Free Caribbean Casanova by Jenna Bayley-Burke Page A

sense of romance. “Sweetie, is he going to be playing this meet-the-parents game with you? You’re moving so fast with this.”
    “I know Johannes’s father. Sebastian’s my godfather.”
    Holly couldn’t help but laugh. “You two are really twisting branches on your family tree.”
    “You sound like Harm.”
    “I think he’s just concerned about his brother.” Guilt bit at the back of her throat, sharp as regret. Sass would see her friendship with Harm as a betrayal, and the kisses would only twist the knife.
    “I think he’s just an ass. Maybe when he sees I’m not leaving Anguilla, he’ll go back to Holland.”
    Her skin prickled with annoyance. “Didn’t you just say you want your mom and Joe to move past their old impressions? You ought to try it yourself. Harm has been nothing but helpful. Anything I ask for, he makes it happen.”
    “That’s just so he can get his hands on the models. Just wait, now that they have a day off he’ll put a revolving door on his bedroom.”
    Holly sat up straight and grabbed the phone. “That’s not fair. The two of you don’t get along because you’re stuck in a ridiculous adolescent pattern. He’s been more than generous and done nothing but helped. I think when you get back, you might want to try saying thank you and make an effort to get along with him. He’s Joe’s brother. He’s not going anywhere.”
    “It’s not just me. Everyone thinks he’s a womanizing ass.”
    “You mean Janny? Remember, she has all the Prinsens painted with the same brush, and you obviously disagree on one of them. You really need to give Harm a chance.” Heaviness settled in the center of her chest. She needed to take her own advice.
    “Ugh, you sound like Johannes.”
    “Well, if he’s smart enough to love you, he might be smart about other things too.”
    “Fine. But if I’m going to have an open mind about Harm, I want you to consider getting some shots in the designs. At least promise you’ll try something on tomorrow.”
    She closed her eyes, the ridiculous image of getting stuck in one of the crocheted creations coming to mind. She gazed at the trunk and shook her head. “I’ll try something on.”
    “And get the shot. We can use it on your profile.”
    Not in a million years. “Good luck with your detour.”
    “They both love me, so they’ll get over their issues. But don’t drop your guard with Harm. He might just be being nice so you won’t suspect he’s planning something sordid. Though with the shoot over, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.”
    Except everything Harm did mattered. Very much.

Chapter Thirteen
    Holly peered up the darkened staircase and gripped the carved mahogany railing, trepidation rising with each step. Natural light flooded the seaward elevation of Harm’s house from the windowed façade, but the inland side was dark and shadowed, much like the man himself.
    He’d never invited her upstairs, always meeting her in the open and airy great room. She’d thought to call out from below, but curiosity led her into Harm’s private lair. If he came downstairs, she’d never know what he kept hidden.
    The landing launched a long hallway of closed black doors and gallery-framed black and white photographs leading to a soft pool of light shining from beyond the far corner. Family photographs, she guessed examining each one as she went by. Most were shots of three boys, and she could spot Harm in his big-brother stance, arms always around the younger two. The boys grew up as she passed, sometimes flanked by a man with Harm’s face and Joe’s blond hair and a beautiful raven-haired woman with dark smiling eyes.
    A gorgeous, happy family that seemed to sadden as she went on. The parents disappeared from the pictures, Harm seemed to wither away as his brothers filled out. In a group shot of a dozen people she recognized a knobby-kneed Saskia and Dutch, both smiling and happy. Her blood chilled, barely recognizing a gaunt, sickly