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.

      His Julia. One last time.

      He cut the engine, swung his leg over and offered his hand to her. “Ready?”

      She took his hand quickly and held on tight. “Yes?”

      “I heard the question mark, sweetheart. It’s going to be okay. Trust me.”

      She bit her lip. “I...do?”

      He laughed. “Getting closer. Think the word...” Circling around, he came up behind her and whispered in her ear, “Fun.”

      He couldn’t help but notice the shiver and slight roll of her shoulders. She was still ticklish. Good to know.

      “Fun,” she said softly.

      “What we have here is a two-part mission. Part one—” he lifted his finger “—get inside the mansion to seek intel to stop plover destruction. Part two—” another finger lifted “—have the time of our lives. We’re not leaving without having fun. Got it?”

      She nodded.

      “Good enough.” He led her toward the front door.

      She stopped. “Oh, no. There’s a guard at the front. See him?”

      “Yes, I see him. Let’s go around the side,” he said. He’d recognize his dad’s bodyguard anywhere. The man had been one of the two goons who’d escorted Matt off the property ten years earlier. It still pissed him off. The itch to bloody the man’s nose was real, but what good would that do?

      She cocked her eyebrow. “You found a secret entrance since this afternoon? You’ve been busy.”

      What was he supposed to say to that? If she thought hard enough, she’d remember how to get in through the side garden. This wasn’t the first time he’d snuck Julia Espinoza inside Casa Larga. He took her hand and they walked past the rose garden. Up ahead was the gazebo under the coastal oaks. He’d kissed her against the railing in the gazebo the last time they were here.

      “We don’t have to go in just yet.”

      “Okay,” she croaked. Her voice gave her away. That and the way she didn’t know where to put her hands. They went to her throat, by her sides, clasped.

      “Don’t be nervous.”

      “You’re not?”

      “A little.” Hell, okay, a lot. About the party. About her. “But we’ve got this.”

      “This is all foreign to me. Last week I was taking my finals in Environmental Science and Law and I was restricted from entering Casa Larga. Now I’m here with a...a...date.”

      Could it be any harder for her to say the word? He didn’t want to dwell on it so he changed the subject. “Do you like your classes?”

      Her eyes lit up. “I love them. I want to be a lawyer. I really do. Those poor birds can’t defend themselves against corporate monsters.”

      “Like RW.”

      Her eyes widened. “Um, and others who suck all the goodness out of the environment for their own personal gain. Meanwhile, species are going extinct and our air and water is becoming polluted. I want better for my son, for everyone.”

      Passion for her cause lit up her expression. God, she was magnificent. He ran the backside of his knuckle over her cheek. “I agree.”

      She closed her eyes, leaning into his hand. “That’s why I study so hard. Two more semesters and I can take the bar exam. Next to being Henry’s mom, it’s the one thing that gives me purpose. Something I can be good at.”

      It pleased him that she had found a noble cause. She’d always been a caring person and a spitfire. It made perfect sense that this is who she would become—a strong woman who knew her mind and fought for the innocent creatures of the world.

      “I like that. Julia Espinoza, Planet Saver.”

      She cocked her head. “Now you’re making fun of me.”

      “No, way. Your eyes light up when you talk about environmental law. Strong women are sexy. It’s great to be doing what you were born to do.”

      “Yes.” Her voice was very soft.

      “Setting difficult goals and flat-out going for them? In the Air Force, we call that ‘balls to the wall.’”

      She laughed. “I don’t have balls.”

      “Are you kidding me? A single mom raising a son while putting herself through college? Your cajones are humongous, lady. I’m jealous.”

      She blushed.

      Thinking about his package, was she? He dragged his thumb across her bottom lip. Silky, warm, his. No woman he’d known had a mouth like Julia’s. He bent to put his lips where they belonged.

       Used to belong.

      A woman screamed in the distance.

      “What was that?” Julia asked.

      Another woman yelled, followed by a slew of Spanish words. Julia ran toward the sounds and Matt was quickly in pursuit. They raced across the aggregate pathway and stopped in front of a large dolphin fountain where two elderly ladies had climbed in. They splashed each other like kids at a public pool.

      “Tía Alana! Tía Flora! What are you doing?” Julia asked. “Get out of there before anyone sees you.” Julia looked at Matt. “They’ve fallen off their rockers.”

      “Watch it or you and guapo will be next,” Alana threatened, lifting her arm to splash them.

      Flora laughed, hiking up her dress and exposing her thick legs. “Señor Harper said to enjoy ourselves. He’s the boss.”

      “You’ll have restraining orders on you, too, if you don’t get out of there.”

      “Nope. We have to take our fun where we can get it. We don’t have hot hombres,” Alana said in a teasing voice.

      Julia slapped her hand over her mouth in the cutest version of horror he’d ever seen. She hooked her arm in his and started pulling. “I don’t want to be here when the guards show up.” As they walked the lantern-lit pathway, she added, “I have a big family and they’re all a little crazy.” She smiled. “But I love them.”

      “You’re lucky to