Free Amazon Awakening by Caridad Piñeiro

didn’t need to turn to know who it was. As each footfall brought him closer, his already familiar scent was carried to her on the breeze. The connection with him created desire and something even more dangerous—a sense of peace and fulfillment difficult to ignore.
    Could it be love already? she wondered.
    Rey stopped before reaching her and said, “I’m sorry. What happened… You have to believe it had nothing to do with the legacy.”
    Paola wanted to believe that. She wanted to think that it had to do with them and only them.
    â€œI wouldn’t blame you for leaving. You have no connection to this place,” he continued.
    She laughed harshly and without looking back at him said, “How I wish that were true.” It had only been a day, but it had been enough for this place to sink its roots into her. For him to establish himself in her heart. Leaving would not be an easy thing to do.
    The wood creaked as he stood beside her. She glanced up at him and met his gaze, filled with concern and guilt.
    â€œMay I?” he asked, gesturing to a spot on the dock next to where she sat.
    She answered with a shrug, and he plopped down, mimicking her stance. Legs crossed. His powerful arms wrapped around his knees as he rocked back and forth for a moment, staring out at the river. Then he faced her again.
    â€œYou don’t need to worry about your grandmother. I will care for her.”
    As he had been caring for her for so many years, Paola realized. As he had been caring for those in the sacred space and on the plantation. Alone for so long.
    â€œWhy do you stay here?” she asked, wanting to understand him. Needing to know more about him. About what moved him.
    With a hunch of his shoulders, he said, “Duty. Love. I believe in protecting this majestic place while improving the lives of everyone here.”
    â€œIs that what Lopes Industries does? What you oversee?” Although she knew something about it from the Internet searches she had done, she suspected now that the real reason behind their environmental concerns was protection of the sacred space.
    He nodded. “We guard the rain forest and the sacred space, but we also use what we can to better the lives of those in the area. New medicines from local plants. Fish farming along the banks of the river.” He motioned upriver to the markers. “Far from the sacred space we grow stands of Ipe wood for lumber to be exported.”
    Pride filled his tone at what they had accomplished—what he had implemented as the head of her family’s business—but she recognized that his work was a burden as well. A burden he had been primarily shouldering for some time.
    She leaned toward him, searching out his features. “What about what you want? What you need for yourself?”
    He dipped his head down, avoiding her gaze, but she insisted, bringing her face close so there was no way that he could avoid her. “What will make you happy, Rey?”
    Slowly, he faced her and said one word.
    â€œYou.”
    She sucked in a breath at his admission and her heart hitched a beat. There was no denying the truth of his statement. But she was still battling her anger at his failure to tell her the truth about what was expected of her.
    â€œI’m not sure I can trust you,” she admitted.
    â€œI understand. I should have told you more, but there was so much you needed to know. So much to show you,” Rey said earnestly and swept his arm out to gesture to everything around them. He had helped to build this place, but he realized none of it would matter if she left. He needed her to remain here—and not just because she was the heir to the legacy. He needed her to stay because he might have fallen in love with her.
    â€œGive me another chance. Give this place a chance,” he urged her, reaching out and cupping her cheek.
    She bit her bottom lip, worrying it with her teeth. Her gaze dipped for a