Mission: Seduction. Candace Havens
had invited Rafe, her sole intention had been to help him. He never whined or complained, but she could always tell that he had seen things he’d rather forget. After several letters prodding him about his injuries, he’d finally told her everything. That he’d nearly died sent her heart reeling. That was when she knew she cared much more than she should.
In her mind and in her heart, she knew she could make a positive difference in his life.
She turned onto her side.
Rafe was even more than she had expected. His inner strength only intensified his attractiveness. She thought of his taut muscles and the way his jeans fit against his—
“Stop it,” she moaned. Even before she’d seen him, he had been a late-night fantasy. He’d often kept her awake as she wondered what it would be like if he touched her. Or better yet, kissed her.
Kelly quickly got out her cell phone and called her sister. She had to tell someone the truth, or she would die from guilt.
“This is Mimi, you know what to do,” the recorded voice said.
For a second Kelly thought about leaving the whole twisted story in a message. It would be so much easier, but she wouldn’t stoop that low.
“Call me,” she said before hitting the end call button.
“I’m not a bad person,” she whispered to her pillows. “This all began so innocently. Can I help it if his letters made me fall for him? Is it my fault that I want him all to myself?”
A little voice in the back of her mind spoke up. “Oh, be quiet, conscience.”
She needed something to do so she would stop obsessing. There was always paperwork, but she couldn’t concentrate.
Jumping up from the bed, she slipped off her shorts, revealing the rest of her bikini. She then reached for the latch and opened the sliding glass door.
Outside, her board stood waiting for her. She grabbed it and ran to do the one thing that always soothed her.
It only took a moment for her feet to hit the warm sand. Curling her toes, she watched as the waves broke over the sandbar. The motion of the water was the balm she needed.
Running, she dove with her board into the first wave.
Home.
* * *
RAFE STARED AS Kelly surfed one wave after another. The way she maneuvered the surfboard with such ease made him curious as to how someone so slim could tame the churning ocean. At first, he thought she must have to really focus on what she was doing, but she did it all so smoothly and controlled, she was clearly a natural.
When she hit the beach, she frowned and headed again into the surf.
Rafe didn’t know her, but he did know human nature and she was worried about something.
That bothered him. She was such a kind soul. He’d recognized that about her from the instant they’d met. That and the fact that she’d welcomed him to her resort without a second thought. There was an immediate connection between them, one that disturbed Rafe because of its strength. The pull toward her was something that should only come after knowing a person for months, not minutes.
What amazed him the most was how fast he was over his initial disappointment of Mimi not being there to greet him.
Stop it.
He kicked his feet and swam back to shore. Once there, he claimed the towel he’d brought with him and sat down on the sand.
Had she felt the same awareness? Just because Kelly had been nice to him was no reason for him to think she might be interested in him.
Give it up.
You’re here to hang out with her sister.
“Those look like some deep thoughts,” Kelly said. She stood before him with her board stuck in the sand. How had she snuck up on him like that?
Great, marine, just great.
“Not so deep, I promise. You’re a great surfer. I mean, I don’t know much about the sport, but you ride those man-crushing waves like a pro.” Rafe had stayed in shallow water to avoid the large swells, which rolled in higher by the minute.
“I am,” she said.
He gave her a questioning look.
“A pro,” she said, and laughed. “I surf professionally on the circuit. At least, I did until a few months ago before I decided to hit Pause for a bit and buy this place.” She nodded toward the resort.
If she made enough to afford this luxury spot, she had to have done pretty well as an athlete.
Rafe chastised himself for staring at her. Bikini bottoms with tiny red bows at the hips flattered her long, tanned legs. Her flat stomach was slightly ripped with muscles, just enough to show she wasn’t afraid of a good workout.
Rafe cleared his throat as he stood up. The interest in her toned-in-every-way body had to stop. He searched his brain to recall what they’d been talking about. “Why did you hit Pause?”
She pursed her lips. “Maybe that’s the wrong expression. I think of it as a long vacation. To reevaluate what I want to do next with my life.” She shifted from one foot to the other. “I’ve been traveling the world from one competition to the next since I was sixteen. Burnouts happen a lot in my sport. And to be honest, I was heading that way. I forgot my love for surfing and I wanted to remember why I’m addicted to those waves. And it’s helped. A month’s gone by and I’m already anticipating the next big meet.
“Listen to me. I sound like some confused chick trying to find herself.”
“No, you don’t,” Rafe said quickly. “I love being an active marine and serving, but there are some days I want to give it all a rest and be a farmer or something.”
She grinned. Her amusement pleased him. “You don’t seem like the farmer type.”
“That would be kind of funny, since I don’t know a thing about it,” he admitted. “But some job where you work with your hands and you’re alone out in nature. There’s no one to report to, and you don’t have to constantly watch your back.”
That was true. After his last assignment, he’d begun to reevaluate what was important to him. Unlike Kelly, he had no idea what might be next. He had invested in his friend Will’s private security company so he would always have a job there. That was his safety net.
But Rafe seldom took the safe path. His beat-up leg and shoulder were proof of that.
“How did you end up here? Seems like a lot to take on for one person.”
She shrugged. “I’d been coming here for years during my off time because the waves are great for most of the year. A friend of mine owned it. One day he said he wanted to sell it, and everything fell into place so easily that I knew it was the right decision. It is a lot of work, but manageable. For the most part, it can run itself as long as there’s someone to oversee the accounting and business stuff. Everyone who works here has been here for years, so that also helps.”
Rafe studied her. Kelly was proud of what she’d accomplished, and she should be. From what he’d seen so far, this was about as close to paradise as one could get.
“So what time did you say dinner was?”
“Oh, thanks for the reminder. I need to get back there. It’s at seven, and it’s casual. Very casual. Shorts are fine. Well, see ya tonight.” She grabbed her board and swung away with a jaunty lift to her step.
Rafe couldn’t take his eyes off her bikini-clad body striding up the beach. The woman was insanely beautiful. It wasn’t fair.
He laughed.
What was paradise without a little temptation?
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