Heaving a sigh, Winter donned her sunglasses to shield her eyes from the early morning sunlight and wondered whether her life could get any better than this.

Saltwater scented the air, waves lapped at the shore, and the smell of grilled fish made her smile as she rolled over on the towel stretched out beneath her.

With this kind of weather, she was seriously starting to rethink her move to New York. She used to find inspiration in the gloom, but the city was too busy, and there was nothing quite like the sunny weather she was currently enjoying.

Or rather, they were enjoying.

Vacation looked good on Răzvan.

From the shade of her oversized umbrella—she was far too pale to tan—she watched Răzvan walking back toward her, his ever-present scowl still on his face even as he carried two drinks in his big hands, though they couldn’t help taking second glance once he’d passed.

She definitely understood why.

After taking half an hour to convince him he couldn’t wear military boots and jeans to the beach, she’d finally talked him into wearing the gift she’d bought him for their trip—bright blue swim shorts with even brighter flamingos printed all over them.

Anyone else might have looked ridiculous in them, but of course, Răzvan managed to pull them off.

“You should totally wear these all the time,” she said as he dropped down beside her with far more grace than anyone his size should have managed, giving her the chance to run her fingertips over the scrunched waistband of his shorts. “If you can’t scare people to death, you could seduce them.”

He dropped down beside her on the sand. —I’m only trying to seduce you.—

“Oh please, you’ve already done that, or did you forget last night?”

She’d always told herself she’d never do anal … but Răzvan had a way of talking her into things.

Once he was within reach, she traced her fingers through his damp hair, the strands tickling the palms of her hands.

After weeks of letting the thick, dark strands grow out, his hair was falling in his eyes when he let it. He still stiffened if anyone’s hand went near his head, but gradually, he was starting to let the hold the orphanage had over him go.

His smile grew a little wider. —I’ll never forget last night.—

Before she could respond, though, a distinct buzzing ended their moment.

“You’re not answering that,” she warned him even as he pulled out his phone. “We’re on vacation.”

But even as she spoke, she knew they didn’t have much of a choice. They both had to answer to someone.

Resigning herself to this fact, she arched a brow and asked, “Nix?”

He shook his head. —Kingmaker.—

Months had passed since her last job with the Den, and even longer since she’d last seen the man who manipulated lives for a living.

It really shouldn’t have surprised her that he had Răzvan’s number, especially when he could have just reached her directly, but there was a method to his madness.

And if he was going this route, there was a reason behind it.

Winter barely had the phone to her ear before he started speaking. “I trust Barbados is treating you well.”

“Can’t really complain,” she hedged. “Sun, surf, and quiet.”

“Three days from now, I expect you back here in New York. There’s work to be done.”

“Three days?”

“Is that a problem?”

The Kingmaker might have been unnecessarily attractive and had a tendency not to drive her as crazy as he did the mercenaries, but he could be terrifying if he didn’t get what he wanted.

“Aye, aye captain. I’ll be there.”

“And bring the Romanians. I may have use of them.”

He hung up without another word, leaving her staring down at the device in her hand wondering just what the hell he was up to.

—Everything okay?—

“I don’t know.”

Not yet.

But knowing The Kingmaker, things definitely weren’t going to be okay.

“We have three days to enjoy this before we have to report for duty,” she said as she tossed her phone in the sand. “We should make the most of it.”

Răzvan studied her for a long while before he was leaning across the sand and kissing the breath out of her.

—Then let’s make the most of it.—

A burst of laughter left her as he scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder, carrying her down to the water.

She couldn’t have asked for anyone who fit her better than he did.

This was it—the good life.