SEAL by Fate (Ghost Hawk Ops Book 1)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “Are you saying that after all this, you really do have feelings?”

  He laughed. “Sweetheart, I did ask you to marry me and you said yes.”

  “I didn’t exactly say yes.”

  He flipped up a thick brow. “You telling me you wanted to go to Bora Bora wasn’t a yes?” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. “I guess we won’t be needing these then.”

  “What are those?”

  “Two tickets to Bora Bora. The honeymoon of a lifetime. Now I just need a bride.” He smiled and his eyes twinkled.

  “That’s quite presumptuous, isn’t it?”

  “No, what I think is presumptuous is that you took off without talking to me. Now because I love you, I’m willing to chase you until I can get it through that pretty head of yours that we belong together. Isn’t a month long enough? I’m hurting, sweetheart. Right here.” He patted his chest.

  She took a step closer, working her bottom lip. “Isn’t this a little quick to get married?”

  “As far as I see it, I know what I want.” He cursed under his breath. He reached out and dragged her close, kissing her breathlessly. He pulled back, looking down at her. “Now say you love me.”

  “I love you. Hopelessly. Although I don’t want a big wedding. I would like a small, sweet ceremony.”

  “The tickets are good for a year, sweetheart. You name the date and I’ll be there.” He dropped his arms from her. “I have a surprise for you. Stay here.”

  “I won’t go anywhere.” She laughed.

  “Close those beautiful eyes,” he yelled from the hallway.

  “Fine.”

  “Okay, sweetheart. Open.”

  “Lola!” Stormy dropped to her knees and cuddled the dog who happily licked her face. “Gray? How?”

  “Phantom didn’t kill her. He let her outside and she took off. I had a feeling he didn’t hurt her. The chip helped me find her.”

  She stood and hugged him tightly. “You’re the best.”

  “Now that I’m in your good graces, please tell me that I can take you with me.”

  “You won’t get rid of me again.”

  Epilogue

  The first rays of the morning sunlight flowed through the window of the water hut. The soft, rhythmic sounds of the ocean’s waves crashed outside, making Stormy relaxed. The strong, powerful beat of her husband’s heart made her smile in happiness.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Carlisle.” Gray kissed the top of her head.

  She snuggled deeper against him. Her diamond shone from her hand that was laying on his chest. “It’ll take some time to get used to being called Mrs. Carlisle. Stormy Carlisle. It has a nice ring to it.”

  He reached down, placed his hands under her arms and lifted her to sprawl out over him. “Can we stay here forever?” He kissed the tip of her nose.

  “No. Now that you’re temporarily retired from the Ghost Hawks and have agreed to run Silver Carlisle, we need to get settled in. Anyway, this place isn’t baby proof.”

  He grinned but it quickly fizzled. “Baby proof? Why are we worried about baby proofing?” His tan turned three shades whiter.

  “Oh, because in about seven months we’re going to need a safe place for our child.” She smiled.

  “How?” he murmured.

  “Do you really need me to tell you how because you seem schooled in the technical part.” She lifted a brow.

  He swatted her on the behind. “You know what I mean.”

  “Well, we have been going at it like rabbits for the last five months. I mean, you saved my life and I can’t keep my hands off you.”

  “You saved me, sweetheart. Thank you for everything.”

  “We’ll have years to thank each other. Now make love to your wife.”

  Not the end but only the beginning…

  From the author:

  Thank you for reading. Please leave a review and let others know your thoughts.

  Hugs,

  Rhonda Lee Carver

  At an early age, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but when the story ideas were no longer contained, she decided to dive in and write. Her first plot was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With baby on one hip and laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.

  Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are smart, strong and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.

  When Rhonda isn’t crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her hero and heroine.

  For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit: www.rhondaleecarver.com.

  Find me on Facebook, too! www.facebook.com/rhondalee.carver

  Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver

  Diamond in a Rose

  Double Dare

  Delaney’s Sunrise

  Second Chance Cowboy (Book 1, Second Chance Series)

  Second Ride Cowboy (Book 2, Second Chance Series)

  Second Round Cowboy (Book 3, Second Chance Series)

  Second Dance Cowboy (Book 4, Second Chance Series)

  Second Song Cowboy (Book 5, Second Chance Series)

  Second Burn Cowboy (Book 6, Second Chance Series)

  Second Hope Cowboy (Book 7, Second Chance Series)

  Second Sunrise Cowboy (Book 8, Second Chance Cowboy Series)

  Castle’s Fortress

  Dreaming Ivy

  Friends With Benefits

  Sin With Cuffs

  With Honor

  Wicked Pleasures (Book 1, Wicked Wolves Series)

  Wicked Lust (Book 2, Wicked Wolves Series)

  Fighting Flames

  UNDER PRESSURE (Book 1, Rhinestone Cowgirls)

  PRESSURE RISING (Book 2, Rhinestone Cowgirls)

  PRESSURE POINT (Book 3, Rhinestone Cowgirls)

  SECRET PRESSURE (Book 4, Rhinestone Cowgirls)

  RESISTING PRESSURE (Book 5, Rhinestone Cowgirls)

  Under the Mistletoe

  Cowboy Paradise (Cowboys of Nirvana)

  Ropin’ Trouble (Book 2, Cowboys of Nirvana)

  Smoke. Fire. Cowboy (Book 3, Cowboys of Nirvana)

  Kissed, Spurred, & Valentined (Book 4, Cowboys of Nirvana)

  Cowboy is Mine (Book 5, Cowboys of Nirvana)

  The Discreet Cowboy (Book 6, Cowboys of Nirvana)

  Leather for Two, Wings of Steel MC

  An Unexpected Hero (Buttermilk Valley)

  A New Year’s Cowboy

  Pride & Pleasure (Book 1, The KNIGHT Brothers)

  Roman’s Choice (Book 1, Saddles & Second Chances)

  Letting Go (Sable Hunter’s Hell Yeah! Kindle World)

  Have you read Seized by the Lawman?

  Chapter 1

  SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT AGENT Nixon Cade stared at the screen as he and his tactical force team, Ghost Hawks, hovered in front of the monitors, watching as the suspect they’d been following for over a year joined a group of known terrorists in front of a closed deli in downtown Cheyenne. They greeted each other with handshakes and quick bows, all smiling and blending in. If Nix didn’t know any better he’d see these six men like any other group of buddies meeting to kick back, chat about football, women, and career choices over a hoagie and a beer. This group wasn’t run-of-the-mill though, far from it. They were dangerous and known for using explosives in soft target locations throughout Wyoming over the last few years.

  Nix had only joined the elite team four months ago, but since then he’d read the two-inch-thick case file on the terrorists front to back and memorized every word, every dotted i, every face of every person involved, no matter how small or how big. That’s how much dedication and drive he gave to every case and now, as a part of the Ghost Hawks, he could take on the most grim cases.
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  The team had received a tip from an informant that the suspect met with a group at the deli once a month. During their seemingly innocent lunches over turkey and cheese, they made airtight plans to kill innocent people in the name of their god.

  Their suspect looked over his shoulder and his face flashed across the camera. “Yeah, that’s definitely him.” Even with the ballcap pulled low shading his eyes, his broad nose and the long scar from brow to cheek couldn’t be mistaken. “Bingo.”

  “Do you think they have any clue they’re being watched?” asked Jameson, one of the senior agents on the team who had served a remarkable career in the Navy SEALs that was riddled with awards and distinguished honors.

  “I don’t give a screwed-up fuck as long as we catch his scrawny ass and toss him away to die behind bars.” Riddle was as large as a house and as bad ass as a pissed off bear. He wore his hair closely-shaven and his beard thick. His grey-blue eyes were like lasers and his fists like hammers. Those attributes, as well as his tattooed covered arms, tended to scare the bad guys. He barely needed to use his gun to get criminals to see his way of thinking. He had the best record in getting people to talk and was celebrated for taking down three of the FBI’s most wanted. Each of the men brought a skill to the team and were chosen for such credentials. Nix was distinguished for his sharp shooting skills and sniffing out criminals where there were no leads.

  The parked van where they were huddled was sitting down the street from the deli. They awaited the perfect moment to surprise their suspect and his group of assailants. One could cut the tension in the air with a knife as the Hawks anticipated bringing the wanted men down—to destroy part of a sleeper cell that had been leaving a destructive wave. Last month the suspect and two members of the group had set off a dirty bomb in a bus station that killed ten men, women, and children. As far as Nix was concerned, Wyoming wasn’t a normal target for terrorists because of the vast land to population ratio, but still, here they were and it was time the bastards’ reign of terror came to an end. The Hawks were the men to accomplish that goal. They were the ones who took on assignments that Homeland Security, the FBI and local law enforcement needed help with.

  Up until this point, the suspect had thwarted every attempt of capture, but today, thanks to a undercover agent, Grayson “Gray” Carlisle, who’d infiltrated the cell, the bad men would be taking their last breath of freedom. They had enough evidence to put them away for a very long time.

  With the use of a hidden pen camera in Gray’s shirt, the team watched the group of men move inside the small deli. “Now all be good little terrorists and have a seat, get comfy and talk,” Nix muttered. His adrenaline was rushing, and he itched to catch the criminals.

  “Fuckers look so smug after they’ve killed so many innocents,” Nate “Cowboy” Cruise growled. He got his nickname because he always wore a Stetson, wide silver belt buckle, and dusty boots.

  “The moron is ours, boys. I can’t wait to see his face when we show up.” Briggs laughed. He was the youngest of the group and always wore a smile. He could look at a woman and make her swoon with his model good looks—and he enjoyed that capability by using it often. The ladies might be a little scared if they knew he could kill a man with his bare hands. His greatest skill was hand-to-hand combat.

  Nix eased back into the uncomfortable, too-small chair. “Actually, our suspect isn’t a moron. He’s intelligent and clever. Let’s not forget that he’s evaded capture six times over the last year and is extremely dangerous. If he slips through our fingers, he’ll be back at blowing up churches, bus stations, and airports tomorrow, and he’ll think he got one over on us again. The cocky son-of-a-bitch needs to be handled carefully.”

  Jameson nodded. “Cade’s right, boys. Getting cocky isn’t in the ingredients of catching this asshole. We can’t falsely believe this group will go down without a fight. Although we can’t see them, they’re all packing and not afraid to use their weapons, especially on lawmen. In their eyes, killing one of us is a golden seat on the airplane to heaven. Let’s not give any of them the satisfaction.” Jameson tightened his bulletproof vest that padded his large chest. “It’s now or never, Hawks. Chin up. Shoulders back. Let’s roll.”

  One by one, they slinked out of the back of the van, staying low and hidden from the large window of the deli. With a signal from Jameson, they separated, moving like a well-oiled machine, slinking along the building, and took their positions. The plan was to move in quietly. Damage-control and keeping the death toll to a minimum was required, exactly what the government appreciated. Each suspect killed was one less avenue in getting one of the terrorists to talk and gain valuable information in catching another terrorist.

  Jameson gave the nod and Nix signaled to the men behind him.

  The thunder flash was thrown through the window. Shouts, followed by gun shots, rang off inside. Each planned step, each strategic action was followed…

  Three hours later, Nix strolled into the building of the Hawks’ office. The team was jovial, sharing gruff compliments because the assignment had gone down without a hitch. The terrorists were all taken alive and headed for interrogation. Gray was safe and being debriefed. The Hawks were proud that they’d completed another mission. Now it was up to the next team to get as much knowledge, useful information, and names of other terrorists from the captured before being convicted and sentenced.

  Nix hung back and stepped up to the desk of the secretary, Claire. She was in her thirties, had shoulder-length, curly hair and wore thick glasses that she pushed up her nose every few minutes. Her cubicle was scattered with pictures of her cats, and although Nix didn’t know her very well, he did know every cute name of her animals.

  “Hi, Claire,” he said as he approached. When she saw him, she jerked and knocked over a file, scattering papers all over the floor. She was her usual jumpy-self. Some of the men had teased Nix in the past saying Claire had a crush on him, but he believed she was just socially awkward. Her cheeks turned red and she bent to her knees, grabbing the papers in haphazard fashion and shoving them back into the file. Picking up a paper that had landed at his feet, he handed it over. She took the offering without meeting his gaze and hurried back to her chair. “I’m sorry. Did I surprise you?” he asked once she was settled.

  Claire cleared her throat, uncomfortably shifted, and tugged down the hem of her skirt. “No, no. I was just working on a few things. I hear the bust went without a snag.” There she went, pushing those too-big glasses up her nose again. Nix wasn’t sure if they were loose or if it was just a nervous habit. He had a yearning to ask if he could help by tightening them for her, but he was afraid she’d take his offer as rude. He liked her, even if she did seem timid when he was around.

  “I’ve noticed there are cameras set up around the office, but I was told they are disabled.” Working in the biz of putting away criminals for over ten years now, Nix understood the need for security even when it seemed unnecessary. He’d just installed a superior system at his cabin.

  “Not disabled.” She moistened her lips and glanced up at him. “They’re not working.”

  “When you get a chance, can you call in a repair service? We can’t be too careful.” He smiled and the red flush that had been in her cheeks creeped into her neck. He almost felt guilty for making her so uncomfortable.

  “Will do, Mr. Cade.” She knocked over the pencil holder. “Oh, I mean Nix. Just as you requested.”

  “Thank you.” Not wanting to prolong her misery, he headed down the hall to the room of common offices. The men all occupied their desks, piping down some after their victory, and Nix dropped into the chair behind his own desk, pulled out his key and unlocked the bottom drawer. Taking his weapon out of its holster, he clicked on the safety and secured it, pushing the drawer closed with his dusty boot.

  Clicking on the computer, he typed in his password and stared at the screen. Now that his adrenaline was coming down from the clouds, his mind wandered. His thoughts were stuck on
a woman he’d met months ago when he’d first moved to Devil’s Bluff. They’d made love and the next morning she was gone, without a word. The unmarrying type, Nix had never complained when a woman decided to disappear at sunrise, but Melissia Easton had affected him enough that he’d hoped they could have breakfast, and maybe a repeat of wild, passionate sex.

  That didn’t happen.

  He should let the mystery woman go and chalk their rendezvous up to a one-time event that he would remember fondly. He should concentrate on work. Considering he was new with the team, he wanted to keep his nose to the grindstone, feeling like he had something to prove. He’d been brought in to join the elite team to stop the widespread criminal activity of terrorism, the sale and distribution of controlled substances, prostitution, child pornography, and organized crime in Wyoming. The Hawks got the worst of the worst cases.

  “Copy machine isn’t working again,” Jamison growled and punched a button on the speaker on his desk. “Claire, when you get a chance could I get you to copy some paperwork for me?”

  “Nothing new. We get the leftover funding,” Gabel “Abel” Stone said as he reached for his stress ball, squeezing it in his beefy fist. “I still can’t believe I missed out today. I wanted to get my hands on a few sum’bitches,” he snarled.

  “There’s always a next time,” Nix said.

  Claire came hurrying in. “Anyone else need anything while I’m out making copies?”

  “With the chance of sounding like an ass for asking you to grab coffee—”

  She waved a hand to dismiss Abel. “I don’t mind. I enjoy doing errands.” She met Nix’s gaze. “Can I get you something? I know you like an espresso with two pumps of cream and one sugar.”

  Now how the hell did she know that? Nix blinked. “Are you and the barista in cahoots?” he teased, but when she gave her head a hard shake sending her glasses off her nose and onto the floor, he wanted to kick himself in the ass.