Seducing Her Rival (17 page)

“Never.”

The single word made her pause, balanced between the world without Lucas and the one where he stood right in front of her. “What did you say?”

“I would never do that. I’m here to show you something.” He waved her toward the opening. “I promise, I won’t bite.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“You’ve said it before too.”

And she’d bitten. Damn it, was she going to be forced to relive every mistake she made with him? Sucking in a deep breath, she stepped through the opening. Ten feet beyond the rickety wooden fence stood a metal arched trellis with its top covered by a sheet. Pots full of daisies and forget-me-nots were planted in front of it to either side of the opening. Behind the display stood Kelsey, Marco, and a slew of the kids who had worked with them throughout the past year. And beyond them was about three acres of land cleared of everything that had screamed “city.” Trees were planted and tied upright, and grass had started to take hold.

Mercedes swallowed hard, her gaze shifting from one face to the next, taking in their grins but comprehending none of it. “What is this, Lucas?”

“Well the daisies mean love and loyalty and the forget-me-nots are for good memories. And the hyacinths that are just poking up—sorry, I couldn’t get them to agree to tonight—are purple for forgiveness. And I feel those things and more—I’ve been feeling all of them since you walked out on me that morning. So what do you say? Can you forgive me for not knowing and putting my own mission ahead of yours?” He waved toward the arch.

The motion drew her gaze, as did the rustling of the cloth as Kelsey and Marco yanked it back. Worked into the design of the metal were the words
Mercedes Vega Safe Haven Playground
surrounded by brambles and roses with vicious-looking thorns. She stood, dumbfounded, unable to move even when Lucas stepped up behind her and rested his hands on her arms.

“We can change the wording if you’d prefer it said something else, and I know it isn’t where you’d planned…”

“It’s perfect.” It was even better than where she’d planned—more centrally located and surrounded by homes instead of businesses and warehouses. She wanted to spin around and hug him. Kiss him. Something that would be completely inadequate to express her thanks.

“In that case, maybe you could do something for me.” He tugged gently on her arm until she turned. Bending, he picked up a shopping bag that rested against the temporary fencing. “You see, my friend Alycia is getting sick and tired of flying out here to pose as my girlfriend. I mean, her guy is being great about it but she’d rather spend her weekends with him. Any interest in taking her place?”

He wasn’t with the blonde? He still wanted her after how she’d behaved? After everything?

Holding up the bag, he winked at her. “I even have this fabulous outfit that’s perfect for the opening of
Evita
tomorrow night. Pretty sure it’ll fit you.”

She peeked in the bag: her dress and probably all the other things they’d auctioned off. Biting her lip, she glanced at the kids only to find Kelsey grinning and waving her back toward Lucas. This was everything she wanted, everything she dreamed of, but… “You said the daisies meant love.”

“They do.” His voice ghosted over her skin, his breath ruffling her hair.

Mercedes swallowed hard, fighting the nerves her next words brought on. “You said you felt the things the flowers stood for.”

“I
do.
” He tipped her chin up until she met his gaze. She felt trapped there, but the urge to bolt had disappeared. “No games. No schemes. I love you, Mercedes. I love everything about you from your passion to your heart to your smart mouth.”

He loved her. Mercedes could barely breathe, but she couldn’t resist teasing him again. “And my ass,
amado
?”

“Yes,
beloved
, and your phenomenal ass.”

She started at the endearment. “You knew?”

“I found out.” He stood there, staring down at her for a long minute. “You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?”

Mercedes shook her head. “No. No more games. No more secrets. I love you, too. Being apart from you has been killing me a little every day.”

He brushed her hair back and cupped her face. “So is that a yes to
Evita
?”

“Yes. Of course, yes.” She bit her lip, wondering just how far he was willing to let her into his world. If love meant love or…something less. “And after the play? Then what?”

He shrugged, a smile curling the corners of his mouth as he dipped his head closer to hers. “I was thinking skydiving.”

“
Chinga tu madre
. We finally reconcile and here you are pushing your luck already.”

His breath feathered over her skin, caressing her ear and neck as he leaned closer. “Then maybe we can discuss future plans for your charity over drinks at my apartment instead. I should warn you though, it’s a penthouse.”

She didn’t care about how high off the ground he lived. All she wanted at the moment was to be his again. In his arms, his mouth on hers. “I think we can work something out,
amado
, but once I’m up there I might be too nervous to leave before morning when I can see all the way down.”

It felt so good, so right to call him that again. She didn’t know when it had shifted from just a word she used for him to one with meaning, but she did love him, had from that first moment on the ship when he smiled at her. He’d been her beloved ever since.

“Perfectly acceptable, though you’ll have to sleep in my room.”

Her lips grazed his, barely touching, and a shiver raced through her body at the contact she’d been craving for so long. “That’s very sweet of you to take the couch.”

“Mercedes…”

Finally, she let her smile break through as she pressed her mouth to his. Fire lit inside her and she leaped into his embrace, wrapping her legs around his waist. Behind her, the kids broke into giggles and applause, but she barely heard them. The children could come first again tomorrow.

This fairytale moment didn’t belong to anyone but her and her knight in shining armor.

Acknowledgements

Every book is different, but none of mine are written in a vacuum. There are so many people who helped make this one happen.

To Katee for pushing me to figure out a Brazen idea. To Heather Howland for talking me through the ridiculous stuff I came up with. To both of them for helping me get a bit of a handle on what category required. And for the hand-holding as I drafted. (And for the awesome cover!)

To Candy for her Fast Draft class. Without that class I wouldn’t have been able to let go of my
issues
in order to get the draft done. And to all my betas who tore it apart for me and helped me put it back together.

To Libby for saying yes when I sent it to her.

To Shannon for taking this project on. You were never easy on me, but you made me much better. And when the going got tough, you didn’t let me crumble. For all of that, I will be forever grateful. Someday we’re going to have those drinks and a lot of laughs.

To Liz for making me cry and forcing me to put on my big girl panties. It’s been a long time since I was in that position. I needed it and totally appreciate how much stronger you made this story…and me.

To my family and friends… I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thank you all for being there with me every step of the way and believing in me. It helps more than you know.

To my kids for putting up with all my late nights and the long days of exhausted Mommy. Chasing your dreams isn’t always easy, but it is
always
worth it.

Author’s Note

Before this book was published, I was lucky enough to take a cruise on the
Allure’s
sister ship,
Oasis of the Seas
. While much of what is in the pages of
Seducing Her Rival
is as accurate as I can recall, I did take some liberties.

• You don’t board onto the running track and they don’t hand you free booze. Sad but true. I have, however, been on cruises in the past where they made this lovely gesture. Additionally, the safety drill happens before the ship sets sail.
  
• I did not get to see any of the fantastic suites, all the information there came from photos. I also did not visit the spa, so descriptions of the massage and steam room are mine alone.
  
• The slot machines in Casino Royale don’t take quarters anymore. They all run off the shipboard cards.
  
• The stores are not allowed to be open while in port. While I can’t speak from any position of knowledge, it’s unlikely they would “make an exception” for a stained shirt, no matter who was wearing it. Additionally, I didn’t see any shops where buying a gown would be possible—much less more than one of them.
  
• The ship
  does
  have a Make-A-Wish walk, but the other charities I mentioned were made up (or at the very least were not advertised).
  

I’m sure there were many other things that weren’t quite right, but I attempted to make them as close to the real experience as possible. And props to Royal Caribbean for a wonderful trip. I hope to return someday.

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