Surrender At Sunset

Passion’s hideaway

Ever since enduring a possibly career-ending injury, Miami superstar shortstop Carlos Bradley has retreated from the world. His life undergoes a radical makeover when he’s convinced to hire a designer to restore his secluded island mansion to its former glory. Completely different from the women Carlos has known, interior decorator Virginia Andersen captivates him with her infectious spirit and the sensuality beneath her coolly professional demeanor.

The owner of a struggling design firm, Virginia can’t believe her new employer is a baseball legend. But Carlos wants more than just her expertise. And when he insists she move into his tropical getaway during the renovations, Virginia soon finds herself sharing the irresistible playboy’s bed. But when the media descends, she’s thrust into the limelight and her past becomes an open book. Is she ready to overcome her doubts to fight for a future with the man of her dreams?

He grabbed her shoulders, and for a moment his thoughts stopped. Her skin was as soft as it looked and she smelled good. Something faintly sweet but not perfumed. She smelled like something he would love to bury his face in and inhale. “You can’t drown yourself yet. There’s a basket filled with Swiss chocolates waiting inside for you.”

She placed her hands over her face, her voice coming out muffled. “Oh, please tell me you don’t have a basket of chocolates waiting inside. I said so many things to you. So many stupid, stupid things.”

“You called me a sexy shortstop with a squeezable behind.”

She groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

He pulled her hands away from her face. “Look at me, Ms. Andersen.”

She shook her head, her eyes still shut. “Call me Virginia. After all I’ve said to you, I think you’ve more than earned the right to call me by my first name.”

“Open your eyes.” He was touching her. He had just met her and yet he had her hands in his. He knew he should drop them, but he wanted to see her eyes again.

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Hideaway Island. Home of crystal-blue waters, white sandy beaches and the Bradley siblings. Join them on their journeys of self-discovery as they fall in love in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

In Surrender at Sunset meet Carlos, the superstar baseball player who’s hiding from the world after a career-ending injury. His new spunky decorator, Virginia, knows her biggest job will be to show Carlos that the simplest things in life are often the most meaningful.

Jamie Pope

Surrender at Sunset

Jamie Pope

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JAMIE POPE first fell in love with romance when her mother placed a novel in her hands at the age of thirteen. She became addicted to love stories and has been writing them ever since. When she’s not writing her next book, you can find her shopping for shoes or binge-watching shows on Netflix.

To the Harlequin Kimani team.

Thanks for all your support.

Acknowledgments

Jamie B., Denise S., Gail C., Jen M., Heidi U.

Thanks for brainstorming with me in Vermont.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Copyright

Chapter 1

Carlos Bradley heard the faint sounds of voices coming from somewhere in his house as he lay in his bed. One male and one female. For a moment he was mildly curious as to whom the voices belonged to. He lived on the secluded side of a small island off the Florida coast. He had picked the location because it was almost junglelike. Hot and overgrown and tropical. At times he felt as if he was the only one on Earth. No guests. No visitors allowed. Just a cleaning woman and a groundskeeper who came once every other week.

It must be them talking. None of his friends would come down here, even though they had offered once they had learned of his bad news. But after a while the offers had stopped. His phone no longer rang. He was alone. As he wanted to be.

He pulled the covers over his head in a vain attempt to block out the bright sun that was streaming through his bedroom windows and tried to go back to sleep. It was probably well past noon, but he wanted darkness. Night was the only time he could shut his eyes and forget that the world was still going on without him.

“Carlos!” He heard the voice of his baby sister, Ava, and then felt her bounce onto the bed. “This bed is enormous. Is he even in here?”

“Yeah,” his brother and Ava’s twin, Elias, answered. “He’s the lump in the middle.” A hard fist came down on his shoulder.

The hit stung but Carlos, too tired to even make noise, said nothing, just pulled the covers away from his face and glared at his younger siblings. “What...” His mouth felt dry. His tongue heavy from not having been used in so long. He couldn’t remember the last time he had spoken to anybody, much less carried on a conversation.

“What the hell are you doing here?” The twins were the only ones who still came around. They both led busy lives so he didn’t see them much. But they were the only ones who attempted to keep his connection to the outside world.