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She skipped over him making Dad’s sweet-potato pone. The dessert had been Mom’s favorite as well. Julia touched her fingertips to the diamond tattoo, the one that symbolized Dad and Mom. Alex was the ruby, and she was the sapphire.

“Better him than Alex. Are you and Carson getting along?”

Speak of the devil. He emerged from Xio’s shop and searched the street for her. When he found her, his smile made her stomach do that inconvenient flippy thing again.

“Fine. We’re on our way to pick out favors, so I should go.”

“Wait, one more thing. I’d like to surprise Jim with something special after the rehearsal dinner. Can you pick up sexy lingerie for me? You have such an eye for those things.”

Hell, no. This was the Rubicon.

“Mom, ew. I will not be doing that.”

“Please? Jim might see anything I pack.”

“Bye, Mom.” Shiver.

She’d teased Carson about their parents having sex, but purchasing sexy lingerie for Mom might ruin her soul. She dropped her sunglasses from the top of her head to the tip of her nose.

“All set?” she asked Carson.

“Yep. Flowers will arrive at ten on the big day.” He rocked on his heels. “Favors are next, right?”

“Yes.” Her gold sandals slapped against the sidewalk as they made their way toward the chocolate shop. “Wait until you try Belize chocolate. It’s life-altering,”

As a kid, Azul Caye Chocolate Company’s turquoise door was her destination of choice when she’d brought home a good report card.

The last time she’d been here with Dad was when she’d been accepted to grad school.

That was just before he’d been diagnosed and the awful six months that came afterward.

She’d been avoiding this shop, this city, this whole country since.

There you go, Julesy-girl.

Her breath hitched. Dad’s voice sounded clear, like he was standing next to her.

Could she do this? Carson opened the turquoise door for her, and the shop bell’s chirpy tinkle snapped her into the present. With her fingers touching her diamond tattoo she decided yes, in fact, she could. Dad would want her to.

Inside the air-conditioned shop, a familiar swirl of sugar, butter, and cacao greeted them.

Brightly colored treats filled jars lining the display tops.

Inside the displays, all her chocolate-covered favorites were still here: sea salt caramels, raspberry jellies, haystacks, marshmallow dream bars, and the most important—pecan clusters.

Emotion clogged Julia’s throat. She’d been desperate for something to be the same as it was when Dad was alive.

She should’ve known the Azul Caye Chocolate Shop would come through for her.

“Blimey!” A familiar round-cheeked woman beamed at her. “Is that Julia Stone?”

“Hi, Miss Maureen.” She nervously fluttered her fingers. The last time she’d seen her was at her father’s funeral.

Maureen waddled over and wrapped Julia in a hug. “Back for a visit or for good?

Longing tugged at her insides. “For a visit.”

This hug was like an emergency thermal blanket, rocketing her chilly heart back to a normal, healthy temperature.

“A long one, I hope. You’re too thin.” Maureen returned to her position behind the shop’s display cases, then rummaged for the treat Julia always chose as a child. “Caramel-and-pecan cluster, dipped in dark chocolate. One for each of you.”

Julia reached for it. “This is Carson Miller, by the way.”

“You’ve brought a boyfriend, have you?” Maureen waved. “Don’t let this one get away, young man. She’s a gem.”

Julia coughed.

“Something wrong, dear?”

“He’s my stepbrother.” Whose half-naked, fully erect body she’d drooled over this morning.

He thumped her on the back. “Our parents are getting married this weekend.”

“That Michelle.” Maureen shook her head. “But who am I to judge a person following their bliss? I settled here to be a windsurfing instructor with John, and now look at me, running a chocolate shop.”

“Where’s John today?” Julia asked.

“Placencia. The sargassum made our beaches unusable.” Maureen sat on the stool by the cash register. “Isn’t Alex’s news wonderful? That Bo’s such a nice young man. Helped me set up a website. He’s been good for the Caye, and especially for your sister. Softened her up a bit.”

The tips of Julia’s ears burned. She and Alex and Mom had to do a better job of sharing their lives with each other.

She couldn’t do this Surprise! I have a big life milestone announcement!

bullshit for the rest of her life. It might feel awkward as hell at first, but that was better than acquaintances like Maureen knowing more about her sister’s life than she did.

Unless they were shutting her out on purpose? Like she couldn’t handle it?

The pecans scraped her throat as she swallowed.

“Speaking of weddings…” She had to get this out, then they could go and she could walk off her frustration. “We’d like to order favors from you. Milk chocolate with orange, and dark chocolate with chilies. Two each in a chocolate box.”

“Easy enough. How many guests? And where?”

Carson answered, “Forty guests, and we’re at the Azul Caye Resort.”

Maureen jotted the details. “Lovely. I’ll deliver them the night before, direct to the kitchen. Best of luck to your parents. Don’t be a stranger, Julia. Come back any time.”

Julia jerked the door open. Its happy jingle was at odds with her annoyance.

Outside, Carson caught her shoulder. “Do you want to take a break? I’m not sure what happened in there, but you seem upset.”

She was upset, and she’d like an escape from her thoughts. There was a person right here in Azul Caye who’d excelled at helping her with that years ago.

“I’m fine.” She waved him off. “Let’s go.”

* * *

Carson wanted to help Julia through whatever was bothering her.

She’d started with her normal ray-of-light personality, but as the shopkeeper talked, a cloud wrapped around her.

Seemed like her mood darkened when someone surprised her with info about her family.

Like the scones in LA or the benign comments from the chocolate lady.

But if Julia didn’t want to talk about it, Carson wouldn’t pry.

Yet.

“Here we are.” She twisted the knob of a door on which an etched brass plate declared, Roberto Hornigold Photography .

He chuckled. “Hornigold?”

“He says he’s descended from pirates.” She opened the door.

“Must’ve gotten teased a lot as a kid. I already thought of several brutal nicknames.”

“I bet you did.” Julia rolled her eyes.

Ah, hell.

“Not that I’d use them.” He took the door from her.

She rubbed her temples. “Just…don’t embarrass me.”

Hmph. He’d been called many things in his life. Up-and-comer. Asshole. Thirty Under Thirty. An unrepeatable nickname or five from his fraternity. But never embarrassing .

A young woman with a thatch of purple hair sat behind a desk. “May I help you?”

“Yes, hi.” Julia approached her. “We’re here to see Roberto and—”

A tan blur ran straight to Julia.

She dropped to her knees and squealed, “Ojito! You little potlicker. I can’t believe you’re still around, old man.”

The medium-sized dog wagged his butt until he folded in half. As Julia scratched him behind the ears, a genuine smile spread across her face.

“Still frisky as ever,” she said.

“Like his human.” A cologne ad of a man ambled across the studio. “What’s up, Jujubee?”

This tanned dude oozed sex and looked like he wanted to lick Julia like a fucking ice-cream cone. His caramel-and-blond hair skimmed his jawline, and his vibe screamed artist , from his untucked T-shirt to his ancient frayed jeans to his flip-flops.

“Hey, Roberto.” Julia rose from the floor. “Thanks for squeezing us in.”

“My pleasure. How can I help?” He drizzled his gaze along Julia’s body like Carson wasn’t standing there.

So he’d make his presence known.

“Hi. I’m Carson Miller.” He stuck out his hand.

“Hello, Carson Miller.” Roberto held out his fist for a bump. “You’re the stepbrother?”

In this guy’s mouth, that sounded like a taunt.

“Yeah,” he clipped out.

“Lucky you. The Stone sisters are good people.” He ran his hand through his hair, then shot a glance at Julia. “A lot of fun.”

Carson clenched his jaw. He knew that look. Had shot it toward a few women himself.

“I take it you two have history?” he asked.

“Ancient history.” Color rose in Julia’s cheeks. “We dated for a summer.”

“The last full summer Julia spent here. After that, she’s been busy busy busy.” He slipped his hands into his back pockets. “Have you learned to slow down? Breathe once in a while?”

Carson wanted to elbow this dude away from Julia. Hard.

“I…have not.” She shrugged. “I’m not built that way.”

“You were for a summer.” Roberto winked at her.

Forget elbows. He wanted to firewall her from this guy’s ooze. Hornigold was obviously horny for her. Game recognized game. Worst of all, though—Julia didn’t seem to mind.

“Why don’t you move back to Azul Caye?” Roberto asked. “The resorts always need staff. They’re conservative, though, so you’ll need to reform your wild ways.”

Wild ways? Now he had questions. The wildest thing about this woman was the ungodly amount of items on her to-do list. But he’d ask those later.

Julia smiled at him. Was she actually falling for this bullshit?

“About the wedding,” Carson said. “Are you free on Saturday?”

“I can be.” Roberto cut his gaze to his assistant. “Can’t I, Maryam?”

She clicked her mouse. “A few family portraits. Local, though, and easy to rearrange.”

“What about cost?” Carson said.

“Fifteen hundred US,” Maryam called.

“It’s half for Belizean residents.” Roberto raised an eyebrow. “Or if you intend to be? Move home, Julia. Belize misses you.”

Uh, hello? In his normal day-to-day, Carson took charge of situations and conversations. He was not accustomed to being completely ignored. He couldn’t blame Roberto, because look at Julia. But it was still annoying as hell.

“Just Belize?” she asked with a smile.

Carson did not like this. At all. He should ignore the caveman response Julia flirting with another man triggered in him. She’d been perfectly, painfully clear with him about their boundaries. And he agreed with her. Yet he wanted to drag the photographer away from her.

Behind them, a couple and a small child entered.

“Hello, Bricenos,” Maryam greeted them. “We’ll be right with you.”

“So we’re on for Saturday?” Julia asked.

“Yes, please call Maryam to finalize the details. Could we catch up while you’re here?”

“I’d like that,” she said as they backed toward the door.

Well, he wouldn’t. He’d fucking hate it. In perturbed silence, Carson held the Hornigold-leafed door open for her. Her pina-colada scent wafted over him as she passed.

Three paces from the shop, he asked, “Is that your type? An oily descendent of pirates?”

“Don’t start.” She waved her hand at him. “He isn’t oily.”

People bustled around them, pushing them closer together.

“He’s so oily. He was undressing you with his eyes the whole time we were in there.”

She hooked a left. “And?”

“I don’t get what you saw in a guy like that.” He almost jogged to keep up with her.

“What’s to get?” she huffed. “He’s hot, he made me feel sexy, and was always up for a good time, which was exactly what I wanted. Nothing deep.”

“Seems like he still is.” A light bulb went off in Carson’s brain. “Wait, please tell me you aren’t invoking Paramore for him ?”

“Maybe? I don’t know.” She dragged her hands down her face. “What’s your problem?”

“He’s not right for you.”

“Oh? And who is right for me?”

Me , he wanted to shout. He’d felt a lightning bolt when they met as teenagers, but it had scared him.

He’d known Julia had been too good for him then, But he’d searched his soul and sought therapy to unlearn the terrible lessons his now-estranged mother had taught him.

It had taken a lot of work, and he was far from perfect. But he was finally worthy.

“Not him. The Julia Stone I knew in high school would never mix it up with that guy.”

“That’s the thing.” Julia whirled on him. “You didn’t actually know me. You had this idea of me and mocked me for it. Forgive me if I don’t trust your opinion.”

“I’m trying to fix that.” He encroached on her space.

She didn’t back off. “Trusting you?”

“Yes, trusting me. And getting to know you. We’ve checked so much off the list already. We could go out tonight or take a day trip tomorrow. Or both?”

“No.” After a beat, she stepped away from him, paused to check for traffic, then sauntered across the street. Her orange dress fluttered in the breeze behind her.

For reasons Carson didn’t understand, today had been hard for her.

She was pissed at something, but it wasn’t him.

He was just a convenient target, which he clocked because he’d done that to other people, Julia included.

And that was fine—he could take it. But he’d love to take her by her sapphire wrist and go do something fun . Get her out of her head.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go out.”

“ Why would I do that?”

“Because we’re in a beautiful place.” He spread his arms wide. “And I’ve never been here. What is something I’d be stupid to miss?”

She paused next to the van. “I’m not a tour guide. Call Alex.”

“I want to see the Belize you love.”

Julia dragged her lower lip between her teeth. “Why?”

This was his chance to be honest. To confess he always had a thing for her and this time with her brought it roaring back to life. And along with that confession, painful and embarrassing though it might be, he’d be honest about why he’d treated her that way.

Or he could chicken out.

“Because you’re right. I didn’t know the real Julia Stone, and I’d like to. Very much.”

She twisted her lips. After a few silent seconds, she dropped her sunglasses in front of her eyes. “Fine. We’ll go out tonight.”