Undercover Pursuit Read Online Free Page A

gratuity.
    And, with the twilight already hovering over the sea, Raoul had found a boat willing to skipper them out to the yacht.
    Yes, the fun was about to begin.
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    Now these were the accommodations she’d hoped for—an ocean view, the sound of the seabirds, the briny redolence of the ocean. She loved it all, just as she knew she would. Not that she’d ever been to the sea before, but she’d read about it plenty of times in the romancenovels that lined her shelves. And everything she’d read about Mexico and Isla Mujeres had told her she’d love it.
    And to think she’d nearly missed all this.
    Never again, champagne.
    And while she was at it, she should probably calm down about her sister fixing her up again. Luke certainly wasn’t a cretin. It could be much, much worse. Her sister might have found her a mechanic from Des Moines. Yes, it was possible that she’d ever so slightly overreacted to being paired with one of her sister’s cast-offs. She wished he hadn’t mentioned that he’d been “around the block” a few times, however. What, was that supposed to remind her that he was slumming with her?
    For a second, the image of him leaning over a plate of sushi with her sister in some high-rise restaurant, the lights of New York City twinkling like starlight, shot into her brain.
    Yes, perhaps he was simply reminding himself that normally his dates had a tan and wore less on their trips to Mexico.
    She didn’t want to know.
    I really do know what I’m doing.
    She just bet he did. But not with her, thanks.
    I’m not just here to watch.
    She’d nearly run from the cab, screaming. Really, she didn’t even know where to start with her shakedown of Bridgett when she found her.
    So much for calming down.
    I’m here to do a job, same as you. A job? As if she was some sort of mission? Befriend the bride’s lumpy sister—someone has to do it.
    It hurt more than she’d imagined, and frankly, hecould have started out with a little charm, even if he’d had to fake it.
    In fact, if he had led with something sweet, she might not have been so militant about going stag.
    She shook Luke’s arrogant words away. It seemed she’d set him straight after her comments on the ferry, however. He’d behaved himself after that.
    Still, a girl didn’t have to have it pointed out to her that Luke, her non date, might have been a good catch in other circumstances, with his wind-tousled golden-brown hair, brown eyes, the hint of fresh sun bronzing his skin as he considered her this afternoon.
    I don’t want to walk into any surprises. Is there anything you need to know about me?
    Just what had Bridgett told him? My pitiful sister—she’s a temp, you know, has been for nearly ten years—needs a date for the wedding. Do you know she actually thought my fiancé was in love with her?
    Scarlett winced as she imagined Bridgett’s voice. Nope, she didn’t care how dedicated the man was, didn’t care that Bridgett had flown him in. A girl had to stand up for herself, be her own hero. She didn’t need Mr. Plus-One, thank you very much.
    In fact, given the chance, she might have just found a plus-one on her own.
    But when Luke had said something about looking like an “actual couple,” it hit her.
    It would be easier for everyone if she had a date. Her standing alone on the edge of the dance floor would only make everyone feel bad. If only her parents were alive, maybe it would be easier to be in Bridgett’s shadow again. But it was just her standing at the sidelines. And, she didn’t know what history Luke had, but he seemed to need to be her date.
    Maybe he’d been in love with Bridgett. Wouldn’t that be fun? She and Luke could stand together in the shadows and watch the bride and groom dance.
    Maybe he was just what she needed. A guy who didn’t expect anything, who just needed someone