Risky: Torn Between Two Lovers (2 page)

But Joaquin is used to getting what he wants, and he wants Anna. He is even starting to dream of going legit and living a normal life, with Anna by his side. That is, if Anna’s ex, the FBI agent who is his most hated enemy, doesn’t get in his way …

So, will you join #TeamJoaquin? Make the informed choice: Check out RAW, the first in the series.

Cast your vote between 19 November 2013 and 10 December 2013.
Visit
www.facebook.com/eternalromance
for information.

Then find out who wins Anna’s heart in March 2014, in REWARDED.

Anna Claire was sprawled in a lounger on the white sand of Aruba, soaking up the Caribbean sun.

Too bad it couldn’t melt the chill inside.

Three days she’d been here, and she was no closer to an answer. She used the time to relax and unwind from the stress of what had happened in New York. Stress from making the restaurant successful, too, pouring her heart and soul into the place. She hadn’t realized how tightly wound she’d been from that alone.

Should she call Gray? She missed him. But would that solve anything, or just make things worse? She didn’t know what to do.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”

Shielding her eyes, she peered up at a man standing under her grass umbrella. Her mouth immediately went dry.

The man smiling down at her had tanned skin, natural, if she had her guess. Raven hair was swept back from a face that would make Antonio Banderas weep from shame, and his teeth were a slash of white in his angular face. He was tall and wearing Speedo swim trunks that barely covered the essentials and left not one thing to the imagination.

More than being gorgeous, he was imposing. Even mostly naked, he had a commanding presence that suggested his question was a mere formality. He’d asked to sit next to her, but he clearly expected her assent. The old Anna would’ve bristled and snarled a rejection, but she’d come here to relax, after all. Who said she couldn’t do that while talking with a sexy man?

And he was the most stunning man she’d ever met—except for Gray. Quickly, she pushed that name aside.

“Who’s asking?” she said, keeping her tone playful. Light.

His smile deepened, revealing grooves bracketing his mouth that she suddenly wanted to trace with her tongue. “I’m Joaquin,” he said. “And you?”

“I’m Anna.” She studied him, cocking her head.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just …” She shrugged. “I thought I’d heard that name before recently. It’s kind of unusual. So, what brings a man like you over here to talk to me?”

“I’ll confess: I’ve been watching you since I arrived yesterday.” He took a seat without waiting for confirmation that he was welcome.

She arched a brow. “Oh? Stalking much?”

He shook his head ruefully. “No. It’s just that you have the saddest eyes I’ve seen in quite a while. I’d like to know if there’s anything I can do to change that.”

At first she thought he was kidding, or just hitting on her. But in the depths of his riveting black eyes, she read understanding. Sincerity.

“You seem like you really mean that.”

“I do,” he said quietly. Turning, he waved a hand at a bulky man she hadn’t noticed standing just behind them. “Get me and Anna something from the bar. Something fruity with rum for her, Jack and Coke for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

She snorted a laugh, eyeing him. “Really? You have a lackey to play fetch for you?”

“He’s my bodyguard. He does what I pay him to do.” Said as though it was quite normal to relax on the beach with a bodyguard.

In spite of herself, she was intrigued. “Do you always take charge? What if I wanted something else to drink?”

“Do you?”

“Well, no. It was a rhetorical question.”

His lips quirked. “There you go. So tell me, Anna … can I help put a happy smile back on your beautiful face?”

She studied the gorgeous man beside her and thought,
What could it hurt? Live a little, Anna.
That was her new mantra, the one that had been drilled into her head.

“I think perhaps I’ll let you try.”

His smile heated her inside, chasing away the chill. Their drinks arrived, and Joaquin handed her the fruity concoction. Then he raised his own plastic cup in a toast.

“That’s a start, Anna. A very good start.”

“So, let’s drink to fun in the sun,” she said.

“And to new beginnings.”

They talked at length, getting to know each other, and she enjoyed his company very much. And yet … His outward demeanor was light, but there was an underlying seriousness that made her shiver inwardly. As though he didn’t speak just to fill an empty space or adhere to the dictates of polite conversation. She had the strangest feeling Joaquin never spoke without weighing his words carefully and making the most of their meanings.

But that was simply an impression.

“What do you do for a living, Joaquin?” She glanced over her shoulder at the huge, ever-present bodyguard, who gave her a toothy grin she wasn’t sure whether to interpret as friendly or threatening.

“I own several businesses,” he replied, recapturing her attention.

She studied him curiously. “Wild guess here, but I’m thinking not your run-of-the-mill varieties, like car dealerships or furniture stores.”

“You’re right. Nothing so mundane as that.”

“Of course not.” She squinted at him. “You going to tell me what they are, or do I have to spend the afternoon trying to hit the right ones?”

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know, on one condition: Have dinner with me.”

“You’ve got this disturbing way of making a request seem like an order.”

Not the least bit daunted by the slight annoyance in her tone, he stretched like a lazy cat and regarded her with glittering dark eyes. “Occupational hazard. Should I come by your room and pick you up at seven?”

“Why me?” she wondered aloud. “You could have dinner with any woman here.”

“But I don’t want to spend time with any of them. None of them are you.”

What harm could come to me in a crowded resort?
she thought. But she retained a certain caution. “Thank you for the invitation. I’ll meet you in the main restaurant, though.”

“Fair enough. I look forward to tonight.” He pushed to his feet.

“Me too.” As she watched him saunter away, the bodyguard trailing him, she realized how true that statement was.

She found herself looking forward to something for the first time in weeks.

***

Gray was going home tomorrow. Thank God.

He was in bed, flipping through channels on the wall-mounted TV, when Simon strode in, a serious expression on his face. Whatever he had to say, it wasn’t good. Gray sat up too fast and winced in pain. He had plenty more healing to do when he got out of here and had to move cautiously.

“Careful, partner.” Simon took a seat by the bed. “You could rip something.”

“Don’t stall. Did you find out where Anna went?”

Simon blew out a breath. “Yeah. A resort in Aruba.”

“So what’s with the face? You look like someone just died.”

“Someone might when you find out the rest.”

Dread seeped into his heart. “Lay it on me straight.”

“Joaquin Delacruz is in Aruba. He arrived at the resort two days after Anna got there.”

Anger burned inside him, but he kept it in check. Facts first. “Is he going after her because of me? Because I helped take down Manny?”

“I don’t know, man. What I do know is he’s getting awfully chummy with her, doing his best to get close. Real close.”

Anger swept into rage in a single heartbeat, and he shoved the covers off him. “If he touches her, I’m going to kill that motherfucker.”

“What are you doing?” Simon asked in alarm. “You can’t go after him. You’ll either set back your recovery or you’ll really kill each other.”

“That’s a chance I’ll have to take.” Standing, he fought off a wave of sickness and pain. “Get me my damned pants.”

“No. The only place you’re going is home, and even then you’re on bed rest. There’s no way you’ll be cleared to fly, much less out of the country, and you know it.”

The truth seeped in slowly, and it was killing him. Easing back into the bed, he clenched his fists in the sheets. “When I’m out of here, I’m going to take care of Delacruz for good. The question is, are you with me? If not, stay the fuck out of my way.”

Simon’s jaw clenched. After a pause, he stated, “When you’re
healed
, I’m in. Somebody has to watch your stupid back.”

“Good enough.” That would have to do. For now.

Joaquin fucking Delacruz. Using Anna to get to Gray. To take their hatred to a whole new level.

Well, Gray would play the billionaire’s game. Just this one last time.

Joaquin, going legit? He didn’t believe that for a second. He was going to find the elusive proof he needed.

Then Gray would bury that son of a bitch alive.

***

Anna discarded the third outfit in disgust.

There had to be something in her wardrobe suitable for an evening of dining out. Most of her clothes, though, consisted of beachwear and shorts since she hadn’t given much thought to socializing while she was here. She’d only wanted to be alone, sit in the sun, and watch the world go by.

Attracting a hunky millionaire, or whatever he was, hadn’t entered the picture.

Looked like her solitude was at an end, if only temporarily. If she was honest, she was terribly curious about the man. What harm could come from learning more about him?

Finally she located a breezy, sleeveless print dress she’d tossed in her suitcase at the last minute and slipped it on. Examining herself in the mirror, she debated whether to leave her hair down or up. Scooping the long, dark tresses in her hands, she pulled the mass on top of her head and gave it a twist. The look was too formal, she decided, so she let go and teased it to fall around her shoulders and frame her face. That worked better with the casual look, so she left it like that.

A glance at her watch showed it was ten minutes until seven. With the short walk to the restaurant, she’d be right on time. Grabbing her small clutch purse, she made sure she had the card key for her room and headed out.

The evening was still hot, and the sun had not yet dipped behind the horizon. Flowers were in bloom along the winding path through the resort, and she inhaled their sweet fragrance. As it did from time to time, a pang of regret hit her that Gray wasn’t here to share this with her, but she put it aside. She was here to forget, to move on. Her heart might need more convincing, though.

Joaquin was waiting for her just inside the open foyer and swung to greet her with a broad smile. He was considerably more clothed than earlier and looked scrumptious in a pair of slacks that accented his long legs and a loose, flowing blue linen shirt worn with the tails out. A lock of black hair fell into dark eyes that seemed to notice nobody but Anna.

“You look beautiful,” he said, taking her hand as she walked up to him.

“Thank you.” Giving him the once-over, she returned the compliment. “You look fantastic yourself, even with clothes on.”

He laughed softly and placed a palm at the small of her back. “Thanks. I’m happy to ditch them again, if you prefer.”

“Why don’t we play it by ear?” she teased.

“That’s fine by me.” The answering heat in his gaze told her that he wasn’t joking.

Lust hit her hard, and her breath hitched. When she’d met Gray, the attraction had been more of a slow burn as he flirted with her in the restaurant each day. But this? Never had desire slammed her so forcefully, so fast. And for a dangerous man, too, if Joaquin’s faithful shadow was any indication.

As they were led to their table, Anna glanced over her shoulder at the huge guard. He’d taken up a position at the perimeter of the main dining area. Close enough to oversee the happenings all around them, but far enough away to afford them some privacy. After they’d taken seats at their table and the maître d’ vanished, she nodded toward the hulking man.

“Okay, so what’s the deal with the goon? Seriously.”

“I doubt very much that T-Bone would appreciate being called a
goon
.”

“Does he carry a gun? Would he hesitate to use it to save his employer?”

“Yes, he does, and no, he wouldn’t,” Joaquin admitted.

“Then he’s a goon.”

“I dare you to walk up to him and say that to his face.”

“No, thanks. I like where my liver is located.” She eyed T-Bone with suspicion. Again, the big man grinned at her, and she looked away, feeling unsettled.

Her handsome date snorted in amusement. “None of my men would hurt you. Not without good reason.”

“The qualifier there isn’t exactly comforting. And
men
, plural? Just who am I having dinner with tonight? Michael Corleone?” The suggestion didn’t seem too far out there.

“Not exactly.” He paused as a waiter came over, handed them two menus, and asked for their drink orders. “We’ll have a bottle of your best Sauvignon Blanc.”

“Excellent, sir.”

The waiter left, and she looked back at Joaquin. “Explain what you mean by ‘not exactly,’ please.”

He hesitated, regarding her for a moment. “I don’t think I told you my last name earlier. It’s Delacruz.”

She waited. “Okay. Is that supposed to mean something?”

“Doesn’t it?”

Delacruz. Joaquin Delacruz …

A conversation with Gray from just before he was shot began to form and came into sharp focus.

“Do you know a man by the name of Manny Delacruz? Or his older brother, Joaquin?”

“No. Should I?”

“Not necessarily. The Delacruz brothers are crooked casino owners I’ve been after for years. Joaquin is a billionaire, but he’s got his fingers in just about every dirty pie you can imagine.”

“Which has
what
to do with me?”

“Manny planted some of his men here, in your employ. They’ve been using Floor Fifty-Five as the base of their drug running operation almost since you opened your doors.”

Anna stared at Joaquin, her blood running cold. “Oh my God. You … Manny Delacruz is your brother,” she whispered. “He was running drugs, using my catering service to move them. Did you know what he was doing? Did you help him?”