Impossible Sail (A Chance for Charity

Book 3) Cami Checketts

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 Impossible Sail
A CHANCE FOR CHARITY
BOOK THREE

CAMI CHECKETTS
 Copyright
Impossible Sail: A Chance for Charity #3
Copyright © 2024 by Cami Checketts
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written
permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Editing: Daniel Coleman and Maple Steely
Cover Art: Katie Garland, Sapphire Midnight Designs
https://www.sapphiremidnight.com/
 Contents

Free Book
Also by Cami Checketts
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Impossible Climb - 1st Chapter
Romancing the Boat - Excerpt
About the Author
 Free Book

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 Also by Cami Checketts
A Chance for Charity
Impossible Treasure
Impossible Escape
Impossible Sail
Impossible Climb
Impossible Crusade
Impossible Thrills
Impossible Chase
Impossible Rapids
Billionaire Bodyguard Romance
Protecting the Athlete
Coleville Ranch Romance
The Recluse & The Fugitive
Christmas in Augustine
The Royal Captain and the Designer
The Wounded Guard and the Royal Stylist
The Impulsive Princess and the Soldier
Sweet Royal Romance Suspense
The General Prince and the Nerd
The Brave Prince and the Teacher
The Doctor Prince and the Outsider
The Ninja Prince and the Investigator
The Charming Prince and the Single Mum
The Crown Prince and the Traitor
The Police Chief and the Musician
The Royal Major and the Executive
The Grieving King and the Emissary
Billionaire Protection Romances
Matchmaking the Singer and the Warrior
Matchmaking the Duchess and the Commander
Matchmaking the Entertainer and the Firefighter
Matchmaking the Model and the Beast
Matchmaking the Spy and the Heiress
Matchmaking the Bodyguard and the Philanthropist
Summit Valley Christmas Romance
His Perfect Match for Christmas
His Ski Resort Overrun for Christmas
His Cabin Invaded for Christmas
His Unexpected Wedding for Christmas
Delta Family Romances
Deceived
Abandoned
Committed
Betrayed
Devoted
 Compromised
Endangered
Accepted
Returned
Devastated
Famous Friends Romances
Loving the Firefighter
Loving the Athlete
Loving the Rancher
Loving the Coach
Loving the Contractor
Loving the Sheriff
Loving the Entertainer
The Hidden Kingdom Romances
Royal Secrets
Royal Security
Royal Doctor
Royal Mistake
Royal Courage
Royal Pilot
Royal Imposter
Royal Baby
Royal Battle
Royal Fake Fiancé
Secret Valley Romance
Sister Pact
Marriage Pact
Christmas Pact
Survive the Romance
Romancing the Treasure
Romancing the Escape
Romancing the Boat
Romancing the Mountain
Romancing the Castle
Romancing the Extreme Adventure
Romancing the Island
Romancing the River
Romancing the Spartan Race
Mystical Lake Resort Romance
Only Her Undercover Spy
Only Her Cowboy
Only Her Best Friend
Only Her Blue-Collar Billionaire
Only Her Injured Stuntman
Only Her Amnesiac Fake Fiancé
Only Her Hockey Legend
Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter
Only Her Christmas Miracle
Jewel Family Romance
Do Marry Your Billionaire Boss
Do Trust Your Special Ops Bodyguard
 Do Date Your Handsome Rival
Do Rely on Your Protector
Do Kiss the Superstar
Do Tease the Charming Billionaire
Do Claim the Tempting Athlete
Do Depend on Your Keeper
Strong Family Romance
Don’t Date Your Brother’s Best Friend
Her Loyal Protector
Don’t Fall for a Fugitive
Her Hockey Superstar Fake Fiance
Don’t Ditch a Detective
Don’t Miss the Moment
Don’t Love an Army Ranger
Don’t Chase a Player
Don’t Abandon the Superstar
Steele Family Romance
Her Dream Date Boss
The Stranded Patriot
The Committed Warrior
Extreme Devotion
Quinn Romance Adventures
Devoted & Deserted
Conflicted & Famous
Gentle & Broken
Rugged & At-Risk
Too-Perfect & Stranded
Rejected & Hidden
Running Romcom
Running for Love
Taken from Love
Saved by Love
Cami’s Collections
Billionaire Protection Romances Collection
Summit Valley Christmas Collection
Delta Family Romance Collection
Famous Friends Romance Collection
Secret Valley Romance Collection
Hidden Kingdom Romance Collection
Survive the Romance Collection
Mystical Lake Resort Romance Collection
Billionaire Boss Romance Collection
Jewel Family Collection
The Romance Escape Collection
Cami’s Firefighter Collection
Strong Family Romance Collection
Steele Family Collection
Hawk Brothers Collection
Quinn Family Collection
Cami’s Georgia Patriots Collection
Cami’s Military Collection
Billionaire Beach Romance Collection
Billionaire Bride Pact Collection
Echo Ridge Romance Collection
Texas Titans Romance Collection
Snow Valley Collection
Christmas Romance Collection
Holiday Romance Collection
Extreme Sports Romance Collection
Georgia Patriots Romance
The Loyal Patriot
The Gentle Patriot
The Stranded Patriot
The Pursued Patriot
Jepson Brothers Romance
How to Design Love
How to Switch a Groom
How to Lose a Fiance
Billionaire Boss Romance
Her Dream Date Boss
Her Prince Charming Boss
Hawk Brothers Romance
The Determined Groom
The Stealth Warrior
Her Billionaire Boss Fake Fiance
Risking it All
Navy Seal Romance
The Protective Warrior
The Captivating Warrior
The Stealth Warrior
Texas Titan Romance
The Fearless Groom
The Trustworthy Groom
The Beastly Groom
The Irresistible Groom
The Determined Groom
Billionaire Beach Romance
Caribbean Rescue
Cozumel Escape
Cancun Getaway
Trusting the Billionaire
How to Kiss a Billionaire
Onboard for Love
Shadows in the Curtain
Billionaire Bride Pact Romance
The Resilient One
The Feisty One
The Independent One
The Protective One
The Faithful One
The Daring One
Park City Firefighter Romance
 Rescued by Love
Reluctant Rescue
Stone Cold Sparks
Snowed-In for Christmas
Echo Ridge Romance
Christmas Makeover
Last of the Gentlemen
My Best Man’s Wedding
Change of Plans
Counterfeit Date
Snow Valley
Full Court Devotion: Christmas in Snow Valley
A Touch of Love: Summer in Snow Valley
Running from the Cowboy: Spring in Snow Valley
Light in Your Eyes: Winter in Snow Valley
Romancing the Singer: Return to Snow Valley
Fighting for Love: Return to Snow Valley
Other Books by Cami
Seeking Mr. Debonair: Jane Austen Pact
Seeking Mr. Dependable: Jane Austen Pact
Saving Sycamore Bay
Oh, Come On, Be Faithful
Protect This
Blog This
Redeem This
The Broken Path
Dead Running
Dying to Run
Fourth of July
Love & Loss
Love & Lies
 Prologue

LIVVY BENEDICT CLUNG to Captain Eli Grant in the entryway to her and her sister’s split-level home on the
northeast side of Colorado Springs.
Her strong, charming, and loyal superman, and she was not even one bit biased. Everybody but her sister Natalie agreed.
Natalie was her older sister and Livvy valued her opinion on most subjects, but it could not factor in on Eli. Natalie was bitter
against military heroes after her Air Force boyfriend, Paul, got caught going home to visit his wife on the weekend. Sadly Eli
did have a similar look and teasing personality like Paul had. He’d had no chance to win Natalie over.
Eli was the only man for Livvy and someday Natalie would realize that. Nobody or nothing could tear them apart.
Except the U.S. Army and his next mission, but that was part of Eli and she wouldn’t change one thing about him.
“I loathe that you have to go early,” she murmured.
They should have two more days together but he’d gotten a call for an assignment that he’d told her was personal and very
important to him. Not that Eli would turn down any assignment, but she could feel how crucial this one was. A plane was
waiting for him at the Air Force Academy. He’d never admitted it to her, but she assumed Eli was not an Army Ranger any
longer but had been recruited to the secretive and elite Delta Force shortly after they met two years ago.
“Me too, Angel. Don’t cry yourself to sleep every night that I’m gone.”
She laughed but he cut it short by kissing her. Tenderly at first, but then the agony they both felt at being yanked apart yet
again took over. He backed her into the front door and took beautiful advantage of her lips, conveying with his kiss what he
always told her. He loved her and they were meant to be together.
The door pushed against her back, yanking her out of the kiss. A banging came next. “Open up!”
Her sister. Oh, wonderful. Usually she and Natalie got along fabulously.
Eli escorted Livvy to the side of the foyer and opened the door. Natalie scowled seeing them all wrapped up together.
Livvy’s best friend Jarom Love was right behind Natalie. He was grinning.
“Ah, look how cute you two are,” Jarom said. “My favorite couple.”
Natalie glowered more fiercely at that. Her sister insisted she wasn’t simply basing her prejudice against Eli on Paul’s
betrayal. She claimed Eli would never settle down and be there for Livvy, with the ‘proof’ in her mind being they’d rarely
spent more than a few days together and Livvy didn’t know Eli well enough. Eli was a soldier, a wanderer, and a heartbreaker,
in Natalie’s mind. Her sister was certain Eli would rip her heart out, and she was only trying to protect her. She knew her sister
loved her deeply, but she was wrong this time.
Livvy suspected Eli didn’t favor being called ‘cute’ but that was just Jarom. When she and Eli started dating she explained
Jarom was her best friend and like a brother to her. Jarom might be impeccably handsome, wealthy, fun, and over-the-top kind,
but she had zero attraction to him and Jarom dated a different woman every weekend. Eli trusted her and he was the first man
she’d dated who didn’t have an issue with Jarom.
“We appreciate that.” Eli released his right hand from her waist and offered it to Jarom.
They shook and Livvy beamed. Natalie could glare all she wanted. Jarom approved of Eli and saw how impressive he
was.
“Big plans tomorrow?” Jarom asked. “Only two more days together, right?”
“I’m actually heading to the base right now to fly out on a mission.” Eli’s dark eyes became too serious. Livvy wondered
about this ‘personal and important’ mission and her stomach twisted. She tried not to get upset when she knew Eli was on
special ops missions but she prayed diligently.
This felt bigger, scarier.
Why?
“Ah, we’ll be so sad to see the door hit you in the butt,” Natalie said.
“Thank you, Natalie.” Eli only smiled at her grumpy older sister. “I’ll miss you too.”
Natalie stuck her tongue out at him and flounced up the stairs.
“Don’t mind her,” Jarom said. “She’s just grumpy because she hasn’t had her chocolate fix tonight. I’ll go take care of her.”
He grinned. “You two keep kissing. Prayers for you and your team on your mission, Eli.” He pressed his palms and fingers
together and bowed slightly.
“Thank you.” Eli shook his hand again. “I truly appreciate it.”
“Thank you for your service.” Jarom bounded up the stairs after Natalie.
Eli opened the door and the two of them eased outside. It was a chilly spring night. She shivered. Eli wasted no time
wrapping her up tight and bending low to kiss her neck. He slowly inhaled, his breath and mouth warm against her neck.
“Gardenia. Did you steal a whole garden full?”
“For you.” She trembled from his touch. Her tough man was tender with her in all the ways that mattered.
He kissed her and then murmured, “I have to drag my lazy carcass away from you right now or I’ll selfishly kiss the night
away.”
“There’s nothing selfish about you.” She tried to be brave and let him go, but she couldn’t shake the awful feeling inside of
her.
“I’ll be coming back to you, Angel.”
“I’ll be waiting and praying for you, Big Hoss.”
He grinned. He’d told her he was ‘Big Hoss’ shortly after they met and it had stuck.
He leaned down and kissed her. She clung to him and wondered how she could let him go yet again. They’d met right here
in Colorado Springs two years ago. He’d strutted over to her table at Streetcar 520 and dared her to dance on the table. His
dark eyes sparkled at her and at the same time had taken away her breath with their intensity. He always made her feel like she
was the only woman he’d look at in that special way. She’d climbed up on the table and danced for him. ‘Sucker’ by Jonas
brothers had been playing. It was their song.
When he pulled back from the kiss, she whimpered. It stunk to be strong and let him go. They’d never had more than a few
days together in the past two years between his extremely demanding career and her job as a high school science teacher and
mountain bike coach. She longed for the day they could be together every day but would never ask him to give up protecting
and serving.
“’I’m a sucker for you,’” Eli sang softly against her lips.
She smiled but tears stung at her eyes.
“I love you.” He kissed her deeply and then he let her go, gave her one more grin, and strutted off the porch and down the
sidewalk.
“You can’t just walk can you?” She tried to tease instead of cry.
“Gotta strut my stuff for you,” he teased with a wink over his shoulder at her.
“I love you,” she called to him.
He glanced back as he reached his rented Accord with a cocky grin, his dark eyes sparkling and full of her. “I know. Don’t
miss me too much, Angel.”
“You know I will, Big Hoss.”
With one more smile, he climbed into the car, started it, and was gone.
Livvy shivered, watching him go, and wondering why this mission felt so much more ominous than the hundreds he’d done
since she’d met him.
She stayed out in the cold night for a long time. Praying he’d come back safe.
 Chapter
One

ONE YEAR Later

Livvy twisted her hands nervously as she stood on the dock of the St. Thomas Yacht Club on the Virgin Island of St.
Thomas. The island around her was as gorgeous as the teal-blue ocean—greenery and flowers everywhere. She was
mesmerized by the tropical beauty.
Approaching the dock was a sleek, pale blue boat. One of those with an elongated front part; she thought that meant there
was a living space underneath. The infamous billionaire heiress Mercedes Belle waved enthusiastically from the boat. Livvy
waved back, noticing a cameraman and a handsome blond guy with longish hair driving the boat.
Was the blond the military protector she’d be paired with this week? A mixture of relief and disappointment surged through
her. Mercedes’ assistant had informed her she’d be paired with a man who had benefited from Livvy’s charity’s services. That
meant the man had a physical impairment of some sort that he’d received during his military service. Livvy had been half-
praying it would be Eli.
She’d started her charity a few days after she received the news that her boyfriend, Captain Eli Grant had lost the lower
half of his leg in a mission. She’d been crazily proud of, and crazily in love with, her military superhero and she knew she had
to do something to help him and many others like him.
The charity had taken off and brought her much joy and satisfaction.
Eli … she’d never seen or heard from him again. After his accident, he’d called her. Jarom had picked up her phone and
brought it to her in the shower. Thankfully her shower curtain wasn’t see through and Jarom apologized for rushing in, but he
knew she’d been dying to hear from Eli.
At first they assumed the call failed but now she knew … Eli hung up for some reason. From that moment on, he hadn’t
responded to any texts, phone calls, or emails. She was certain he’d blocked her number.
She reached out to the friends of his she had phone numbers for. His friends didn’t give her much, some empty reassurances
that Eli would contact her when he returned to the States. Then they stopped responding to her calls and texts. Some of them
even blocked her number.
She’d only met his parents over video chats with Eli on his phone. She couldn’t find any information for them or his two
brothers online. His sister-in-law had been the one who’d originally reached out via Instagram message and told her Eli had
lost part of his leg. Livvy sent message after message to Melodee that were never replied to. Of course the military wouldn’t
tell her anything, she and Eli weren’t engaged or married.
Her last course of action, a few weeks after Eli’s initial accident, had been to beg Jarom to fly to Eli’s hometown of
Pennington, Minnesota with her. The town had been picture perfect. Eli’s parents … she wouldn’t say they were rude, but they
definitely didn’t welcome her in for dinner, and they definitely didn’t give her any information about where he was, saying over
and over again that he wasn’t at home.
To her inquiries about how he was doing with his leg they looked even more closed off and said he was adjusting. The
brother and sister-in-law were the same. Even the preacher at Eli’s church stonewalled her and Jarom. They waited a few
days, almost stalking his family before admitting defeat. They weren’t getting any information out of these people. If only she
knew why.
Over a year of wondering what she’d done wrong, and how Eli could possibly ditch her so harshly. The only answer she
got to her many prayers was to be patient. Patience stunk. Jarom insisted it had nothing to do with her, Eli was hurting inside
and struggling with the loss of his limb. If that was the reason for their separation, she needed to find him even more. Natalie
didn’t crow about being right that Eli wasn’t committed to her and all military men were jerks. Her sister just held her when
she cried and offered Livvy her favorite Lindt sea salt dark chocolate bar.
Holding out the hope that Eli might be her match this week to earn a million dollars for her charity was silly, and yet she’d
brought a travel-size bottle of her signature Gucci gardenia perfume as the one personal item Mercedes’ team had said was
allowed. Eli used to go crazy over her perfume.
It was silly to want to smell good for him, if it even was him she was paired with. She didn’t know how she’d react to him
if he ever did show his face. She’d gone through all the grief stages this past year. Staying insanely busy as a high-school
teacher, with friends, family, church, and her charity, and especially the support of Jarom and Natalie, was the only way she
kept getting out of bed each morning.
The lovely boat pulled up to the dock and several men strode down the dock to catch lines and tie it off. The length of the
boat was lined up parallel with the dock and she could fully appreciate the sleek lines and see the long front V with windows
that admitted natural light into the cabin below. The middle section was the captain’s chairs and all the controls, covered by a
metal canopy of sorts to protect the occupants from rain or sun. The rear of the boat had a table with four chairs, an additional
four lounge chairs for enjoying the sun, and a deck down low to the water to slip off the back and swim in the gorgeous
Caribbean Ocean.
Incredible. Like something off the pages of Travel & Leisure.
“Livvy!” Mercedes cried out, pressing her fingers to her lips and then blowing her kisses. The heiress, influencer, and
businesswoman hurried to the rear of the boat where she could step onto the dock easily. “Yay you! I’m so thrilled to meet
you.”
The blond man wrapped his arm around Mercedes’ waist and escorted her off the boat. He looked tall and very strong next
to Mercedes’ ultra-thin frame. He had a reluctant look in his blue eyes and he was a little intimidating, dressed in a short-
sleeved, white, button-down shirt, open at the collar, and tan pants that should’ve been casual but most likely cost thousands of
dollars.
Mercedes was in a gorgeous flowing white lace sundress, high-heeled sandals, and she twinkled with diamonds from her
ears to her fingers to even a diamond-studded headband holding back her long, blonde curls. She and the blond man could be
on a poster for a Caribbean wedding advertisement or showcasing how the rich, famous, and beautiful take the Caribbean by
storm.
So maybe the blond wasn’t Livvy’s match for this week, but Mercedes’s boyfriend?
Livvy walked over to them. Mercedes gave her a welcoming hug, and she was surprised how frail the impressive
billionaire seemed. Livvy could only imagine the pressure famous people felt to look perfect, but this level of thin was past
being a showcase for the cameras. Mercedes either had an eating disorder or a devastating sickness she was suffering or
recovering from. Livvy had seen both as a high school teacher and knew the signs to look for.
“It is wonderful to meet you.” Mercedes clasped both of her hands. “This is Shawn Holister.”
“Nice to meet you,” Shawn said, offering a slight smile, but he didn’t offer his hand.
“You as well.” So was Shawn with Mercedes or not? He had a very standoffish vibe and all of his limbs looked to be
intact. Livvy thought she was off the hook from being paired with him.
Was her partner not here yet? She could imagine the producers wanted a dramatic meeting. If it was Eli, it would be
dramatic. Nervous at the mere thought of seeing him again, her skin prickled as if in anticipation of his strong fingers brushing
across it, those dark eyes sparkling just for her, him calling her ‘Angel’, his alluring smile growing closer before he captured
her mouth …
“And our favorite cameraman Garrett Brown.”
Livvy was jolted back to the present.
Garrett waved. He’d eased to the back of the boat with his camera for a better angle.
“Hi,” Livvy said.
“All right.” Mercedes squeezed her hand and then released it. “It is time!”
Livvy’s stomach flip-flopped. Time to meet her military partner? Most likely not Eli. What would the man be like? Would it
be awkward being all alone with some man for a week? The boat or small yacht was lovely and huge for a boat, but not huge
for personal space. She assumed a boating adventure was the plan, or why would they have met here?
She should be more nervous about whatever challenges Mercedes and her team would throw at them and if she could win
the million dollars. It was an insane amount of money and would mean she could hire more help, and fulfill all of the requests
coming in for prosthetics, wheelchairs, adaptations to houses, apartments, vehicles, and work spaces.
What if it was Eli?
She pushed that longing away. There was maybe a one in a thousand chance it could be Eli.
How would she react if it was?
“I present to you, former captain in an elite force that we cannot name.” Mercedes grinned and winked.
Livvy’s pulse sped up. Eli had always introduced himself as a captain in the Army, an Army Ranger. She was certain he
was Delta Force. A lot of secrecy surrounded Delta Force.
“Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for a valiant rescue that cost him his lower leg.” Mercedes lost her smile and
her eyes grew bright. “This heroic man has truly served with honor and given his all for America.”
Livvy could not catch a breath. It had to be Eli. It had to be. What was she going to do? How should she react?
“Here as your protector, strength, and inspiration this week.” Mercedes’ happy smile returned and she was bouncing on her
high-heeled, bejeweled sandals. “Miss Livvy Benedict, I am thrilled to present to you, Captain … Eli … Grant!”
 Eli’s head and neck appeared first, rising out of the cabin underneath the front of the boat. At first it was only his profile,
then he turned his head and looked straight at her.
Livvy was panting for air and certain she was having an out of body experience. He looked insanely handsome, just as he
always had. The dark hair and beard, those incredible deep-brown eyes, his sculpted face.
He also looked … uncertain. No sparkle in his eyes and not a trace of a smile on his lips. She’d never seen Eli look
uncertain before and rarely unsmiling, especially at her. Teasing, charming, laughing, smoldering at her, loving her, determined,
stubborn … she’d seen all those looks in the two years of their long-distance relationship, but not uncertain.
Uncertain about her? Since he’d ditched her, maybe he was uncertain how she’d react? She wished she knew how she’d
react too. She prayed for help.
He continued to rise and she saw his broad shoulders, his defined arms, his sculpted upper body in a gray, soft cotton t-
shirt.
“Can’t … breathe,” she gasped out.
Mercedes turned to her with concern.
Eli walked to the back of the boat, a slight hitch in his step that hadn’t been there before. He’d always strutted and she’d
teased him about it. He stepped out onto the dock. Her eyes widened as she saw it for the first time. He was in navy blue
shorts. His right calf was tanned, muscular, perfect, just as it was before he left. His left calf was a prosthetic. One of the best
prosthetics on the market for an active lifestyle—Ottobock’s C-Leg 4 paired with their 1E95 Challenge Foot.
Her breathing felt even more erratic as her gaze rose to meet Eli’s. His deep-brown eyes that always had a special sparkle
for her alone were now full of … anger.
She reared back in surprise, and her breathing became more erratic. The shock of seeing him mingled with her own
frustration, longing, and confusion.
He was mad at her? How could that be possible when he was the one who’d ditched her? Completely ditched. No
forwarding address. No responding to texts, emails, or phone calls. How could he possibly be upset at her? She should be the
one who was furious.
Despite panting for air, she couldn’t get any in. Her chest was tight and the dock swayed.
A panic attack hit her square in the face.
Black spots appeared around her vision. And then everything went dark.
 Chapter
Two

CAPTAIN ELI GRANT WAS ANGRY. It was an emotion he didn’t enjoy, and usually overcame with a
hard workout or a sparring match with Cash or Quaid at Cash’s inner-city Chicago gym. Nobody wanted to spar with their
giant of a friend Bennett.
No matter what he did, he hadn’t conquered or gotten used to the unwanted spurts of anger and frustration this past year. His
mom would say it was because he’d given up on his faith. He pushed that away. It was similar to how he hadn’t gotten used to
seeing nothing where his left calf and foot should be. Well nothing, or a prosthetic. He wasn’t sure which was worse.
Before he rescued his good friend, Major Bennett Mason, and what was left of Bennett’s team, from imprisonment in Syria,
and lost his leg, and more importantly lost Livvy, Lieutenant John Argyle, and his faith in heaven above, he’d often felt driven,
focused, ready for battle, itching for a good fight,. But as a rule he was good-natured, charming, happy, loved to tease, and in
control of himself, his men, and the situation.
Seeing the woman he’d loved for three years look down at where his leg used to be, and then up to meet his gaze, with pity
and hesitancy in her gaze … that made him furious. At her, at himself, at the injustice of losing his leg and being honorably
discharged—with a huge medical retirement, but what did that benefit him. All the money and medals in the world couldn’t
make up for John dying, losing his own purpose in life, his camaraderie with his closest friends, his athletic ability, all of his
hard-earned military prowess and skills, his hope in God’s plan being merciful and what was best, and most importantly to him
… Livvy. If he would’ve known his former girlfriend was the woman he’d be paired with on this crazy reality show, he would
never have agreed to come.
As he stared at her gorgeous face, her eyelids fluttered, she swayed, and Livvy was going down.
Eli leapt across the space between them, forgetting about his stupid leg for half a second. Luckily the new, built for
athletics, prosthetic pair of lower leg and foot held his weight a hundred times better than his first fake foot and leg would
have. He was able to land without mishap, drop to his knees, and catch her as she crumpled.
A panic attack. Livvy had them occasionally.
Holding Livvy in his arms made everything in the world right. In that instant John’s death, Eli’s deformity, his loss of his
career, his loss of faith, her betrayal, missing his family … when he visited home they saw him too deeply and it worried them
all even more. Especially his sweet mom.
None of the pain and heartache mattered right now.
All that mattered was Livvy. Right here. Beautiful. Substantial. Perfect for him. Perfect to him. A world that had been
spinning out of control steadied and every hope and dream he and Livvy had envisioned together could become a reality.
Livvy’s eyes opened and she stared up at him. Her gorgeous teal-blue eyes. He’d always been captivated by her eyes. He
found himself getting lost in them right now. Happily lost. He never wanted to be found.
“You still with us?” he asked, his voice much huskier than usual.
“Yes … panic attack,” she murmured, completely focused on him. “My Big Hoss is holding me now. Of course I’m all
right.”
Eli softened. Everywhere. He smiled at her. She smiled back. Big Hoss. The nickname his buddies had teasingly given him
and she’d loved to use.
“That was insane!” Mercedes cheered. “Go, Captain Eli!”
The show host’s words yanked him out of the fantasy world of Livvy still being his.
“Eli?” Livvy licked her lips and he found himself distracted by those luscious lips. The only thing that could ever take his
focus off her eyes. “It really is you.”
“In the flesh,” he tried to tease, but his voice was unsteady.
“How? Why? What are you doing here? Where have you been? I tried everything to find you!” The desperation and misery
in her eyes tore at him.
Reality slammed into him quickly. Where had he been the past year since he’d lost everything? Hiding from her and the
pain of her betrayal was the most truthful answer. He wasn’t about to admit that to her. Spending his days in Cash Trapper’s
gym in the roughest spot in Chicago working with vets and at-risk youth was the logical response.
He chose not to respond.
Eli eased her to a sitting position and then pushed to a crouch on his feet, or one foot and a weird-looking but amazingly
functional fake foot. He’d lost all pride and he was grateful for the return to mobility this prosthetic combo gave him. It only
dug a little bit when people noticed his leg and/or foot and looked at him with compassion or pity.
He helped Livvy stand, straightened himself, and released her. Backing up a couple of steps, he ran into the side of the boat.
He steadied himself with his hand on the fiberglass and looked to Mercedes. She’d created this mess. He’d let her explain to
Livvy what was going on.
Apparently Livvy had been as blindsided by seeing him as he was seeing her. Was she engaged to that wealthy fake-nice
yahoo yet? Married? He glanced at her left hand. No ring.
Where was the joker who’d acted like Eli’s buddy every time they interacted? Why hadn’t Jarom swooped in and married
Livvy now that Eli was out of the picture?
Jarom Love. Eli loathed that name. His chest tightened and his breathing shortened as he clenched a fist. Too bad Mr. Love
was nowhere near.
“Eli?” Livvy asked again. It was a sweet, longing whisper. Against all that was smart, he let himself focus on her face. She
was the picture of an angel—long, blonde hair, sweet smile, delicate features, those teal eyes. He’d thought she was an angel,
his angel, until … His jaw hardened along with every muscle in his body.
He looked to Mercedes and nodded. Proceed. Now. That was what he wanted to demand. What he’d demand if she was
one of his men. But he was full-time in the civilian world now. He loathed that almost as much as Jarom.
He attempted to use his former charm. “The gang’s all here. Let’s get this floating palace up to cruising speed.” He grinned
and winked.
Mercedes Belle’s jaw was slack and her blue eyes darted between the two of them. Her bodyguard, Shawn, shadowed her,
but didn’t say anything or react to the obvious tension in the air. Shawn had a chip on his shoulder, but Eli didn’t mind him. He
had his own chip on his shoulder and could easily relate. Cash and Bennett had already done their week-long challenges with a
previously unknown woman and earned their money.
He hadn’t even seen Bennett as their tapings were back to back. Cash had been injured and barely returned home. He’d
sworn not to talk about his show until it aired in six months, but he did tell Eli to be cautious and aware as some things hadn’t
gone according to plan during his week. It ended up quite a bit more dangerous than he’d expected.
The other intriguing and surprising outcome of Cash’s show—Captain Cash Trapper had fallen in love with a sweet
redhead, Brylee Auburn. Good for both of them. Eli wanted happiness and love for his friends.
Too bad Eli’s love was a traitor and he’d never have the marriage and family he’d envisioned with her.
And now she was standing right in front of him.
The cameraman was recording all of this. What a nightmare. Should Eli explain he couldn’t in fact do the show? Not with
her.
His jaw clenched tighter. He’d never quit anything in his life. Being forced to retire from the military didn’t count. He’d
been a Delta Force Captain. One of the top four captains in the world. Quit wasn’t an option.
Except for her.
No. He had not quit Livvy either. She’d turned her back and cheated on him when he was broken and needed her more than
he’d needed oxygen. That did not count as quitting. That counted as self-preservation. A drowning victim clung to whatever
kept their head above water. That’s all he’d done the past year.
“I thought you two knew each other.” Mercedes and Shawn exchanged a look. Had they planned this?
He hated being blindsided. His neck got hot and he tried to think how to respond.
“We’ve … met,” Eli said. “I dared her to dance on a table and she did.” He let himself smile at that, actually feeling happy
vibes from that cute memory of Livvy, dancing on the table at Streetcar 520, a fun restaurant in Colorado Springs the night he
met her.
His unit had been doing a multi-domain operational training at Fort Carson and he’d gone to dinner with a couple buddies.
All of them had noticed the gorgeous Livvy at a nearby table with some of her friends. The dare had been put out there, and Eli
jumped on it. Striding over to her table, introducing himself, and asking if she’d dance on the table, for him. She’d given him
the sweetest smile of the century, let him lift her onto the table, and then she’d danced. Sucker by Jonas Brothers had been
playing. The song still made him want to run to her. He was such a sucker for Livvy. Always had been.
He kept his eyes on Mercedes. No matter how hard it was not to feast his gaze on Livvy, soak up her beauty, light, and
undying love for him. Oh, wait, she didn’t love him anymore. She loved Jarom Love. Her lifelong ‘friend’. A friends-to-lovers
story. His stomach turned over.
“We’ve … met?” Livvy spat out.
Eli clenched his hands behind his back and did not allow himself even a sneak peek. Livvy had been angelic, but there was
spice inside of her too. He’d only seen her angry a couple of times. Never at him. It had been glorious. He wanted to turn and
stare at her. He couldn’t do it. He’d falter and have her in his arms again. He’d probably end up apologizing for losing his leg,
not being around enough because of his demanding career, protecting the world and all of that. Of course he must’ve driven her
straight into Mr. Love’s arms.
He flared his nostrils and was grateful his prosthetic supported him as he widened his stance and tried not to glower at the
camera. He should’ve trusted his friends and family who’d worried he couldn’t have possibly known Livvy well enough to
love her so deeply with a mostly long-distance relationship.
“How dare you?” Livvy bit at him, and she was close now. Too close. He could feel her. He could smell her. Why did she
still have to smell like gardenias? So sweet. So tempting.
“Miss Benedict,” he said in a tight voice he hardly recognized. He steeled himself and then glanced at her. It was a dumb
move. She was glorious. His vision of what heaven on earth could be. Her teal eyes were flashing at him, and he might be
getting knocked to the concrete dock in a matter of minutes. He’d let her knock him down. Even with the prosthetic she’d never
be able to unless he allowed it. Then he’d pull her on top of him, hold her tight, and they’d kiss and make up.
Kiss …
His anger returned. She could go kiss her new boyfriend for all he cared.
“You know I’m the type of guy to give an arm and a leg to causes I believe in.” He grinned and lifted up his prosthetic,
hoping he didn’t offend any other amputees, but he had to joke or he’d cry. “If you and I are going to work together to earn a
million dollars to help more gimps like me, I hope we can both act like the saint I formerly knew you to be. Let’s chuck any
frustrations from our past into the ocean. Savvy?” He threw in a little Captain Jack Sparrow. Since they were in the Caribbean
and all.
He’d said the words. If only he could believe them. He’d be civil. He could even make the best of things, he was good at
that. He would not forget the frustrations, or rather, pain, from their past. He would not fall to her enticing allure ever again.
Unfortunately, having her so close, he could remember all the amazing times too. Fun, crazy, imaginative, romantic,
incredible times together. They loved to hike, mountain bike, or rock climb in Colorado and travel to the beach in North
Carolina or explore the Southern culture and outdoor beauty. Even being silly and pretending to not know each other and try
different pickup lines on each other at the grocery store had been a hoot with Livvy.
They’d never had enough time together, only when he had a short leave and caught a flight to Colorado, or when she had a
school break and could fly to Fayetteville, North Carolina when he was at their home base of Fort Liberty. Every moment they
had together seemed magical to him, especially when compared to the hard work and harsh realities of his military career.
He’d excelled as an Army Ranger and then with the honored, secretive, and elite Delta Force, but his demanding, life-
threatening, and often emotionally-debilitating career had been a direct contrast to the simple, perfect joy of being with Livvy.
“‘Chuck any frustrations from our past’?” Livvy stared at him like either an alien force had taken over his body or she was
going to throat punch him.
They locked gazes and the battle began. Who would back down? He was so drawn to her. How could he spend the next six
days basically alone with her and not drop the pride he had left and beg her to love him again?
“Is there a problem here?” Shawn asked. A definite challenge in his tone to anyone who did have a problem. Eli had seen
on the boat ride over that Shawn was very protective of Mercedes. He wanted to throw back at the man that there wouldn’t be
a ‘problem’ if Shawn and Mercedes hadn’t researched him and Livvy and thrown them into this nightmarish situation.
Livvy broke from glaring at Eli and glared at Shawn. “Problem? You can bet there’s a problem. If he can’t even admit how
well we knew each other …” Her voice cracked and she broke off.
Eli almost reached for her. He wanted to reach for her more than he wanted to have his leg back. Jarom Love was the one
who Livvy had chosen to hold and comfort her. Not him. His muscles tightened and he was able to hold himself military
straight, put a mask on to hide how much he yearned for her, and not move an inch.
Livvy stared at him and then she said quietly, “Mercedes … do you have other options lined up for my counterpart this
week?”
That was a gut punch. She didn’t want him. He’d already known that, but to hear her ask for a replacement. He swallowed
and clenched his jaw.
“Um … no.” Mercedes had lost her perpetual smile. “I thought … you two … I hoped. I’m so sorry.”
Eli actually felt bad for the billionaire sweetheart. She’d obviously thought this was a good idea, not just trying to make
some dramatic television and exploit both of them.
Long seconds ticked by. Water splashed gently against the hull of the boat. A dock worker called greetings to a friend. A
fish jumped and slipped back into the water. Mercedes looked to Shawn and Shawn appeared ready to force the two of them to
make this week work. Eli had no idea what to say. He’d somehow get through the week, but he couldn’t if Livvy refused to
work with him.
Livvy drew in a loud breath and pushed it out. “Well then. I guess I’ll have to be the bigger person and ‘chuck any
frustrations from our past in the ocean’.”
Eli flinched. She was the bigger person? The bigger traitor. He didn’t respond verbally. He focused on Mercedes and
hoped he didn’t explode and say something nasty.
When the dolled-up billionaire still seemed to falter, Eli grinned and teased, “Miss Benedict appears to be twenty percent
in. Hooah! I can work with that.” He could feel Livvy’s anger from two feet away. “We’d appreciate you giving us the rest of
your spiel now, Miss Belle.”
“Oh … all right. Thank you.” She nodded to Eli. She appeared genuine, but what did he know about beautiful women?
Obviously not enough, if the woman he’d trusted most could betray him like she did.
Shawn leaned in and whispered something. Mercedes wrung her hands together. “I didn’t finish my introduction. Livvy
Benedict is the founder of Vet Accessories.” She smiled at Livvy, but her smile was tentative. “An incredible foundation that
provides anything a Wounded Vet might need—prosthetics,” her gaze dropped to Eli’s leg and then snapped back up,
“wheelchairs, adaptations for home, work, or vehicle. Livvy does it all.”
“Thank you,” Livvy murmured. “My partner Jarom does more than I do.”
Mercedes gushed something about the ‘incredible Jarom Love’ as Eli stood ramrod straight, gut churning, body cold, anger
filling his veins and seeping from every pore.
Her ‘partner’ Jarom. Of course she was still with him. Why wouldn’t she be? Did she really have to bring him into the intro
and jab Eli even deeper? It was a punch to the kidneys from Cash that not even Bennett could recover from.
Mercedes was still talking. At least he didn’t have to say anything right now, and at least Mercedes hadn’t bragged that
Eli’s brand new and miraculously improved prosthetic was funded by Livvy’s organization. It was. Cash had requested the
funding months ago and had told Eli about the Vet Accessories organization who had paid for it. Eli should’ve looked up the
organization. He could’ve gazed at Livvy’s beautiful face online, gotten his fill, and then not thought he needed to stare at her
right now.
And he would’ve seen her smiling for the cameras, arm in arm with Jarom Love.
His fists clenched.
He should be grateful to her. He was grateful. The Army-issued prosthetic had supported his weight and he’d been able to
walk, but not run. Now he could run, ride a mountain bike, hike, and explore. This new prosthetic made for athletes had given
him a lot of freedom back. This week, he’d somehow dredge up the words to show his appreciation. It just stunk to be in debt
to the woman who’d shredded the still-beating-for-her heart out of his chest.
That was too dramatic. His brothers in arms and his brothers by blood would all be laughing at him. Actually they’d feel
sorry for him, which was worse than laughing. Everybody claimed he and Livvy hadn’t lived in the same state for long enough
to form a deep and lasting relationship. He’d called bunk and even gotten in friendly wrestling matches about it. Sometimes not
so friendly matches with his judgmental little brother Jack.
He and Livvy were a match made in heaven. Eli always insisted that.
Joke was on him. Livvy apparently was an angel, doing good for many vets, including him. She simply could never be his
angel again.
He clenched his fists and wondered how he was going to limp through this week.
 Chapter
Three

LIVVY COULD NOT BELIEVE what a jerk Eli was being. It was Eli so of course he made his insolent
comments funny. His words might appear teasing to anyone else, but each one was a dig to her already fragile soul. They’d
met? Chuck any frustrations from their past? Him ditching her and shattering her heart? A mere frustration?
Her parents and sister had tried to warn her. Her best friend Jarom had been the only one on team Eli. Until Eli ditched her.
Everybody else believed she and Eli didn’t know each other well enough for her to claim he was the only man for her and
she’d love him until her dying day. They’d worried that he’d never be able to be home for her because of his demanding career.
Apparently they’d been right. His demanding career had ended with his injury, and even then he hadn’t loved her enough to
come for her.
Jarom was always right there to support her when she fell apart. Without her friend’s comforting shoulder and positive
attitude, and with the man who’d caused all her heartache a foot away, she didn’t know how she stood upright. She prayed she
wouldn’t have another panic attack. Eli had caught her and held her after her panic attack, but then he’d joked and backed
away.
Being this close to him and seeing that he didn’t love her anymore ripped all her wounds wide open again. Before this
moment, she’d had hope that it was all a misunderstanding. In her mind, if Eli could just see her, be close to her, he’d explain
everything he’d gone through and they’d be together like she’d always dreamed. All hope was lost.
“The challenge for this week,” Mercedes continued when neither of them said anything. “Is to sail around the Caribbean.”
She smiled a little bigger and gestured to the beautiful cabin cruiser. “Well, motor around. In my favorite Cruisers Yachts 50
GLS.”
The boat was gorgeous but … Stuck in this space with Eli and he didn’t care for her any longer? How was she going to
manage?
“There is a map and a compass in the glove box. There are eighteen Caribbean islands that have a Del Sol store. You know
the cute shirts and nail polish that change colors in the sun?” She smiled happily and lifted her long nails. They were purple.
Livvy had no clue which islands had a Del Sol. Hopefully Eli did.
“Fifteen of the eighteen Caribbean Del Sol locations have a clue waiting for you. You only need to find six clues from those
fifteen possibilities. Some of the locations will have repeat clues and some of the islands have multiple Del Sol locations.
Look for the location closest to the port or yacht club. Once you find all six clues you have to sail to the place that the clues
describe. Shawn and I will be waiting there with your million dollars.” She beamed and seemed restored to her former happy
state.
Then she paused and looked confused. She glanced at Shawn.
“The islands without clues, no Internet,” Shawn prompted.
“Oh! We did not put a clue on St. Thomas so don’t worry about running around this island. Also Puerto Rico and
Dominican Republic have no clues. Focus on the smaller islands. And don’t forget the Internet is off limits.”
Livvy glanced at Eli. He nodded to Mercedes and didn’t even bother looking Livvy’s direction. The punches just kept on
coming apparently. Could she really do this? A week with the man she had longed for the past year. Seeing him again, she knew
she loved him still and the longing was even worse. He was still his teasing self, but not in the sweet way he used to joke with
her. He apparently didn’t care for her at all now. The year-long repetitive question resurfaced: What had she done to push him
away?
Then of course the secondary gut punch nipped at her. Had he pushed her away because of his injury? Was he too injured
inside or did he think she wouldn’t accept him without part of his leg? No way could the Eli she’d known and loved think she
could be so petty.
But maybe they hadn’t known each other well enough. Just as her parents and her sister had always worried.
“There are cameras everywhere on the boat except the bathroom. When you travel to and from the Del Sols or do anything
else off the boat, Eli will need to record with the GoPro,” Mercedes continued. “Don’t worry about recording in the Del Sol.
We’ve placed our cameras on location so we can capture both of you. Free exposure for them, right?”
 Eli only nodded again. Could the man not speak? When he did speak he said things that broke her heart so maybe she
preferred the nodding.
“What am I forgetting?” Mercedes asked Shawn.
“Clothes, supplies, money, phone.”
“Thank you.” She smiled sweetly at him. “There are clean clothes in the cabin’s drawers for you, toiletries in the bathroom
cabinet, and plenty of food in the fridge, freezer, and cupboards. There are gift cards for you to fill up your fuel, propane, and
water, and empty the septic tank, and cash to buy any supplies or food you’d like. In the glovebox there is a satellite phone if
you have any trouble.” She clutched her hands together and grimaced.
“Has there been trouble on the other shows?” Eli asked.
“Some,” Mercedes admitted. “But yours will just be a fun challenge.” Her smile returned but it was still strained. “Well,
good luck to you! We’ll see you at the finish line.” She leaned into Shawn and he escorted her past them. She squeezed Livvy’s
hand as she passed. Livvy hoped the smile she gave her didn’t look as frustrated and out of sorts as she felt. Mercedes was a
benevolent lady and Livvy really appreciated her generosity and this opportunity.
“Thank you,” Livvy said.
“Best of luck,” Mercedes said. “I’ll be praying and cheering for you.”
The cameraman followed Mercedes and Shawn for a few seconds then swung around to video Livvy and Eli. As if it
weren’t awkward enough between them.
“After you, milady.” Eli smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He gestured to the boat, avoiding her gaze.
Livvy walked to the back of the boat and stepped on. It was beautiful—white upholstery, chrome and wood accents
everywhere. As she walked to the covered part of the boat, she could see on the left side where there were stairs going down.
She could see down into the small cabin area, a small countertop with a sink and fridge ran along the right side. Some cushions
and a little table were under the very front of the boat. A door on the left side she would assume was the bathroom. Where was
the bed? Was there a bed? How was she going to sleep in some small bed with Eli?
Eli stepped onto the boat and eased around her. He moved exceptionally well with his prostheses. He should. That
particular brand and model was designed for multi-sport athletes. She almost complimented him on how well he moved, but
didn’t know how it would go over.
Yesterday she would’ve thought she had a thousand questions for Eli. At this moment she couldn’t think of two words to say
to him. All she wanted to know was why he’d turned his back on her. How he could possibly give up on their love. Every time
they’d been together had been magical.
Not any more.
There was no magic, happiness, or sparks in the air. Unless you counted the grumpy sparks radiating off of him.
He started to loosen the lines, but some men from the yacht club came and hurried to take the ropes off. The boat floated
away from the dock.
“Appreciate ya.” Eli raised a hand. He wasn’t from the south but had adopted some of their words with his home base
being in North Carolina the past ten years.
The men all waved back.
“Do you know how to drive this thing?” Livvy asked, stepping up to the cushioned co-pilot chair next to the captain’s chair.
“Shawn gave me a tutorial on piloting this beaut on the way over. We always had a jet boat, cruising the lakes of
Minnesota.” He grinned, touching the display almost reverently. “Nothing this big or fancy.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot.”
Eli looked at her then. His gaze was full of hurt and betrayal. As if she’d forgotten him, forgotten them. Injustice made her
chest tight. How dare he act like she was the one who’d ditched him?
He focused on the controls and turned the key. The motor purred to life. She didn’t know much about boats but could tell
this one was fancy. The weather was a perfect eighty degrees. They were going to navigate through the gorgeous turquoise
waters of the Caribbean and see islands she’d only heard about. Livvy was going to earn a million dollars for her charity.
Everything about this situation should be ideal. If only it wasn’t Eli who was standing next to her.
She focused on his handsome profile, his jaw tight as if he didn’t like her perusal. She would love having Eli next to her—
if he hadn’t wounded her so deeply. The fact that he wasn’t even repentant and seemed angry and put off by her added insult to
injury.
He wanted to be sulky and angry? Fine. That was his issue. She was going to somehow enjoy this experience. Prove to him
that she was more than over him. She wouldn’t take him back if he crawled to her.
She could hear her sister Natalie cheering at those thoughts. Natalie would tell her making him eat crow and not falling for
him was exactly what she needed for closure and so she could finally move on. She could hear Natalie’s voice. She loved her
sister but she didn’t want to grow bitter like Natalie had from her broken heart. How could she stay positive? Especially right
now.
She didn’t want closure.
She didn’t want to move on.
She snuck a peek at him.
All she’d ever wanted was her Eli back.
 Chapter
Four

ELI WAS hyper-aware of Livvy a mere foot away from him as he motored out of the yacht club at a wakeless speed. He
should’ve figured out where they were going first. Shoot. He’d been focused on her and getting away from the cameraman.
Which was silly as there were cameras all over the boat. Now he’d have to ask her to help him navigate, or stop and drift once
they were clear of the island’s traffic. For a million dollars, the challenge would not be easy, and he didn’t want poor
execution on his part to make Livvy and her foundation lose out.
“Do you mind yanking out that there map and compass, little lady?” he asked, trying to sound funny, unaffected. He was far
from either at the moment.
“Sure.” Her voice sounded … pleasant, sweet, the way Livvy had always sounded. That wasn’t good. He’d prefer her
angry and upset at him so they could both keep their distance and get through this without new scars to add to the old.
She pulled out the map and the compass. It was windy with the boat moving and the map whipped around as she tried to
spread it out and pin it in place below the windshield.
“That is no bueno,” he said. She looked wounded as if he’d said she’d done something wrong. Great. He was already
walking on Legos. Now add some eggshells to the mix. “Will you take the map down to the table? I’ll clear the traffic around
the island and we can drift for a few minutes while we figure out where to go next.”
“Okay.” She smiled at him. Her absolutely brilliant, light up Eli’s world kind of smile.
He glanced out of the windshield to avoid basking in that smile, focusing on the calm water that matched her eyes.
Thankfully she said nothing, simply walked down the steps to the cabin. Within minutes he was in open water and able to
idle the boat and then shut off the motor. He eased down the stairs; this prosthetic was miles above his first one, but he was
still getting used to it and cautious with uneven surfaces, ice, or sand.
He grew even more cautious as the beautiful woman sitting at the small table glanced up at him. Sliding into the chair next
to hers, the only option, he was overwhelmed by her scent. He had to close his eyes for a moment and just breathe.
Her arm brushed his and his eyes flew open. Blinking up at him, she said softly, “You still like the scent of gardenias.”
It was no question. She knew he was gone over her … or rather gone over her smell. He should’ve clarified though. ‘Like
the scent? No.’ He’d pause and she’d give him a curious look. ‘I love the smell of gardenias. Especially on your lovely neck.’
She’d grin. Then he’d lower his head and breathe her in for a few moments before he tenderly kissed her neck. He’d slowly
work his way up to her mouth and then he’d completely capture her lips with his. The pain of the past year would disappear
and every happiness would be theirs.
He shook his head to clear it. She was Jarom Love’s ‘partner’, ‘girlfriend’ ‘love’. He checked her ring finger. Not married
or engaged yet. It didn’t matter. She was not his. Never again his.
“Did you steal a garden full?” he teased her like he used to.
“For you,” she said back.
Eli’s eyes widened and his pulse sped up. She couldn’t do this to him again, but it was his fault for initiating the tease. He
glanced sharply down at the map, ignoring her statement. “We’re here next to St. Thomas. Which unfortunately is in the middle
of the islands that make up the Caribbean.”
She leaned closer and the touch of her arm against his and her scent were going to drive him insane. “So which way do we
go?”
“If the D.R. and Puerto Rico are off the table there are more islands in closer proximity south of us than north. We’ll island
hop and see if they have a Del Sol.”
“You don’t know which ones have a Del Sol?”
He shook his head. “I’ve been to a handful of the islands with the military and on a cruise with my parents in high school. I
remember walking past Del Sol, but I’m a guy. We don’t shop.” He winked.
“I know you don’t,” she said softly.
Eli clenched his hand. She used to shop for him. With her ‘friend’ Jarom trying things on for her to buy for him. Joke on him
that Jarom was much more than a friend. Everybody else around him had seen that plainly, but he’d trusted Livvy.
 Why was this so hard? He wanted to ask her about Jarom. He really wanted to have her say she’d broken up with the guy
and Eli had a chance. He gritted his teeth. He had no chance. Jarom was a lifelong friend who’d become her lover and was
now her ‘partner’. Livvy didn’t want a man without a leg, and she didn’t want him. She’d been cheating on him when he was
on his final mission, kissing him goodbye days before. The pictures Trent showed him confirmed that. Pictures of her kissing
the perfectly-dressed, perfectly-plucked, insanely-wealthy, pretty-boy Jarom.
His shoulders bunched around his ears and he had to keep from clenching his fists. Why he would even want to beg her
back when she’d cheated at the worst time of his life and their trust was irrevocably broken made no sense. It made him as
angry at himself as he was at Jarom.
“Let’s check out St. Croix first. You can see the island southeast of us from here.” He tilted his head to the windows up high
in the cabin area. The roof was also partially glass bringing light in. “It’s big enough it should have a Del Sol. We can ask
around while we’re on the island and see where the other Del Sols are and mark out a path. They said we couldn’t use the
Internet, but they didn’t say we couldn’t use our brains and charm, right?” He glanced over and pumped his eyebrows at her
before he could think better of it.
Her eyes got wide and then warm for just a brief moment.
Quickly looking away, he calculated what direction he’d need to head for the yacht club on St. Croix. After a few seconds,
he nodded. “Got it.” He stood.
“Can I do anything to help?” she asked, standing as well. The boat swayed slightly with a rolling wave and she leaned into
him.
Eli braced himself against the table and braced her with a hand on her hip. “You finding your sea legs?” he asked in a tell-
tale husky voice. The feel of her against him was sparkle and shine just like it used to be. He had to shove those feelings away.
He had to.
“Yes.” She moistened her lips and blinked those long lashes up at him.
Eli found himself leaning down, anticipating her sweet kiss. Until he remembered with a start like a sucker punch from
Bennett … she wasn’t Eli’s to kiss any more. She was Jarom Love’s. Gross.
He released her and stepped back. “You can just relax, while I navigate this beaut on to success.”
“Big Hoss is taking care of his angel again?” she asked.
Eli couldn’t catch a breath. An hour ago, she’d had a panic attack and passed out on the dock when she’d seen him again.
He was in danger of doing so now. He’d always teased her that he was ‘Big Hoss,’ which meant a big, strong, and respected
man who was built like a horse, tough and fast, and that she was his ‘angel’ that he would always take care of. He wasn’t sure
if he was more angry that she’d used their special tease for the second time in an hour, or longing for it to be true.
“Okay … let’s do this thing.” He backed up to the stairs, caught the railing, turned, and hurried up them. At least he tried to
hurry up them. He didn’t lift his prosthetic high enough and he almost tripped on the stairs.
“Eli!” Livvy hurried to him, wrapping her hands around his waist from behind. “You all right?”
He quickly righted himself, using the railing and his arm strength to straighten. “Fine and dandy.” He was humiliated and
needed to get away from her. Why was she being so kind to him, bringing up their old sayings, touching him? To torture him or
because she was still as kind and angelic as she’d ever been? She probably didn’t know how to act any other way, but he was
not going to get sucked in again. He’d learned his lesson and he’d learned it well.
Using his arms and his good leg, he propelled himself quickly up the stairs, dragging his prosthetic up.
He settled into the captain’s chair, started the motor and focused on the compass and navigating and tried not to think about
Livvy’s touch, Livvy’s scent, Livvy’s voice, Livvy’s eyes, Livvy’s lips. He was consumed by her and it ticked him off even
more.
The boat was motoring along at a beautiful fifty miles per hour when Livvy pranced up the steps from the cabin. She was
right there, within his touch, wearing a red one piece swimsuit. That suit was like a red flag and he was the bull. He was going
to plow into her, gently knock her off her feet, cuddle her close, and kiss her until he stopped going so insane.
Oh my.
“They had swimsuits in my supplies,” she said all cute and appealing. “I thought I’d get some sun.”
“Nice.” He tried to smile. His lips hopefully turned up.
“Do you want a drink or anything before I sun myself?” She held up a water bottle in one hand.
“Oh … water would be the ideal fluid for a specimen like myself. Thanks.” He did smile now. Partly because he was funny
and partly because he thought maybe they could do this. Neither of them had brought up their past, besides her initially asking
him where he’d been after she passed out. They could sort-of tease and be cordial and get through this week. He had a little bit
of hope at least.
“Definitely the ideal specimen.” She looked him over and his pulse sped up and he found himself flexing and posturing for
her which made her laugh. “I’ll be right back.”
She turned and eased down the stairs. Eli forced himself to focus on the controls and then on the island approaching in front
of them and then he did let himself crane his neck down the stairs and take one sneak peek as she opened the fridge. He
straightened quickly before she turned around.
Walking back up the steps, she handed over his water with a beautiful smile on her face. Their fingers brushed and warmth
and tingles spread through him. He should’ve rolled his eyes at himself. Warmth and tingles? From a hand touch? He was an
elite warrior not some wussy romantic. But he used to be sweet and romantic … for her.
“Thank ya kindly,” he tried to tease, pulling his hand away from hers, taking a long drink of the water bottle and setting it in
the cup holder, pretending to be very interested in the amazing control panel and all the incredible features of this fancy piece
of nautical equipment.
Finally, finally, she let out a sigh and walked away. She settled on one of the chaise lounges, drank some water, stared at
the ocean, closed her eyes for a bit.
He wasn’t watching, he was making certain she was all right. He was her protector this week. He’d thought he would be
her protector for life. No such luck. Glancing down at his missing limb, his gut churned. He was coming to terms with the loss
but he’d wrongly assumed he’d have that angelic beauty supporting him, helping him heal, maybe she’d even be secretly
relieved that he’d had to retire and they could be together all the time. She’d supported him wholeheartedly in his career, but
they’d both longed for more time together.
None of that happened.
He had great support with his parents, brothers, his sister-in-law, many friends from back home in Minnesota and military
buddies. Especially Cash, Bennett, and Quaid.
Just not her. The incredible woman he used to think was his other half.
Long minutes passed. He drank more of his water. Found some sunglasses in the glove box and put them on. Wished he
dared ask her to search for a hat for him. Wished he dared ask her to come sit in the co-pilot seat and chat with him, but that
was a huge no.
If they started talking he’d eventually have to hear about Jarom Love or it would burst out of him to demand how she could
act, speak, and seem so angelic when she was a cheating backstabber underneath. None of those questions were getting
answered. He’d keep himself detached from her and his longings and somehow get through the next six days. Maybe if they
found the clues quick it would be sooner than that.
 Chapter
Five

LIVVY WAS RELIEVED when they docked at the yacht club on St. Croix. It had probably only been an hour, but
she wanted Eli to talk to her and he apparently would only tease with her and then clam up.
A couple of men came and tied off the lines. Livvy wrapped a floral sarong around her waist and slid into some flip flops.
She didn’t love the way the men eyed her up and down. Apparently neither did Eli. He stepped in close to her on the back patio
and greeted the men.
“Hello. Do you know the store Del Sol?”
The larger man nodded. “Buying clothes for your lady friend?”
“Certainly. Whatever my lady wants.” Eli lifted his eyebrows, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her in close.
The breath whooshed out of Livvy and she didn’t care what reason he was holding her, only that he was. It was pathetic how
easy she could be putty in his beautiful, manly hands.
The shorter man looked condescendingly at Eli’s prosthetic leg. He leered at Livvy again. “You want a real man,
gorgeous?”
Eli’s body tightened against her side.
She wrapped her arms around Eli’s abdomen, appreciating the taut muscles. “Eli is my man, all the man I’d ever want.”
The man narrowed his eyes and grunted in disgust. The two men shared a look. Eli was coiled tightly against her. She
wondered if he’d pummel them both to prove what a man he was. He’d never needed to prove himself; one look at him and
anyone could see how tough, brave, and heroic he was. Missing part of his leg didn’t change that. Not for her.
“No Del Sol store on St. Croix,” the larger man said. “St. Marteen is the closest store.”
“Thank you,” Eli said stiffly. “Toss off the lines, please.”
The man nodded to him and they quickly removed the ropes. The boat drifted away and Eli turned her toward the captain’s
area.
“Offer is good anytime, beautiful,” the shorter man called.
“Come near my lady and you’ll wish you hadn’t,” Eli said, loud, clear, and commanding. Livvy felt for that moment as if
they were together again and nobody had better dare mess with her or they would regret it. Eli would protect her and love her
again.
The small guy looked surly, but the other guy pushed at his shoulder and they turned away. Eli released her and hurried to
the captain’s chair. He started the boat and they motored away.
Livvy eased up to the co-pilot’s chair. Neither of them said anything for a few beats. Eli’s jaw was so tight she could’ve
cracked nuts on it. The muscles in his arms bulged as he stood behind the wheel, navigating out of the yacht club and into the
ocean.
“Thank you for protecting me,” she said.
“It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.” His voice was teasing as ever but he didn’t look at her.
“Were you just posturing for those men or …” She held her breath, praying he’d say he meant his words and all he wanted
was to work through the reasons he’d never come for her and she could still have the chance of being ‘his lady’.
“Yep,” he said shortly. “Idiots anyway, but working at a yacht club they might have access to a boat and they know where
we’re headed.” His gaze flickered over her. “As enticing as you are I wouldn’t put it past them to follow us.”
Her stomach clenched. She didn’t want those men coming after them. The way Eli said ‘enticing’ sounded like it was a
liability.
“You really think they would?”
His eyes met hers. He shook his head. “Probably not. I just wanted them to know not to attempt anything or mess with us.”
He gripped the wheel tighter. “Some think I’m not as strong without half my leg. They find out quick that they’re wrong.”
“I bet. You’re still strong and perfect to me,” she said.
He glanced at her in surprise and then his entire face and body tightened. “I’ve got to check the coordinates to St. Martin,”
he muttered.
 They were out in open ocean now. He pulled the stick shift thing into what she assumed was neutral, and hurried past her
down the stairs to where they’d left the map and compass on the table.
Livvy looked around, a chill racing through her. Eli didn’t want to hear compliments from her and he’d only wrapped his
arm around her to posture and deter those men from coming after them. They wouldn’t come. Right? Eli could easily handle
them, but she didn’t want him to have to fight two men. She wanted him to hold her because he wanted to hold her.
In all her visions of being reunited with the love of her life, none of her daydreams or nightdreams had looked anything like
this. At the moment being with Eli felt more like a torturous nightmare than a dream.
 Chapter
Six

ELI BLEW out a breath and focused on the controls. Livvy had taken off the wrap thing that covered at least part of her
swimsuit. She was lying on a chaise lounge at the back of the boat. He was struggling to not stare.
Those men had been instantly drawn in by her beauty and thought he was little threat because of his disability. His neck
heated up just thinking about it and then the rest of him heated up thinking about holding Livvy close to his side while he
postured as her protector and ‘man’. He took another glance in the mirror and she was staring straight at him.
He looked away first and cussed himself for not making a joke or giving her a teasing wink. With open ocean for a while
and nothing to focus on but the out-of-his-reach, red-swimsuit-wearing angel, it was time to familiarize himself with the boat’s
controls and navigation system, beyond what Shawn had shown him.
Within twenty minutes, he figured out how to set the boat to navigate to his intended location without manning the controls.
A little more tinkering and he found a map of the surrounding area, with Google maps functioning, and could pinpoint and have
the boat pilot them straight into St. Marteen’s Yacht Club. It was spelled more like the locals pronounced it, but he knew it
could go either way.
“Ha!” he said to himself. “Bet they forgot to disable that.”
“What’s that?” Livvy sprang off her lounge and hurried to his side. She eased in much too close, brushing against his arm
and looking on with interest. Gardenias. Dang those succulent-smelling gardenias.
“Look at this brilliance,” he said, standing to give himself a tiny bit of distance and pointing to the map. “I can have it
navigate us straight into the St. Marteen Yacht Club. No need for the paper map or compass.”
“That’s amazing. You found that?” She blinked up at him as if he were a superhero.
“Of course. I was talking about my brilliance, not the boat’s.” He grinned and put his finger and thumb on his chin as if he
were The Thinker.
She laughed. “Exactly what I was thinking.”
She stood there, smiling at him. His brain stopped functioning. He found himself leaning closer. They motored over a swell
and she grabbed onto his arm. His hand automatically wrapped around her lower back to steady her while his other hand
steadied him on the captain’s chair.
Big mistake. Really epic. When he’d held her while those men were leering at her on the St. Croix dock he hadn’t fully let
himself appreciate her trim body against his. The smooth skin of her back was exposed in this perfect-fitting swimsuit. He
could feel her and smell her and he was thrust back into memories of how incredible it had always felt to kiss her.
He stuttered and almost fell. He released her like she had a disease. Easing back into the chair, he had an excuse to not
touch her. No matter how badly he wanted to touch her.
“Do you, uh, think the radio works?” she asked.
“I bet it does. Everything is top of the line on this beaut. Maybe I’ll buy one with my millions of dollars.” He winked. He
could bet this small yacht cost much more than a million dollars.
Her eyes widened. “You have … millions of dollars?”
His stomach sank as if he’d swallowed a boulder. If he had millions of dollars like Jarom Love would that make up for
being a one-legged man? Why had she started the charity she had? Simply because she was an angelic sweetheart or maybe the
guilt of ditching him when he lost his leg?
“Mercedes is paying me a million dollars for the show. It’s ear-marked for investments already. You know Jack-Jack,” he
tried to tease about his financially-brilliant younger brother. “So maybe no boat.” He looked away from her beautiful face.
He’d go back to hiding out in Cash’s gym and working with the at-risk youth who came in regularly. Not hiding out. He was
doing a lot of good and surrounded by vets who understood him, who could relate to the injustice and pain of losing the dreams
they’d worked so hard for.
She didn’t move for a few seconds, then she eased in and looked over the controls. His breath shortened and all his senses
went on hyper-drive.
“No radio,” she mused.
 Thankfully she moved away from him and then she said, “Ah, it’s here inside the glove box.” She fiddled with it and sped
through country music, opera, reggae, and finally found a pop-rock type of station. Dancing to whatever song was on, she
hummed along.
Eli just watched her. They could’ve run into a cruise ship and he wouldn’t have noticed it coming. She swayed her hips,
pumped her hands, circled her arms, lip-synced along with the song. She was a fluid and beautiful dancer. He’d seen that the
first night he met her; watching her dance on the table, he’d instinctively thought he’d met his match. They’d danced many times
after that. Often all alone, swaying together, and the dancing morphed into incredible kissing sessions.
He was drawn to her right now. No matter that he shouldn’t be. Drawn? He was a stinking piece of wussy, shredded steel
meant for the garbage dump, and she was a neodymium magnet, the strongest magnet in the world, a foot away from him. How
could he not fling himself at her? How could he not hope she’d save him from a life of meaningless shred?
He gritted his teeth, clung to the wheel, and kept his rear in the captain’s chair.
Then it happened. The song changed and his stomach took flight. His gaze was yanked straight to her teal-blue eyes. Her
eyes were wide and stunned. What were the odds?
The first few lines of the song flowed by as they simply stared at each other. Then Livvy started dancing again. Just for him.
It was the most enchanting dance. She sang along with the words, “I’m a sucker for you.”
That was absolutely true. He was a sucker for her.
“Any road you take, you know you’ll find me,” she sang, grinning at him as she continued to dance.
She danced right up to him, reaching out her hand. “Dance with me, Eli.”
He shook his head, biting at his tongue. The self control he exhibited in that moment would’ve impressed Drill Sergeant
Lucero, the toughest of his training camp. “I have to pilot the boat.”
“I thought it was on auto-pilot straight to the dock in St. Marteen’s.”
He gritted his teeth, and then he did something almost as impressive as rescuing Bennett from sadistic insurgents in Syria
while his leg was badly injured and after they’d lost John to the IED.
He looked away. He focused completely on the horizon, the water, the controls, anything but the woman he loved, dancing
to their song, smelling like gardenias, a foot away from him.
This was the worst form of torture anybody could offer up for him.
 Chapter
Seven

LIVVY CHANGED into a comfortable sundress when they approached St. Marteen. The sky was darkening as the
sun disappeared into the calm turquoise water. The taste of salt in the air and the warm humidity made her feel sticky. She
would have loved to jump in the water, but they didn’t have time.
She’d brought Eli a sandwich as he navigated the boat and eaten a little bit herself, but her stomach churned at the widening
distance between them. She’d almost forgotten how injured she was because of him and had let down her guard, especially
when their song came on and she danced for him. The appreciation and longing in his eyes had drawn her straight back to how
they used to be.
And he’d pushed her away. Again. She should be used to it. Him rejecting her to her face was far worse than him
disappearing on her. If somebody would’ve tried to tell her that this past year, she wouldn’t have believed them. She would’ve
said at least she had answers. Yet she didn’t have any answers and him right here but not head over heels for her was
excruciating.
They docked the boat. Eli spoke to a man and he said they would refuel the boat and park it in a slip they could stay in
tonight. It would be all ready for them when they returned from town.
That would be good, but it made her a little panicked that the day was already gone. They only had five more days and not
even one clue. Hopefully they’d find one here. What if the islands they made it to had repeat clues waiting for them at the Del
Sols and they never found the six different clues? What if those men had come after them? That was silly. They’d barely seen
Livvy and even if they thought Eli wasn’t as strong with part of his leg missing, he still was obviously no one to trifle with. His
confident bearing and awe-inspiring muscles should communicate that.
Eli took her hand, filming with the GoPro camera with the other hand, and led her to a taxi. They drove the short distance to
the cruise terminal port and the main part of town. Two massive cruise ships towered over the docks. The homes and shops
were made of concrete painted in bright colors. Children and dogs ran around near the homes. As they got into town tourists
meandered along the streets as locals called to them, peddling tours, cab rides, or trinkets.
Stepping out on the curb, Eli offered his hand and helped her out, still holding the camera to focus on her. Anyone watching
would think they were a couple, the man obsessed with filming his ‘lady’. She could almost kid herself into believing they still
had that special spark between them, but obviously Eli didn’t agree. She wanted to grill him about why he’d turned his back on
their love, but at the same time she didn’t know if she was strong enough. It might start the mourning process all over again.
They walked hand in hand along the sidewalk. Eli turned off the camera and let it dangle in his left hand as they walked into
the Del Sol store.
“Hello there,” a cute college-age blonde greeted them. Her gaze lingered on Eli’s handsome face.
“Hi.” Eli released Livvy’s hand and strode up to the desk. The girl never looked away from his face. “I’m Eli. This is my
friend Livvy.”
Friend? Oh now it was ‘friend’? With those men on the dock it was ‘my lady’ in a very possessive tone. She rolled her
eyes.
“Hi Eli. Livvy. I’m Jazzy.” She batted her eyelashes.
“Jazzy. I’d like one of your t-shirts. Whichever one you think would look best on me.” He winked and spread his hands,
making his arm and shoulder muscles flex beautifully.
Livvy’s stomach turned over. He wasn’t flirting, but definitely being too friendly for her unstable state of mind. She folded
her arms across her stomach.
“Anything would look good on you.” Jazzy licked her lips like Eli was an ice cream cone. She bustled around the store
bringing him options in color and cut, prattling on about his broad shoulders and muscular chest the entire time.
“Eli,” Livvy interrupted after a few sickening minutes. “We need to get going.” There was nowhere they really needed to
be, as they couldn’t reach another island in the dark anyway, but she was ready to get at least one clue, eat some dinner, and go
to sleep.
“All right.” Eli gave her a look that said he knew she was jealous and maybe he didn’t mind it. Why? Why would he
deliberately try to hurt her? Not that she really thought he was interested in Jazzy, but it seemed like he was throwing it in her
face. “Where would you recommend for dinner, Jazzy?”
“Tropica Vybz is my fav,” she said.
“All right. We’ll try it out.”
Jazzy deflated a little bit, as if thinking Eli would ask her to dinner and leave Livvy here to man the store.
“Can you tell me where the other Del Sols are in the Caribbean?” Eli asked.
“Oh, sure.” She rifled through a drawer and pulled out a pamphlet. “They’re all listed here.”
“Perfect.” Eli gave Livvy a smug smile, as if him obtaining the list excused his flirtations. “Thanks.” He chose a teal blue t-
shirt that would flatter his coloring and his upper body and paid for it. Looking right at Livvy, he said, “The same color as your
eyes.”
Livvy’s entire body heated up. Why was he torturing her like this? Flirting with this girl and then making Livvy think he’d
bought that shirt because he loved the color of her eyes. He used to. Not anymore.
“Do we need anything else?” he asked Livvy.
“The clue.” She arched an eyebrow.
Eli smiled, obviously he hadn’t forgotten. He turned to Jazzy. “Do you have a clue from Mercedes Belle here?”
Her eyes widened. “I do! Some hot blond guy brought it in. He looked like Thor.” She beamed. “You look more like Henry
Cavill. So hot.”
“Thank you. Can we have the clue?”
“You’re supposed to tell me the name of the charity.”
“Vet Accessories,” Eli answered.
“Perfect.” She looked him over. “Are you a wounded vet? I noticed your awesome leg.”
Eli smiled but it was tight. “I am.”
“Oh, my.” She fanned herself. “Even hotter.”
“The clue,” Livvy reminded her.
“Oh.” She pulled an envelope out of the drawer and handed it over. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” Eli took the envelope, lifted his shirt in the bag as a sort-of salute, and strode to Livvy. He took her hand
again and they left the store.
“Oh, now you want to hold my hand, not flirt with some teenager?”
“I was just getting the information we needed, using my brains and charm remember?”
She did remember, she was acting petty, and she didn’t like the way she felt right now.
“We now have a list of all the Del Sols and can plot out our route.”
He dropped her hand, leaned against the exterior of the building, and turned on the camera, pointing it at her. He slid the
clue out of the envelope with his other hand and handed it to her. “Would you like to do the honors?”
“Thanks. ‘The island you seek has a large fort on it.’” She looked at him. She taught science not geography.
He pursed his lips. “Hmm. Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic … we’ll have to research what other islands have forts
on them.”
“How?”
“When we get all the clues, we can find a library.”
“Or you can just ask a teenage girl. ‘So hot’.” She fanned her face.
He only laughed. “Let’s go find some dinner and then get some rest.”
“Tropica Vybz?”
He chuckled. “Maybe. If it sounds good to you.”
“Now you’re worried about what I think?”
He didn’t reply. He simply took her hand and walked with her down the street, videoing the two of them as they went. As if
they were a couple of tourists obsessed with selfie videos.
Livvy loved holding his hand, feeling like a couple with him again. She didn’t like being jealous or snarky. That wasn’t like
her. When they’d been together women had hit on Eli constantly. He’d been kind to them but never flirted with anyone else.
Livvy had only laughed about it, knowing he was wholly committed to her.
He wasn’t committed to her at all now. Only helping her win this million dollars.
The hurt kept compounding.
 Chapter
Eight

ELI AND LIVVY did end up at Tropica Vybz, simply because it was close by, the menu looked great, and the food
smelled even better. Luckily there was a local band playing so it was too loud to converse. He had a constant fear of her
drawing him out with her sweetness, getting him to admit how she’d broken his heart and shattered his dreams.
At Del Sol was one of the few times she hadn’t been sweet. Jealousy had radiated off of her and she’d glowered at the
young worker. Eli smiled to himself. Jealousy had looked incredible on Livvy and he wondered if she hated the feeling of it
like he did. A taste of her own medicine.
His smile disappeared. He loathed being jealous of her and Jarom. Even if he couldn’t let down his guard around her, he
didn’t want her to feel the pain he’d felt. He had only been buttering up the girl to get the information they needed, but he
vowed to be more careful to not upset Livvy like that again.
The taxi took them back to the yacht club and it was only nine when the guy on staff directed them to their boat slip. If only
he could turn on the navigation and motor through the night. It wasn’t worth being run over by a cruise ship, so he’d rest and
start again early in the morning.
Livvy found whatever she was looking for in the cupboards of the small cabin and then slipped into the bathroom.
Eli was bothered by the fact there was no door on the steps to the downstairs cabin, and he had no weapons. Anybody
could climb onto their boat and take them by surprise in the night. He scrambled through the cupboards and wired a fishing line
across the stairwell and a couple cans of beans on the step. Someone would trip on the wire and kick the cans and wake him up
if they tried to get down to the cabin. It was at least something.
He’d noticed security guards at the gates of the yacht club. Hopefully they did their job so he could rest for a few hours. He
could go without sleep, had many times in the past, but holding himself back from hugging Livvy and demanding to know what
Jarom Love had that he didn’t was draining. He could answer his own question—a pretty boy face, loads of money, a lifetime
of friendship and memories with Livvy, residing in her same town, and two functioning legs.
Eli stared at the king-sized bed tucked underneath the middle of the boat, behind the steps. Why couldn’t they have two
small beds? Canvas hammocks on the wall even.
He ran a hand through his hair. Because this was a luxury cabin cruiser that usually accommodated two people who most
likely didn’t mind sleeping together. His stomach pitched and his neck got hot. He minded sleeping in the same bed as Livvy. It
would be awkward and she’d better stay on her side and … what if she brushed against him in the night? Any touch from Livvy
was tantalizing and almost too much to bear. He hated being the broken, tortured warrior, but that’s exactly what he’d become.
Livvy’s betrayal was a worse injury than losing his leg because it had been purposeful and personal, not just a random casualty
in the course of military action.
Searching the cabinets he found a soft t-shirt and cotton shorts he assumed were meant for him to sleep in. He grabbed them
and waited for Livvy, steeling himself not to react when she walked out of that bathroom and they had to face how to sleep
together.
Oh cripes. Not together. In the same space. Not even touching. Please don’t let her touch me. He wasn’t sure who he was
asking. At times like this he missed his relationship with heaven and the faith that he used to rely on.
Livvy walked out of the bathroom and he lost the ability to think, breathe, or move. Her long hair was swept up in a
ponytail, revealing her graceful neck, her face was washed clean of any makeup, as simply beautiful as any face in the history
of womankind, her lips glistened, and she was wearing some kind of soft pajama set that revealed her smooth shoulders, arms,
and legs.
She met his gaze and he was immediately lost in her teal eyes. Heat filled him and his heart pounded so loudly he
wondered if she heard it.
He broke eye contact and looked at the bed again. That was almost as bad for his pounding heart and unsteady psyche.
“Only the one bed?” she asked, following his gaze.
“Yep.”
“I’ll … stay on my side,” she said softly.
 “Good. That’d be really good.” He sounded and felt like an idiot. He brushed past her to walk into the bathroom. Both
were a mistake. His arm touched hers and set off a fire in him and the bathroom smelled like her—gardenias.
He shut the door behind him so at least she was out of his reach, and braced his hands on the counter. The bathroom was
teeny. He wasn’t certain how she changed her clothes in here. She’d left the sundress.
Livvy wasn’t a messy person. Had she done that on purpose? He picked it up, put it to his nose, and just let himself breathe
her scent in. It was almost as good as when he used to hold her and smell that enticing scent on her neck. Before he trailed his
lips up that smooth, enticing neck until he met her lips, and …
He dropped the dress and hurried to change, brush his teeth, use the bathroom, and wash up the best he could.
Striding out of the bathroom, he put their clothes in a small hamper he’d found in one of the cupboards, pulled a water
bottle out of the fridge and took a swig, and then realized it was time…
He set the water bottle on the counter and eased around the stairs, climbing up onto the bed. She was on the right side, lying
down, her beautiful face turned toward him, her teal eyes searching his.
He pushed the button to kill the lights, hoping that would calm down the tension inside of him. If anything, it ramped up. He
tried to quietly remove his prosthetic leg and foot but Livvy obviously heard.
“Is it comfortable?” she asked quietly.
“It’s not bad. Especially if I can keep it clean. It’s a million times better than my first prosthetic.” He swallowed and knew
it was time. She was the reason he had this leg. Why had she started the charity? Guilt? Some kind of homage paid to the man
she’d turned her back on. He cleared his throat and managed to get the words out, “Thank you.”
“Oh … of course.” A pause. “I don’t actually see the requests and fulfillments. I take care of the fundraising, and Jarom
fulfills the orders. He has more time on his hands, only working a few hours a day with his dad. You can thank him.”
Her voice was as sweet as ever, but a heavy weight pressed down on his chest. His gut churned. Thank Jarom? It would be
a cold day in purgatory before he thanked that man for anything. He’d hurl the incredible prosthetic leg and foot that allowed
him to move easily, and even run, into the trash receptacle before he’d humble himself enough to thank the man that stole Livvy
from him.
He used his hands to slide up onto the bed, lying on top of the covers and hugging the wall to stay as far away from her as
possible. Silence was heavy and thick between them.
“You remember, Jarom?” she asked into the silence.
Eli could not think of a more inappropriate or awful question. “Yeah,” he said shortly, clenching his fits. What kind of
question was that? Of course he remembered Jarom. He’d seen the fake, polished sap every time he went to Colorado Springs.
He’d convinced himself the special way Livvy and Jarom looked at and acted around each other was simply a deep, lifelong
friendship as Livvy claimed. He knew better now.
“I couldn’t do any of what I do for vets without him. He’s the best.”
Eli squeezed his eyes shut tight. Even though it was dark in the cabin he was trying to somehow shut out the pictures of her
in Jarom’s arms. Of her kissing the preppy pretty boy. The man was Eli’s opposite—perfectly-dressed, model-good looks,
wealthy, skinny, soft hands that had never worked a real day in his life.
‘He’s the best. He’s the best.’ Those words mocked him and dug at him. He clenched his jaw as his muscles all tightened.
Where was Cash when Eli needed to spar with somebody? He had no idea how to respond to her. Anything he said would
reveal his pain, his anger, his jealousy.
He surprised himself by instinctively praying. Please let me sleep.
His first prayer uttered in the past year was definitely not eloquent and not important to anyone but him, but he really
wanted his prayer answered. If heaven didn’t loathe him for his bitterness and turning his back on his Savior, he could fall
asleep and somehow get through tomorrow. Paired with his dream woman, the former love of his life. Who loved another man
and thought another man was ‘the best’. Getting through was about all he could hope for.
 Chapter
Nine

LIVVY COULD NOT FALL asleep and she didn’t think Eli was asleep either. He hadn’t even responded to her
last comment. Rude, and very unlike him. The question she probably needed to face was if the Eli lying next to her was a
completely different man than the man she’d fallen in love with.
It sure felt like he was. Losing part of his leg and whatever he’d gone through to have that happen could definitely have
damaged his spirit and changed his personality and outlook on life. Or maybe her family had been right all along and she hadn’t
known Eli deeply and thoroughly like she’d imagined she had.
She let out a heavy sigh and rolled over, trying to tug the covers with her. They didn’t budge. Eli was lying on top of them.
The very thought of him lying across the bed from her made her warm all over. She didn’t need a light on to picture how tough
and appealing he looked. If only he still loved her. Besides a few longing looks and him pretending to be her ‘man’ today, he
didn’t even seem to like her very much.
“Can you stop?” he muttered.
“Stop what?” she flung back at him.
“The cute little sighs, rolling all over the place, smelling so …” He stopped talking.
“Smelling so what?” she challenged, rolling to face him, though it was so dark she could barely make out his shape in the
bed. The only light was what filtered from the open steps and the dimly lit dock not far from the boat.
“Nothing,” he ground out. “Just go to sleep. Please.”
“’Just go to sleep’? As if you in the same bed doesn’t affect me at all?” She drew in a breath and heard him do the same.
The darkness helped her be more bold, and she flung out in the space between them, “Do you have any idea how hard this is on
me?”
“How hard this is on …” He let out a disgruntled sound and then nothing.
Livvy waited. Giving him a chance to talk, to explain why he was acting so off, why he’d disappeared a year ago, why he
apparently didn’t think this should be hard on her. She wanted to know his side. Desperately. And prayed she could share hers.
If they could just talk it out maybe they could heal together. If nothing else she’d have some closure. If there truly was no
chance for her and Eli to be together, maybe she could someday move on. Maybe she’d even give one of Jarom’s handsome and
accomplished friends a chance like he always begged her to do.
“Say something,” she hurled across the space at him.
Eli moved so quickly she could only gasp in surprise. His hand was over her mouth and his body pressed close to hers and
he smelled clean and musky and all Eli. She was stunned and lit up and hoping he’d take his hand off and replace it with his
lips. They would experience the reconnection kiss of the century and then they could talk through all the pain. Him launching
into her space and willingly touching her gave her such hope she wouldn’t be surprised if she floated off the bed.
“Shh,” he whispered into her ear. “Someone’s on the boat.”
What? She couldn’t say anything with his hand over her mouth but suddenly the warmth of him close turned to chills.
Someone was on the boat? The short guy from the dock at St. Croix?
The island was only a few hours away. She’d noticed the security at the gates to the yacht club when they’d taxied back
from town tonight. Someone would have to have a boat in here, or be a member to get in. Right?
“Stay quiet and don’t move,” Eli whispered.
Before she could protest, he released her and eased soundlessly to the end of the bed. She tried to breathe quietly, but her
breath was coming in fast pants. Praying she wouldn’t have a panic attack, she worked to calm her breathing. She counted in
for four slow counts and out for four slow counts.
She clutched the sheet and blanket in her hands, afraid if she moved she’d alert the intruder. Intruders? It sounded like more
than one pair of footsteps. Shoot. Could Eli fight off two or more men? He’d removed his prosthetic and she hadn’t heard him
put it back on. How would he fight on only one foot?
Some cans clattered down the stairs and it sounded like someone tripped and fell down a couple of stairs at the same time.
Livvy almost cried out but luckily caught herself. Whoever it was, they froze. Livvy didn’t dare breathe. Shouldn’t they be
screaming for help from the security guards? How far away were they?
When several beats passed, and the men must’ve assumed they hadn’t woken them, they quietly descended the stairs. She
heard a whoosh of air and then a man screamed out in anguish and bodies slammed into the narrow walkway of the cabin. Then
it was all grunts and thumps and cries of pain.
She wanted to help but she had no idea how. If she turned on the light would that give Eli an advantage or disadvantage?
Should she sneak up the stairs and run to the port authorities? Scream for someone to call the police? Try to hit one of the men
from behind and give Eli an advantage?
She eased to the end of the bed, determined to help Eli in the fight and scream for someone to call the police when suddenly
the sounds of fighting subsided to those of a mild struggle.
“Livvy?” Eli’s voice. “Illuminate the area, please.”
Livvy lifted a trembling hand to the wall and fumbled around until she found the light switch and flicked it on. She glanced
down at the floor and could only stare in surprise. Eli was on top of a small dog pile—he was pinning two men down. The one
on the bottom of the pile didn’t move, but the man directly underneath Eli was fighting and squirming. Eli had his arm around
his neck.
“Stop or I will choke the life-giving breath out of you,” Eli threatened.
The guy stopped. He obviously believed him.
Livvy would believe him. How had he beaten two men? In the dark? Without weapons? She couldn’t see the man on the
bottom clearly but she didn’t recognize the guy Eli was on top of.
“I’ll go get help,” she squeaked out, her breathing much too fast.
“No,” Eli’s voice was sharp. “I don’t want you alone out there. They could have a lookout or other friends around.”
A quiver of fear raced through her.
“Livvy,” his voice was soft. “Take some slow breaths for me. In … out. In … out.”
Livvy obeyed and her breathing calmed a little. At least she didn’t see dark spots in her vision.
“Can you find some rope so I can tie them up? Then we’ll get help coming.”
“Okay.” Livvy eased off the bed, careful not to step on anyone in the narrow walkway. She searched through the cupboards
and drawers and finally found a thin rope in one. She handed it over to Eli.
“Thanks,” he said. “Another length would be great.”
She kept looking and didn’t see any rope but she found some zipties. “What about these?”
She looked down. Eli had the conscious man on his stomach, his hands tied behind his back. Without his prosthetic on she
could see the smooth bump where his leg ended just below the knee.
He caught her gaze and stiffened, reaching out for the zipties. “Ideal. Appreciate it.”
He ziptied the unconscious man’s hands together and then ziptied the two of them together and then ziptied the two of them
to the stair railing.
Livvy watched, impressed.
Eli used his arms and good leg to propel himself to his feet. He edged to the bed and put on his prosthetic. Livvy couldn’t
stop staring. The muscles in his arms and his strong, capable hands were making her mouth dry and her pulse race. He’d
protected her like she always knew he would, he’d known when she was struggling and helped her to calm down with her
breathing. Now all she wanted was these men gone and Eli to hold her for a very long time.
He glanced up at her and she expected to see the tenderness and longing that had always sprung to Eli’s gaze when he
looked at her. Instead he acted as if she’d hurt him, as if she were looking at his prosthetic with contempt or something. He
knew what her charity was. He’d thanked her for his prosthetic. Was it not evident how she loved him, longed for him, and
thought he was even more of a hero and her tough ‘Big Hoss’ because of the loss of his lower leg?
“Let’s go,” he said, standing and muttering to himself. “Wish I had my M9.”
She thought that was a gun but wasn’t certain. “Were they not armed?” She pointed to the men far too close, the one guy
glaring up at her.
“Amazingly, they weren’t.” He pulled a knife out of his pocket. “This is all I got off of them. Stay close,” he warned.
“Okay.” She eased in right behind him and he led the way up the steps, guiding her over a nearly-invisible wire. Had he
done that?
He paused and glanced around their boat and the lighted pathway.
She tried to keep her breathing under control as she waited for him. She was close enough she could feel the tension
radiating off of him.
Finally, his muscles seemed to relax. He opened the glove box and pulled out the satellite phone Mercedes had told them
was in there.
“I should’ve come for that earlier,” she said, cursing herself for forgetting.
“I didn’t want you up here alone,” he said, dialing 911.
“Is that the universal number?”
 He nodded shortly. “Or 112.”
The operator must’ve picked up. He rapidly explained their situation, the two men had attacked, they needed police to the
yacht club, etc. Finally. “I’ll hold.”
He turned toward her and asked, “You all right?”
She nodded tremulously. She wasn’t. She could hardly believe they’d been targeted on their first night. “Was the guy that
you knocked out the smaller man from St. Croix?”
“No. I’ve never seen either of them.”
His frustration was evident. She eased closer to him, wanting to feel his strength, warmth, and protection.
He shifted and wrapped his left arm around her. Livvy leaned into him, appreciating his touch. It would all turn out fine. Eli
was here. What or who could possibly hurt her if Eli was here?
“Thank you, Big Hoss,” she said.
He smiled at the nickname.
She glanced up at him, wanting to give him a kiss of gratitude, gush about how strong and incredible he was, beg him to
never leave her again.
Their gazes met and held for a beautiful moment. She could feel him softening, see the yearning for her in his dark eyes.
Those deep-brown eyes were full of her and only her.
Then he ushered her head into his chest and kissed her on the forehead. She held in a cry of protest.
“It’ll be all peachy soon,” he murmured.
Livvy knew it would, but she yearned to lift her face and kiss him for a very long time.
The sound of running footsteps and sirens filled the night. She’d missed her chance. Would she get another one when they
were alone again?
 Chapter
Ten

ELI AND LIVVY spent a very frustrating six hours at the police station in St. Marteen. They treated both him and
Livvy with respect and consideration, but they wanted answers and so did he. After about twenty minutes they must’ve learned
his status as a former Captain of the Army Rangers, as was listed on his military profile. They started conferring with him, with
the utmost respect, while an officer watched over Livvy and other officers interrogated the two men.
Finally they put together the puzzle. Four beautiful and wealthy women had disappeared in the night from yacht clubs in the
nearby islands over the past week. Their husbands and boyfriends had been knocked out and tied up and never seen the
perpetrators. The police initially suspected a trafficking ring, and that worry was confirmed because two of the four women
now had profiles on the dark web and were receiving high bids.
There was no proof that the men on the dock at St. Croix had anything to do with it, but Eli suspected they’d called ahead.
The police hoped they could get the two Eli had overcome to spill even more, maybe be able to rescue the women who’d been
taken and prevent it from happening again. It was disturbing as they had no idea who was in on it. The police had upped
security at the yacht clubs. The problem tonight—the two men who attacked were security guards.
The memory of Cash telling him to be careful and that some suspicious things had happened during his friend’s week
tingled in Eli’s memory, but he didn’t think this was related to anything to do with the show.
He and Livvy finally made it back to the boat at two a.m. He was exhausted. Despite two police officers now patrolling the
docks, he didn’t know if he’d sleep.
Leading Livvy down into the boat, he wished there was a way to secure the cabin.
“Tomorrow night we’ll drop anchor in a quiet bay, and sleep far away from any disturbing yacht clubs.”
She smiled at that. “Good idea. Do you think you can rest?”
“We need to. At least get a few hours of beauty sleep so we can function tomorrow.” He’d been trained to go without sleep
and wasn’t worried about himself. He was worried he’d hold and kiss Livvy while his defenses were down and he was feeling
overprotective of her. She looked innocent and beautiful and worn out.
“The police are patrolling,” he said, trying to sound confident that nobody else would get inside the boat. “Let’s lay down.”
She nodded, slid out of her flip flops, and eased onto the bed. Instead of going to the far side like she had earlier she
climbed right into the middle. Ah, no. Holding her close after the attack had brought back so many incredible memories and
feelings of Livvy. ‘Thank you, Big Hoss’. How he loved her. Used to love her. Not any longer.
He shut off the lights, took off his prosthetic, tempted to leave it on but knowing he wouldn’t sleep well if he did. Then he
eased his body close to the wall.
Silence was between them then Livvy said in a sweet, all-Livvy tone, “Big Hoss … can you hold me?”
His heart took off and every nerve ending in his body started tingling. Could he hold her? Oh yeah, he could hold her. He
could show his angel exactly how her Big Hoss could hold her and kiss her and love her and …
“No,” he croaked out. No way he could hold her and keep his sanity, keep his distance, keep himself safe from falling for
her again. She’d broken him with her betrayal, right as he lost his leg, his career, his purpose in life. If he went back there and
let her shatter him again, he might never recover this time.
“No?” she squeaked out, as if such a word had never occurred to her.
“Livvy, please. You’re safe now. Just get some rest.”
“I … I can’t rest.”
He felt like the biggest jerk on the planet. It was self preservation that kept him from holding her, but it felt very selfish
right now.
“Could I just put my hand on you?” she asked, sweet as ever, even with his rejection ringing in the space between them.
Eli’s body tightened. No. He should definitely tell her no. He faced the wall, gritted his teeth, and stupidly said his second
prayer of the night, Please get me through this.
Prayer used to be as instinctive to him as breathing or loving Livvy. Not anymore, and look how his first prayer for him to
get some sleep early tonight had been answered, attacked by traffickers and hours spent in a police station instead of resting.
Heaven hadn’t heard from him for so long, no wonder he wasn’t getting any assistance.
Livvy eased close, without him ever answering in the affirmative. Once again prayer was no help at all. She put her hand
on his arm. He tensed and focused on his breathing. In and out. You’re in control. Nobody but you is the master of you.
Please help! he begged anybody who would listen.
Letting out a sweet sigh, Livvy whispered, “Thank you, Eli, for protecting me, for heroically winning against two men, for
letting me touch you.”
He tried to remind himself that Livvy didn’t know how to not be sweet. It didn’t mean anything. They weren’t a couple. Her
touch didn’t mean anything. They didn’t mean anything.
“Yep,” he muttered. “Goodnight.”
“Night.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, doubting he’d get any sleep. He could feel the warmth of her behind him, her soft fingers and
palm on his arm, the smell of gardenias. Shallow breaths. Don’t inhale too deeply.
Then Livvy did something that made it even worse. She ran her hand from his arm to his side. He yanked in a too-loud
breath. She kept going, running her hand along his abdomen and then resting it there, her arm draped across him. She somehow
sneaked even closer until she was pressed against his back, her warm breath making the skin on his neck tingle.
He was pinned into a corner by the most beautiful woman in existence and he couldn’t regulate his breathing or move. He
should gently move her away, scramble out of here and claim he needed a drink, the bathroom, to talk to the police, anything.
He didn’t move.
“Ah,” she murmured contentedly. “Goodnight, Big Hoss.”
His family and a lot of his buddies claimed he hadn’t known Livvy well enough and her betraying and cheating on him had
confirmed that. ‘Do you know how hard this is on me …’ Eli still couldn’t believe Livvy had uttered those words. He used to
think Livvy was the most unselfish angel he’d ever met, but that line was selfish and bratty. Eli getting injured and her cheating
on him with ‘the best guy’ Jarom, was so hard on her?
Was she an evil temptress like his little brother Jack loved to call her, not the angel Eli always took her for?
He had no idea. He should move away from her touch, but she had been through something traumatic tonight. He didn’t
blame her for being terrified at the reality that she’d been a target for well-organized traffickers. Though they’d caught two of
the men there were definitely more out there, men who were associated with the yacht clubs.
He rationalized that he’d stay put, for now, but slip to the other side of the bed after she fell asleep. That would be the kind
thing to do. No matter how rough things had ended for the two of them, they had a lot of great memories and he had loved her.
You still do.
He pushed that thought away. At the moment all he could do was keep breathing in and out. He found he could also fully
appreciate how incredible her pressed close felt. Against all that was smart, every good endorphin in his body was firing.
He’d told her that he couldn’t hold her, but apparently she could hold him.
And he let her.
The only thing he was proud of at the moment … He didn’t roll over, show her exactly how he could hold her, and kiss her
until dawn.
Small victory, but all he had.
 Chapter
Eleven

LIVVY STIRRED AND STRETCHED, looking around the large bed. She could hear the thrum of the motor
but she couldn’t feel … Eli. He’d slipped away from her. That was a bummer. Falling asleep pressed against his strong back,
her arm around his waist, her hand splayed on the ridged muscles of his abdomen … that was heavenly. She’d almost felt like
… they were together again.
They weren’t. The Eli she’d known and loved would’ve held her tight, murmured sweet but funny words to her, made
certain she felt safe.
Rolling over, she said a prayer of gratitude for Eli protecting her last night. She asked for insight to know why Eli had
ditched her, but she’d been asking for that for a year now. With Eli right here, her hopes had risen again. She would be
shattered after he left her again.
Straightening the bed was awkward but she did it. She slipped into the bathroom, a little unsteady with the boat moving and
more rocking than she remembered from yesterday, and hurried to use it, brushing her teeth, washing her face, shaking her hair
out of the ponytail, and putting on some lip gloss.
She said a prayer and then hurried out the door and up the stairs. The sunlight streamed down on her handsome hero
standing behind the wheel.
“Good morning,” Eli said, meeting her gaze then focusing out on the ocean.
“Morning.” She waited, hoping things were comfortable between them now. They had snuggled through the night, after all.
“You might want to grab something to eat quick, we’ll be to St. Kitts soon.” He pointed.
She turned and saw in awe they were approaching a large, green, mountainous island. It was like something out of a dream,
with the blue-green water surrounding it, white-sand beaches, and the verdant peaks, with wispy clouds around the mountain
tops.
“How did that happen? Weren’t we hours from St. Kitts?”
He chuckled. “I got up early and you are a sleepy head.”
She turned to look and his gaze was soft and kind on her.
“Eat breakfast for me … so we can go find my next Del Sol girlfriend.” He winked.
She surprised herself by laughing at that. The jealousy of that moment seemed farther away than a night, and she could
admit that he’d been softening up the girl to get the information with his ‘brains and charm’, not truly flirting with her.
“Thank you. Do you want me to grab you something?”
“I wolfed down sustenance earlier. Mighty kind of you to ask though.”
Livvy smiled, nodded, and hurried back down the steps. Things felt more comfortable between them but there was still a
solid barrier. Neither of them wanted to bring up why he’d ditched her. She was afraid of him stonewalling her, and if he
didn’t, she wanted to wait for the perfect moment to talk everything out.
Was he trying not to hurt her worse and drive the nail in the coffin of why they couldn’t be together, or did he not want to
admit that his amputated leg had somehow broken him and he couldn’t let her in his heart any longer? Eli was so good and
protective she’d always known he’d never gouge out her heart like he had without some very valid reason. How to get him to
share that reason?

They had a long day on the boat navigating from island to island, but they got the clues in St. Kitts, Antigua, and then St. Lucia.
The clues were:
Jurassic Park was filmed here. They both laughed at that one as many tropical islands claimed the movie had been filmed
there.
Baseball is the national sport.
 It has nine active volcanoes.
Eli was confident the answer was the Dominican Republic because of the baseball thing. She had no idea.
They’d gotten lunch from a street vendor in Antigua. They both felt pretty great about having four of the six clues. The sun
was dipping toward the horizon as they prepared to leave the yacht club in St. Lucia.
“Stay in one of our slips,” the nice man at the dock offered.
“No, thank you,” Eli and Livvy said at the same time. They both laughed.
“Is there a place we can drop anchor somewhere close to the island?” Eli asked, glancing at Livvy with a warm smirk.
“Maybe swim and have some privacy.”
“Ah.” The man gave them a toothy grin, only missing a couple of teeth. “I see. Lovebirds. Yes. Yes.”
Livvy blushed at that but was hopeful they could connect with some time alone. Yet they’d been alone on the boat for two
days now and hadn’t had more than shallow conversations.
The man gave Eli a map of the island with numerous options to drop anchor. They waved goodbye, sailed around the
island, and found a spot near a quiet cove. A couple sailboats bobbed in the water. They dropped anchor a fair distance away
from the other boats and the shoreline.
“Do you want to swim or eat first?”
“Ooh, let’s swim first. I feel all grungy and sticky.”
He nodded, his gaze sweeping over her. “You look far from grungy or sticky,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” was all she could think to say.
She changed into a swimsuit in the bathroom. A sporty pink striped two-piece this time. There were a lot of clothes for
them in the cupboards and she loved that they’d left her active clothes and pretty sundresses for when they walked around the
islands. When she hurried up to the deck, Eli was waiting near the back of the boat. Only wearing some board shorts.
She sucked in a breath, and stared, for far too long. The viewers of this show were going to die over him.
“Do you want to take a snap of me?” He spread his arms wide and smirked at her. “Pin it on your wall?”
“If only I had a phone,” she tried to tease back. Yet it hurt. She had lots of pictures of him, of them together. She’d had to
hide them so Natalie and Jarom didn’t find them and worry about her more than they already did. They were both going to
completely freak out when they heard about this week spent with Eli. If only she could make Natalie eat crow for doubting him,
doubting their love. Sadly it would be her admitting that he hadn’t just disappeared, he truly didn’t want her. That pulled her
smile away.
Eli seemed to notice, and as was becoming their pattern from the past two days, they didn’t talk about it. So much was
bottled inside of her she was going to burst. After he brilliantly protected her last night then refused to hold her, but ultimately
let her snuggle up to him, she’d thought they broke through some walls. Apparently she’d been wrong.
Edging to the back patio, Eli started to remove his prostheses. Livvy sat on the lower back deck and slid her legs into the
turquoise water. It was crystal clear and she could see down to the sandy bottom. Brightly colored fish swam by.
“It’s so beautiful and so warm,” she said in surprise.
Eli chuckled. “Have you never been to the Caribbean?”
“I flew to the Bahamas with Jarom in January, but it wasn’t warm like this.”
“It’s March and we’re a lot farther south,” Eli said, his voice tight and quieter.
She glanced at him. His muscles were all tight and bulging. He set the prosthetic aside, pushed off, and dove into the water.
Surfacing he threw his head back and whooped, water flinging off his hair and his face sparkling with droplets.
“Yes! The water is ideal.”
She started to slide in but he stopped her.
“No, no, no. You have to show off your unique diving ability.”
“Oh, I do?” She grinned but happily complied. Standing, she spread her arms wide. He stared at her unabashedly as he
tread water. Spinning slowly, she teased, “Eat your heart out.”
“Don’t worry, I am,” he murmured.
That made her flush with warmth. She held her hands up high, pushed off, and kicked up, performing a perfect back dive.
She surfaced and spun to face him, blinking water out of her eyes, weaving her hands in the water and kicking her feet. It
was easy to stay afloat in the ocean. She’d forgotten that.
“Impressive.” He grinned and then laid back to float in the water.
Livvy followed his example. It felt incredible to be weightless, relaxed in the eighty-degree water, and staring up at the
blue sky as the sun sank lower on the horizon. She stretched her hands out wide, and her fingers brushed his leg. She startled
and lifted her head up and then she realized she hadn’t brushed his thigh, but the nub below his knee.
He treaded water right next to her and she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you.”
“No worries.” His smile was tight. “The way that thing flops around trying to do the work of a leg and a foot, you’re lucky
you didn’t get a bruise.”
Eli was always joking but she could see he was sensitive about his loss. Nobody could blame him.
 “It didn’t bother me.” She looked him over. “I snuggled up to you last night and it didn’t bother me then either.”
He studied her, as if checking if she was sincere. Then he shook his head. “I’m going to swim for a bit and then shower off.
If you grow tired of swimming in perfection there’s a fresh-water shower on the back of the boat or you can use that shower
almost big enough for a toddler in the bathroom.” He smiled, dove under the water, and swam off.
Livvy was disappointed. Could they ever talk about the issues between them, his accident, how he was dealing with the
loss of a limb? It wasn’t as if she were insensitive or unfamiliar with what he might be going through. She’d started her charity
because of it, because of him.
She started swimming as well. She wasn’t a super proficient swimmer, but in this salty water, she at least found it easy to
stay afloat. As the sun dipped out of sight, she climbed onto the back of the boat and found the outdoor shower. She rinsed off
and then decided she wanted to retrieve some of the bath products from the bathroom. Squeezing the excess water out of her
hair she wrapped up in a large towel and padded down to the bathroom. She grabbed the conditioner, shampoo, body wash,
and found a women’s razor. Perfect.
She climbed back up the stairs and to the back of the boat. Eli was still swimming but he was close to the boat. It was
barely light enough to see with the sun gone. She messed around and found some light switches. One lit the water underneath
the back of the boat. Cool. She was mesmerized by different shapes, lengths, and patterns of fish swimming by. She turned on
another light that lit up the back patio.
Squeezing shampoo into her palm she scrubbed her hair and then rinsed it out with the warm outdoor shower. She piled
conditioner into her long hair and left it to absorb. She rubbed body wash all over and then started shaving.
Eli’s muscular body swam through the lights. It was cool to see how he swam missing part of his leg. She hated that he’d
gone through the physical and emotional pain of such an injury, but it didn’t detract from the incredible picture that made up Eli
for her. He was ultra-fit and ultra-appealing.
He surfaced and stared at her. “What kind of tomfoolery is this?” he asked as she slowly swiped the razor up her leg.
“Shaving.” She shrugged. “I figured you didn’t want a hairy cavewoman on your boat.” She rinsed off the razor and then
took another long swipe.
“I cannot watch this,” he muttered.
“Pardon me?” She stared at him. She was offending him somehow?
“No, pardon me.” He sunk into the water, touched the bottom maybe ten or twelve feet below the surface, and then pushed
off and swam out into the ever-darkening ocean.
Livvy didn’t really like him being gone, but the other boats were far enough away she could barely hear the occupants’
voices carrying across the calm water.
She finished shaving and then rinsed off everything from her hair to her toes. Wrapping in the towel again, she watched Eli
swim. Back and forth. Back and forth.
He finally swam to the back of the boat and asked, “Beauty parlor over?”
She smiled. “Yes, sir. You’re welcome to use the products.”
He lifted his eyebrows as if that were comical.
“Sorry I offended you shaving my legs.”
“You didn’t offend me,” he said in a quiet tone. He pulled himself up onto the back deck and his smile returned. “I’m just
jealous I don’t have a full leg to shave.”
“As if you’d shave your legs.” She smiled. She liked that he didn’t think he had to shave his arms and legs like some men
did. Jarom always had.
Eli lifted his knee, displaying the missing limb. “Watch out. The sharks are biting today.”
She laughed softly. To the outside observer he seemed to be adjusting well but she could tell his pain was deep.
“Why don’t you go get changed while I shower off quick and we’ll figure out some dinner?”
“Sounds good.” She stood and walked through the boat and down into the cabin, more certain than ever that her shower or
shaving had upset him despite his teasing.
Putting chemicals into the ocean? He liked hairy woman? She couldn’t riddle it out. But then very little made sense with Eli
anymore.
Sadness made her chest feel tight. Everything with Eli used to be easy, fun, and perfect.
 Chapter
Twelve

ONCE AGAIN, Eli had almost had the panic attack Livvy experienced when she initially saw him yesterday. It was
hard enough not staring at her beautiful shape in the pink swimming suit but then he surfaced and she was shaving her legs? Was
there anything as alluring as her smooth legs? Not in his mind.
He hurried to shower off and dry off. He’d have to wait to put his prosthetic back on until he changed and was completely
dry. It was tempting to not put it back on tonight but he didn’t want to hop around and have her look at him like he was a freak.
Last night, wrapped around him, she’d claimed she could feel his stump and it didn’t bother her. Thinking about it, she had
been pressed against him … everywhere.
Not going there.
But he did leave the prosthetic off.
They worked together in the small galley to heat up and pull out the fixings for chicken and steak fajitas. The kitchen and
cupboards had a lot of food. Neither of them said much as they prepared the food and luckily he could lean against or hold on
to the counter so he didn’t look like too much of a hopping goof.
Sitting to eat, she said sweetly, “Would you like to pray?”
“No thank you,” he tried to say just as sweetly. None of his recent prayers were working, just as they hadn’t worked a year
ago when everything imploded.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t call him out about losing his faith. “I’ll be happy to pray.” She folded her arms and
started praying. He obstinately didn’t fold his arms or close his eyes. He studied her. She looked simply angelic as she prayed
in gratitude for the two of them being brought back together; that made him startle and stiffen—they weren’t back together. Then
she prayed in more gratitude, she was full of the emotion apparently, for heaven’s and Eli’s protection last night. Eli’s neck got
hot. He’d protected her, not heaven. Then she blessed the food and asked that they could complete the challenge and be able to
work things out between them.
Eli did not echo her amen. He didn’t even blink as he stared at her. She had a determination and defiance in her eyes that
he’d rarely seen there. If her prayer meant anything, she wanted them to be together. What about Jarom? He didn’t want to ask,
didn’t want to know. She’d always acted like Jarom was her ‘best boy buddy’, ‘lifelong friend’ and he’d stupidly believed her.
Until those pictures and the fateful phone call. He couldn’t trust that she wouldn’t lie to him again. It was a confusing paradigm
—the most angelic woman in the world, a two-faced, cheating liar.
He focused on assembling a fajita. The silence between them was thick. He groped for something to say to ease the tension
and to keep her from saying more about them being ‘together’. That’d be a negative twenty degree day in the Caribbean.
“What will you do with the money for your charity?” he finally thought to ask.
She eyed him, knowing he was trying to distract her. Thankfully it worked. She started talking about all the requests they
could fulfill, some expansion ideas ‘Jarom’ had, how they could hire help for Jarom and hire someone to do fundraising full
time. Jarom’s family had donated generously over the past two years, but she couldn’t ask any more of them.
Everything but Jarom’s involvement was intriguing and impressive. They talked through dinner cleanup. She asked
tentatively where he lived. He told her about Cash’s gym and all the youth and vets he worked with there. He admitted he was
working on a master’s degree in psychology and family therapy, hoping to help others more. He didn’t admit he was trying to
figure himself out as well, keep a handle on his anger and become settled and at peace like he used to be, but without heavenly
help this time.
She thankfully didn’t ask why he hadn’t gone home to Minnesota for more than a few days at a time and why he’d never
returned to her in Colorado. Did she not know that he knew about her cheating? That would make the most sense. Was she still
with Jarom as a couple? If not, could Eli forgive her? He didn’t know. She’d knocked him really low, at the worst time of his
life, and he didn’t know how he’d trust her again.
He shook it off. They stood in the cabin, him leaning back against the counter, her far too close for comfort. “We’d better
get some rest,” he said.
“Where do we head first in the morning?”
 “Barbados. If tomorrow goes as well as today, we might have all the clues and be able to finish by Thursday.”
“That’d be …” she swallowed and said, “great.”
“For sure. Excuse me.” He hopped into the bathroom, hating that she saw him without his leg, hopping like a silly bunny,
but he needed to get away from her before he begged her to know why she turned to Jarom, how she could betray him, and if
they could somehow build trust again.
He stared at himself in the mirror. They couldn’t. He constantly reminded himself her angelic face had to be a mask. The
problem was he still believed she was an angel. His Angel.
The more immediate problem … What if she tried to snuggle up to him to sleep again?
Please help me, he begged heaven.
Of course the heavens were silent, and predictably he got frustrated at himself that he’d weakly turned to a higher power
who obviously didn’t care about him any longer.
Hanging his head, he wished his parents or brothers or Cash or Bennett or Quaid was here. He needed somebody to talk to
about Livvy or he feared he’d explode and talk to her.
 Chapter
Thirteen

LIVVY WASN’T sure what was going on. Despite Eli acting off and stiff with her at times, they’d had a great
conversation at dinner. She’d appreciated his genuine interest in her charity and was impressed he was helping youth and other
vets.
Now as she climbed onto the bed, she wondered what would happen. Would he let her snuggle up to him again? There
wasn’t really a reason since she wasn’t afraid tonight and she didn’t think they were in any danger.
He eased onto the bed, not glancing at her, and turned off the light. Her own breathing quickened. He slid up to the pillows
but she could sense he was as far away from her as he could get. Dang. No progress then. She knelt on the mattress and said her
prayers, needing help and insight with Eli. The million-dollar television show seemed to be going well. She’d all but forgotten
about the cameras and Eli was doing great on navigating the boat and helping her retrieve the clues. The money would help so
many vets like Eli.
If only things were good between her and Eli again. She doubted they ever would be. She wanted to win the money badly
but had been mostly focused on Eli the past two days. If she didn’t win and Eli never softened and talked to her … what a
nightmare this entire week would turn out to be.
Stretching out on the bed, she could hear his breathing. It was slow and even but she did not believe for a second he was
asleep.
“Nice faking asleep,” she said in what she hoped was a teasing, light tone.
“I am an expert at sleeping deception,” he said.
She laughed.
Slow, uneasy seconds ticked by. She was about ready to burst and she finally got out, “Are we ever going to talk about it?”
“About what?”
“‘About what’?” She repeated. “Oh, Eli!” She turned to face him on the bed, even though she couldn’t see him. “I know it’s
painful, but you said you were broken …”
Please let him open up. Please.
Eli did not respond. His breathing did quicken.
She waited. For a lot of beats. Finally she whispered, “Please Eli. I hate that you were broken, but can you just explain
why you never returned my calls, texts, or emails. Why your family and friends wouldn’t tell me where you were. Why you
never came for me.”
He sucked in a breath and the silence was stony. After several excruciating moments he finally spoke.
“Broken doesn’t begin to explain,” his voice was a harsh whisper, “and digging into my pain isn’t going to accomplish or
change anything.”
She had no response to that. She didn’t want to hurt him. Some answers and closure would be miraculous for her but
‘broken doesn’t begin to explain’. Ah, Eli. Her Big Hoss was broken. No way could she dig into his pain and hurt him more.
Time ticked by and she prayed she could somehow help him, but she had no idea how. Rolling toward the wall, she squeezed
her eyes shut. Hot tears slid out.
It was becoming even more painfully obvious they’d never be together again, but the fact that he wouldn’t even talk to her
about what broke him so completely dug deep. She’d assumed it was all related to losing his leg, and it might be, but what if it
was something about that mission—death, loss of friends, torture, having to harm innocents … She had no idea and she hurt for
him.
If she couldn’t get Eli to open up on this boat alone together, she would never know the truth. She’d have to figure out how
to live with that, because she couldn’t stand the thought of him hurting any more. He was deeply broken, in pain. Her heart
broke and more tears slid out.
She vowed right then and there to be happy and patient and only talk to him if he chose to open up. The man she loved had
suffered deeply, and still was. The only hope she had was lots of prayer and heaven somehow healing this strong and
incredible soul.
 She cried harder. Eli hadn’t even bowed his head when she’d prayed earlier. If he refused to turn to Jesus any longer, was
there any hope for his healing?

Livvy woke to the boat rocking, violently, and the motor already churning. She scrambled out of bed, banging into the wall and
almost losing her footing. She didn’t even stop at the bathroom before rushing up the stairs. They rolled over a wave and she
clung to the banister to stay on her feet.
The canopy over the captain and co-pilot’s area kept out some of the rain, but it was slanting sideways. Her stomach turned
over. The waves were slapping against the side of the boat or lifting the front up and then dipping it down. They looked
massive to her and they weren’t predictable. Everything around her, including her own racing heart felt out of control.
Would she and Eli be okay?
“You all right?” Eli asked, clinging to the wheel and peering out into the stormy morning. He stood in front of his chair as
handsome, tough, and collected as ever.
“Fine.” Her voice was shaky. She clung to the captain’s chair, wanting to be closer to him and the solid safety he
represented. She kept her legs spread wide so she didn’t fall. The boat crested a wave and slid down it. The grayish blue sky
and water and the white-capped waves looked like something off an Alaskan fishing show, not the calm Caribbean she’d been
enjoying.
“When did the storm come on?”
He shook his head. “It was cloudy at five when I woke up and took off. I thought with the navigation system I could get
another head start on our day.” He shrugged but it was anything but a nonchalant move. The muscles in his upper body were
rigid. “A light rain started about five-thirty, and the real storm rolled in a little after six.”
She edged even close to him, looking around at choppy seas. She’d never done well with motion, and her stomach pitched
with each wave. The waves weren’t uniform. Sometimes the boat would motor up and down a large swell, but then a wave
would slam into the side of the boat and they’d tilt. She didn’t cry out but clung tight, certain they would roll over. They surged
up a wave and she did cry out as the front of the boat slapped hard against the water. She would’ve fallen but Eli grasped her
arm and steadied her.
“I think I lost a dental filling on that one,” he joked.
Livvy thought she smiled. She appreciated his humor and composure, but it felt like they were in mortal danger. She was
unsteady and in danger of falling inside the boat. Peering out at the huge waves churning white around them she knew if the boat
crashed they’d drown in a salty grave.
She prayed for safety and tried to reassure herself that this boat was expensive and probably had every safety feature
known to man. Storms had to be part of a boat’s life. Maybe it was just like being in an airplane during horrible turbulence—
terrifying but most likely not bringing down the plane.
“Are we okay to get to Barbados?” she asked, her voice quivering.
“I think so,” he said, not looking at her as he focused on the motoring into the waves.
“You think so?” Her voice pitched up in fear. They were in mortal danger—gulping in sea water, not being able to get a
breath, dying before Eli ever loved her again.
“The navigation keeps getting interrupted with the storm,” he said evenly. “I’m using the compass and map but the winds
are most likely pushing me off course to the west.” He looked away from the storm to meet her gaze. “We’ll be okay. I’ve been
in contact with Mercedes and Shawn.” He pointed to the cup holder that had the satellite phone and the compass and map. “The
storm wasn’t supposed to be more than a squall, but …” He gestured at the rocking ocean as they motored up and then slammed
down on the other side of a wave again.
Livvy bit her cheek to keep from shouting out and showing him how terrified she was.
“They’re tracking us through the satellite phone and the boat’s tracking device, and helping me make course corrections.
When they aren’t interrupted by the storm,” he murmured. “I’ll get us to Barbados and we’ll get a slip for the boat and a nice
dry hotel suite, a real shower and some banjan fish cakes and plantains for us.” He gave her a partial grin. “No worries.”
She clung to the captain’s chair so tightly her fingers turned white. Even still, she was taken by surprise and almost lost her
footing when they hit another massive wave that threw the front of the boat up and then slammed the large nose down. Her teeth
and vertebrae all seemed to clench.
Eli steadied her. “It’s okay. Go get dressed and get yourself some breakfast. No worries but be careful and hold on to
something. All right?”
He met her gaze and his deep-brown eyes reassured and strengthened her.
“All right,” she agreed. It was a tall order not to worry, but she’d try and she’d definitely hold on to something. She’d also
pray harder. “Thank you, Big Hoss. Once again you’re protecting me, taking care of me.” She doubted she could eat anything,
but she’d try to settle her stomach with some dry crackers.
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