Hearts Under Fire (Operation: Hot Spot Book 1)
Page 11
Three times?
She counted off the sessions. Yep, three. Apparently the legendary stamina of SEAL team members wasn’t an exaggeration.
He closed in on her, sweeping her up in his arms with no effort at all, and damned if that didn’t get the tingles and butterflies going. There was something so sexy about a man in prime physical condition.
Her fuck me now attire came off a thousand times faster than it had gone on—exactly as intended. There was no doubt about it, those brain scientists were onto something, red really did get the male motor cranking—as Aiden called it. She needed to download the rest of the series and see what other interesting tidbits their documentaries had to offer.
She grinned at the thought. Now that would be an interesting way to keep the sparks alive.
Smiling, she reached up, welcoming him to round four.
You’ve just finished reading Hearts Under Fire, the first book in my Operation: Hot Spot series. You can find the rest of the books in the series here:
Trust Under Fire. Book #2. (Lucas and Emma)
My BookLoyalty Under Fire. Book #3. (Rio and Becca)
Future Under Fire, Book #4. (Tag and Sarah) This book will release mid-August. If you’d like to be notified when this book releases please add your name to this form.
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Keep reading for a preview of the second Operation: Hot Spot book, Trust Under Fire.
Author’s Note
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About the Author
Trish McCallan was born in Eugene, Oregon, and grew up in Washington State, where she began crafting stories at an early age. Her first books were illustrated in crayon, bound with red yarn, and sold for a nickel at her lemonade stand.
Trish grew up to earn a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a concentration in creative writing from Western Washington University, taking jobs as a bookkeeper and human- resource specialist before finally quitting her day job to write full time.
Forged in Fire came about after a marathon reading session, and a bottle of Nyquil that sparked a vivid dream.
She lives today in eastern Washington.
An avid animal lover, she currently shares her home with three golden retrievers, a black lab mix and three cats.
Sneak Peek: Trust Under Fire
“What the hell?” a deep, frustratingly familiar voice thundered from somewhere above Emma. “Rio said you were getting a dog. What the hell is that?”
Emma froze and then slowly turned, finding Lucas Trammel, in all his six feet-three inches of overbearing glory barreling down the porch steps toward her in his customary worn jeans and t-shirt. His hair was wet, as though he’d just stepped out of the shower. She scowled as he headed toward her with that limber, far too sexy walk. The gait of a man in peak condition, in the prime of his life.
Her traitorous body went weak kneed and hungry. Her muscles heated, her skin tingled, her mouth watered. Sexual attraction revved her heart and respiration.
Not going to happen. Not ever again. Like ever.
“Lucas.” She schooled her voice and face to ambivalence. No hurt. No anger. No embarrassment. Nothing to show how much he’d wounded her with his abrupt abandonment. “What are you doing here?”
His stride checked at her tone and the eyes locked on her face turned wary. “Rio called me.” He stopped and cocked his head, apparently noticing her lack of familiarity with the name. “Dante Addario, the officer who responded to your 911 call? He’s an old friend.” He shrugged and ran a palm across the back of his thick neck. “He told me what happened.”
Emma fought back a sour smile. Of course Officer Arctic was Lucas’s buddy. She should have known from his surly disposition and lack of people skills.
“What do you want?” She let a hint of impatience creep into her tone. Better annoyance than hurt, or even worse—interest. He stepped back slightly, as though her attitude surprised him.
“I thought you could use some help,” he said after a long pause.
“Thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got it handled.” She forced a smile, but suspected from the sudden crinkle to his brow that she hadn’t sounded all to sincere in her appreciation.
Another awkward pause, even longer this time, and the dark brown eyes watching her narrowed. “Rio’s concerned whoever’s responsible may return.”
Concerned? Really? Officer Arctic? She swallowed a derisive snort.
“If they do, I’m prepared for them,” she told him with all the confidence she could muster. “I’ve taken steps to protect myself.”
Her eyes were desperate to soak in that long, lean body she remembered so well, far too well after thirteen weeks of abstinence, so she locked her gaze on his jaw. That chiseled chin, with its hint of a dimple, was about as safe as it got when it came to the man in front of her.
“Steps?” he repeated, his gaze dropping to the dog sitting patiently at her side. “Is that one of your steps? When Rio told you to get a dog, he meant an actual dog, not an oversized rat.”
Emma bristled. Nobody made fun of her Cuddles. Nobody. Before she had a chance to force feed that disparaging description down his arrogant throat, the animal he’d maligned exploded into another of those deep, vicious, Rottweileresque growls.
Lucas did a double take, his eyes widening.
Ridiculously pleased with Cuddles’s response, Emma bent over to give her an appreciative petting. “Good girl. You showed him who’s boss.”
“Right,” Lucas drawled, with a shake to his head. He stepped back and appeared to reassess. “I just meant that when it comes to dogs and protection, the bigger the better.” He glanced down at Cuddles who was still snarling at him and his eyebrows climbed so high they merged with his damp, mocha colored hair. “And it sure as hell helps if they have some teeth.”
“Cuddles will do just fine,” she said stoutly. Setting her jaw, she narrowed her eyes and glared, daring him to argue. “She’ll bark and alert me to strangers on the property, which will give me a chance to protect myself.”
…hopefully…
“Cuddles?” He snorted and rubbed the back of his neck again. “Yeah, that name just inspires fear.”
“Look, go away, alright? I don’t need your help.” The request came out much sharper than she’d intended. Something he’d obviously picked up on since that earlier wariness returned to his square face.
Ambivalence, Emma. No hurt. No anger. No embarrassment. No emotion.
He said something softly beneath his breath. Although she hadn’t heard it clearly, she was pretty sure it was a swear word. With a frown, he ran a tense hand through his hair leaving it tousled and sexy and unbearably reminiscent of those nights in his bed. Unwelcome memories flashed through her mind.
Burnished shoulders arched above her…his hard, tight f
ace dripping sweat…the sleek skin and rippling muscles of his back beneath her hands...
Whoa! She pulled back hard from the memory, praying it hadn’t blazoned itself across her face. She was over him damnit—she was!
“Look…” An awkward, uncomfortable look dug into his face. “I should have called you back sooner. I’m sorry, okay? I was out of town and—”
“Sooner?” she interrupted in pure disbelief. “Sooner?” Her voice climbed. “This unwelcome visit does not count as a call back!”
And there went her mask of ambivalence.
“Emma—” Gentleness touched her name. Regret flashed across his face.
She flinched. “Don’t. Just don’t.” She took a deep breath, and regrouped. “How long have you been back in town?”
He scowled, and rolled his corded shoulders. She could see the play of muscles through his gray American Sniper t-shirt. “I don’t see—”
“How. Long?” she snapped.
He studied her face and swore beneath his breath again. Yep—definitely a curse word.
“Two months, give or take.”
Two months? The breath huffed out of her. “See? We have nothing to talk about.”
He squared his shoulders and set his jaw. “Regardless of how things ended between us, I still consider you a friend.”
A friend? Really? Really. He’s playing the we can still be friends card? And here she hadn’t thought things could get more humiliating.
“And friends help friends,” he continued doggedly.
Was the man insane?
Buy Trust Under Fire Here