Heather couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so relaxed and completely at peace. It was a feeling that was so completely foreign to her. Even when she’d been on the Cassiopeia with Cass and Archer, something still held her back. She tilted her head back a little farther, letting the wind grab the strands of her hair and whip them around her head.

She had no idea where Casa del Sol was, which meant she was totally at the mercy of Ash and wherever he wanted to take her. That probably should have worried her to some degree. Getting into a boat with a total stranger who, besides being extremely sexy, she knew nothing about. As far as she could tell, the man didn’t even own a shirt. Not that she was complaining about that detail.

Yes, she should probably be a little more concerned about her safety, but she wasn’t. Not even a little bit.

If it was up to her, she would ride in that boat for the rest of her life if it meant feeling the way she did at that moment.

She turned around, wanting to somehow tell him that, or share her happiness with him. All Heather could manage was a smile, but it said more than any of the words she could have come up with.

The skin next to his eyes crinkled when he smiled. It was the look of a man who’d seen things and knew how to appreciate the good. For an instant, he looked as if he was going to say something, but then the boat turned sharply. Heather let out a yelp as she bobbled on her perch and turned around again.

The boat was headed toward the shore and a thick growth of mangroves. They were going full speed. She was no expert on boats, but she didn’t have to be to know that if they hit the trees, it would not be good.

She whipped around to tell him to slow down, but he held up one finger to silence her, moments before the boat slowed, and he pointed over her shoulder.

“Look.”

She did.

Directly in front of them was a tunnel through the trees. Ash navigated expertly through the opening and the boat fit perfectly. Once inside the tunnel, Heather tipped her head back and gazed up at the branches that rose up to interweave together like arms creating a perfect canopy over their heads.

She couldn’t see them, but birds sang all around them as they drifted through the tunnel.

“This is…I just…”

“It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

“I don’t feel like that’s enough.” Her voice came out on a breath as a brilliant, blue butterfly floated past. “Ash, it’s…” She turned, the words evaporating on her tongue.

“I know.”

She didn’t want to wish away a second of the magical little tunnel, but it wasn’t nearly as long as she wanted it to be. The boat emerged from the other side of the tunnel and without saying another word, Ash sped up, whisking them away from the mangrove tunnel and toward Casa del Sol.

It only took them another few minutes of weaving through the mangrove maze before a long dock came into view. Soon, Heather could see the grass-thatched huts on the shore, with a few more peeking through the trees farther up the hill.

“Welcome to Casa del Sol,” Ash said behind her.

* * *

“Welcome, welcome.”

The woman running down the dock to greet them must have been in her sixties, but dressed in a flowing skirt with an impressive variety of shell necklaces draped over her chest and the bikini top that was only a slightly darker shade than her deeply tanned skin, she defied her age.

“I was getting worried, Ash.” She scolded him as he pulled alongside the dock and handed her a rope. “It’s getting late.”

“You worry too much.” He hopped out of the boat and gave the woman a big hug. “If you didn’t have such a big order this time, it wouldn’t have taken nearly as long.”

“And I suppose you’re going to tell me you weren’t enjoying the entertainment in town?”

Heather bristled at her choice of words, which was ridiculous considering she’d only just met Ash. She grabbed her backpack and stood as Ash extended a hand down to her.

“You must be Heather.” Before she could even fully set foot on the dock, the woman wrapped her in a surprisingly strong hug. She smelled like a mixture of earth and sea, with a faint undertone of sweet jasmine. Heather immediately felt at home in her embrace, like a familiar auntie. “I’m so happy to have you here, love. I’m Sherri.” She squeezed one more time.

Heather pulled back to look into warm, brown eyes that she could tell at once were full of a lifetime of experience. “I’m so happy to be here.” Surprise tears pricked at the back of her throat. She swallowed hard to keep them away.

“Why don’t we leave Ash here to unload and I’ll show you around Casa del Sol?” She wrapped a thin arm around Heather’s shoulders and guided her down the dock, directly into the first thatched building.

“This is the heart of Casa del Sol. We call it grande casa. The big house.” She swelled up in pride while she spoke, and with good reason as far as Heather could tell. The place was beautiful. It was rustic, and perfect for the jungle landscape, but at the same time, the decadent finishings made the large room feel cozy and welcoming.

“All our guests gather here for meals, drinks and…well, just for everything.” Sherri walked over to a large polished plank of wood that hung from the ceiling. “Our hanging table.” She gave it a push so it swung gently. “It truly is the heart of the place. I hope you feel at home here.”

There was no way she couldn’t. Heather took a minute to walk through the space, letting her fingers trail along the rail that opened out to the ocean directly beneath the building. With the shutters open, it was only a three-sided building, which allowed the trade winds to flow through, keeping it cool. At the back of the room was a large bar that looked well stocked. The other side of the room held a mixture of padded benches, cozy-looking chairs, and hammocks strung up from the open beam ceiling. Paintings and handicrafts hung on the walls, and as the sun set further, small LED lights that looked almost like stars came on to give the space an even more magical feel.

Heather turned and almost stumbled over a black lump on the floor. “Oh, I didn’t see you there.”

“That’s Thor.”

“Thor?”

“He’s my guard dog.”

Heather raised an eyebrow. The dog certainly didn’t look like he was guarding anyone from anything. He hardly raised his massive head from his paws when Heather tripped over him.

“I know he doesn’t look like much, but you should see him handle a snake.”

“Snakes?”

“Hasn’t been one inside in years.” Sherri pointed to Thor. “Thanks to my boy there.”

“Well, I guess that makes me feel a little better.” Heather stepped around the dog and went over to the bar, where Sherri was mixing up a pitcher of something that looked delicious.

“Do you like mojitos?” Before Heather could answer, she laughed, a deep throaty sound. “Of course you do.” Sherri shook her head. “Everyone likes mojitos. But mine are the best. I make them with mint right out of my garden. There simply isn’t anything better. Is there, Ash?”

Heather whirled around. She hadn’t heard him come in. His arms were loaded down with supplies. A Panamanian man followed behind with a similar load.

“Nothing better, Sher. I’ll be ready for one in about thirty seconds.” He winked in her direction before he walked past the bar into the kitchen area.

“Leave all that,” Sherri called after him. “Luis will take care of it, won’t you, Luis?” The other man nodded. “Of course he will,” she added in Heather’s direction. “That’s what I pay him the big bucks for.”

Heather laughed and accepted the drink Sherri held out for her. She’d only been there for a few minutes, hadn’t even seen where she’d be staying, and already she knew she wouldn’t want to leave. She walked toward the rail and gazed out at the sun setting over the turquoise water.

“It’s pretty special, isn’t it?” Sherri said beside her.

“It really is.”

“And the sunset is pretty nice, too.” The older woman laughed. They clinked their glasses together and drank deeply before she put her glass down with a start. “I can’t believe I didn’t even show you your room. I swear, I don’t know where my mind is these days. I can’t remember anything unless I write it down. You’d think I’d remember to show you, though.” She shook her head, the lines on her forehead deep with concern.

“It’s fine, Sherri.” She put her glass next to the other and squeezed the woman’s hand. “I’m not in any kind of hurry. I think I’d be happy to stay right here all night.” She hoped she sounded reassuring. Forgetting small details was never a reason for concern. At least, they weren’t for Heather.

“It’s not okay, honey. I should have taken you up straight away. A girl like you needs a place to stay, to call home. A place you can rest and recover.” Her hands fluttered around her face until Heather took them in her own and squeezed gently.

“Honestly. I’m not in any rush. But if you’re ready now, why don’t you take me up?”

It took a second, but the woman’s face cleared; the panic and worry evaporated as quickly as it had appeared. “Yes,” she said, her voice once more soft and serene. “That’s a good idea. I don’t know why I let myself get worked up about these things.”

Heather picked up her backpack and followed Sherri out the back door that led to the garden, passing the kitchen and Ash, who reclined against the doorjamb as he watched them.

* * *

“What was that all about?”

Ash reclined in his chair, his feet resting on the swinging table. He’d helped himself to a mojito and was on his second glass but this time, Sherri returned to grande casa without Heather.

She retrieved the glasses that had been left on the rail, refreshed her own with ice and joined him at the table. “She’s nice,” she said, ignoring his question. “I think Heather will be good for Casa del Sol. Maybe as much as it will be good for her.”

She drank deeply, draining half her glass. Ash watched her closely. Something was not quite right with Sherri. He knew she’d tell him in her own time. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to wait. Particularly after bringing her a boat full of medical supplies. If there was something wrong, he wanted—no, he needed—to know. Sherri was the only thing remotely close to a family he had left, and if there was anything wrong, he’d make sure he fixed it.

“Sherri.” He looked at her pointedly, and waited.

“I think she has quite a story.” She looked straight ahead into the dark night beyond. “I don’t know what it is. But I’m sure she has one.”

He let out a long sigh and shook his head with a bit of a smile. He wasn’t going to get a thing out of Sherri if she wasn’t ready to talk. “Why do you think Heather has a story?” he asked instead. Besides, he had a feeling that talking about Heather might be one of his new favorite pastimes. There was no denying that something about the woman captivated him in a way that was unlike anything he’d felt in years. And it wasn’t just the sexiness that all but radiated off her. Although that didn’t hurt.

Next to him, Sherri clucked her tongue. “Honey, all women have a story. Some are longer than others, most have many twists and turns, and sadly, not enough of them have happy endings. But everyone has one.”

“That’s a sad thought.” Ash thought about it for a moment before he drained his drink. “Men have stories, too.” He sat up and winked at Sherri, making her laugh.

“True enough, honey. True enough. And your story will have a happy ending.”

He tipped his head, but didn’t ask for her to elaborate. He never did. Not because he didn’t want a happy ending, but more because he didn’t believe her. Instead, he answered the way he always did when she tried to get serious with him. “Fairy tales aren’t real, Sherri. But I’m all about a happy ending.” He jumped up from his chair and wiggled his eyebrows, narrowly dodging her hand as it shot out to give him a smack.

He took the empty glass she held out instead and headed to the bar to freshen up their drinks. “Where is everyone, anyway? You don’t have any guests tonight?”

“One couple. They’re very…romantic.” She made a kissy face and laughed again. It was one of Ash’s favorite sounds. Before coming to Casa del Sol, he’d never met someone who laughed with such authenticity before. It was a true testament of the joy in her heart. She really was a one-of-a-kind woman. “They wanted to be left alone tonight to swim under the stars and revel in their love. I packed them snacks but I’m sure they’ll be here first thing in the morning, having worked up quite an appetite.”

Ash laughed and ignored the twinge of jealousy in his chest. He’d had that once. A love so on fire they didn’t believe the flames would ever be doused.

They had.

“And where’s Heather? Don’t tell me you left her out in the jungle, all alone?”

He teased, but there was a note of concern, too. Sherri’s place had bungalows both set over the water and set back a bit in the trees. It was secluded enough to discourage thieves, but it wasn’t humans that were the cause for the concern. It was the jungle and the creatures that could potentially be lurking in the darkness.

“You worry too much.” Sherri waved her hand, dismissing his concern. “Casa del Sol is perfectly safe. Besides, I left Thor with her. She’s getting settled in. She promised to join us when she was unpacked.”

“What cabin did you put her in?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Casa de esperanza. She’s fine, Ash.”

There was no doubt that she was fine. There were various snakes and critters back in the jungle, but they hadn’t actually had one at Casa del Sol in years. Thor and the handful of other dogs that were usually hanging around took good care of that. But that didn’t mean he shouldn’t be a gentleman and go see whether she needed a hand finding her way back to grande casa in the dark. After all, that would be the considerate thing to do. The fact that she might be grateful enough to show her appreciation in any variety of ways didn’t have anything to do with his decision-making process.

Not totally.

“I should go see if she needs any help.”

“She’s fine, Ash.”

“It can be tricky to navigate down the garden path if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

“She’s fine, Ash.”

“It’s pretty dark out there tonight. I wouldn’t want her getting lost.”

“Take a flashlight.”

He dropped a kiss on the top of Sherri’s head and grabbed a lantern from behind the bar before he headed out the back door. Sherri’s rich laughter followed him out into the darkness.