HOT Mess (Expanded Edition)(Hostile Operations Team - Book 2)
Page 14
Georgie frowned. “He was afraid you wouldn’t approve. I had a hell of a time getting him down here.”
“Not approve? We love Sam!”
“I know that.” She gazed over at him again. “Maybe he knows it now too. Dad’s being awfully great about the whole thing.”
“Your father is a fabulous judge of character. He’s never suffered one moment of doubt over Sam McKnight. Tim, on the other hand…”
“I know.” Georgie sighed. If she’d listened to her father in the first place, maybe she wouldn’t have married Tim. Not that he’d tried to talk her out of it, but he had certainly never cared for Tim much. That should have been her first clue.
“Rick’s having a little trouble adjusting,” her mother said, and Georgie’s gaze strayed to where her brother sat with his wife. “But he’ll get used to it.”
Rick hadn’t taken the news badly, but he hadn’t been precisely joyful either. In fact, he’d taken Sam aside for what she could only surmise was a man-to-man talk. He’d looked stern, but then so had Sam, and she’d known Sam was fighting for her.
And that was a long cry from where he’d been just a few weeks ago when he’d been willing to walk away because of his fears over what her family would think.
“I know. I guess I can’t blame him. Sam was his best friend in the world, and I’ve sort of stolen him away. He’s my best friend now.”
“Your brother will adjust, dear. Oh my, Lilly Beth is about to cause a mischief and her parents aren’t even looking. Excuse me.”
Georgie watched her mother hurry away and then her gaze strayed back to Sam. He was looking straight at her this time, and she felt that familiar wash of heat she always felt when he was near. He said something to her dad and then he was moving her way.
“How you doing?” she asked when he reached her side.
He sat in the chair beside her and took a sip of his beer. “It’s a little awkward, but it’s fine.”
She turned her head, met his dark gaze. “You aren’t just saying that?”
“No. Because you’re worth it to me, Georgie. Some things in this life are worth fighting for, and you’re one of them.”
“That’s mighty sweet of you to say.”
“It’s not sweet when it’s the truth. When you were in danger, all I wanted to do was fight for you. I’d have killed those men for daring to frighten you if I could have.”
She put her palm on his cheek, watched his eyes darken. “I’m glad you’re here with me. I’m glad you decided to keep fighting. Because I love you. I always have. And I always will.”
“You sure about that? Always is a mighty long time.”
“I’m aware of it. And yes, I’m sure.”
He grinned. “Speaking of a long time, you think we’ve been here long enough? I want to show you some things back at the hotel.”
She leaned in and kissed him. “What kind of things, handsome?”
“Dirty things, G. Hot, messy things. Things that will make your toes curl.”
“Oh, I am so in.”
“I hoped you’d say that.” They stood and he took her hand, but he didn’t move for a long moment. “Damn, I love you.”
Happiness flooded her. “Of course you do. I’m awesome.”
He grinned. “Humble too.”
She squeezed his hand. “Mostly, I’m happy. You make me that way.”
“Then you’re really going to love what comes next, babe.”
She had no doubt. Whether it was Sam McKnight in her bed or just giving her a hot look from across a room, she was going to love every damn moment of being with him. Because that’s the way it was always meant to be.
“So long as it involves you and me somewhere alone, I know I will.”
They started across the yard. But Sam suddenly stopped and she turned toward him in confusion. He was watching her with a serious expression on his face.
“I know this isn’t the time to ask, so I’m not asking, but what do you think about getting married someday? I know your last marriage wasn’t so hot—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence because she flung her arms around him and kissed him. He caught her to him and held her tight. When they came up for air again, somebody whistled.
“Yes,” she said. “The minute you ask me, the answer is yes.”
“Damn, I wish I had a ring so I could do it now.”
“You don’t need a ring.”
He frowned. And then he reached beneath his shirt and pulled out his dog tags. When he dropped to one knee, Georgie gasped. So did everyone else.
“Will you marry me, Georgeanne Hayes? I know I’m not a rich man, but if love were currency, I’d have a fortune. And it’d all be yours. It already is.”
Georgie sniffled as she took the dog tags he offered her. She’d imagined Sam asking her to marry him a million times when she was a teenager. She’d even imagined it recently. But not one time was a perfect as this one. Because this was the real one, and it was so Sam.
“Yes, I’ll marry you, Sam McKnight. You have my heart. You always have. And I know you’ll protect it for the rest of our lives.”
He stood and dragged her into his arms. “Damn straight I will,” he growled.
“Let’s get out of here. I want to celebrate this moment alone.”
He glanced over her head. “I do too, but I think we’ve got to stay a little longer now. Your mother’s crying. Your dad is patting her and giving me a thumbs up. I think we need to let them enjoy this moment with us. At least for a little while.”
Georgie squeezed him tight. He was right, even if she didn’t want to share him with anyone just now. “Okay, but as soon as we get back to the hotel, I want you naked.”
Sam grinned. “No problem, babe.”
He kissed her again and then he set her away from him and took her hand. Her family swarmed around them, laughing and hugging and proclaiming their happiness. Even Rick.
It was the perfect way to celebrate their future. Right here with the family she loved. The family who’d always loved Sam and always would. Just like she did.
Alpha Squad gathered at Richie and Evie’s place fairly often. Evie was an amazing cook, and they all liked to eat. Kev shoveled a forkful of delicious Cajun food into his mouth and thanked the good Lord that he’d burn it all off in training tomorrow. The sauce was rich, the rice beneath it fluffy and filling.
Richie leaned over and kissed Evie. “Damn, cher. You’ve done it again.”
Evie smiled. “Cooking delicious meals is part of my dastardly plan to keep you forever.”
“It’s working,” Richie said.
“You can keep me,” Flash added as he tore off a hunk of French bread.
“Nope,” Richie said. “You aren’t house-trained yet.”
Kid snorted. The rest of the guys chuckled. Knight Rider sat beside his fiancée and looked about as happy as a man could look. They kept bumping shoulders and sharing looks. Hell, they’d only been engaged for about a month at this point but they looked like they couldn’t wait to get married. Knight Rider had said they weren’t in a rush. Apparently, there was a wedding being planned in Texas next year. Like Richie, Georgie came from money—and her family was planning to do it up big.
Richie and Evie were getting married too, but they hadn’t set a date yet.
Kev concentrated on his food as he thought about the last time he’d gone to a teammate’s wedding.
Lucky, looking as beautiful as a bride could look, gliding down the aisle toward Marco. Kev had been the best man and he’d stood there with a giant stone in his gut as he watched the woman he’d always wanted marry his best friend. His fault because he’d walked away from her when she could have been his.
Let Marco have her without a fight—and regretted it every single day from that moment on.
Kev took a swallow of beer, trying to wash away bitter memories. Marco was dead and Lucky wasn’t speaking to any of them anymore. She’d left. Moved away and gone silent. She
was out of his life for good. So why couldn’t he stop thinking about her?
He saw her when he closed his eyes at night. Sometimes, he made love to her in his dreams, though he didn’t really know what that would be like. And he always felt like shit when he woke up and realized what he’d been imagining. She’d been Marco’s, and he had no right.
“Hey, Big Mac,” Hawk said.
Kev jerked. “Yeah?”
“You hear from Lucky lately?”
Kev’s gut twisted. He hadn’t been expecting that question, but he clearly wasn’t the only one remembering the last time a teammate got married. “No.”
“Did she really move to Hawaii?”
“That’s what I heard,” Kev said. Not that Lucky had told him where she was going. The information had been filtered through the HOT grapevine.
“Man, must be nice out there. I guess she deserves it after everything.”
“Yeah,” Kid added sadly. “I guess she does. If you talk to her, tell her I said hi.”
Kev knew that request was aimed at him. Everyone seemed to think that he and Lucky were close since he and Marco had been. They had no idea.
“If I hear from her, I definitely will.”
The silence was awkward for a few seconds.
Evie stood up. “Anybody want dessert?”
“Oh hell yes,” Iceman said. “What did you make?”
Evie’s eyes sparkled. “A bananas Foster cheesecake.”
There were moans of delight around the table. “Damn, woman,” Richie said. “You trying to fatten up my operators?”
“Oh please. You guys are too active for that. Georgie, can you get the dessert plates while I get the cheesecake?”
“Absolutely,” Georgie replied, sliding from her seat to join Evie in the kitchen.
The party finally ended after they’d played poker and drank beer and ate more cheesecake. It was dark out by then, and they said goodbye on the front porch and went to their vehicles.
Kev started his truck and sat there for a long moment, watching as his friends drove away. In spite of the good food and friendship, in spite of how much he loved his team—and Evie and Georgie—there was a hole in his chest that wouldn’t quite close. He filled it up, or covered it over, when he was with these people.
But then, when he was alone like now, the hole opened again and he felt empty inside. He didn’t know how to fix it, or if he even could. His mind turned to thoughts of Lucky, but he quickly pushed them away.
Lucky wasn’t his. She never would be. And he had to forget all about her.
Maybe then the hole inside him would finally close…
Thank you for reading HOT MESS! If you want to find out what happens when Kev is sent to bring Lucky back to HOT for a mission, be sure to one-click DANGEROUSLY HOT today!
“Edge of seat action and drama and heart-breaking love all rolled up into a wonderful story.” ~ Goodreads
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Books by Lynn Raye Harris
The Hostile Operations Team ® Books
(Click on link for more info)
Book 0.5: RECKLESS HEAT
Book 1: HOT PURSUIT - Matt & Evie
Book 2: HOT MESS - Sam & Georgie
Book 3: DANGEROUSLY HOT - Kev & Lucky
Book 4: HOT PACKAGE - Billy & Olivia
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
Book 14: HOT JUSTICE ~ Wolf & Haylee
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 - Blade & Quinn
Book 7: HOT SEAL HERO - Dirty & Chloe
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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
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes
ROSS (Book 3) - Ross & Holly
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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)
Dean “Wolf” Garner (Book 14)
Malcom “Mal” McCoy
Jake “Harley” Ryan (HOT WITNESS)
Jax “Gem” Stone
Noah “Easy” Cross
Ryder “Muffin” Hanson
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
Black’s Bandits
Jace Kaiser (Book 1)
Brett Wheeler
Colton Duchaine
Ian Black
Tyler Scott
Jared
Rascal
? Unnamed Team Members
Freelance Contractors
Lucinda “Lucky” San Ramos, now MacDonald (Book 4)
Victoria “Vee” Royal, now Brandon (Book 6)
Emily Royal, now Gordon (Book 8)
Miranda Lockwood, now McCormick (SEAL Team Book 3)
Bliss Bennett, (Book 13)
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 Natio
nal 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
Lynn@LynnRayeHarris.com
All Rights Reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
HOT MESS - 2019 Expanded Version
Copyright © 2013 by Lynn Raye Harris.
Cover Design Copyright © 2013 Croco Designs.
ISBN: 978-1-941002-50-6