Stolen Chances by Elisabeth Naughton Read Free Book Online

paramedics.”

    M aren sat on the porch of her casita in the early evening light, nursing a beer while trying to focus on the pages in front of her. She’d won the Darcy Burke novel in an online contest. If she couldn’t have a happily ever after of her own, at least she could read about one. The sweet romance set in the rolling wine country of Oregon had lifted her mood for all of two seconds; then she’d heard laughter and cheerful voices echoing from the dining hall and her mood had gone straight to the shitter.
    She gave herself a mental slap, reread the page—for the fourth time—and couldn’t, for the life of her, remember what was happening in the book.
    Just a few more hours, then you’ll be out of here and you can go back to the way things were.
    The way things were… That didn’t exactly bolster her mood. The way things were was her miserable at the hotel and Isabel longing for a life Maren could no longer give her. Dammit, she needed to tell Thad the truth, but she was afraid. Afraid of what he’d say. What he’d do. Afraid that he’d step in and try to take away the only thing that mattered to her anymore. And if he found out about Evan…
    “Nice night.”
    Maren’s stomach twisted, and the air caught in her lungs. Slowly, she lifted her head and looked toward the steps of the porch where a shadowy figure stood.
    His voice was still as deep and gravelly as she remembered. And way too damn arousing. Maren swallowed hard and closed the book. “I suppose.”
    “You missed dinner.”
    Another round of laughter echoed across the camp, and Maren pictured her father in the thick of things, telling one of his numerous stories to the grunts he’d hired. “I’ve heard all of Patrick’s tales. I wasn’t in the mood to hear them again.”
    Thad nodded, tucked his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, and looked out over the camp. Palms swayed in the evening breeze, and the first sparkle of stars above could just be seen, but he was all Maren could seem to look at. Older, more muscular beneath that white T-shirt than he’d been in his twenties, rough around the edges in a way that shouldn’t be legal, and so much sexier than he had any right to be. “I heard you’re leaving.”
    Why that hit her hard in the chest, Maren didn’t know. “I have to get back. Unlike the rest of you, Patrick didn’t tell me what this dig was all about. If he had, I wouldn’t have come.”
    Thad nodded again and kicked a rock near the toe of his boot. “I can understand that. I wasn’t sure I was going to come at first either. Then I decided it was too important an opportunity to pass up.”
    Of course it would be important to him. He’d lost his brother during their last attempt to find La Malinche . Colin’s baby face flashed in Maren’s mind, and she remembered his easy smile, his infectious laugh, and the numerous practical jokes he’d liked to play.
    She also remembered the day he’d died, when they’d been diving in that cenote her father had told her was the place , and those treasure hunters had come in through another tunnel, unexpectedly. A familiar ache settled deep in her chest.
    Everyone had a reason to be here, even Lisa. She’d been in love with Colin nine years before. And though Lisa was happily married to Rafe now, Maren knew Lisa always kept her ear to the ground, listening for any buzz about that cursed artifact. Because finding it would be one final way for her to honor Colin’s memory.
    If only it were that easy for Maren. She missed Colin as much as the rest of them, but unearthing a worthless statue wouldn’t protect her daughter. And that was all that mattered.
    “What do you think he would say if he were here?” Thad asked quietly, his rough voice cutting through her thoughts and memories. “Would he want us to do this? Do you think it matters in the long run?”
    He was talking about Colin. She looked his way and felt her chest constrict. This was hard for him. Harder than for