Treasure's Tricks: The Steamy Island Romance Series, #3

By Jessica Kelly

After the life-changing adventure that began in the first two books in this series, Desperate Destiny and Sunken Secrets, Taylor Montgomery is close to getting the answers that he so desperately seeks.

But at what cost?

The only thing this sexy billionaire wants more than answers is to spend the rest of his life with his true love, Mandy. But there are evil forces at work -- and they're willing to do whatever it takes to stop Taylor and Mandy for good.

Will the sunken treasure prove to be too tricky? Will Taylor and Mandy be able to solve the haunting mystery? Will good finally win out over evil?

If you like adventure-packed days, steamy nights, and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, you'll love this series! Grab your copy of Treasure's Tricks and dive into the sizzling suspense today!

All three of the books that make up the Steamy Island Romance Series contain sexy scenes and adult content, so they're best-suited for readers who are 18+.

It won't take long for you to see that the only thing hotter than island days is island nights!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Premier Content Source, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540135452

Jessica Kelly

Author.  Dreamer.  Entrepreneur. That's how Jessica Kelly describes herself.  Just like the main character in her first book, Trick Play, Jessica believes that hard work is the key to success.  Luckily, though, creating new characters and new plot twists doesn't feel like work to her!  Jessica has always had a passion for writing, and she has dreamed of becoming a successful author for more years than she can count. So what about the "Entrepreneur" part? That proves just how serious Jessica is about turning her dream into reality.  Her goal isn't to write a book or two in her spare time.  Instead, she's focused on building a successful writing career from the ground up.  She's not content to JUST have a dream.  She's willing to do whatever it takes to make it come true. Jessica began living the dream the moment she started writing Trick Play.  When she's not dreaming up new story ideas, this native Floridian can be found spending quality time with friends and family, soaking up the sun on the beach, and -- of course -- reading. Jessica loves hearing from her readers.  Connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jessicakellyauthor or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WritingJessica

Book preview

Chapter 1

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Mandy stared back into his eyes.  Dark, lifeless eyes.  No, she gasped, struggling to get the words out.  You can’t do this!  I won’t let you get away with this!  Her legs jerked uncontrollably.  Am I drowning?  No! 

Suddenly, out of the haunting blood-red glow, there came a force.  It was much stronger than she was.  No, she gasped, resisting the tug.  No, I have him!

Broken dreams...  Broken dreams...  Broken...

Mandy lunged for the sunken eye sockets, the flapping jawbones.  Only silence would give her peace.

Mandy, no!  Mandy, you have to surface!

No, she gasped, struggling.  He's lying!

Mandy, you’re in danger!

In danger?  The warning echoed through her head.  Not... now... she gasped as the blood-red turned to black.

Chapter 2

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The sulphur, she moaned, opening her eyes, struggling to see beyond the glow.

We're ascending, Mandy.

She could feel his grip.  Pulling.  Pulling her away.

No, Taylor.

Mandy, you're narced.

No.  He is.  Reynolds is the one who—

No, not Reynolds, he replied, tightening his grip.  It's you, Mandy.  You've spent too much time down at 140 feet.

But I have to—

No, Mandy, you have to rise.  You’re losing it.

She wanted to struggle, but she couldn't.  She was weak.  And warm.  She had no idea where the warmth had come from.  Mandy watched, dazed, helplessly, as Taylor pulled her closer and closer to the surface.  She closed her eyes, desperate for peace from... the blinding glow. 

Mandy, open your eyes.  Look at me!

She didn’t want to, but she knew she had to.  Because if she didn’t, Taylor would never let her go back down.  But she had to. 

Mandy!

She counted to herself.  Just another half a minute or so.  Just enough to clear her head. And then she would open her eyes. There, she said, finally heeding his command and cracking her eyes open.  Do you feel better now? she mumbled.

The question is—do you?

She shook her head slowly, as if doing so would bring with it some sense. I'm fine now.  She opened her eyes wide and looked around.  There was just enough light to see, even with her light switched off.  We made it up this far?

Slowly, Mandy.  And we need to keep going.

She had no intentions of surfacing, though.  Not yet. 

She took a few moments to try and regain her focus. It wasn't him, was it, Taylor?

No, Mandy, it wasn't.  It was the nitrogen, Mandy.  Narcosis.  You were impaired.  He looked down at his depth gauge.  Are you better?

Strangely, she was.  We were at 140 feet?

I pulled on you to ascend with me.  But you just kept going towards the damn skull.

The damn skull.  So he wasn't screaming?

No, Mandy.  But you thought he was.

But I heard it.  Broken dreams.  The words haunted her. 

I'm OK now, she said, feeling more clear.  You know it only takes a few minutes to get your head back on straight.  I can go back down there now.

Enough, Mandy, he said taking her arm.  We need to surface.

No!  No, it can’t wait!

Mandy, it wasn't Reynolds.  It was—

What, Taylor?! she snapped.  What was it?  We have to finish this!  Don’t you see?  We have to know what's down there. 

She waited for his reaction, but there was none.  Silence was good, because it meant that Taylor agreed with her.

Ten minutes max, he said after a long pause.  And slowly.

She turned back into the thick sulphur cloud, slipping effortlessly through the deep waters.  Mandy would confront him again.  Only this time with a clear mind.  As she descended, the sulphur cloud gave way to the blood-red glow until finally they were back in the darkness.  She slowed her pace, aiming her light towards the inevitable. 

Oh, my god, she whispered as she approached the skull.  Her light reflected off the waters above, illuminating him with the same eerie copper glow that had so terrified her on her first descent.

She had to see what it was.  No, it's not Reynolds, she admitted, as she shined her light on the ghostly figure.  The sight made her shiver.  Only god could account for how long the remains of this long lost soul had rested in these depths.  A voyage of no return, she whispered, suddenly haunted by the evil that surrounded her.

Mandy. 

His whispers flickered through her earphones, alerting her to the hell of this long lost world.  She hesitated for a moment, briefly questioning her sanity, then followed him through the darkness.  Ten minutes max, she thought, shivering.

Taylor stopped and shined his light over the outline of bones, broken with time, and scattered randomly across the outline of a spine.  More over there, he said, pointing with his light across the rocks and sediment. 

Mandy followed him, stopping abruptly, sickened by the array of broken bones and flattened skulls.  Her immediate instinct was to flee, to find her way back into the light, to free herself from what Dante had so aptly described as the gate to hell. 

Except that destiny would not let her leave.

She paddled forward, past the remains, towards what appeared to be a separate chamber.  She slowed and focused her light into the shadows. 

Dear god, she gasped as the beam caught the bones scattered lifelessly across the sand and debris.  Poor lost souls. 

And then, in the deafening silence, there appeared a glimmer.  Hope, she muttered. 

But no sooner had she uttered it than the futility of their fates, the hopelessness of their chances overtook her like a wave of nausea.  Mandy steadied herself and checked her watch.  Her time was almost up.  But before she would leave this chamber, she would somehow find meaning to this crumpled despair.  Mandy moved the light across the sand, inside and out of the remains, across the rocks, and over the shattered remnants of a lost civilization. 

And then she saw it. 

A glimmer of light.  A passageway.

Chapter 3

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Nine minutes and counting, he said, approaching her.  We have to get out of here. 

Taylor, look up, she said as she switched off her light.  Do you see it?  Light.

He did, except that it was impossible.  Certainly there could be no light source 140 feet below the surface.  Confused, he switched off his light and focused upward.  Damn, he said.  Because what he was seeing was undeniable.

Sometimes cenotes have a maze of passages and hidden chambers, she explained.  They lead to the surface.  That has to be what this is.

Maybe. 

Taylor rose towards the light source.  A closer look revealed a narrow opening that extended vertically from the chamber.  But we don't dare test it, Mandy.  There's barely enough room for us, much less all of our equipment.  And our line is in the main shaft.  We'd never make it out. 

He looked at his watch.  We're fifteen seconds short of ten minutes.  We have to get out.  Our only escape is to follow the line.

He took her hand and paddled towards the main shaft.  Slowly, he said, squeezing her hand.

Chapter 4

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They'd barely said a word since their return to the boat.  He took her in his arms, sensing her despair.  I love you, he whispered.

There's no sense to it, she sighed, seemingly not hearing him, her eyes never leaving the water.  I mean, what was I thinking?

Well, you did imagine that you saw Reynolds, he teased. 

When I was under the influence of nitrogen, she sighed, half smiling.

And when you wanted to go back, I couldn't really say no.  Not after seeing the skull.

But all those lost souls, she whispered.  I should have listened to Dante.  We had no right to invade their sacred waters.

Did it ever occur to you that they’ve waited for centuries for someone to find them?  To feel their pain?

Or maybe they just want to be left alone.  For eternity, she said, her voice overcome with emotion.

Maybe, he said after a pause.  But don't be so tough on yourself.

I so wanted to believe that the tunnel would lead us to... something.  I mean, after I found the gold nugget, I was absolutely certain that we'd find another clue.  Was that crazy, Taylor?  I mean, I was so intent on proving my theory that I believed I saw Reynolds.

There was nothing crazy about it, Mandy.  You were following your instincts.  Maybe there's a reason why your instincts keep telling you to go back.

She stared back at him with her sexy sapphire eyes.  Wait, she said after a long silence.  You’re not ready to give up, are you?

Busted, he thought to himself.  It's a long shot, but I can't get it out of my head, he admitted.

What? 

I keep thinking that we found the second tunnel for a reason.

But we don’t dare, Taylor.

No, we don’t dare try to make it up the opening.  He paused to reconsider what was probably a near-impossible plan.  But...

But what, Taylor?

"What if we could approach it from the top?  I mean, if it really did lead to the surface, we should be able