SmokingHot (21 page)
Authors: Anne Marsh
Keep reading for a preview of Kimberley Troutte’s
Coming in Hot
Coming in Hot – An Excerpt
Mack was leaving? Why’d he come if he was going to turn back around? Jenna swung around to face Kat. Her assistant cocked her head toward the door. They both knew Mack was their best shot at rescuing the Harmonds.
Jenna ran. “Stop right there, sailor!”
She caught Mack in the hallway. His blue eyes raking over her made it nearly impossible to breathe. Or think.
“What?” His feet kept moving toward the parking lot.
“Where are you going?”
“To hell, most likely. Before that? A bar.”
“This is important. The Harmonds are my responsibility! They might die!”
He stared impassively at her. “The SEALs will move in when the war is over. Your clients will have to wait it out.”
She laced her fingers, determined to hide her shaking hands. “Jacob is only ten years old. His sister is thirteen. You know what those bastards will do to a young girl! And a young boy?”
“There’s nothing you or I can do.”
“Is it that the Navy won’t let you go on this mission? Because I’m sure Senator Tonell could get authorization for you.”
He didn’t speak.
“Or you won’t help because of what happened between us?”
The muscle in his jaw flexed. The fire in his eyes was answer enough.
“Dammit, Mack! This isn’t about us!” She poked her finger into his incredibly hard chest. It was as if he wore body armor under that black tee. But no, it was only muscle. Strong. Lean. Impossibly sexy. Lord help her. She poked him again for good measure. “Not you. Not me. It’s about a terrified little boy and his sister! You need to do the right thing here, Lieutenant Commander. Do the right thing!”
“Tell me why I should.”
Before he said another word, the cell phone rang inside in her pocket. She scrambled to pull it out and was shocked by the caller I.D.
“It’s the driver.” Horror swamped her and she grabbed Mack’s muscular bicep. “But it can’t be. He’s dead.”
“Answer it. This might be the ransom call.”
Her heart pounded so loudly in her ears that she wasn’t sure she’d be able to hear.
He squeezed her shoulder. “Do it.”
“This is Jenna. Who…who is this?”
“It’s me, Jacob.”
He’s alive?
Relief and terror hit hard. She gripped Mack’s arm tighter.
“Jacob,” she finally managed. “Where are you?”
“I don’t know. Anna and I are tied together in a dark room. I don’t know where my mom is…” he broke off, crying softly. “They took my mom and dad.”
“It’s going to be okay.” Her voice cracked.
Liar. Since when was any of this okay?
Mack wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her in close. “Nice and easy, babe. Tell him to leave the phone on and hide it.”
“Good for you taking this phone, Jacob. We’ll be able to track your location now. Very good thinking. When we’re done talking, leave it on and hide it, okay?”
“I’ll try. When are you coming to get me?”
She blinked hard, willing her throat not to close. Mack rubbed her hair as if instinctually knowing she needed more of his touch to calm her down. It did the trick.
“Breathe.” His lips touched her ear lobe.
She gulped air. “Soon. You keep being brave. And help your sister, too.”
“Promise to hold my hand when we walk out of this place?”
Oh, Lord. “I promise.”
“Okay. I’ll be brave, Jenna.”
A loud commotion on his end meant that Jacob hid the phone, or at least, she hoped that’s what it meant.
Jenna tipped her chin up and looked into a face full of steely resolve. Why couldn’t she be that strong, that brave? “Mack, please, I need your help.”
With the back of his knuckle, he gently wiped the wetness off her cheek. “I’ll do it.”
She pulled back and looked at him closely. “You’ll organize a team to—”
“Yes, Jenna, I said I’ll do it.” His voice was gruff. “But let’s get one thing clear. When this is all over, we go our separate ways. No calling me to take out the trash, or pound something into submission, or find your cat. Got it?”
She swallowed hard. “Yes.” She understood all too well. This was payback. Who said it was a bitch? To her it was one long, lean, heart-stealing, chiseled man.
“Fine. I’ll call you when the mission is over and let you know where to pick up the Harmonds.” He put his sunglasses on. His long legs strode into the parking lot as if he couldn’t wait to get away from her.
She raced in front of him, blocking his path. “My company will pay for everything—salary, essentials, private jet, whatever you need. I’ve been instructed to make this worth your while. Get your team together, and we’ll put you up in any hotel of your choosing for the night. Let Kat know which one you prefer, and she’ll make the arrangements.”
“Don’t worry about me. Have the jet ready to leave in the morning. Good-bye, Jenna.” He said it like he meant it.
Damn him. “Good night. See you tomorrow.”
He gave her one of those looks—jaw muscle flexing, nostrils widening. If she could see his eyes behind the mirrored lenses, they’d be narrowed, intense. “I can find the hangar without help.”
“I’m sure you can. I’m going with you.” She straightened her back, readying for the coming fight.
After ten years of graduate school and too many degrees, Anne Marsh escaped to become a technical writer. When not planted firmly in front of the laptop translating Engineer into English, Anne enjoys gardening, running (even if it’s just to the 7-11 for slurpees), and reading books curled up with her kids. The best part of writing romance, however, is finally being able to answer the question: “So… what do you do with a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures?” She lives in Northern California with her husband, two kids and four cats.
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