Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

As he steered the truck over the bridge and toward the sunset, it felt strange I hadn’t left the island all week. Everything I needed and wanted was on that one little stretch of beach.

Cole drove through flat dry stretches of land for almost an hour before we reached the Mexican border. I noticed the line of cars into the foreign country wasn’t nearly as long as the line of cars on the other side trying to gain entry into the United States. My palms were sweaty at the sight of so many armed guards and search dogs.

“Is this safe?” I wanted to sound confident, but this was my first trip to a border town and I wasn’t prepared for the guns or angry-looking men eyeing the fence line.

“I wouldn’t take you somewhere if I thought we wouldn’t be ok. I come here all the time with my buddies. The key is to stick with me. You’ll be fine, darlin’. You know I’ll keep you safe.”

It wasn’t just the military background, Cole had always been protective. And it wasn’t until now that I realized what it felt like to have a man who wanted to make sure I was guarded and safe no matter what.

One of the border patrol officers waved us through the gate and into Mexico. I hadn’t meant to grab Cole’s hand, but I needed some extra reassurance.

“Kaitlyn, it’s going to be fine, but we don’t have to have dinner here. I can turn around and we can find another restaurant.” He eyed me across the truck.

My comfort level was being tested, and I was considering admitting that I had wimped out and needed the security of American soil under my cute black heels.

“But—if I turn around, you won’t get to see the surprise I have for you.” Cole smiled.

“What’s the surprise?” I was curious to see what the no-wine-and-roses guy had planned.

“You are just going to have to trust me. I promise I’ll take care of you. Besides, with your right hook you’re a one-woman combat machine.”

I giggled. The self-defense classes my father had bought for me last year had paid off.

“I want my surprise.” I settled into the seat.

“You sure?”

“Positive.” I knew I was safe with Cole.

“All right, then. We’re already here.” Cole parked the truck behind a ruddy red brick building.

The sun had dipped behind the buildings of the border town, but not before throwing an orange hue on everything around us. I waited while Cole jogged around the front of the truck to get my door.

I caught a hint of his cologne as he helped me step down from the truck. My stomach was instantly in butterfly knots when he smiled.

“Ready?” He offered his arm.

I nodded and tucked my hand through the crook of his arm.

Cole led me to a towering wooden fence. He knocked several times before an older woman cracked the gate enough to see us standing there. I kicked myself for not taking Spanish in high school or college. She and Cole were having an extensive conversation, and other than the words table and water, I couldn’t pick up much of the exchange. Why did I insist on learning German?

We walked into a courtyard. In the center was a bistro table, draped with a colorful tablecloth. Cole walked over and pulled out a chair.

“Is this for us?” I looked around at the mini-courtyard flanked with tropical plants.

“It is.” He stood by the chair, waiting for me to sit.

I looked up and saw lights strung across the table, forming an X overhead. The woman who had let us in returned to the table with a pitcher.

“Are you going to sit?” Cole asked, and nodded at the chair.

“Oh yeah, sorry.” I eased myself into the chair, and Cole walked to the other side of the table. “Everything is so beautiful. I feel like I’m in a movie. And I can’t believe I’m here with Cole Thomas.”

“Believe it.” He filled the empty glasses on the table from the pitcher and handed one to me. “This is the best Sangria you’ll ever have in Mexico.”

I sipped the fruity wine. “Wow. It’s good.”

Minutes later, our hostess walked in with a platter of nachos loaded with fresh avocados. I was used to mashed-up guacamole, but the slices were perfect. She nodded to Cole before exiting through the slatted swinging doors. I could tell by the sounds coming from the building’s entrance that beyond those doors there were other customers. It sounded like a restaurant.