AlTonya Washington - Seductive Memory

Once, they meant the world to each other—

Can they regain what they lost?

A chance encounter with Paula Starker is all entrepreneur Linus Brooks needs to try to win back the woman who was once his whole world. And where better to romance the sultry Philadelphia DA than a lush villa on a private tropical island? But before they can share a future, Linus will have to reveal his tragic secret...

ALTONYA WASHINGTONhas been a romance novelist for fifteen years. She’s been nominated for numerous awards and is the winner of two RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Awards for her novels Finding Love Again and His Texas Touch . She won the Romance Slam Jam EMMA Award for her novel Indulge Me Tonight . AlTonya lives in North Carolina and works as a reference librarian. This author wears many hats, but being a mom is her favorite job.

Also By AlTonya Washington

As Good as the First Time

Every Chance I Get

Private Melody

Pleasure After Hours

Texas Love Song

His Texas Touch

Provocative Territory

Provocative Passion

Trust In Us

Indulge Me Tonight

Embrace My Heart

Treasure My Heart

Provocative Attraction

Silver Screen Romance

Seductive Memory

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Seductive Memory

AlTonya Washington

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08630-1

SEDUCTIVE MEMORY

© 2018 AlTonya Washington

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“Ready.” She considered the word.

Ready indicated it was only a matter of time. Linus’s words indicated that the time would never arrive. That was good, wasn’t it? She didn’t want the full truth, did she? She thought she didn’t before...and now—

“Tough break.”

Paula whirled to find Linus standing just a few feet behind her. His molten chocolate stare appeared more vibrant against the tropical morning sun as he, too, stared at the Idella disappearing around a bend in the bay.

“Guess they thought you wouldn’t make it,” he said.

“Wonder what would’ve given them that idea.”

Linus barely shrugged in response. Paula rolled her eyes as she resumed her study of the quiet waters.

“If you’re bummed about it,” he said, moving closer, “I’m sure we could arrange something.”

The offer made Paula smile. “I’m sure we could.” She averted her face so he couldn’t see her lashes flutter when he moved close to cup her hips.

“I’m not going to bed with you, L.” She swallowed around the ball of need suddenly occupying her throat.

“That’s the great thing about a place like this.” He didn’t seem discouraged by her decision. “There are all sorts of places we could substitute for a bed.”

Dear Reader,

We’re approaching the end of a long and wonderful road. I’ve been so fortunate to have you follow me on my journey with the cast of the Provocative series. I’ve enjoyed telling this story and introducing you to a group of Philadelphia powerhouses who joined forces to meet some pretty intense situations—the greatest among them falling in love.

I’m pleased to present Linus Brooks and Paula Starker in Seductive Memory. Much drama has settled in the worlds of these estranged lovers. Still, unspoken words and past regrets remain. To find the way back to the love they lost, Paula and Linus will have to shed their fears of facing the past and take hold of the desire still igniting between them.

I’ve enjoyed creating this world. Thank you for welcoming my stories and the characters who bring them to life.

Peace and Blessings Always,

AlTonya

altonya@lovealtonya.com

To my loyal readers, thank you for cheering me on. Your support over the years has meant the world to me.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Extract

About the Publisher

Prologue

Costalegre, Mexico

The wedding plans had changed, and quite suddenly. The bride and groom had opted for an event with a lot less flash and dazzle than the bride’s mother would’ve liked. Still, no one could argue that the ceremony hadn’t been a perfect one.

Santigo Rodriguez and Sophia Hail had spoken their romantic and heartfelt vows amid tropical breezes scented by the variety of exotic flowers adorning the environment. The change in venue and time had been a gift of sorts from the bride’s sister and brother-in-law-to-be. Viva Hail and her fiancé, Rook Lourdess, had arranged a breathtaking escape that the bride and groom had eagerly accepted.

Flora of such splendid hues looked to have been skillfully shaded, as if from the colors of an artist’s palette. The flowers, brilliant as they were, simply enhanced the sky. To call it magnificent just didn’t seem to do it justice.

Paula Starker didn’t think there were any words that could describe the presence of something capable of instilling such an intense sensation of serenity. And she could use a little serenity just then. The vivid blue, dotted by blindingly white and puffy clouds, infused her bloodstream with calmness like a drug. Paula was eager to let it have its way.