cannot recognize me or he’ll throw me out.”

“That ought to make a great impression on the pilot,” Maria said.

“Ask Tía Nona. She’s got all sorts of pirate costumes,” Linda said.

“Because?”

Linda shrugged. “She’s got a thing for pirates?”

Julia snorted. “Not hardly. She always harped on me to ‘beware the pirates—especially that Matt Harper.’ Super annoying. He was nothing like his pirate ancestors.”

“You mean the Harpers who sailed pirate ships or the ones who bought our ancestors to work for them?” Maria asked.

“More like traded our ancestors for cattle. Cows were worth more than our people. Harpers are thieves.” Linda blew on her nails.

Maria shook her head. “No, they are pirates.”

Julia didn’t need the history lesson. “Matt wasn’t like any of them. He was...sweet.”

Linda shook her head. “Nothing sweet about that boy. He used to wear black T-shirts, holey jeans and drive that motorcycle like it was on fire.”

She smiled. Man, was he ever sexy on that bike. “He never crashed, not even once. And he drove carefully when I was on the back.”

“He skipped classes,” Maria added. “Brought you home late.”

“Only a couple of times.”

“Stole candy from Juanita,” Linda said.

“He was eight! And he paid her for it. Geesh, I had no idea you guys hated him so much.”

“I stopped caring for that boy when he broke your heart,” Maria said.

“He died, Maria! Fighting for our country.”

Linda shrugged again. “He didn’t say goodbye.”

Well. There was that.

She plopped down on the edge of the bed, between the women who’d been like sisters her whole life. In truth, they weren’t even real cousins since Julia was adopted. Still, the woman who raised her as her own child was Linda and Maria’s aunt, which made her their cousin. Everyone accepted her as a true relative.

Her biological mother had abandoned her, she’d never met her father and the only guy she’d really loved had flown away.

Matt had been the one person she’d trusted not to leave her behind. She’d given her heart and body to that boy. She’d finally told him she loved him and the next day he’d left for the Air Force academy. No letter. No call. She’d never heard from him again.

Is it me?

She took a choppy breath and her cousins both wrapped their arms around her.

“You’ll mess up your nails,” she said softly.

“Messes can be fixed,” Maria said.

Not all of them. She closed her eyes.

She’d never hold Matt again. Kiss him. Feel his fingers running through her hair, across her skin. Listen to the heart beating so strong and sure in his chest. No more Matt and Julia against the world. He was gone, his ashes scattered at sea.

She’d suffered a brutal period of depression. Pain and loss had ripped through her with an extra pounding of betrayal. She’d imagined seeing Matt everywhere. A figure walking on the sand, a fast car speeding by, some guy going into Juanita’s—they’d all been Matt. Her mind and heart had been shattered.

But she wasn’t alone. Her beautiful cousins and aunts had fought to save her. Hanging on with gentle, strong arms, they’d chipped away at the black night that had swallowed her whole. They’d forced her to blink open her eyes and see the love all around her. They’d helped her pull herself together to cherish the one gift her pirate had given her—the most beautiful and sweet treasure in the world.

“Mama? Where are you?”

“In here, Henry.” She gave her cousins each a smile of gratitude and rose to her feet. “Come help me find a costume.”

Three

“He’s here!” Henry shouted.

Oh, no. “I’m not ready! Tell him...let him...”

She was trying to pull up her fishnet stockings when her boy’s voice carried down the hall. “Hi, my name’s Henry. Nice to meet you. Mama says you’re a pilot.”

“Your mama?” His voice was so deep and rich that it sent shivers up her spine. In a good way. Too bad he was surprised she had a kid. Oops. Didn’t she mention that?

“Help yourself to a beer in the refrigerator. Henry can show you where the costume is,” she called out. “If you feel like slipping out the door, now would be a good time.”

“I’ll wait. You don’t have to hurry,” he said.

Wow. He was sticking. That was a good sign. It was ridiculous how happy she felt about not being alone again tonight.

“Nice place you have here, Henry,” he said.

Oh, now he was just being kind. Her place was tiny and old. The Harpers had built the cottages for the townspeople way back in the 1800s. The houses were lined up next to each other, so close that she knew what her cousins were watching on TV next door. Most of them were two-bedrooms with a small living room, minuscule kitchen and a covered porch. They were designed to house workers and their families. Nothing fancy, nothing beautiful. She’d spruced hers up with paint in muted sunset shades. The walls were covered with happy pictures of Henry and birds.

“So, have you flown your plane to lots of places, like, um, Mexico? Or Los Angeles?” Henry asked.

Those were the two places her son had been studying in school. Julia smiled and finished rolling up her stockings.

“The plane I flew today isn’t mine. But I used to fly fighter jets in the Air Force,” he said.

“Really? That’s so cool. Ever been to ’Ganistan?” Henry asked.

“Afghanistan?”

“Yeah, that’s it. My daddy died there.”

Julia gasped and then covered her mouth. Who told Henry that? She hadn’t given him many details about his dad’s death because...well, she couldn’t. To this day, she found it brutally difficult to talk to him about the way his father passed. She quickly pulled up the stockings.

“I’m sorry.” The man sounded sincere. “I was there. I can tell you that every single man and woman fighting in Afghanistan is a hero in my book.”

“Mama says he was a great man. The only guy she loved.”

She pressed her hand to her heart. She was happy Henry listened to her, occasionally, but this conversation had to be a tad awkward for her date.

“Give him the costume, Henry!” she called out.

“Okay. Here. Let’s try this hat thingy on first. Cool! Now the eye patch.”

“How do I look?”

“Perfect! Like a real pirate.” Henry sounded proud.

“Jack Sparrow? Dread Pirate Roberts?”

“Those are fake. We need a real pirate name. What’d they call you in the Air Force?”

Julia’s ears perked up. What was his real name?

“Captain.”

“That’s it! Aye, aye, Captain.” Henry giggled.

Not helpful.

She stepped into the flowing red skirt with the impossibly long slit up the side—hence the reason for stockings. The shirt was white and off the shoulder. She bent over, adjusted her breasts and looked in the mirror. She looked like a harlot. No, that wasn’t it, she looked like Julia Espinoza pretending to be a harlot. Too much like herself to be truly incognito. Shaking her head, she applied the dark red lipstick. Nope. Still Julia. Well, there was nothing else to do but to add Tía Nona’s long, blond wig.

Did blondes have more fun? She’d find out. She was desperate for a little fun for one night.

She came out to find a yummy pirate on her front porch, bending over the lizard cage. She had a great shot of his backside, which looked pretty darned good in those black slacks. He wore a cream-colored shirt and had Henry’s bright yellow pirate bandana on his head. Holy mama.

“What do you think?” She held her breath.

He rose. His eyes—or rather eye, since one was under the patch—was blue and held her gaze with intensity. Slowly, he took her all in, starting at the lacy off-the-shoulder, bosom-lifting blouse, down her red skirt to the fishnets and red stilettos. Then all the way back up again.

The look he gave was pure heat. Goose bumps ran up her arms, shoulders, and danced in her scalp.

“I like your real hair better.”

Not a blond man, huh?

“Okay. But would you recognize me in this?” she pressed.

He wasn’t looking at her wig. He was gazing at her lips and she had the feeling he wanted to kiss her.

“Always.”

She swallowed. She’d just met the guy and yet something inside her that had been dead for years woke up, uncoiled and pleaded for his lips.

Geesh, the harlot costume was getting to her.

He turned back to the lizard’s cage and spoke to Henry. “Old Man Harper only sees what he wants to see. We’ll trick him.”

She stepped closer. “So...we’re calling you Captain.”

“Apparently.”

“What does that make me? Wench? Swabbie?”

He touched her arm. All her senses focused on that warm hand on her skin. “You are my first mate.”

Oh, my.

“Ready?”

No.

A hundred times yes.

Maybe.

Oh, God. Am I doing this?

She bit her lip and nodded.

She kissed Henry on the cheek and he quickly wiped the kiss away. “Mama! Not in front of people.”

Just then Tía Nona hobbled her way onto the porch. “What’s going on here? Another party? Oh, Julia, my skirt fits you well, but careful on the blouse. Your treasures might pop out.”

“Tía Nona! We have company.” Julia raised her voice for the old woman.

“I am not blind, mija.” She stepped closer to get a better look at the man but stumbled on her last step as if her leg gave out. Captain rushed forward and caught Tía Nona before she fell.

“I’ve got you,” he said.

“Are you okay?” Julia asked. Even in the dim porch light, her aunt was pale, shaky.

Tía Nona studied his handsome face. “You...you are...?”

He still held her. “They’re calling me Captain tonight, ma’am.”

Tía Nona blinked slowly and reached up to touch his bearded cheek with her arthritic fingers. Julia was mortified. What had gotten into her old aunt? The man didn’t move, didn’t flinch. Julia was mesmerized by the display. She had no idea what was happening. But his face was full of compassion as he held very still.

“I’m an old woman with many faults. She’s my hija, Captain. She’s all I’ve got,” Tía Nona said. “Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Madre, mia, I hope you do. One day, perhaps. For now, be careful.” She released him. To Julia she said, “Never forget, nene.” And then she hobbled into the house without another word.

Never forget, little one? What was her old aunt babbling about?

“That was weird,” Henry said.

“She seems tired.” Strange and old. Maybe the onset of dementia? What would Julia do without her aunt? Tía Nona had always taken care of Julia even through the loss of Matt. Tía Nona had helped put all the shattered pieces back together again. Tía Nona was the mother Julia never had.

“Be good for Tía Nona, Henry. Go to bed on time. If you need anything, call Tina next door. She’s staying home with the new baby.” She kissed her son one more time before he could wiggle away.

“Aye, aye, Captain.” Henry saluted them both.

“Goofball.”

Her date escorted her down the stairs and around the front of the house. A silver motorcycle sat in her driveway.

“Wait. That’s a Harley.”

“Surprise.”

The emotions hit hard. She had a death grip on his arm and her teeth were clenched tightly. The last time she’d been on a motorcycle, she’d had her arms wrapped around Matt. She’d pressed into him as if he were her body armor. He’d protected her while driving them both toward freedom. When she was on the back of his bike, nothing could catch them or hurt them. Bad stuff was left in the dust. It was like flying. She’d trusted him with her life. With her love.

She’d never trust like that again.

Letting go of Captain’s arm she stepped backward. “I can’t go on that.”

“Why? I thought you liked motorcycles.”

Who told him? Linda and Maria must have given him an earful behind her back. She was lucky he’d showed up at all.

She did like motorcycles, had loved them once, but this was no ordinary bike. Oh, God. It looked just like Matt’s. Pain ripped through her chest.

She turned away from the two-wheeled dagger in her heart. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I thought I could, but obviously I’m not ready.”

* * *

“Tell me what the problem is and I’ll fix it.”

What in the hell was going on with Julia?

First, she acted like she didn’t remember him and now she was having a meltdown next to his bike? It was almost as if she had PTSD. But why?

He decided to play her game for a while, until he figured things out.

“It’s personal.” She sighed. “Which tells you absolutely nothing, right? Wow, what a great first mate you’ve chosen, Captain. Feels like this ship is sinking already. I’d understand if you want to take someone else to RW’s party. You’ll have more fun without me.”

“I want to have fun with you.” Like old times, only better.

“But I don’t know how to...to do...this...” She motioned between them.

He liked where her mind was going. Hated the terror on her face.

“Listen, Julia. We’ll dance, drink champagne, eat, laugh. It’s just a party. Come with me.”

She shook her head. “It’s not fair to you.” Her brow creased. “If you knew what was good for you, you’d hop on that Harley and go. You don’t want a broken girl tonight.”

He rubbed his thumb over her chin. “Broken?”

Her eyes welled.

That got him. Julia had always been fierce and brave. Had that husband of hers hurt her? If so, the dude was lucky he hadn’t made it out of Afghanistan or he and Matt would be going a few rounds right now.

Hell, he was still recovering from the fact that Julia had a child with that jackass. It ripped him up. He’d never wanted kids. Why ruin a child’s life like his parents did his? It never crossed his mind that Julia would marry someone else to have a child. Is that why she did? To have the baby Matt wouldn’t give her?

“I can’t ride that bike with you,” she said.

Dammit, what happened? Julia had always loved riding on the back of his bike. His plan had been to get her to wrap her sweet arms around him and press her full breasts into his back. Then they’d cruise and he’d kiss her senseless and remind her how much she’d missed him. Afterward they’d go to the party and dance the rest of the night. With any luck, he’d wake up with her in his arms.

That was how it was supposed to go. But somehow his plan had gone south.

“Julia. Talk to me.”

“The Harley reminds me of—” she blew out a long breath “—things I’m trying to forget.”

That was a gut-punch he didn’t see coming. At the café, she’d called him her mistake and now their adventures on the bike were things she tried to forget? Clearly, she was trying to kill their past.

“Fine,” Matt growled. “You don’t want to go with me. I get it.”

Putting his helmet on over the pirate bandana, he swung his leg across the bike. He needed to put some distance between him and the woman who was driving him crazy. Hell, maybe he’d skip the party and leave Plunder Cove tonight. He’d done his father’s bidding. He’d get the plane he needed without hearing whatever announcement his father had planned to make.

He could go back to forgetting Julia. Somehow.

“Wait!” She put her hand on his back. He felt that touch all the way to his groin. “Can you be patient with me? I haven’t been on a date in a long time. I’m saying all the wrong things, but I want to be with you tonight.”

“You do?”

Her gaze was on his lips. “I really, really do.”

Her husky voice was his undoing. He froze. He wanted to kiss her, but she seemed fragile. He didn’t want to push her—yet.

He handed her a helmet. She climbed on the bike, wrapped her arms around him and held on.

They’d make new memories on this machine tonight. Ones he could take with him when he left Plunder Cove once and for all.

Four

Matt loved driving his old, faithful Harley with Julia on the back. It felt familiar, comfortable and so damned good. Instead of winging through the curves like he used to do, he drove slowly along the coast. Sure, he was stretching out the ride, but Julia didn’t seem to mind. She put her head on his back and seemed to relax.

The night was warm with the ocean fog hanging in the distance. The sliver of moon winked at him as if it knew how hard Matt’s heart was beating. The breeze against his face smelled like the sea and Julia.

The long lane to Casa Larga came up too quickly. He drove under the lacy pepper trees and purple jacarandas. Luminaries lit up the driveway, making the normally private mansion seem strangely inviting. He idled in the driveway in front of a line of parked cars. Julia’s cousins were right—everyone was here. For an extra beat, he sat there memorizing the feel of Julia against him.