by KaLyn Cooper
“Gage. Flynn. Door,” Remi ordered when Ace and Rex stepped to the door jamb. He followed Rocco and Mr. Dunaway into the spacious office. The double doors immediately closed behind them. Remi was quite sure the two former SEALs would find a connection with the two active duty SEALs.
His gaze swept the office as Ambassador Snyder and Mr. Dunaway made the usual greetings.
“Mr. Dunaway, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” The light melodic voice sliced through the deep male exchanges, forcing Remi’s attention to the seating area. “I’m Willow Cardenas, Public Diplomacy Officer.”
Remi stared at one of the most attractive women he’d ever seen. Her hair was so dark brown it was almost black, and it now hung halfway down her back with huge soft curls at the ends.
The memory of sliding his fingers through the silky hair at her temples, her cheeks cupped in his large palms just before he lowered his lips to hers, filled his mind. They had both had a good time that night. He’d made sure she came twice before he sheathed himself in her hot wet channel.
Willow smiled easily at Mr. Dunaway as though she enjoyed what she was doing. When she raked her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, he caught a glimpse of the most stunning eyes he’d ever seen. Yes, they were brown, but they had a thick ring of gold and one of green, but no one would dare call them hazel.
He knew they turned almost jade when she was aroused.
“Shall we get started?” Willow’s suggestion cut through the small talk.
Yeah, he’d like to get started…by unbuttoning that gold satin blouse, pulling down the cups of her bra and taking her dark brown nipples into his mouth.
“I’d be lost without this woman at my side.” Ambassador Snyder gestured toward Willow. Remi noticed the man did not touch her, as though they were intimate or physically familiar. Everything between them was casually professional.
His eyes dropped down the length of her navy-blue pantsuit. It was idiotic, but he missed the red dress in the picture. He wondered if she still had it with her, and if she would wear it when he took her out to dinner.
“Roll your tongue back in your mouth,” Rocco warned in a low tone that only Remi could hear.
“She’s yours?” Remi’s body tensed, fearing the bad news that his old friend was now her lover.
“Hell, no. My woman is waiting for me at home.” His friend sighed. “Caite…she’s my…everything. But I can tell you, every man on my team has tried with her. She’s very friendly on the surface, helpful, truly kind. She let each one of them down easy to the point that they want to be her friend. They’ve become very protective of her. Dating, though, crash and burn.” He shrugged. “Maybe she has some kind of no dating at work rule.”
All the military fraternization regulations ran through Remi’s mind. He no longer had to play by those rules. “I don’t work here.”
He grinned when her stunning eyes met his…and widened in surprise.
Chapter 4
Oh. My. God.
Remington Steel stood ten feet away.
In the five years she’d been at the embassy, she’d taken a few lovers. Most, like Remi, only lasted a night or two. Twice, she’d kept the men around for a week or so, but men never stayed in her life and Willow liked it that way. She was too young to tie herself down to one man. Besides, she’d been building her career, which was far more important to her.
She wondered if the rest of his SEAL team had also been sent back to Venezuela. She glanced at Mr. Dunaway and was curious how a civilian rated a team of SEALs as bodyguards.
Damn. Remi looked good. Unfortunately, most of the cantinas as they had visited years ago had closed, and even walking outside the embassy walls had become dangerous for U.S. citizens. Most of the women she had hung out with back then had moved on. Realization hit her. At the moment, she had very few female friends.
Still, she might enjoy having a drink with Remi and reminiscing.
When voices rose outside the doors, Willow whipped her head in that direction.
She started to stand. “Let me—”
“I’m supposed to be in that meeting.”
She closed her eyes. Of course, Joseph Allen wanted to be part of this meeting. He probably thought he should be included, but the man just didn’t know when to shut his mouth, so the ambassador had specifically asked her to help him meet privately with the oil executive.
When Rocco, the head of the ambassador’s security looked her way, she shook her head the slightest bit.
“I’ve got this.” Rocco’s long legs ate up the floor, then he slid through a crack in the door.
She glanced over at her boss who mouthed thank you. Well, that was her job, getting the ambassador in front of the right people and keeping him away from the wrong ones. Sometimes, that meant his own staff. Since Mrs. Weaver was no longer there to act as bulldog, Willow had taken on the role.
Extracting a small stack of paper from her folder, she passed out copies to Mr. Dunaway and the ambassador. As planned, she took control of the meeting. “Since the ambassador only arrived yesterday, this is an information gathering meeting for him as well. As you both know, oil is by far the number one export of Venezuela.” She looked at Mr. Dunaway. “That makes you the most important man in this entire country at the moment. I’m sure President Juan Guerra would agree with me.”
She had both men eating every word as she fed them the truth about the effect oil had on the economy, the condition of the oil wells, suggestions for what Zon Petrol could do, should do, and exactly how the embassy could assist them with negotiating with the new administration.
The only difficulty she had was that every time the ambassador spoke, Remi was directly in her line of sight. He was distracting. All six feet of ripped body and chiseled chin. Every time their eyes met, he gave her a little smile.
“Jim, you just mentioned that you plan to visit several oil wells. I’d like to go with you.” By the look on his face, the ambassador was serious.
“Mr. Ambassador, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Willow saw disaster in the making.
“Sir, that’s extremely high risk,” Rocco added as he closed the door behind him.
Ambassador Snyder’s gaze ping-ponged between Willow and Rocco.
Remi had moved behind Mr. Dunaway’s chair and they were whispering.
“Jim, how many bodyguards do you have?” The ambassador was looking at both his guests.
“There are seven on my team, Mr. Ambassador,” Remi answered. His voice was much deeper than she had remembered.
The ambassador looked at Rocco. “You have six on your team, isn’t that correct?”
“Yes, Mr. Ambassador,” Rocco replied with a frown on his face. “Because you are personally protected twenty-four seven, we rotate. If you are required to attend something outside the embassy, we would increase your protection based on the risk factors involved with the location.”
“Same for you, Mr. Dunaway,” Remi told him quietly.
“I want to see these oil rigs.” The ambassador turned his attention to Willow. “You’ll discover I’m a hands-on person. I want to see the situation for myself.” Her boss then looked her square in the eyes. “Miss Cardenas, I want you to work closely with Rocco and…” the ambassador’s eyebrows pinched together. “I don’t believe we were properly introduced. I am Ambassador Mark Snyder.” He held out his hand.
“Mr. Ambassador, I’m Remington Steel. Please call me Remi.” When he shook hands with her boss, Willow instantly started comparing him to Pierce Brosnan. It took everything in her willpower to hold in the giggle. The movie star had absolutely nothing on the SEAL.
She debated for brief moment on how to handle the situation. Straightforward, with the truth, was always the best way. Well, maybe not the whole truth. No one in that room needed to know that she and Remi had burned up the sheets. Twice.
She stood and turned to face the man who had licked her to an orgasm the last time they’d seen each other. Trying to remain
professional, she held out her hand. “Remi, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” He didn’t shake her hand but held it in his very large one.
“No, Willow, I assure you, the pleasure is mine.” He held her gaze as though he, too, was remembering their last night together. She longed to have those strong hands pull her to him and press her against his solid body. Hold her. Make her feel safe.
Willow took a good hard look at him and wondered why only Remi had made her feel that way. Sure, he was tall, but compared to her so was everybody. Besides, she was surrounded by Marine Corps Embassy Guards who were all over six feet tall. It was a rule.
Remi was extremely fit. So was every man on Rocco’s team, but there hadn’t been a single spark with any of them. Nothing like the heat that radiated up her arm and coursed through her body. She slid her hand away, needing to break the connection.
“So, you two know each other?” The ambassador seemed extremely pleased by that revelation.
“Yes, sir. Remi and his SEAL team were stationed here for a short time several years ago.” Willow hoped she didn’t need to give any more explanation.
Thankfully, the ambassador looked at Remi. “Remington Steel,” he said with a smile.
“Yeah, I know.” Remi looked a little, very little, embarrassed.
“My dad’s family was all into being men of steel, so he instantly thought my mom was naming me after the gun company.” Remi shook his head. “Nope. I’m afraid it was because of that TV show. She had a major crush on Pierce Brosnan. To tell the truth, I think she still does. She has every one of his movies and watches them over and over again.”
Willow smiled sympathetically. “I’ll bet you had to explain that over and over again since your childhood. I can relate. I’ve only ever met one other Willow in my life. At least you got to be named after something interesting like a gun company or a housewife heartthrob. I got named after a weed.” Redirecting, because Willow had no desire to continue that line of conversation, she said, “Mr. Ambassador, we were discussing visitation of oil rigs. I have to agree with Rocco on this one. Some of these oil rigs are located in the middle the jungle. It’s extremely dangerous out there.”
“But we will be very well-guarded,” the ambassador volleyed back. “Have you seen any of these rigs and the operation?”
“Yes, sir. Several times. Oil is the number one export from Venezuela and thus a common subject for the international press.” She’d never minded visiting the offshore drilling sites, but the broken-down wells in the middle of the jungle gave her the creeps. She always felt like she was being watched. Or sized up as a snack for a jaguar. Or perhaps a green anaconda wanted to give her a hug, then eat her. Predators always went for the smallest in the bunch.
Then there was the jungle itself. It would quickly reclaim anything abandoned, covering and smothering it until it was unrecognizable. And the smell. Hot, wet, rotting wood combined with air heavily saturated with oil. At least out in the ocean there was always a breeze and she felt like she could breathe.
“Excellent. Then you can be our guide.” The ambassador gave her a slight grin. “You didn’t think I’d be leaving you here, did you?”
Fucking great. Some parts of her job she truly hated.
Before she could protest, the ambassador gestured to the couch. “Why don’t you, Remi, and Rocco, sit here and figure out the security measures that will be needed while I take Jim on a tour of the embassy.”
Since she was the one who normally gave the tours, she started to protest. “Sir, I can show Mr. Dunaway around while Rocco and Remington establish security procedures.”
“No worries, Miss Cardenas.” He tilted his head toward the door. “Mr. Allen, who I’m sure has been waiting patiently outside, will give us a brief tour. I’ll be sure to tell him we’ve already covered the information from his department.”
Willow was learning more about her boss every moment they spent together, which, except for about nine hours last night, had been constant since she had met him. He would appease Little Joe by giving him a few minutes face time with Mr. Dunaway and let her handle what could be an intense situation.
Both Remi and Rocco had immediately disappeared before Mr. Dunaway and the ambassador left the room. She’d heard them talking with their men outside. When they returned, she gave them her practiced public relations smile. “Gentlemen, let’s see how much we can get accomplished before they’re back.” She sat, inviting them to do so as well.
Both men stared at her accusingly.
“This is a really bad idea.” Rocco leaned back in the chair and folded his arms over his massive chest.
“Do you think we can at least put him off a couple days?” Remi leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I haven’t even been to the compound where will be living, say nothing about the rigs. I’m not letting Mr. Dunaway anywhere near an oil well, whether operating or not, until my men check it out first.”
“Excellent diversionary tactic.” Willow gave Remi a genuine smile. “That should put him off or at least a couple days.” She turned her attention to Rocco. “You have enough men to send one of yours with Remi’s team? The situation surrounding a well can change in hours. I’ve heard rumors where pirates have taken over a broken well and within hours, they are pulling oil out of the ground by hand.”
“How the fuck are they doing that?” Remi demanded. “I’ve studied up on oil wells and crude processing. Some of those wells are nearly a mile deep.”
“In a country that is starving, you would be surprised at how inventive people can become.” How could she make them understand just how desperate the people of Venezuela truly were? “Twelve hours of labor can be bought for two slices of bread. These pirates aren’t native Venezuelans. Many are Russians that Chavez brought into the country to help run the wells when he kicked all the Americans out. They are resupplied by their homeland.”
Remi exchanged a scowl with Rocco. “They are not going to like us coming in to take a look around, say nothing about taking over.”
“I hope Zon Petrol has a team of mercenaries on staff. They’re going to need it to protect those wells while they fix them, and during initial production.” Rocco leaned forward and pinned his gaze on Willow. “I refuse to let the ambassador go to one of the wells in the jungle until Remi can clear the way. Maybe it’s because I’m a SEAL, but I feel a hell of a lot better surrounded by an ocean with clear lines of sight.”
Remi held out his fist and Rocco met it with his. “At least if we have to go swimming, the waters are warm here.”
A picture of Remi in board shorts slung low on his hips, sagging with the weight of water as he trudged from the turquoise ocean three miles away swept through Willow’s mind. Water streaming in rivulets, curving around bare pectorals, over rippling abs, down to his belly button before spreading into a thin line of dark hair that disappeared below the waistline of his swim trunks…
Rocco chuckled, bringing her out of her daytime fantasy. “I’m going to leave the dives in the Bering Strait for the Coast Guard. I don’t need to pass cold water diving ever again.”
Talk about throwing cold water on a wet dream. Willow couldn’t imagine swimming in the waters off Alaska.
“Me, neither. I’ve never been so fucking cold in my life, and I grew up outside of Buffalo.” Remi’s words shocked Willow.
Before she could stop herself, she asked, “Aren’t you still a SEAL?”
Remi shook his head. “Not anymore. I got out of the Navy just over a year ago.” He glanced at Rocco. “But the SEAL brotherhood is forever.”
His gaze toward Rocco was warm. They definitely shared a unique bond. She really needed to get this conversation back on track. No, what she really needed was to get her mind off Remington Steel and get him out of her space.
“Well, if your brotherhood bonding is over, let’s refocus on the situation at hand.” Once again, she felt as though she had control of the meeting. “Recapping, the ambassador will visit one of the offshore oil r
igs. Remi will determine which well is to be visited, then someone from Rocco’s team will visit said rig—”
“That will be me,” Rocco interrupted. “I want to see this monster and walk it top to bottom. Not that I don’t trust my men, I need to see this for myself.”
“Not a problem,” Remi agreed. “We’ll do this together.”
“Fine.” Willow wanted to get through this. She had other things to do. “Then the two of you will report back to me and we will arrange a specific time and transportation.”
Rocco looked thoughtful for a moment before he added, “This trip needs to be top-secret.” His penetrating gaze caught hers. “I don’t think anybody outside this room needs to know exactly when and where the ambassador is going.”
“Agreed.” Then Remi added, “Two, high-value U.S. targets. That’s a temptation for any kidnappers.” He tilted his head as though he were considering something he was unsure of discussing. “Does the embassy have a bulletproof helicopter?”
“No.” Both Rocco and Willow answered at the same time.
“Zon Petrol does. I would normally separate targets, but in this case, I think we should all travel together,” Remi suggested. “We came here straight from the airport. I haven’t even been to the compound yet. Give me twenty-four hours. Let’s exchange phone numbers.”
When Rocco and Remi whipped out their cell phones and started rattling off numbers, she remembered hers was back in her office. Digging into her pockets, she knew she had a business card, somewhere. There was a time when she wouldn’t leave her office without at least a stack of them stashed in her jacket pocket, but so much had changed since those days. International press rarely showed up anymore.
“I can’t seem to find any of my business cards and my cell phone is in my office. Remi, would you mind following me down there?” She looked at Rocco. “I think you already know how to get in touch with me after hours.”