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  JJ sighed. “It’s complicated, but …”

  “Complicated relationships are the best kind,” Parker filled in for him. That was another Jack Kelly saying.

  “That’s right.” JJ was quiet for a couple of seconds. “Love you, bro.”

  “Love you, too.” Parker pressed end and stared at his phone. Unlike for some people, it wasn’t weird to him to say he loved his brother. They always said it. Their mother had trained them to say “love you” whenever they left or got off the phone.

  Looking around, he thought about the Surf and Soup. He would find a way. He grinned, thinking of another thing his dad always said: He was a Kelly. Luck of the Irish. But if there was no luck, they made the luck.

  Staring at his phone, he sorted through the contacts. He’d been searching online for different organizations who might fund the Surf and Soup. He’d found the number for the senator’s office, the one who was hosting the Christmas ball.

  Jose Sanchez was running for governor. Parker had been trying to think of ways to pitch supporting the Surf and Soup to Senator Sanchez—soon to be Governor Sanchez. At least, according to Chuck.

  Sometimes Chuck did have good ideas. Maybe Parker could talk to the senator if he was at the ball. He texted Chuck. Plan on me for the Christmas ball. Hot women.

  Chuck texted back. Yeah, boy!

  After Parker stuffed his phone back into the waterproof bag, he pulled on his wet suit and dove back into the ocean. For the next three hours, he surfed away his anxiety. The ocean was no respecter of persons, and Parker liked that.

  Afterward, he found himself staring up at the sky, just floating on his board. The waves had calmed. He had to get Surf and Soup funded and have everything in place before Christmas.

  His brain was like a broken record. Surf and Soup. Surf and Soup. Surf and Soup.

  Sitting up, he realized he had ended up down by the busy pier; a restaurant called Rubies capped the line of shops there.

  And then he saw her. Ari was wearing the same head scarf he’d seen at his dad’s funeral.

  His pulse raced. Parker paddled in quickly, hoping to avoid startling her, or whoever she was. Once he reached the beach, he noticed that she was running down the dock.

  Abandoning the careful approach, he took off after her, running as fast as he could and finally yelling out, “Hey!”

  She turned, running down the sidewalk next to the beach, but as she went, a guy leapt out of nowhere and grabbed her.

  “Ouch!” she yelled.

  The FBI part of Parker went into action. Luckily, the guy who grabbed her met resistance; the woman kicked him in the groin. The guy let her go and said something that was probably unfriendly.

  Parker drew close.

  The guy sprinted away down the street toward the shops and disappeared in the swarms of people who were out for dinner.

  The scarf had fallen off, and two-toned blond hair tumbled out. The woman stared at him, her blue eyes wide and afraid.

  “Ari?” he whispered.

  The woman frowned. “What?”

  The woman was blond, not a redhead. Now that he could get a better look, Parker noted that her nose wasn’t the same. It couldn’t be her. Yet her eyes were familiar. One glance and he got lost in them. He backed up. “Nothing. Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she said, her gaze still locked on his. She was taller than Ari had been, too—not that he’d be a good judge of relative heights after thirteen years. This couldn’t be her.

  Inwardly, he cursed himself for being so obsessed. “We should call the cops.” He pointed in the direction the guy had disappeared, and reached for his phone.

  “No,” she said, too quickly. “I have to go.” She started to walk away.

  “You can’t let thugs get away with stuff like that,” he called after her.

  She frowned and turned back. “I work in the senator’s office, and there’s been so much scandal in there, I don’t want to draw attention to myself.”

  This didn’t feel right. “You work in the senator’s office?”

  She nodded, giving him a once over that clearly said she admired his physique.

  It had been a long time since he’d been drawn to a woman. Her pull was strong, and he tried to think. Wasn’t it strangely convenient that she worked in the senator’s office?

  Casually, Parker unzipped the top of his wet suit, which had started to feel like it was choking him. It didn’t breathe, and the neoprene was tight against his skin. “I actually want to meet the senator.” Now that they were communicating, he wondered if this really could be Ari. If he ignored the nose, she had the same look that he remembered.

  “I really do appreciate you coming.” She turned to leave. “I can’t help you with that.”

  “Wait.” After all this time, he was not going to let her go without at least checking. He took her arm and tugged her toward him. Before she could react, he moved her hair off of her neck and looked.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, yanking away from him. A few people stopped to watch them.

  The onlookers were giving him dirty looks. “Why do you have a Band-Aid right there on your neck?”

  “I burned myself with the curling iron,” she said, looking at him as if he were deranged. She rushed away. “I have to go.”

  Parker watched her leave. In a normal crisis, even a crisis of national security, he could handle himself. Right now, he felt strange. Out of whack. He cursed and rushed down the beach, picking up his board. He walked quickly back to his place. After he showered and got something to eat, he stared at his laptop and fought the urge to look for her.

  No, he told himself. This addiction had to stop. He moved toward the bedroom and ended up taking a sleeping pill. He didn’t like taking pills, but he knew himself and knew he wouldn’t sleep without being forced to.

  He had to keep a clear head and not go down the rabbit hole of Arianna Claire’s disappearance. He had to focus on getting funding for his Surf and Soup. That’s all. He got in bed and stared up at the ceiling, thinking of her blond hair. She’d looked tough when the guy had come after her, and yet she’d looked vulnerable when she’d asked Parker not to call the police.

  The senator’s office? Something was off.

  He closed his eyes, trying to push away their last night together. But it wouldn’t be pushed aside. Finally, he just relaxed into it. Her. The dream… And all the things he couldn’t forget.

  Chapter 3

  Arianna, known to everyone as Sabrina Cope, walked into the senator’s office the next morning. By all counts, she was the picture-perfect personal assistant.

  When she’d moved here six months ago, she’d been careful. At first, she’d slipped in as a staffer; then she’d been moved up quickly to the personal staff of the senator. Two months ago, the senator had handpicked her to be his personal assistant. Of course, it was partly because he thought she was beautiful. She’d planned it that way. She’d studied everything about him.

  It was tough to hold the man off when he began asking her out, but he’d been out of town a lot during his campaign run for governor. She’d used his busyness to remain only semi-available. Unfortunately, for the past couple of days, he’d been making more advances. Fortunately, tonight all of this would be over.

  It was the Christmas ball. Carlos Fuentes was the special guest for tonight’s ball. She would meet him. And Kill him. Then … it didn’t matter what happened.

  Ari settled her things at her desk, the one right outside the double doors leading to the senator’s large office suite. She moved to his door and knocked, balancing the two boutique coffees she’d bought for them.

  “Come in.”

  She walked in and smiled sweetly, just as she’d been smiling for the last few months. “Your coffee, sir.”

  “Thank you.” He gestured for her to sit across from him. “Ah, this is great.” He took a sip and closed his eyes for a moment, then put the coffee down and gave her his winning PR smile. “How are you,
Sabrina?”

  She knew all his smiles. She knew everything about the senator, from the women he entertained to the organizations he was affiliated with. He would be going to the ball alone, unless she could convince him otherwise. “Just wanted to report that the conference in Santa Monica is all set. The JW Marriot is prepped for all forty guests and their spouses.”

  Jose nodded, then stood and picked up her hand. “It will be a huge boost to my campaign.” He flashed a smile. “And having Carlos Fuentes as a donor won’t hurt either.”

  Just hearing the man’s name made her want to hurl her coffee to the floor, but she gave him a bland smile. “No, it won’t.”

  The senator kissed the back of her hand. “I know you don’t want to, but I want you to reconsider coming with me to Santa Monica. I’ll be busy during the day, but I have the nights.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  No man had ever disgusted her so much. Well, strike that; Carlos Fuentes was worse. She’d met him as a boy. Their families had been friends. But, the last time she’d seen him she’d been fifteen. She focused on the man in front of her, letting out a light laugh and playing the shy bimbo. “Jose, you know I’m not that kind of woman.”

  The senator leaned into her, gently brushing her chin with his fingers.

  Her gut reaction was to knee the man in the groin, but she held back.

  His eyes moved from her low neckline to her face, then he pressed his lips to hers. “Sabrina, we need to make time for each other.”

  She let him kiss her, because this was part of her plan. Jose Sanchez, soon to be governor of California, liked women who were into him, but who were also a challenge. “We do?”

  “Mi amor, I want you.”

  She giggled and pretended to enjoy his advances. The man reeked of bad cologne.

  “I know you don’t want to share my room at the conference in Santa Monica. What if I get you your own room next to mine? What do you say?”

  She didn’t want to blow her whole plan, so she simply agreed. Why not? It wouldn’t matter anyway. “Okay.”

  “Great.” He squeezed her tightly. “And you can go to the spa or relax by the pool or go down to the pier. There’s shops, and at night they run the Ferris wheel.”

  It did sound nice. Too bad that wasn’t in her cards. “Perfect.”

  “You’re planning on coming to the ball tonight with me, correct?”

  She took off the lid on her coffee and sniffed it slowly, closing her eyes and licking her lips. “I don’t know.”

  When she flashed her eyes open, she saw him staring at her in that intimate way—the way a man looks at a woman when he wants her. He leaned forward. “Always playing hard to get.”

  Jose liked the chase. After the girl gave in, he got disinterested and left his conquest. Just ask his three ex-wives.

  She cocked an eyebrow and leaned back, letting his question hang in the air. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

  “Why don’t you take the day and go shopping?” He pulled his wallet out and handed her a card. “On me. And why don’t you go to the spa, too? Get a massage, a facial. Your nails. Anything you want.”

  She’d been expecting this. His previous personal assistant had told her after a couple of drinks at a bar one night. This was what the senator did … in the beginning.

  Ari kept her face coy. “I couldn’t.” She hesitated, playing the game, too.

  He put his hand on her back. “I insist. Take today, pamper yourself, buy a dress, shoes, anything, and then please be my date tonight.”

  Strategically, she leaned into him and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you. Would you mind if I take Karen with me?”

  He let out a light laugh. “Of course. She deserves a day, too. On me.”

  “Thank you.” She moved away from him.

  “Sabrina.” He reached for her hand.

  She moved back and lightly touched his face. “Later, senator. Later.”

  His grin broadened and he let her go. “Tonight.”

  Pfft. Over her dead body. Actually, over Carlos’s dead body. Ari matched his leering smile with one she’d practiced in the mirror for hours. “Indeed.” She winked at him, sashayed out of the office, and closed the door behind her; only then did she press her back against it, blowing out a long breath.

  Her mind flashed to Parker. He’d caught her spying on him. Pain filled her chest. He’d whispered her name.

  Ari.

  A name few people even knew.

  She sucked in a long breath. It’d been so hard to keep it together last night. Her eyes fluttered and she thought of the boy she’d left behind thirteen years ago.

  Had it been that long?

  They’d been seventeen and so in love.

  Forcing herself to gather her things, she rushed out of the office and thought of the picture Parker’s brother, JJ, had posted six months ago in front of the Surf and Soup. The picture of all the Kelly Brothers with their father, Jack.

  It was crazy Parker had ended up here, in the same place she was. If she believed in fate or destiny she might call it that.

  But she’d long ago quit believing in anything.

  Except pain. Death. Anger.

  She pushed it all way and focused on tonight. On getting what she finally wanted—a shot at Carlos Fuentes. She texted Karen and asked her if she could join her for a ladies’ day. She liked Karen. Plus, Karen had mentioned she had a new “boyfriend” she wanted to introduce her to tonight.

  Karen texted back. I’m coming now. Eek!

  Ari laughed and got in the car. She looked in the rearview mirror and stared at her face, which she’d had redesigned five years ago. Reflexively, she put her hand to her neck, relieved she’d remembered to put another bandage over it this morning.

  He’d almost found her out.

  Nervous angst wove through her. She’d loved Parker Kelly once. The way he’d come to her assistance last night had been so heroic. Classic Parker. It’d been impossible not to spy on him when she’d realized he was in Oceanside, too. She blinked, pushing away the memories of young love.

  Unfortunately, those were memories she’d never been able to push away. After all of the witness protection moves, all of the people she’d met, all of the people she’d become … she hadn’t been able to forget him. Nor could she forget the person she’d been with him.

  But it was too late. The past was long gone.

  Tonight, she would kill Carlos. Her father’s death would finally be avenged. Nothing else mattered.

  Chapter 4

  “This monkey suit’s a pain in the butt,” Parker said to Chuck, as the security guard used wands to scan each person walking into the senator’s Christmas ball.

  “Leave it be,” Chuck whispered. “Plus, you’re used to monkey suits.” He winked at him. “You’re coming back to the Bureau. I can feel it.”

  Parker wasn’t in the mood for his friend’s teasing. Ever since last night with the woman on the beach, he’d felt off. Now, the feeling was growing. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  They went up the stairs and entered a huge ballroom, which was packed with hundreds of guests in formal clothes. Everything sparkled, from the lights to the Christmas décor. The music was cheery and festive. People drifted about mindlessly, some dancing, some seating themselves at tables.

  Chuck scanned the room. “All will be revealed soon enough, but right now I want you to meet Karen.”

  This took Parker by surprise. “You have a date?”

  “I do. Met her out dancing. How do you think I scored these tickets for us?” Chuck’s eyes widened as he spotted a woman in a red dress.

  Parker followed his gaze, noting that the woman was petite. Probably five-foot five, a buck twenty, he estimated.

  She rushed toward them on three-inch heels. Her face lit up. “Chuck!”

  “Looks like she likes you,” Parker murmured.

  A genuine smile reached Chuck’s lips, and he put his hand to his chest. “Dude, I’m charming.�
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  Parker grunted. “Right, if that’s what you want to call it.”

  Chuck elbowed him, making Parker laugh.

  The woman seized Chuck in a hug. “Chuck, you came.”

  Unusually, Chuck appeared to be nervous, and his arms closed around the woman in a strained, mechanical fashion. Parker made a note to tease Chuck about it later.

  They pulled away from each other, and Chuck made introductions. “Parker, Karen Jones. Karen, Parker Kelly.”

  Karen shook Parker’s hand and grinned at him. “Chuck told me you’re looking for additional funding for Surf and Soup. I love it. I think it should be funded. The senator will be coming in soon, and I’ll introduce you.” She flashed another smile at Chuck. “He’s dating my friend, who’s his personal assistant, so don’t worry. You’ll get to meet him for sure.”

  Parker’s mind went to the woman who might be Ari. Could she be the woman from the other night? She said she worked in the senator’s office. No, Parker chided himself. No rabbit hole tonight. “Really? Who is that?”

  “Sabrina Cope. Isn’t that a great name? Like, she should be an actress. And oh my, she’s gorgeous too. Just … star-like.”

  Chuck laughed and leaned in, kissing her cheek. “Not as gorgeous as you.”

  She giggled. “Sorry, yes, she’s amazing. But you know …” She looked from Chuck to Parker.

  Chuck gave him a pointed look, then focused on kissing Karen.

  Somehow, Parker only grimaced a little. This could be a long night.

  Chuck pulled Karen out to the dance floor. “Sweetheart, let’s go dance.” He gave Parker’s shoulder a light punch. “See you in a few.”

  Parker shook his head as Chuck held the woman close and danced with her. He went to the bar and asked for soda water. As he sipped, his thoughts went to the woman from the other night on the dock. She was dating her boss? That was bad form. He knew a lot of relationships started that way, but he didn’t like it. Never had.

  His eyes searched the ballroom, and he noted that private security had clearly been hired. They stood around the room in tuxedos, hovering by all the entrances, almost but not quite blending in. Occasionally, one of them put their hand to their ear in a telltale gesture. Twelve, he counted. This was a game he played whenever he went to a public event. If he needed to get out of here quickly, he would probably take the door at his six o’clock, because it only had one security guard.