Hard To Forget

By Annette Broadrick

"My assignment does not include making love to Elena Maldonado!"– Joe Sanchez, undercover army intelligence agent

No one messed with Joe Sanchez. But one little slip of pure, delicious woman could bring him to his knees. He'd taken the shy beauty's innocence one magical, passion–filled night, but ecstasy had ended in disaster. Joe had never forgotten – and having Elena Maldonado reappear in the middle of his most sensitive mission tested every vow he'd taken not to get involved. With white–hot desire demanding completion, his wary agent's instincts went on red alert. The situation called for infiltration – of the heart!

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Jul 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781460841037

Book preview

Prologue

Eighteen-year-old Joe Sanchez looked into the cheap mirror over his scarred dresser and blinked. He didn’t recognize the stranger he saw. Tonight was the first time in his life that he had worn formal clothes. They were rented, of course. It had taken him weeks to earn the money to rent the tuxedo he would be wearing tonight to the Santiago High School senior prom in Santiago, Texas, a small town on the Texas-Mexico border.

He grinned at the thought and was once again startled at the image in the mirror. He couldn’t remember ever seeing himself smile—either in a mirror or a photograph. He had a great deal to smile about tonight, though, because he was taking Elena Maldonado to their senior prom.

He was still amazed that she had agreed to go with him.

For the past few months she had been tutoring him in English and history. Thanks to her help, he was fairly certain he’d be graduating, after all. He’d be the first of his family to get a high-school diploma.

Last year, even last fall, he wouldn’t have thought that any of this would ever happen….

Yo, Sanchez, Coach Torres hollered at the end of football practice in late September. Meet me in my office after you’ve showered.

Joe gave him a brief nod and trotted with the other team members into the locker room. He went over to his locker and pulled off his football uniform. He knew what the coach had to say to him. His teachers had already told him his grades were dropping after the first round of exams.

So what? At least he’d been able to play on the varsity football team these past two years. That was worth a lot to him. Coach Torres had made him a wide receiver because he was fast and could handle the ball. In fact, he was getting the reputation of having magnets in his hands. He usually managed to snag the ball if the quarterback got it anywhere close to him.

His teammates chattered around him, but he tuned them out as he showered and dressed once again in his faded jeans and hand-me-down shirt. He walked out of the locker room down the hall to the coach’s office, knowing he was about to be dropped from the squad.

Coach Torres was on the phone when Joe walked in. Coach waved him to the chair in front of his desk. Joe slid into the chair and watched the coach, who sat with his ankles crossed on the desk. When he hung up, Coach dropped his feet and pulled his chair closer, placing his elbows on the desk.

Tell me something, Sanchez, he said in his gruff voice. You planning to follow in Alfredo’s footsteps?

Joe blinked. What did his older brother have to do with anything? He eyed the coach warily. What do you mean?

I understand Al was convicted of drug smuggling a couple of years after he dropped out of school. He’s how old now?

Twenty-two.

Uh-huh. And been in and out of jail for most of the past five years, right?

So?

Is that what you want for your life?

Joe shrugged.

Coach Torres didn’t say anything. Just looked at him. And kept looking at him.

Joe shifted in his chair, placed his foot on his opposite knee and began to pull at the sole where it was coming loose. He kept his attention on the shoe.

Finally Coach said, I’m going to offer you an alternative to Al’s life, Joe, if you’re willing to consider it.

Joe looked up in surprise. Coach was still studying him. It was as though he’d never taken his eyes off him.

You’re intelligent, Joe. You learn the plays quickly. You’re a natural leader. You’ve got every guy on the team following your lead. You’ve got everything it takes to make it big in the world, except the drive to do it.

You calling me lazy? Joe asked, his expression sullen.

Coach smiled. Nope. You’re just not motivated. And I’d like to help you to change that.

How?

By getting you a scholarship to go to college next year.

Joe’s foot fell off his knee and he straightened in surprise. College? For me?

That’s right. At the rate you’re going, you’re going to be ready to play college ball in another year. If you can get your grades up, that is.

Joe slid back down in the chair. Yeah. Right.

You think that’s so impossible?

He shrugged again.

How much time do you spend on homework every day?

He shrugged again.

Coach Torres looked down at a piece of paper in front of him. Obviously not enough if your present grades are any indication.

Joe didn’t see a need to respond to that comment, either. He went back to worrying the sole of his shoe, wondering where he was going to get the money to buy a new pair.

You don’t believe you can do it, do you? Coach asked.

Joe shook his head without looking up.

Then I’ve got more faith in you than you do. As a matter of fact, I found someone who would be willing to tutor you if you want to put some effort into bringing those grades up.

Joe looked up from beneath his brows. Who?

Elena Maldonado.

Joe frowned. He’d never heard of her. He started to shrug once more when he suddenly remembered a girl in several of his classes named Elena. Is she that skinny nerdy girl with glasses and all that hair?

That’s the one.

Joe laughed. She said she’d help me with my classes?

Yep.

You’ve gotta be kidding. She don’t—doesn’t give anybody the time of day. She’s like a mouse—creeps into class and sits there taking notes all the time.

Well, those notes may make the difference between your graduating from school and going on to college, or someday ending up in jail alongside your brother. Your choice, my friend.

Joe wouldn’t admit it for the world, but the thought of actually getting to go to college electrified him. A chance to get away from the poverty of his home life. A chance to make something of himself. A chance to be able to provide for his mother, who had worked all her life to support him and his brother.

So what do you think? Coach asked as the silence lengthened. Are you willing to work at bringing those grades up so you can continue to play ball? Because if you are, I’ll do what I can to place you in a college next year with a full scholarship. You’ll have to earn it in class, though.

Joe started to speak, but his voice broke. He cleared his throat. If you’re sure Elena won’t mind, I’d like to work on getting my grades up.

Good choice, son, Coach Torres said with a big grin on his face. I’ll let her know. The two of you can work out the arrangements of when and where you’ll work together.

Joe left the coach’s office that day feeling bewildered. He and a few of his friends spent most of their time chasing around town at night, raising hell. If he was going to start working on his grades, his time was going to be taken up with things other than hanging out with his buddies.

The thought of college made him smile. It might even be worth it.

The truth was, he was ashamed of what Al had done, even though he didn’t blame him. Al had never done much in school. He’d dropped out in the middle of his sophomore year because he’d convinced his mom he would get a job. He hadn’t bothered to tell her that the job wasn’t exactly legal. When you lived on the border, there were all kinds of ways to make money, as long as you didn’t get caught.

He waited until the end of his history class the next day to approach Elena. He’d watched her in English earlier in the day. She’d kept her head down and never looked his way. It was only after he almost ran into her in the hall and saw her blush a fiery red that he knew Coach Torres had spoken to her.

He walked up to her desk as she was placing her books into her backpack.

Hi, he said.

She didn’t look up. Hi.

Coach tells me you’re willing to help me bring up my grades.

She nodded.

So where do you want to do this—your place or mine?

Her head jerked up and she stared at him, eyes wide. I can’t do it at home. My, uh, dad doesn’t like it when I have anyone over.

He knew that was a crock. He’d asked around about her and found out that her dad rarely worked and spent most of his time in one of the three bars in town. She just didn’t want him there if her dad came home drunk.

Not that he blamed her. But at least she had a father. His dad had left when he was five. He barely remembered him.

You want to come to my place, then? he asked, dreading the idea that she would see the shack he lived in. He knew that her home was much nicer. The Maldonados lived on the outskirts of town in a large home that her dad had inherited from his family.

What about working here at school? she asked. We could meet in the library or outside the cafeteria. There are tables and chairs there.

They were bolted down, but they were there. Sure, he said. Whatever you want. When can we start?

Don’t you have football practice?

He nodded. We’re through at five. I could meet you after that.

She ducked her head. Okay.

Today?

Uh-huh.

It had taken him several weeks of their studying together before he broke through the wall of reserve that was always around her. He discovered that she had a delightful personality and a wonderful sense of humor. He’d fallen for her playfulness, as well as her vulnerability.

She’d been too thin, with thick riotous hair and oversize glasses perched on her nose. Somehow, though, she had a way of looking at him that had made his heart race. He’d never been able to figure out what it was that she did to him.

He couldn’t remember when he first began having erotic thoughts about the girl helping him pass his classes. What would it be like to kiss her? What would she do if he tried to touch her? Would his fantasies be fulfilled if he ever had the chance to make love to her?

For the first time in his life, there was a girl that he thought about more than football or going out and raising hell with his buddies.

Now, months later, they were going out on their first date together.

He gave one last look in the mirror, then walked into the room where his mother sat mending one of his shirts.

Oh, Joe, you look so handsome! she said, pressing her hand to her chest. You take my breath away.

He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Thanks. And thank you for getting Uncle Pete to loan me his car for the night.

She looked at him over the top of her glasses. You’d better not let anything happen to it.

He held up his hand. I promise. I will take very good care of it.

Of course the thing was ancient, but it was wheels, which was more than he had. He couldn’t very well ask Elena to walk to the prom with him.

He drove the old Plymouth away from town, eventually turning into the lane that led to Elena’s house. This was the first time he’d ever been to her home. He wasn’t sure what made him more nervous—taking a decent girl out on a date, driving a borrowed car, or having to meet her parents for the first time.

He walked across the small porch and knocked on the front door. Before he could take another deep breath, the door swung open.

Elena had on a slim black dress that was held up by tiny black straps, exposing her shoulders. The dress fit her slim form as though made for her, ending at the toes of her high-heeled shoes. She had her hair piled on her head with curls framing her face. Her glasses perched on her nose.

That was when Joe realized that he was in love with Elena Maldonado.

Elena caught her breath as soon as she saw Joe standing at the door. She’d never seen him in anything but old jeans and faded shirts. She couldn’t believe how different he looked tonight. Older. More sophisticated. To-die-for handsome.

Come in, she said, stepping back from the door.

Joe walked past her and she got a whiff of an aftershave lotion she hadn’t known he wore. She wasn’t sure her knees would hold her up. Wouldn’t she feel foolish if she collapsed in his arms before they even got out the door?

She would never forget how he looked in his rented tuxedo. The white ruffled shirt emphasized his dark skin and the suit drew attention to his wide shoulders and slender hips. She felt as though the night had cast a spell on her, and she wondered if this was all a dream.

Going to the senior prom with Joe Sanchez was very special for Elena because it was her very first date, with Joe or anyone else. Meeting him after school and discussing English and history with him certainly didn’t count as dating someone.

Even when he got into the habit of meeting her between classes and walking her to her locker, she hadn’t allowed herself to think he meant anything by it.

However, when he asked her to the prom, her hopes soared. She knew she wasn’t pretty, not like the other girls. Even though she’d gotten her braces off two years before, she was still careful about smiling at people. She didn’t know what to say to the other kids, who seemed so sure of themselves, so she just went to her classes without making eye contact and without speaking to anyone.

But during the three weeks between the time Joe had asked her to go to the prom with him and the prom itself, Elena knew that she had blossomed into another person. She felt popular and attractive for the first time in her life. She’d held her head up and smiled at classmates, who had been startled at first before they had smiled back.

She’d felt more comfortable joining a group in the cafeteria and listening to their conversation. She still didn’t talk much, but she listened and smiled and nodded her head in agreement. And she’d laughed more, because she was happy.

When anyone asked if she was going to the prom, she told them she was going with Joe Sanchez just to watch the expressions of amazement on their faces. Joe had quite a reputation around school. He was known for being a little wild and therefore exciting. He didn’t date girls from the school but had been seen from