Page 87 of Undertow

“So you didn’t learn anything about the RLC?”

“No, I’m sorry.”

Mama H swears again and squints through the window at the ocean beyond.

“Okay, well, while you’re here, you might as well make yourself useful. Ricardo just docked. You and Julia can help him unload. Adrian, you’re with me.”

A shadow passes over Adrian’s face as he glances at me. It’s not suspicion, but it isn’t exactly sympathy either. I’ll have to be more careful with him.

“Well, at least you’ll get to spend more time with me now,” Julia says with a teasing glint once we’re alone.

I step closer, resting a hand on her hip. “Careful, or people will think I got fired on purpose.”

Her chest moves with a quick breath that steals my own. My focus locks on a tantalizing bead of sweat that slides between her breasts.

“We only have a minute before we have to help Ricardo,” she whispers.

I slide my palm up her side, loving how she melts into my touch. “I can do a lot with a minute.”

Her tempting lips tip up as her eyelids lower. “Is that so?”

The sweet smile becomes a gasp when I press into her, forcing her against the desk. Her tongue skims her lips as herhungry gaze fixes on mine. Everything in me wants to steal a kiss I haven’t earned. This casual moment isn’t part of the plan. But then, nothing about Julia Hartford is part of the plan except her name.

Just a small taste.

My lips brush hers. A spark on dry kindling, and her mouth parts to seek more. Our breaths fuse as her hands slide up my arms in an expectant grip. It feels so good to breathe her in. A sweet reprieve from the ocean air I hate.

“Hey, we doing this or what?” an impatient voice barks from the door.

Julia stiffens and ducks away from me.

“Ricardo, hi.”

The man returns a tight smile before nodding in my direction. “Who’s this?”

“New to the family. He’s good.”

My conditioned awareness for danger takes over as I scan the stranger.

“Yeah? Who says he’s good? I didn’t say he was good.”

I maintain a neutral expression, fighting my instincts to engage. Even if this is the Hartford family secret I’ve been waiting for, I can only participate as an innocent bystander.

“Relax, Ricky.Isaid he’s good. When’s the last time I brought someone in?”

The man’s wary stare slides from me to her. “Never.”

“Exactly.We doing this or what?”

The smallest smile cracks his grim expression at her echoed response. His gaze snaps back to me, and I meet it with a direct look.

After several long seconds, he mumbles a curse in Spanish. “Eight bags. Same slip as always.”

Julia nods. “We’ll take our cut and have the rest for you in a week.”

“A week? So they didn’t talk to you yet.”

“Talk to me about what?”