past weeks had been allayed. The otherâ¦
The other sheâd take care of tonight.
Her stomach clenching, Haley glanced down at the square-cut diamond on her left hand. The enormity of what she planned to do just a few hours from now started nausea churning in her stomach.
Damn Frank Del Brio!
The speedboatâs throaty roar brought her head up. Squinting, she watched as Luke brought the powerful machine skimming toward the dock.With consummate skill, he throttled back mere yards from the pier, reversed thrust on the dual engines and floated the craft up to the pilings. The man sprawled beside Luke grinned up at her as she caught their line.
âHey, sweet thing.â
âHey, Tyler.â
The former all-conference wide receiver skimmed an appreciative glance from her shoulders, left bare by the red-checked halter top tied just below her full breasts, to the long legs showing beneath her red linen shorts.
âYouâre looking good tonight.â
âThanks.â
Luke appeared to share his opinion. Haleyâs skin prickled as his gaze made a slow pass from her neck to her knees. But when he addressed her, his voice held the same carelessly affectionate tone he always used with his best buddyâs little sister.
âWant to go for a spin?â
âI wish I could,â she said with real longing. The water looked so dark and green and cool, and Luke so sleek and powerful in his wet swimming trunks. Wrenching her gaze from his broad chest and flat belly, Haley searched the back of the boat for her brother.
âWhereâs Ricky?â
âWe dropped him off at the marina about fifteenminutes ago. He said he had to pick up Melissa and take her to the party your folks are throwing for us.â
âWell, shoot!â
âIs that a problem?â
âNo, not really. Melissa called the house a half hour ago, asking where he was. Like a good sister, I drove all the way around the lake to fetch him. Now Iâll have to drive all the way back.â
She glanced across the wide expanse of water. The lights the Mercados had strung in the backyard of their lakeside cottage in preparation for the barbecue winked like lightning bugs in the gathering dusk. Those pinpricks of light punched a fist-size hole in Haleyâs heart.
Isadora Mercado had thrown herself into arranging this party. It looked to be one of the biggest events of the year. A joyous celebration. A gathering of all Rickyâs and Lukeâs friends beneath a star-filled Texas sky.
Only Isadoraâs daughterâand Judge Carl Bridgesâknew it would be the last night Haley Mercado would spend with her family. The last hours sheâd share with her friends.
The last moments sheâd have with Luke.
Her right hand closed over her left with bruising force. The edges of the diamond gouged into theundersides of her fingers. Frank Del Brio was to blameâfor everything.
âWe were just planning to head across the lake to the party ourselves,â Luke said, cutting into her chaotic thoughts. âWhy donât you come with us? Itâll save you the long drive.â
âNo, I⦠I canât.â
Haley would go out on these dark waters soon enough. When she did, she wouldnât come back in.
âSure you can,â Spence Harrison countered from his seat behind Lukeâs. âHaul your butt back here, Tyler, and make room for the lady.â
She shook her head. âI need my car.â
Her sporty little vehicle represented an integral element of the plan she and Judge Bridges had worked out. Haley would slip away from the party once it was in full swing. Drive to a secluded cove on this very lake. Leave the coverup to her bathing suit on the front seat. Go for a late-night swim. Disappear forever.
âYou can retrieve the car tomorrow,â sandy-haired Flynt Carson put in. âBetter climb in, kid, or youâll miss the festivities.â
Haleyâs glance