A navy SEAL has her back...and a lot more!
When their plane crash-lands in an alligator-infested Mississippi bayou, Navy SEAL Quentin âLoverboyâ Lovett is grateful to be alive. But gratitude quickly turns to rescue when the SEAL must dive into the murky waters to save Stealth Operations Specialist Becca Smith. Then the shooting starts. Clearly, someone wants her dead.
Investigating her fatherâs murder has put Becca in the crosshairs of his killer. Now the loner agent has no choice but to trust Quentin to protect her. On their hunt for the mercenary, Becca and Quentin discover an unquenchable attraction they never expected to grow...or last. But first, they must survive.
âAre you out of your mind? Get back in the raft.â
He leaned forward and stole a quick kiss. âYou can slap me later. Iâve got a job to do.â He rolled over the side and eased into the water without making much of a splash. His heart pounded as he stared at the tall grass near a mound of sticks and mud. Heâd stay as far away from the alligator nest as he could, but he had to get the raft beneath the trees before the people in the helicopter spotted them.
Grabbing the tow line from the front of the raft, he held on tight and sidestroked, pulling the loaded craft with him. Everyone helped by paddling with their hands. They moved faster than they had before, but not fast enough to make the trees before the helicopter swung around and headed their way.
âDuck!â Quentin called out.
As the chopper neared, the sound of a machine-gun blast ripped through the air, but bullets didnât hit the water near the raft.
ELLE JAMES, a New York Times bestselling author, started writing when her sister challenged her to write a romance novel. She has managed a full-time job and raised three wonderful children, and she and her husband even tried ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas). Ask her, and sheâll tell you what itâs like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird! Elle loves to hear from fans at [email protected] or ellejames.com.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Quentin LovettâHighly trained, expertly skilled weapons specialist and Navy SEAL from SEAL Boat Team 22. Considered the charmer of the team.
Becca SmithâStealth Operations Specialist on a mission to find the person responsible for the assassination of her father, a CIA special agent.
Sawyer HoustonâHighly trained, skilled gunner and Navy SEAL from SEAL Boat Team 22 and the son of a US senator.
Dutton âDuffâ CallowayâHighly trained, skilled demolitions expert and Navy SEAL from SEAL Boat Team 22.
Benjamin âMontanaâ RainesâExpert sniper and Navy SEAL from SEAL Boat Team 22 on vacation in Cancún.
Royce FontaineâHead of the Stealth Operations Specialists, a secret government organization that comes to the rescue when no one else can get the job done.
Tim âGeekâ TrainerâStealth Operations Specialists agent with highly evolved computer and technical skills, works primarily out of the home office.
Samir JabouriâMan suspected of aiding and supplying weapons to terrorists.
IvanâRussian immigrant and suspected assassin.
Oscar MeltonâCIA special agent who worked with Beccaâs father on a secret investigation.
John FrancisâCIA deputy director.
Sam RussellâStealth Operations Specialists agent.
Kat RussellâStealth Operations Specialists agent.
I dedicate this book to all of my readers. If not for you and your voracious reading habits, I would not have the career of my dreams. I consider myself lucky to have found what I want to be when I âgrow upâ and that Iâm living that dream now.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Happy reading!
Chapter One
âAhh, this is the way to travel.â US Navy SEAL Quentin Lovett yawned and stretched, burrowing into the contoured seat of the Stealth Operations Specialists corporate jet. âIâve never felt more rested. This beats commercial flights, hands down.â He chuckled. âI donât even want to compare it to the back of a C-130.â
âDonât get used to it, Loverboy.â Dutton Calloway, Duff to his friends, sat with his eyes closed, his head tipped back across the aisle from Quentin.
âMaybe you should switch branches of service.â Becca Smith blinked her eyes open and cocked her eyebrows at Quentin in the seat beside her.
âWhat? And give up the glamorous life of a navy SEAL?â Quentin lifted Beccaâs hand and brushed her knuckles with a light kiss. âAlthough, if I got to work with a pretty little thing like you, I might consider giving up the swamps and the honor of getting mud beneath my fingernails.â
She frowned and pulled her hand from his. âForget it, frogman. Youâre not getting into my pants. My mamma told me about guys like you.â