Page 64 of Trick's Trap

“Sounds good.” She giggled, letting him help her climb into the glossy cherry wood craft.

Sorry, she mouthed at the guards. She didn’t know what was worse, being forced to watch her and Patrick be lovey-dovey or to get left behind entirely.

Nolan waved them off as Alfonse took the wheel with a surety that let her safely focus on Patrick.

He opened one of the wooden panels to reveal a miniature bar.

Tahlia stroked the fine leather of the seat. “This boat is incredible.”

“If you want it, I’ll buy it for you.”

Tahlia scoffed as he handed her a small chilled glass of a brown liquid. “You can’t buy me everything I like.”

“Wanna bet?”

She shook her head at his irrepressible cheek.

He toasted her with the little aperitif glass. “Have you given any more thought to the future—aside from being married to me and having two or three of my babies…”

She choked and coughed, spitting out a little of the wine. “Can we just get married first?”

His eyes lit up. “So you accept?”

Frowning, she dabbed at the front of her dress with a napkin. “I thought I already had.”

He cocked his head, a corner of his mouth lifting rakishly. “No, actually you didn’t. Not yet.”

A shiver passed through her, but it wasn’t an unpleasant one. “Except for getting into school, I’ve never planned ahead for more than a week or two. Part of me was afraid to. I wasn’t sure I was going to get a chance to have much a future, not one I got to decide myself.”

He inhaled, gesturing to the harbor around them. “I’ve never been much of a planner either. I wouldn’t have a hotel chain if not for my brother. He made the plans for world domination, and I would carry them out. I never gave my personal future much thought. Now it’s all I can think about.”

His gaze sharpened, the intensity threatening to singe her skin. “As for your family, what is it they say about getting back at someone? Living a good life is the best revenge.”

Patrick pulled her close. “If your life is with me, I can promise something better than good. You deserve extraordinary.”

Tahlia ducked her head, her cheeks hot. “Maybe planning ahead isn’t such a bad idea.”

His response was drowned out by a deafening boom.

Chapter 27

Trick hit the cold water of the Mediterranean with Tahlia in his arms. His brain registered the roar of the explosion a split second before his muscles reacted. He’d tightened his grip on the woman in his arms and bunched his thighs to launch them in the air. They’d gone over the side of the boat together.

Tahlia coughed, swallowing water and sputtering.

“Are you okay?” he yelled, letting go of Tahlia so she could tread water beside him.

She nodded her face milky white. The boat was a smoking pile in front of them. The entire engine block was burning—although the rear passenger area was still intact.Shit. How the hell had that happened?

His first thought was sabotage, the culprits Tahlia’s family. But they were still alive. If this was an assignation attempt, it failed. The explosion hadn’t completely obliterated the boat.

“Alfonse! Where’s Alfonse?” Tahlia cried out, pumping her arms hard to keep her head above water.

“I don’t know. Wait here.” Trick pressed a hard kiss to her forehead before diving down under the wreck in search of the missing bodyguard. He surfaced on the other side, the salt water stinging his eyes.

The wide body of the bodyguard was floating on the other side of the burning speedboat.

Fuck!

---