Conquered in Cancun: Cancun Series, #2

CHAPTER 1

Lieutenant Junior Grade Caroline Hodges sat alone at the shiny ebony table sipping a frozen margarita she really didn’t want. Watching her three best friends practically dry hump the handsome men they danced with at the Mayan Nites Club was not her idea of a good time.

Once again, she was living up to her call sign, Mouse. She’d sat quietly, never making eye contact, when the prowling pack had approached their table with the confident swagger American military men perfect. After a lifetime of dodging men like them, she wasn’t surprised when they’d asked her friends to dance, and then the rest moved on to the table of sorority girls.

It was going to be a long week.

Caroline and her fellow Navy pilots—roommates for the past nine months aboard the USS Carl Vinson—had been granted fourteen days Post Operational Movement leave. The other three women had convinced her to join them in Cancun for some fun in the sun and warm water. It hadn’t taken much arm twisting. She’d have gone anywhere to get away from San Diego…and Robert.

She needed every hour of those two weeks to think. And wallow in self-pity. She had literally fucked up her career and now had to decide what she was going to do about it.

Hey, Mouse.

The deep, sexy voice jolted Caroline out of her depressing thoughts. Her gaze started at the deck shoes and traveled up tanned runner’s calves to muscular thighs covered in khaki shorts riding low on lean hips. The light blue golf shirt bore the logo of a black helicopter and the word Jurikan.

What the hell is that?

The attire was far too casual for the chic Cancun club, but his stance was somewhere between doesn’t-give-a-shit and doesn’t-matter. She reached his clean-shaven chin, full lips…lips that had kissed every inch of her body.

A shiver ran through her. The thought of all the orgasms she’d had with this man made every nerve ending leap to life and begin to tingle.

Her heart skipped a beat. The tingles increased to tangles of tension that shot south at Mach 1 and pooled between her legs.

She wanted to look away. Hell, she wanted to run away. But a lifetime of enforced manners as an Army officer’s daughter pushed her gaze to meet blue eyes the same shade as his shirt. They were the color of the sky at thirty thousand feet, far above the clouds, a color she looked at every time she flew the F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to her.

He stole her breath, just as he’d done the first time they’d met six years ago in flight school.

Hello, ‘Cool Hand’ Luke. Caroline hoped her smile didn’t show the pain she hid deep inside. He was another reminder of her bad choices in men and a reinforcement that she needed the next two weeks to reevaluate her life.

Just Luke these days. Without invitation, he sat next to her, ignoring the other six chairs. He pulled so close she could feel his body heat, and smell the spicy aftershave and clean-showered scent she remembered all too well. His sandy blond hair was longer than regulations allowed by several inches.

What the hell?

She surmised he’d just arrived at the club and hadn’t had time to work up a sweat on the dance floor, yet. That would change the minute her girlfriends returned. He liked dancing, and the man had moves. They’d fawn all over him, and he’d be hip bumping to the bass beat in less than a minute. He’d been the most popular man in flight school after his near miss with death.

See Minnie, Laser, and Dex hooked up with my friends. Luke nodded to the crowded dance floor where Sarah Minnie Me Laughlin was wrapped around a tall, dark, and far-too-good-looking man.

From Caroline’s vantage point, she couldn’t see the others.

Why aren’t you out there? he prodded.

She shrugged. She was too embarrassed to admit that no one had asked her, and it wasn’t in her personality to ask a guy to dance. He’d have expectations she could never fulfill. She’d never been a one-night stand and wasn’t about to start at thirty years old.

Who are they? She felt better that he knew them. Luke was a good man deep down—he’d been a trusted friend at one time—and men like him didn’t associate with those who were disreputable.

They were SEALs who moved here when they got out of the Navy. They captain boats at Bad Ass Catamarans for my friend, Jack Girard, another SEAL. Doubt if you know them. We were all based in Norfolk. Are you still stationed on the West Coast? Upon completing basic flight school, Luke had been selected to fly the SH-60R helicopters and assigned to the Night Hawks squadron which often supported SEAL Teams. Caroline had been chosen for fighter jets and her advanced training sent to the opposite side of the United States.

"Yes. Just got back from a year on the Carl Vinson."

Three months of workup then nine months at sea, actually, but she didn’t need to tell him. He knew the routine. The past year had been exactly what she’d worked for her entire Navy career. She’d shot missiles at designated targets with amazing accuracy, dodged surface-to-air missiles, and landed smoothly on the flight deck every time without a hitch, this tour. She’d been part of the war in the Middle East and was proud of her service.

It was her personal life that embarrassed her.

So you’re still in? He sounded interested and conversational, the way he’d been before he became the hero of flight school and center of every female’s attention.

Before he’d dumped her. No. Dumped was the wrong word. That would insinuate they’d actually spoken. He’d left her—and their friends-with-benefits relationship—without a single word. He’d simply ignored her, like everyone else.

If she was truthful with herself, it had been his friendship she’d missed the most during the final six months of flight school, although the sex had been fantastic.

Now, as they sat thigh to thigh, Luke was talking casually, like two old friends catching up. In a way, that was all they were. Years ago, they had agreed that the sex was a stress reliever from the intensity of flight school and meant nothing more than a good time and mutual enjoyment. They weren’t in a relationship. But, for Caroline, their friendship had been important. She could play nice and be polite.

Yeah, I’m still in the Navy. For now.

Yes. That’s all she’d say to him. He didn’t need to know the details. She glanced at his long hair. Did you get out?

Yes. There was a flash in his eyes before he looked away. Was that regret? Anger? Pain? They had started flight school in the same class, and he shouldn’t be out yet unless…something had happened, and he’d been discharged early.

She studied him now. Luke Thorstad was such a good-looking man. That smooth, strong jaw enhanced the Swedish planes of his face, which looked a little older now. Definitely harder.

He smiled, and her heartbeat nearly matched the woofer pounding to the dance music. He’d read her mind, or her face, and explained, Medical discharge a year ago. If it had been pain before, it was relief now that showed on that stunningly handsome face.

He continued, My friend Jack invited me to vacation here while I got my head together. Next thing I knew, I’d bought a helicopter and was ferrying executives and celebrities from the airport to hotels. I also take cruise ship guests on aerial tours of the Mayan Riviera.

Luke signaled to a nearby waitress, who only looked at him, smiled warmly, and nodded.

So you like it? Caroline leaned toward him, interested in his answer.

Love it.

Luke was the first pilot she’d met who had gotten out and was happy about his civilian job. Most she’d spoken with missed the adrenaline rush of supersonic speed. But, then again, Luke had been a helicopter pilot in the Navy. On the other hand, he’d been the one to drop into hot zones with live fire and pick up SEALs, so there was a lot of excitement in his flight experiences, too.

What happened to force you out? Her voice seemed loud even to her and carried over the other tables closely surrounding them.

The music had stopped.

He stared at her as if she’d asked him why he’d had his dog put down.

A small herd surrounded their table.

Oh, my God. Is that really you, Cool Hand? Lisa Dex Dexter gushed. Luke stood, and she ran into his arms for a drunken hug.

My turn. Sarah ripped Lisa from his loose hug and jumped into her place. How the hell have you been?

Chloe Laser Masterson bounced beside him, awaiting her turn. It’s so good to see you, she professed when he released Sarah and enveloped her.

A pang of resentment tore through Caroline. Her once-lover had greeted her with only words.

The men did that hand-slap, fist-bump thing all men seemed to know and greeted each other with confident smiles before they took seats. Her thigh burned when Luke’s brushed it as he slid back into his chair. As if by magic, a fresh round of drinks appeared, and the waitress took away Caroline’s melted margarita, along with the empty glasses.

Great. Just what I didn’t want.

Another drink to nurse for hours while her friends blatantly flirted with the hunks of manhood they’d picked up. She’d gone there to get away from all things Navy. So what had happened? Her friends found SEALs. Okay, they were former SEALs, but given the condition of their fantastic bodies, they hadn’t been out long. Either that or they’d decided to continue the rigorous exercise required to maintain their physiques.

Good thing they’d rented a four-bedroom condominium. She hoped the walls were well insulated so she didn’t have to listen to grunting and moaning for hours. Maybe she’d just take a walk on the beach in front of their condo complex or sleep in one of the many palapas above the tide line. That was a good idea. They had queen-sized beds under thatched roofs that would keep out water if it happened to rain. She’d sleep in the sun most of the day tomorrow anyway.

Hey, where’d you go, Mouse? Luke’s breath was warm on her ear, and she instinctively jerked away.

Her gaze flew to his.

Jumpy. You okay? His tone was one of concern.

I’m fine, she snapped.

Trapped in his gaze, his stare seemed to delve into her soul, probing all those dark places she often hid. Six years ago, when they’d been friends, she had started to let him into her head. Then he’d crawled into her bed…and her heart. That last part wasn’t supposed to happen since they’d agreed the sex was only a de-stressor. He had been her first mistake in Navy life, but not the last. Robert had more than filled that space.

Bastards! All men are fucking bastards—emphasis on fucking.

She blinked and turned her attention to Sarah, who was regaling the table with one of her many stories.

No one had briefed us on the proper dress for Dubai, so before I made it to the end of the gangway in my shorts and flip flops…

Caroline. Demand radiated from Luke’s voice.

All her attention rocketed to him. What?

Do you want to get out of here? He gave her that small smile that made most women drop their panties and beg for his continued attention.

What the hell? After less than a hundred words exchanged, he expects me to take him to our condo and fuck his lights out? Why? For old times’ sake? Not only no, but hell no.

To talk. Luke must have read her mind. He’d been able to do that once upon a time. Just to talk. It’s noisy in here.

Could she believe him? She certainly didn’t trust him. With the ease of practice, she pasted on what she hoped was a convincing smile. I’m here with my friends, and we’re all having fun.

He studied her face as if her internal thoughts were written in the makeup she’d carefully applied.

She held the trained smile, clenching her teeth. The racing thoughts wouldn’t slow long enough for her to decide what she wanted.

Sex. Yes, sex had always been good with Luke. Would she go there now?

No! He’d left her without a word.

Damn, he looked so good. She liked the longer hair. It looked soft. She wanted to run her fingers through it from his scalp to where it ended just above his broad shoulders. Had they been that big before? She pictured Luke’s naked shoulders holding his body above her as he slid into her to the hilt. She’d loved that feeling.

Luke grinned and grabbed her hand. Let’s dance. He pulled her out of her thoughts and to her feet. Running blocker to the center of the crammed floor, Luke pulled Caroline behind him. He flicked a glance to the DJ, and the music changed to a slow song.

Well, damn. He must come here often. Everyone seems to know him.

Luke pulled Caroline into his arms and pressed their