Twelve days isnât nearly long enoughâ¦
Vanessa Harrisonâs holiday spirit goes from humdrum to armed and dangerous when the filmmaker becomes an eyewitness to a crime. Spirited away to a Caribbean hideout for her safety, she isnât prepared for her instant attraction to gorgeous, take-no-prisoners FBI agent Kendrick Boudreaux. On Pleasure Islandâwhere every sensual fantasy is fulfilledâher vow to never trust another man melts in the heat of Kendrickâs sizzling embrace.
Kendrick must keep Vanessa safe. But in his protective arms, desire ignites, and soon theyâre giving in to their deepest passions. Now heâs determined to turn their days of pleasure into a lifetime of bliss. Until a shocking revelation threatens their future together, forcing Kendrick to choose between his career and the woman he has come to cherishâ¦.
Vanessa suddenly kicked her legs in the water, splashing them both. âLetâs go!â she exclaimed, moving onto her feet.
Kendrick looked up at her. âWhere?â
âYou still owe me, and Iâm ready to collect.â
He laughed. âYou still havenât told me what youâre claiming.â
âI guess then you need to get up and come on,â she said, her hands falling against her thin waist.
He shook his head. âNow Iâm scared.â He lifted his legs out of the pool of water and stood up. As he came to his feet, Vanessa took his hand and pulled him along behind her.
She led the way down the stone path toward the beach. The sky above was blue-black, just the shimmer of moon and twinkling of stars lighting the ground in front of them. When they reached the edge of the water, she turned toward him, a wide grin across her face.
Kendrick eyed her curiously. âWhat are you up to?â
âWeâre going skinny-dipping,â she said matter-of-factly.
Kendrick hesitated for a brief moment, and his eyes widened in disbelief. He cocked his head ever so slightly as he stared at her. âI donât think thatâs a good idea, Ms. Harrison.â
She laughed. âGet your clothes off, chicken. You bet, you lost, I won and Iâm collecting.â
His head was waving from side to side. âWe need to talk about this.â
âAnything I want. Isnât that what you said?â
He laughed. âI did say that.â
âThen drop âem,â she said, pointing to his shorts.
She reached for the hem of her tank top and proceeded to pull the garment up and over her head.
DEBORAH FLETCHER MELLO
has been writing since forever and canât imagine herself doing anything else. Her first romance novel, Take Me to Heart, earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2005, she received Book of the Year and Favorite Heroine nominations for her novel The Right Side of Love, and in 2009 won an RT Reviewersâ Choice Award for her ninth novel, Tame A Wild Stallion. With each new book, Deborah continues to create unique story lines and memorable characters.
For Deborah, writing is as necessary as breathing, and she firmly believes that if she could not write she would cease to exist. The ultimate thrill for her is weaving a story that leaves her audience feeling full and satisfied, as if theyâve just enjoyed an incredible meal. Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah now considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.
Dear Reader,
I love that with each new book I am challenged to do better than the last story. Itâs why I adore the Boudreaux family. They stand firmly on a foundation of faith and family. Not without flaws, they are also perfection as much as the words on a page will allow. Kendrick and Vanessa gave me a run for my money. But like his siblings, Kendrick Boudreaux wasnât afraid to simply be the man he was raised to be and Vanessa loves that about him.
I continue to be humbled by your support. I appreciate you more than words can ever express. So, thank you! Thank you for all that you do to show me, my characters and our stories your love.
Until the next time, please take care of yourselves and may Godâs many blessings continue to be with you.
With much love,
Deborah Fletcher Mello
www.deborahmello.blogspot.com
To MeeMiâs beautiful little angel,
Micaela Susie Mello
You are my heart and your granny loves you
more than you will ever know!
Chapter 1
Kendrick Boudreaux took a breath, and inhaled deeply. There was a chill in the morning air and he could feel his lungs burn from the cold as they expanded. He continued to run, his long legs carrying him down the Broadway Street sidewalk. The uptown historical district was still an area of mixed residential and small commercial properties, with a wealth of 19th-century architecture, and he smiled as he reflected on his surroundings. Coming back to New Orleans always felt good and as he came to an abrupt stop in the driveway of his family home, he hoped that this time heâd be able to spend more than a week there before business sent him in another direction.