Chapter 21
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HARRISON MUTTERED UNDER his breath as he shucked off his uniform.
If he’d just arrived in Hawaii, he supposed he’d want to immediately head to the beach as well.
It was only natural. Still, Luciana was faring far better than he’d expected.
Sure, she hadn’t slept well, but she’d seemed content sorting through her new belongings when he’d walked in.
She was also eager to set up her new cell phone but had said that could wait until after dinner.
Dinner. He considered what their options could be for the evening. Although he’d been planning to grill again, they’d be eating later if they took a quick trip to the beach.
A sense of anticipation washed over him. He wanted to see his favorite hidden spot through Luciana’s eyes, he realized, to share something of himself with her.
Funny that he’d never considered taking anyone else there. He had friends from base—other naval officers. He didn’t fraternize with his men, so Harrison typically spent little time with them outside work. He didn’t date anymore.
But Luciana?
A smile spread over his face. He wouldn’t mind showing her all of his favorite places around Oahu.
He found himself wondering what she would like—which restaurants and tourist attractions would appeal to her.
He could see her snorkeling or even attempting to surf.
She seemed the type who was adventurous.
Not for the first time, he wondered more about her family and background. While he believed she knew nothing about her father’s mysterious empire, he did know she’d had opportunities. Luciana could’ve stayed at the family home, possibly being supported by her family.
Instead, she’d fled, never looking back.
He respected that a hell of a lot. She knew something was amiss, and she didn’t stick around to become involved as she got older. She wisely forged her own path.
Harrison tugged on a tee shirt and board shorts.
He couldn’t exactly swim with the wound on his arm and wasn’t sure if Luciana actually wanted to go in the water anyway, but they could walk along the beach.
If she did want to swim and needed his help, however, nothing would stop him from going to her.
He strode down the hallway, seeing Luciana already dressed in his living room.
The top of a red halter swimsuit peeked out from beneath her shirt, and he wondered what she looked like in it.
She’d be gorgeous in anything, and he tried to tamp down those thoughts.
This was a platonic type of friendship and nothing more.
“I’ll grab some beach towels,” he told her. “Even if you don’t want to swim, we could use them to sit on the sand.”
“You’re not going to make me go on one of your runs with you, right?”
He looked over in surprise and saw that sparkle in her eyes, letting out a surprised laugh. “No, but if you ever want to join me, you’re more than welcome.”
“I think I will pass on that,” she said lightly.
Luciana moved toward the door, and his gaze dropped to her shapely ass. He’d noticed her figure yesterday even in the borrowed scrubs that she’d worn. She was a knockout. And Harrison would most decidedly keep his hands to himself.
They went into his garage, and Harrison grabbed the extra helmet.
She put it on but fumbled with the strap, and he reached out to assist her.
Luciana blinked in surprise as his fingers briefly grazed over her face.
Her skin was silky smooth, so damn soft he wished he had the right to explore it everywhere.
His gaze briefly landed on those plump lips, but he buckled the strap to the helmet and turned away to grab his own.
Harrison mounted his Harley, glancing over at Luciana.
“I will climb on behind you,” she said before he could even open his mouth to give her instructions.
Luciana slid on behind him like she’d been doing it her entire life.
He both heard and felt her slight intake of breath as she was pressed up against him.
“You okay?” Harrison asked, his voice gravel.
Luciana’s body flush against his felt good. Too good. He could breathe in her sweet floral scent and feel the heat and softness of her body.
“Si, I am fine.” But as she wrapped her arms around him, Harrison wasn’t sure that he would be. His cock twitched at the feel of her breasts pillowing against his back. Luciana squirmed in her seat, and Harrison wondered if she was more affected by their closeness than she was letting on.
“Have you ever ridden before?” he asked as he started the engine.
“No, but there is a first time for everything.”
He chuckled, briefly glancing down at her arms wrapped around him.
Harrison found he liked that a little too much.
“I’ll take it slow and easy,” he told her, but other thoughts immediately filled his mind—Harrison stretching her across his bed, kissing her everywhere before he made her his.
His cock was swelling, and the rumble of the motorcycle wasn’t helping matters.
Too bad they were on a damn tropical island. A dunk in a cold, frigid ocean was exactly what he needed right now.
***
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, they were on his favorite part of the beach, a secluded, sandy spot that was perfect for watching the sunset.
The wind whipped through Luciana’s hair, making her look a bit like a mermaid who’d come onshore.
She was stunning. Radiant. Her caramel skin practically glowed in the sunlight, and as she looked at him with those brown eyes, she laughed.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, amused by her enjoyment.
“I just realized I need a million more things—sunglasses, hair ties, sunscreen, flip-flops. But at the moment, I really don’t care. I wasn’t certain I’d ever see the ocean again,” she admitted, stretching her arms wide and turning in circles. “This is breathtaking.”
She was. And maybe she was more like a fairy than a mermaid—those arms spread wide, her loose blouse billowing in the breeze, hair flying wild and free. He needed to get a grip but couldn’t stop himself from staring at her in wonder.
Harrison looked out at the ocean instead to distract himself. Waves crashed against the shore, and it was one of those perfect evenings where the sunset shone off the water, with brilliant oranges and pinks lighting both the sky and sea.
“Why didn’t you bring me here yesterday?” she demanded, walking toward him. He smirked. Harrison loved seeing her sass come through. “I hope you’re not planning to swim with that healing wound on your arm,” she told him.
“No ma’am,” he murmured, and this time he caught her staring at his lips instead.
Luciana blinked in surprise once more, then glanced toward the water. “I want to take a quick dip.”
“Be my guest. Can you swim?” he asked.
“Si, but I won’t go deep in the water. Even I know not to swim at sunset, commander. I don’t need to become dinner for a shark a day after you rescued me.”
He chuckled as she turned away and began unbuttoning her blouse.
Luciana let it drop onto the towel, then slid down her shorts.
She didn’t look back at him, but he wondered if she could sense his gaze on her anyway.
She hesitated for just a moment, her head turning slightly in his direction, then strode purposefully toward the water.
He tried to ignore the way her hips swayed as she moved and the manner in which the curve of her ass kissed the top of her thighs. She was perfect.
When Luciana was knee-deep in the Pacific, she turned back toward him and waved, a huge smile on her face.
Harrison’s phone buzzed, and he waved back before reluctantly pulling it from his pocket. “This is Commander Madden,” he said.
“It’s Mathers,” his friend at State told him. “I’m calling from my office.”
“That explains the blocked number. How are things in Panama?” he asked, his voice serious.
“There’s been an unexpected development here. Juan Rodriguez has been on the local news. It appears he is looking for his only daughter.”
Harrison’s stomach dropped.
***
LUCIANA WAVED AT HARRISON from the surf, then watched him take a call.
She imagined a man in his position never had much down time.
She kept busy on her assignments as a nurse, but when she was off-duty, she was typically off for the night.
They had to keep set hours, otherwise patients would be coming by twenty-four seven when they were on location.
She could see the frown on Harrison’s face even from where she stood, noting how quickly his countenance had changed.
He seemed deep in conversation, so she turned toward the water again, loving the feel of the surf and salty breeze against her bare skin.
Being on the beach soothed her soul. Luciana looked out at the sunset, smiling to herself at the way the light seemed to dance right across the water.
It was breathtaking—truly a beautiful sight to behold.
Standing in the ocean for a few minutes longer, she savored the sand beneath her feet. It was too far to walk to the beach on her own from Harrison’s house, but perhaps she would join him one morning. He could run while she sat on the sand and read.
Books. That was another thing she was currently without. She’d have to jot down some more items on her shopping list when they returned home.
Glancing back, she saw that Harrison had ended his call. Luciana moved toward him, squealing as a big wave splashed her from behind.
He was already bending to grab a beach towel, and Luciana watched in surprise as he held it open and then wrapped it around her shoulders.
It flapped in the wind, and he held it securely for a moment, keeping it closed around her.
She looked up at him, and he froze. Harrison was still gripping her towel, but his eyes were locked on hers.
Harrison was close enough to duck down and kiss her if he wanted, and briefly, she wondered what he’d taste like.
Minty with a hint of musk, she decided. Pure male.
Blushing, Luciana was shocked she’d even had that thought. Harrison was practically a stranger, and she’d been free for barely more than a day.
“I got it,” she said lightly, sparks shooting straight through her as her fingers brushed against his.
She gripped the towel, and Harrison stepped back.
Despite his putting a couple of feet of distance between them, she still felt the electricity sparking between them.
Her skin flushed as heat bloomed within her.
Her reaction to Harrison made little sense, but she couldn’t deny it.
She was attracted to him in a way that blindsided her.
He made her feel safe, but he also made her body light up and take notice.
“Was that a work call?” she asked, trying to get her mind back on track.
“You seemed bothered by something.” At least, he’d seemed bothered until he’d wrapped the towel around her.
For a moment, she’d felt like the only other person in the universe when he looked at her like that.
It was slightly unnerving to have all that male attention and focus on her. Unnerving, yet thrilling, nevertheless.
“I am bothered,” he admitted, his voice gruff. He nodded to her clothes. “Go ahead and get dressed so we can head back. I’ll explain more in a moment. That was my source down in Panama City.”
Luciana frowned. “Tell me now. Something’s happened,” she assessed.
He eyed her for a moment, finally relenting. “Yes. Your father is looking for you.”
She froze, icy cold dread filling her bloodstream. Luciana clutched the towel more tightly around herself. “He’s looking for me? How do you know that?”
“He was on the news, portraying himself as a Colombian real estate businessman desperately looking for his only daughter, last seen in Panama City. You were estranged, according to him, but he wants the public to know you’ve gone missing and he will leave no stone unturned to find you.”
She gaped at Harrison. “But I was missing for a month. Why was he not on the news then when I was kidnapped from the Doctors Without Borders center? Avery said our disappearance and kidnapping was covered on all the news channels there, no? Yet my father suddenly appears on camera one month later? The timing is...off. I haven’t been in contact with him for years and years, but there is no way he just found out about my disappearance now. ”
Harrison frowned. “Agreed. The only thing that’s changed recently, which he shouldn’t know about, is that you were rescued. Maybe he discovered that a U.S. Navy SEAL team stormed a Gulf Clan compound and found you.” He paused a beat, and a wave of shock washed over her as his words sank in.
“But if he knew about the rescue...my father knew where I was all this time?” A feeling of horror snaked through her, and she swayed slightly on her feet, Harrison’s hand instantly shooting out to steady her.
“I don’t know,” Harrison murmured, eyeing her before moving closer, his grip on her arm steady and sure. “But I’m going to find out.”