Pirate's Promise

Book 2: Tropical Persuasions

by Laurie Ryan

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Three promises.
Two Lives on the edge.
One undeniable love.

Everything attorney Julia Branholt has worked for is about to tank thanks to one stubborn, bull-headed pirate named Hakon “Hawk” Thoralssen. It's not enough that she's forced to take him on as yet another pro bono case, but someone bails the man out in her name. This ethical nightmare could mean disbarment...and the end to a promise she made her father. So Julia goes rogue and follows Hawk.

When sabotage threatens to destroy the home of his late wife, Hawk rushes to save the village. He didn't bargain on a hot-tempered attorney following him. Especially not one who fills him with a heat he's chosen to deny.

The only way to save Tierra Bonita means working together. Can this village of kind-hearted, affectionate people draw Hawk and Julia out of their self-imposed isolation and open their hearts to new promises?

Release date: September 15, 2015

Publisher: L&M Enterprises

Print pages: 224

Sample

Prologue

Off the Baja coast

Three months ago

The small powerboat flew across the swells of the dark, gray-blue water at a breakneck pace, jolting the men with each surge and dip. The tall, golden-haired man stood despite the turbulence. One hand skimmed the wheel housing for balance, his only concession to their speed.

His other hand-held binoculars focused on the target directly ahead, a sailing vessel.

He smiled, much like a cat preparing to pounce. The yacht, single-masted, about forty feet in length and wood rather than fiberglass, appeared to be exactly what he wanted. Collectors loved sleek and expensive. Plus, he could discern no distinguishing characteristics that couldn’t be easily disguised for quick resale. A nice bonus.

He saw the family then and watched them play, decked out in their designer clothing. Had they come from a yacht club event? More likely, they dressed this way for every outing.

The blond man shook his head. The sad part was that they’d done nothing but live the insipid lives of the rich. That alone made them the perfect mark for his plans. His free hand tightened into a fist as the shadow of still-raw memories gripped him, and his nostrils flared with a momentary regret.

With a quick jerk of his head, he banished the thoughts. That life was dead to him now. He followed the only option left open.

He plotted the takeover as they approached. They would board before the family noticed. These types made it easy, never considering an attack on the water a possibility. No one ever did. Before long, though, they would know their mistake.

It was perfect. Maybe.

Straightforward, certainly.

But never simple.

His team was well-honed and they were several boats beyond their first capture. God willing, this one wouldn’t be their last. Even planned, though, anything could happen. The most dangerous part would be boarding, but his men knew their jobs.

The midday heat, magnified by humidity, blazed into his shoulders. Neither the wind nor the salty spray off the water banished the intensity. It baked the energy out of most people. Not him. He stood taller, basked in the heat, drew it in, and let it energize him. Dressed easy, in shorts, sleeveless T-shirt and sandals, he knew he looked more like a beach bum than a pirate. The smile returned. Even in lawlessness, he was a non-conformist.

He bound his hair back into a tail as they closed on their prey. The action wasn’t enough to dispel the acid churning in his stomach. His hand gripped and re-gripped the windshield as the adrenaline began to scream through his body. His ears pounded in time with his heart, hammering away, matching the rhythm of the boat as they slowed to a crawl.

Indistinct voices filtered through. He heard their laughter.

Couldn’t they hear the approach?

He could. The quiet whine of the engine dying down and the gurgle of water as it slapped the hulls of both boats. Even the seagull that screeched a warning from high above seemed magnified.

Almost alongside now, the oily, acrid fumes of the engine swept forward. His breathing went shallow and ragged as fear and exhilaration fought for control.

The boat maneuvered into place beside the yacht. He used the brief moment to inhale one long, calming breath. His muscles bunched like a lion ready for the kill, preparing for that launch into the unknown.

He didn’t wait. He knew his men would follow him as one unit.

The blond man cleared the railing and landed on the yacht’s deck. Within seconds, the vessel was secured.

It was over too quickly.

He needed an outlet for the wild adrenaline still coursing through him and let loose with a growl that would have made Tarzan proud.

What a rush!

Feeling very much like his conquering Viking ancestors, Hawk grinned broadly as he approached the captive family.