“The price on her head?”
Ian nodded. “Gone.”
Blade was glad he was sitting down because his knees would have given out as the relief flooded him. He’d had niggling doubts in the back of his mind ever since the night they’d defeated Shan—but now it was gone. Shan was dead and the triads didn’t care. Beijing and Asia Sun were losers in the information game since Halliday’s terminals weren’t going to the US military, but they’d just try again. Business as usual, and Quinn wasn’t part of it.
Ian lifted his beer. “So I guess you’re no longer needed at BDI, Garrison. Black’s Bandits releases you back to your natural habitat. Though if any of you ever want to come to work for me…” He eyed them all, took in their expressions of curiosity and hostility and downright stubbornness, and laughed. “I’d be happy to have any one of you. Remember that.” He finished the beer and stood. “Later, gators.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Dirty slurred after Ian disappeared around the house. “That was beautiful.”
Blade couldn’t help but snort out a laugh. The rest of his teammates joined him until they were all guffawing and slapping legs and tables. Dirty joined in, though belatedly. Poor guy was drunker than shit. Maybe he was a few more than three whiskeys in.
The day blended into evening, with more food and drink and laughter, until the party finally broke up. Blade put an arm around Quinn and guided her to his SUV. She was animated and flushed, which meant she was slightly tipsy, and she didn’t stop talking for even a second. He didn’t mind at all. He loved that she was so at ease and happy. Such a contrast to the woman he’d met again that day in Hong Kong.
She leaned against the back of the seat and finally sighed as she ran out of steam. “So what about you, honey? Did you have fun today?”
“I did.”
“Are you really going back to work with them now?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll miss having you around me all day every day, but I guess it’s time life moved on, right?”
He glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking that I need to do something with my life. I inherited all that money from Hunter—and I want to do what he wouldn’t have. I want to help people, you know?”
“You bought Lupe a car. Gave the staff bonuses. And you sent Li-Wu on a cruise with his family.”
“I know—and I loved doing it, so I want to help other people. I was thinking of setting up a foundation or something. Ella agrees with me. She’s got more money than she knows what to do with, so she wants a cause too. We’re going to get together on it and see what we can do. We talked today, and we both want to help women somehow. We think we really can.”
“I’m glad, baby. Whatever makes you happy.”
She reached out and touched his thigh. Of course his cock leaped to life like he was a horny teenager and not a man who’d had sex with the love of his life just this morning. “You make me happy. I love you.”
“I love you too, Quinn.”
He eventually pulled up beside the RV and shut off the ignition. Then he got out and went around to open the door for Quinn. She came into his arms willingly when he put them around her and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he walked to the front of the SUV, leaned her back against the grille. Then he tipped his head back to gaze up at the stars above.
“Look at that, baby,” he said.
She did. It was dark enough out here in the country to see a few stars, though nothing like he’d seen in some of the places he’d been where the light pollution was negligent to nonexistent.
“It’s pretty.”
“I’d give you all that if I could. Every single star out there. All the light in the universe. Because that’s how important you are to me. You’re my light in the darkness. My heart and soul. My everything.”
He felt her shudder in his embrace. She put her hands on his face, held him. “When you say things like that, you make me want to cry.”
“I don’t want to make you cry.”
“It’s a good cry, I promise.”
“I want to make love to you beneath these stars.”
“I want that too.”
He carried her over to where they had two reclining chaises next to the RV so they could sit outside and have their morning coffee. Then he set her down.
“Hold that thought,” he told her as he dragged one of the chairs out from beneath the awning and placed it squarely beneath the night sky. Then he crooked his fingers at her. “Come here, Quinn.”
She smiled as she sauntered toward him. “With pleasure, sexy man.”
With many kisses and caresses and sighs, he undressed her and lowered her to the chaise. Her pale body was a beacon in the darkness, a beautiful invitation. He stared down at her for a long moment, taking her in.
She was his. Always and only his.
Then, with the full moon rising in the night sky, he joined her and proved why she always would be.
Epilogue
Ryan “Dirty Harry” Callahan woke to the sounds of someone shouting and the beeping of a large truck backing up. His head throbbed as if someone inside chiseled away at his temples. The shouting and beeping continued and he groaned. Where the fuck was he?
He cracked an eye open and pain shot behind his eyeballs. He tried again, slowly. This time he paid attention to his surroundings. He was in his own bed. What the hell had happened?
Then he remembered. The party at Money’s place, Ian Black, and a whole lot of drinking and laughing. He’d indulged too much, which wasn’t something he ever really did. He usually had an iron will about alcohol and he guarded himself carefully.
But yesterday—shit, yesterday had been different.
Had Neo gotten drunk too? Had they taken an Uber, or had someone brought them home? They shared a house, though they each had their own floor. The kitchen was on his floor, but he didn’t smell coffee.
He dragged his hand across his body and reached for his phone. Outside, the shouting and clunking continued. The beeping had stopped, but now the noise was just as bad.
He picked up his phone and squinted. Noon? It was fucking noon?
He dragged his body upright, groaning. Then his gaze landed on the bottle of water and the two horse-sized Motrin sitting beside it. Neo had written a note, which meant Neo hadn’t been as drunk as he had.
Gone to the range. Take these, bud. Eat some cereal if you can. Man, you were drunk as shit!
Ryan grabbed the pills and twisted open the water, downing them both. He finished the water and lay back, wishing his head would either split open and kill him or stop pounding. The doorbell rang and shattered whatever peace he was trying to find. He lay there like death warmed over and prayed they’d go away.
Eventually he climbed from the bed, grabbed his Sig, holding it at his side, and stumbled down the hall toward the door. He wished like hell he had the basement floor today, but it wasn’t to be.
“Fucking stop pressing that bell,” he yelled at whoever was on the other side. And just yelling it made his head threaten to split wide open. He reached the door and peered through the peephole.
A woman stood on the other side, arms crossed, foot tapping as she waited. He jerked the door open and growled at her.
“What do you want?”
Her eyes widened as they climbed from his midsection to his face. Then they widened some more. “Oh. Oh goodness, I am so sorry.” She held up both hands as if to ward him off. He squinted at her because the light was killing him, but what he could see looked nice.
Long golden-brown hair, wide eyes, a pretty pink mouth. Her skin was tanned. She wore a loose T-shirt and shorts with flip-flops. Her legs were long, long, long for a small girl. He’d be interested if he wasn’t so fucking hungover.
Across the street, a moving van sat kind of cockeyed in the street. His truck sat next to the curb, right in front of where the van needed to go.
It dawned on him what she wanted
. “You want me to move the truck, right?”
She stared hard at his face. “Um, yes? I’m sorry, you clearly look like you’re ill or something, but—” She waved a hand behind her, didn’t move her eyes from his. “I’m moving in today and the van can’t get into the driveway.”
He shoved a hand through his hair. “Fine, I’ll get the keys.”
He turned and went over to the kitchen counter, found the keys and dropped the Sig, and headed back to the door. She was still standing there, back turned as she yelled something at someone across the street. He stepped onto the porch and she turned around again. Squeaked as her gaze dropped, and then she dragged it up to his face once more.
“I, um, oh dear,” she said. And then she laughed, throwing her hand over her mouth and giggling in a way that made him frown. Pretty laugh though.
“What?”
“I’m sorry. Really. But, um—” She waved her hand in his general direction. “Shouldn’t you put on some pants?”
Ryan stood there, puzzling over her words. Then he looked down—and discovered he was completely and utterly naked. He was standing on the front porch in front of God and everybody, holding his keys, his dick standing at half-mast like a tired old soldier who couldn’t quite make it work.
Fucking hell…
THANK YOU!
Thanks for reading this HOT SEAL Team story! The next book is coming soon! HOT SEAL HERO is Ryan “Dirty Harry” Callahan’s story. When a sexy neighbor moves in next door, Ryan isn’t prepared for the trouble she brings with her…or the way he feels whenever she’s near. Click on the title for more information on when and where you can purchase HOT SEAL HERO or sign up for my newsletter at www.LynnRayeHarris.com/newsletter for an email alert about when it’s available for purchase.
* * *
For news on all the upcoming stories in the Hostile Operations Team world (including when Ian Black gets his story!), sign up for my newsletter at www.LynnRayeHarris.com/newsletter or text HOTTIES to 66866.
* * *
Click here to join the Hotties, my Facebook Readers and Fans Group. We have fun in the Hotties! There are giveaways, shenanigans, and generally a good time hanging out with book friends.
* * *
For more information about all of my books, click here to visit my website.
Also by Lynn Raye Harris
To be kept up to date about all of Lynn’s new books, sign up for her newsletter by clicking here.
* * *
The Hostile Operations Team Books
(Click on link for more info)
Book 0: RECKLESS HEAT
* * *
Book 1: HOT PURSUIT - Matt & Evie
* * *
Book 2: HOT MESS - Sam & Georgie
* * *
Book 3: HOT PACKAGE - Billy & Olivia
* * *
Book 4: DANGEROUSLY HOT - Kev & Lucky
* * *
Book 5: HOT SHOT - Jack & Gina
* * *
Book 6: HOT REBEL - Nick & Victoria
* * *
Book 7: HOT ICE - Garrett & Grace
* * *
Book 8: HOT & BOTHERED - Ryan & Emily
* * *
Book 9: HOT PROTECTOR - Chase & Sophie
* * *
Book 10: HOT ADDICTION - Dex & Annabelle
* * *
Book 11: HOT VALOR - Mendez & Kat
* * *
Book 12: HOT ANGEL - Cade & Brooke
* * *
Book 13: HOT SECRETS - Sky & Bliss
* * *
Sign up for my newsletter to be notified about all future releases!
The HOT SEAL Team Books
(Click on link for more info)
Book 1: HOT SEAL - Dane & Ivy
* * *
Book 2: HOT SEAL Lover - Remy & Christina
* * *
Book 3: HOT SEAL Rescue - Cody & Miranda
* * *
Book 4: HOT SEAL BRIDE - Cash & Ella
* * *
Book 5: HOT SEAL REDEMPTION - Alex & Bailey
* * *
Book 6: HOT SEAL TARGET - Adam & Quinn
* * *
Book 7: HOT SEAL HERO - Ryan & ?? ~ Coming soon!
* * *
Sign up for my newsletter to be notified about all future releases!
The HOT Novella in Liliana Hart’s MacKenzie Family Series
HOT WITNESS - Jake & Eva
7 Brides for 7 Brothers
MAX (Book 5) - Max & Ellie
7 Brides for 7 Soldiers
WYATT (Book 4) - Wyatt & Paige
Who’s HOT?
Alpha Squad
Matt “Richie Rich” Girard (Book 0 & 1)
Sam “Knight Rider” McKnight (Book 2)
Billy “the Kid” Blake (Book 3)
Kev “Big Mac” MacDonald (Book 4)
Jack “Hawk” Hunter (Book 5)
Nick “Brandy” Brandon (Book 6)
Garrett “Iceman” Spencer (Book 7)
Ryan “Flash” Gordon (Book 8)
Chase “Fiddler” Daniels (Book 9)
Dex “Double Dee” Davidson (Book 10)
* * *
Commander
John “Viper” Mendez (Book 11)
* * *
Deputy Commander
Alex “Ghost” Bishop
* * *
Echo Squad
Cade “Saint” Rodgers (Book 12)
Sky “Hacker” Kelley (Book 13)
Malcom “Mal” McCoy
Jake “Harley” Ryan (HOT WITNESS)
Jax “Gem” Stone
Noah “Easy” Cross
Ryder “Muffin” Hanson
Dean “Wolf” Garner
* * *
SEAL Team
Dane “Viking” Erikson (Book 1)
Remy “Cage” Marchand (Book 2)
Cody “Cowboy” McCormick (Book 3)
Cash “Money” McQuaid (Book 4)
Alexei “Camel” Kamarov (Book 5)
Adam “Blade” Garrison (Book 6)
Ryan “Dirty Harry” Callahan (Book 7)
Zach “Neo” Anderson (Book 8)
* * *
Black’s Bandits
Ian Black
Brett Wheeler
Jace Kaiser
Colton Duchaine
Rascal
? Unnamed Team Members
* * *
Freelance Contractors
Lucinda “Lucky” San Ramos, now MacDonald (HOT Book 4)
Victoria “Vee” Royal, now Brandon (HOT Book 6)
Emily Royal, now Gordon (HOT Book 8)
Miranda Lockwood, now McCormick (SEAL Team Book 3)
About the Author
Lynn Raye Harris is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the HOSTILE OPERATIONS TEAM SERIES of military romances as well as twenty books for Harlequin Presents. A former finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and the National Readers Choice Award, Lynn lives in Alabama with her handsome former-military husband, two crazy cats, and one spoiled American Saddlebred horse. Lynn's books have been called “exceptional and emotional,” “intense,” and “sizzling.” Lynn's books have sold over three million copies worldwide.
To connect with Lynn online:
www.LynnRayeHarris.com
[email protected]
All Rights Reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
* * *
HOT SEAL Target
Copyright © 2018 by Lynn Raye Harris
Cover Design Copyright © 2018 Croco Designs
ISBN: 978-1-941002-37-7
yscale(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
HOT SEAL Target Page 23