Harlequin Presents--September 2020--Box Set 2 of 2 by Julia James

Author:Julia James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Three years later

EMMY HOISTED THE strap more firmly over her shoulder and walked down the corridor to the pool deck, pausing the second the occupants of the shaded sofa came into view. Her bones melted and she only just scraped enough energy to stealthily fish the camera from her bag to snap the moment.

Javier Torres and his mini-me, Luke, were sprawled across the soft navy cushions. Both wore swim shorts, their tanned, slightly sandy limbs akimbo, their dark lashes long, their breathing deep. The two of them were breathtakingly gorgeous in their own ways and causing serious damage to the regularity of Emmy’s heart. But she had time to take only the one picture before Javier stirred, somehow sensing he and Luke were no longer alone.

‘Hey.’ She lowered the lens and smiled at him.

The light that ignited in his eyes swelled her already full heart to bursting.

‘You’re back already?’ he whispered and carefully sat up so as not to disturb their sleeping son. ‘Did I sleep through the helicopter?’

Emmy nodded. ‘Shows how tired you are when you can sleep through that racket.’

‘Hell, yes.’ Javier stretched his back and gestured for her to lie with them. ‘It’s been busy. We swam for hours this morning.’

Luke had just turned four and he was a little sponge, soaking up the experiences they were so lucky to be able to give him.

‘Mamá?’ Luke stirred and blinked. ‘I saw a land iguana. There aren’t as many of those as the marine ones.’ He earnestly told her the most important things the second he realised she was there. ‘And there were lots of sea lions.’

‘Were there?’ She hugged him. ‘That’s wonderful.’

Where other children his age had an encyclopaedic knowledge of dinosaurs, Luke had an insatiable appetite for information about the unique creatures of the Galapagos. This trip they were working their way around a couple of the outer islands, stopping often to swim at the stunning bays.

‘Hopefully we’ll see some more later.’ She kissed his forehead.

‘Are you staying now?’

‘Yes.’

She’d hopped to Santa Cruz just for the night to welcome the new intake of Flores Foundation volunteers she’d recruited. Nowadays she worked part-time in that capacity, fitting in some photography when she could, depending on where they were travelling to next.

Javier had taken out his phone briefly and a moment later Thomas appeared on the back deck below.

‘Luke?’ the nanny called cheerily. ‘Would you like to come to the galley so we can make something for afternoon tea?’

‘I’m going to make milhojas. With peaches.’ Luke beamed at her. ‘It’s your favourite.’

‘It is and I would love to have some when you’ve finished.’ The peach and pastry treat was delicious.

Luke toddled off with serious enthusiasm. From her vantage point on the deck overlooking the rear of the boat she watched him meet up with Thomas and the two of them disappeared inside. As Emmy turned back she caught her husband’s intense gaze on her.

‘Are you feeling okay, preciosa?’ he whispered.

‘I’m a bit tired too. This baby dragon of ours didn’t let me sleep much last night.

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