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Category: Romance
Description: When a vacation in Mexico goes terribly wrong, Hadley Brooks must make a split-second decision. Picking up the 9 mm, she pulls the trigger to save Luke McBride, the love of her life, from the attacking pirates who want him dead. Hadley and Luke escape, but amidst the chaos they are torn apart. Confused and consumed with guilt, Hadley resumes her life in Nebraska without Luke, unable to push him from her thoughts. It is not until years later that a twist of fate reveals the dangerous truth. Hadley and Luke are unexpectedly thrown together and forced to face the raging madman from their past who wants revenge. Lives are threatened. Secrets are unveiled. Trust is tested. And Hadley must make a critical decision?to let Luke back into her heart or not.
eBook Publisher: Solstice Publishing/Solstice Publishing, 2012
eBookwise Release Date: February 2012

Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [331 KB]
Words: 71285
Reading time: 203-285 min.

Chapter 1

Hadley eyed the sign Hotel Casa Marado blinking in neon lights. The purple motel was positioned adjacent to the busy highway, the incessant flow of traffic creating a perpetual buzzing noise in the air. Blowing a strand of dark hair out of her eyes, she glanced wearily at the Mexican police car sitting idly in the parking lot.

The cab driver certainly hadn't gone out of his way to drop her off somewhere nice, Hadley mused. Picking up her suitcase, she contemplated forgetting the whole damn thing. She didn't want to spend a night alone in Mexico! But Luke...she had to find him. He was the love of her life.

Dragging her luggage up the filthy steps to the second floor balcony, Hadley located her room and fiddled with the key in the lock until it turned. She kicked open the door and heaved her bags inside.

The room was bare except for a double bed. A moth-eaten comforter with a faded paisley pattern was thrown over it. The white walls were cracked and she noticed several large insects hovering around the barred window.

This wouldn't do, Hadley emphatically decided as she stood in the doorway. But did she really have a choice?

Glancing over her shoulder, she watched as the police car leisurely turned back onto the highway. Night had fallen. She was alone. American. And she had no doubt she looked as clueless as she felt.

She would stay put and tomorrow she would find Luke. She would, she told herself. There was no other option.

Shutting the door behind her, Hadley hastily secured the dead bolt. Beads of sweat covered her forehead. The room radiated heat.

She was at the window in two quick strides. She unlatched the lock and jimmied the window open, allowing a faint breeze to fan her burning skin. But the relief was short-lived as a mob of people appeared from a room below, shouting obscenities.

A shiver ran down Hadley's spine and she lowered the window to a mere crack, pulling the curtains tightly closed. She squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to ignore the vociferous voices outside. An argument of some sort. Cars peeled in and out of the parking lot.

Turning to the sagging bed, she sighed and draped bath towels on top of it. She lay down and closed her eyes, forcing back the tears that stung her eyes.

Luke was worth this, she reminded herself and her thoughts drifted. Nearly six months ago they had walked hand in hand in the moonlight after a football game, the autumnal air crisp and cool. They had talked about where they wanted to live when they graduated from college in May, both agreeing to stay in their little college town in Nebraska. It was the perfect size...not too small, yet not so big that they would have to worry about their kids' safety someday.

Hadley sighed and rolled over, watching the digital clock move from one number to the next. She didn't know why Luke had unexpectedly left Nebraska nearly half a year ago...but she was determined to find out.