Читать книгу Seductive Memory - AlTonya Washington - Страница 12

Prologue

Costalegre, Mexico

The wedding plans had changed, and quite suddenly. The bride and groom had opted for an event with a lot less flash and dazzle than the bride’s mother would’ve liked. Still, no one could argue that the ceremony hadn’t been a perfect one.

Santigo Rodriguez and Sophia Hail had spoken their romantic and heartfelt vows amid tropical breezes scented by the variety of exotic flowers adorning the environment. The change in venue and time had been a gift of sorts from the bride’s sister and brother-in-law-to-be. Viva Hail and her fiancé, Rook Lourdess, had arranged a breathtaking escape that the bride and groom had eagerly accepted.

Flora of such splendid hues looked to have been skillfully shaded, as if from the colors of an artist’s palette. The flowers, brilliant as they were, simply enhanced the sky. To call it magnificent just didn’t seem to do it justice.

Paula Starker didn’t think there were any words that could describe the presence of something capable of instilling such an intense sensation of serenity. And she could use a little serenity just then. The vivid blue, dotted by blindingly white and puffy clouds, infused her bloodstream with calmness like a drug. Paula was eager to let it have its way.

Serenity—as much as she could get—would remain a necessity if she was expected to make it through the rest of the day. She hadn’t thought to ask Sophia how long a maid of honor was expected to hang around once the nuptials had concluded, especially when she had two. Viva had stood up with her sister as well.

Of course, such questions hadn’t occurred to her until she’d realized who else she’d be sharing the ceremonial stage with. She’d actually been enjoying—or at least relatively enjoying—herself. The ceremony, its locale and the weather were all beautiful. Here were the good things of life—love, beauty, relaxation—all rolled into one. Who could ask for more?

Well, for starters, not having the man she almost married watching her throughout the entire occasion might’ve been nice. It should’ve been easy to ignore him. Seriously though, what woman with working eyes could truly ignore Linus Brooks? Especially when he stood just over thirty feet away? One of the groom’s two best men, he epitomized tall, dark and stunning in linen trousers and a shirt as blindingly white as the clouds dotting the magnificent sky above.

He watched her with an unerring intensity that came across as just enough amusement and certainty. The look told Paula that he knew damn well the effect he was having on her. It didn’t take a psychic to know the direction of her thoughts when her eyes lingered on his shirt billowing against the strong breeze.

Linus Brooks was well over six feet of taut, licorice muscle. His lean frame flattered every stitch of clothing he wore. This shirt was no different in the way it beautifully contrasted with his skin tone, and accentuated a sleekly sculpted chest.

Oh, he knew what he was doing, alright. Paula focused on keeping her brooding to a minimum, which helped to keep her eyes off the man who’d once held her body and soul in the palm of his hand. The heated reminder almost knocked the wind out of her. Surprising, since it was a truth never all that far from memory. Regardless, it was a truth that evoked a reaction when in the presence of the one it involved.

Linus Brooks had been that one—the only man she had ever wanted. Standing within sight of him then, Paula feared he always would be.

* * *

Costalegre’s vibrant flowers and sky were rivaled strongly by its waters. Unending turquoise ran alongside the Pacific and had the ability to mesmerize onlookers with little effort. Paula was no exception. She had abandoned the lively beachfront reception not long after it had gotten underway. Though the sun was setting, it took nothing away from the brilliance of the day—in fact, it enhanced it. She’d already strolled along the shoreline, smiling as the water worked its way between her toes.

The maids of honor had been decked in linen, same as the best men. Sophia had selected baby doll dresses with capped sleeves and lace hems that were perfectly suited to the climate. The dress code forbade shoes, and Paula couldn’t have been happier. She moved into the water until the tranquil waves lapped the backs of her knees. Serenity had found its way deep into her bloodstream, such that she wasn’t too unsettled when his voice resonated above the quiet roar of the water.

“Some wedding,” Linus noted while he too enjoyed the unending turquoise before his eyes.

“Some wedding,” Paula managed, despite the violent stab of arousal his voice summoned.

“Tig and Sophie are already brainstorming ways to outdo this when they plan Rook and Viva’s wedding.”

Paula couldn’t help but smile over the news Linus shared. “When couples compete, their friends get caught in the middle.”

Linus grunted a laugh. “If the middle lands us here again, then I’m all for it.”

“Yeah.” Paula inhaled the pleasant air as she studied the sun making its way closer to the horizon.

“We should’ve been first.”

His words clipped her appreciation of the view. “What?” She shifted to face him, gasping when her gaze collided with his. It had been years since she’d looked so closely into it. His eyes were molten chocolate orbs that had a sensually jarring glint and sometimes reflected hints of amber. His gaze was seductively set beneath long, thick brows of sleek ebony. Stricken, Paula directed her glare toward his pant legs rolled clear of the water.

“You heard me.” Linus moved closer until he was taking Paula’s other hand. Her fist was clenched tight near her thigh. “We should’ve been first. You should be my wife, have a house full of my kids and another inside you—”

“Linus, stop.” She snatched her hand free and used it to cover her mouth. How long had it been since she’d spoken his name? “Don’t.” She hated the pleading quality she heard in her voice then.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

The determined tone of his voice had Paula looking up again. She couldn’t tell whether the apology spoke to their immediate conversation or to a situation long passed and best not revisited.

“It’s too late,” she said anyway. She couldn’t resist probing to see whether their past was on his mind too.

It was.

“Is it?” He left barely a sliver of space between them then.

“It’s a wedding, Linus. You’re just getting caught up in the moment,” Paula reasoned.

That was true. The moment was having its way with her as well. She wouldn’t be able to resist leaning into him if he stayed where he was for much longer. Her thoughts buzzed with memories of the way he used to feel—strong, safe, capable of pleasure she’d never found a match for—

“Ma’am?”

Snapping to, Paula turned to give a nod to the tall dark-suited man who’d interrupted. He said nothing further, only turned and left once she’d acknowledged him.

“Was that for my benefit?” Linus asked.

Again, Paula smiled at the laughter in his query.

“No.” She sighed. “I think we both know it’d take more than one member of my security team to have an effect on you. Anyway.” She glanced across her shoulder to find that they were alone again on the quiet stretch of beach. “There’s not much I can do without them, you know?”

Linus nodded. “One of the perks of being the district attorney,” he said, only cringing a little at her dig.

“And one of the few I’ll miss. He was just coming to let me know it’s time,” Paula explained before Linus could follow up his curious look with a question.

“That’s why I came to find you.” He nodded again, then said suddenly, as though remembering, “Sophie said you’re on your way back to Philly.”

“Yeah, um, they moved up the wedding date and threw me off schedule, so...” She shrugged. “Best I could do to make it work.”

“But you just got here last night.” A teasing light glimmered in his eyes. “Surely the DA can finagle a week off to celebrate her best friend’s wedding?”

“There’s a lot going on at the office.” Paula issued the response she’d gotten down pat with all Sophie’s begging for her to take more time as well. Truthfully speaking, it would’ve taken little more than her saying she’d be back when she got back if she’d wanted to “finagle” a week off or more.

She hadn’t wanted it, and the reason was standing right beside her.

“You know, I never got to tell you how proud I am of you,” Linus was saying, the pride he spoke of alive and well in his eyes. “You wanted DA and you got it.”

“Not bad for an opportunist, huh?”

“Paula—”

“But that’s not the word you used, was it?” She expected her words to have him stepping back.

Linus didn’t budge. “May I talk to you?”

“About what, Linus? The past? The fact that we should’ve been first and I should be spending my time having your babies? We aren’t them.” She threw a hand toward the general direction of the beachfront reception. “Love? Future? We already know what that turns into, don’t we?” She was the one stepping back then. “I already said my goodbyes.” She turned to leave.

He blocked her way. “Don’t you want to know why?”

“I did.” Paula swallowed past a rising sob and silently celebrated the accomplishment. “I did when I was that heartbroken little girl, confused and shattered by the guy I would’ve killed for if he’d asked me to.”

With a resigned shake of her head, she backed off a few more steps.

“I’m not the girl you knew, Linus. She’s gone. You saw to that.”