Showing posts with label Strike Force. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strike Force. Show all posts
Strike Force by Beth Rhodes
Title: Strike Force
Series: Hawk Elite Security #4
Author: Beth Rhodes
Genre: Romantic Suspense Standalone
Release Date: November 15, 2017
Blurb
Hawk Elite Security, a group of dedicated men and women.
Moved by duty and honor.
Dedicated to being courageous in the face of adversity.
Passionate about life.
~*~*~
Descendant of a line of Romanian gypsies, Marie Gabor uses both truth and legend to create a persona that will fool even the most jaded of men. When the family heirloom—the gold armband—is stolen by the long-feuding family from the old country, she’ll do whatever she can to get it back, including work for Hawk Elite Security, the very men who are supposed to be guarding the amulet.
Malcolm Daniels has dealt with lying, cheating women before, so when Marie steps into Hawk Elite to work, he sees right through her façade to the woman with secrets and a sly hand. But the more he works with her, the harder it is to ignore just how much he likes; she thinks outside the box, she faces danger with courage, and—hell—she’s gorgeous. He wants her but doesn’t trust her.
The stakes are raised when her plan to acquire the armband goes awry. Life becomes a commodity paid to the highest bidder. But will Malcolm be willing to pay such a high price?
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Excerpt
Chapter Two
He pulled himself over the bar one last time and dropped to the mat below. He grabbed the chamois off the hook on the wall and wiped his neck, face, and chest. His fingers bumped over the scar bisecting his pectoral.
His wake-up call.
He tugged a t-shirt back on. When he went through the confused room, he stopped to open the blinds. Stepping over the pile of movie cases, he scowled in disgust and then opened the front door.
Marie. “Fuck. What are you doing here?”
“Is that how you say ‘hi’ to all your friends?” Her brow rose.
Speechless, he hesitated, not sure what to say. Friends. She’d said the word, but he still struggled to equate what they had with something he shared with…say, Craig or John.
“I was thinking,” she began, as if sensing his dilemma, “maybe we got off on the wrong foot.”
Forget feet—the sight of her and those big eyes had his tired body reacting…inappropriately, or appropriately if they were on a path toward being in his bed. He cleared his throat and thought about the last string of code he’d created for Tangent Media.
Her hands fluttered to her sides and she shrugged, reminding him of how small she was, but delicate? No. “Look, if we have to spend the next few days together, I’d like to clear the air.”
Malcolm couldn’t invite her in. The mess was embarrassing, a problem he’d been meaning to fix. He glanced over his shoulder. “Um…”
“Oh my God. Do you have someone in there with you?” Her eyes had gone even wider. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think. Of course you have someone over. You’re leaving town for a few nights. And—” She paled. “Uh, you know what? I’ll just see you at the airport in the morning. I’m sorry.” She leaned, as if to yell around him. “I’m sorry,” she called out into his empty apartment.
She turned to leave, and guilt rode his conscience to stopping her. “It’s not a woman,” he called out, immediately second-guessing himself. He wanted the distance. He didn’t need her thinking about him as single or available or…fuck, a liar. He prided himself on being straightforward and honest. “It’s only… Fuck. Weeks of not cleaning up.”
Marie turned back, a wary look on her face. “It’s a bad time.”
“It’s fine. Come in,” he said. “For a few minutes,” he added pointedly. She might be the drop-by-and-stay kind of girl. Admitting the lust was better than ignoring it, he told himself, feeling like a total prick. No matter if she was a crook or a sweet girl who really did want friendship.
She could have turned over a new leaf.
Or she could be playing them all.
“I’m going to go get changed. I’ll be right back.” He hesitated. “Don’t steal anything.”
“Hey.” She pouted, her bottom lip sticking out.
He pressed his lips together on the groan wanting to escape.
And then she surprised him by laughing. “Okay, okay. No touchy.”
Oh, that did it. And why did her voice sound sultry?
In his bedroom, he picked up his jeans and stepped into them. He removed the sweaty shirt and wiped himself with it before he tugged the shirt he’d had on earlier over his head. Shower later.
She’d made herself at home in his kitchen and pulled down his only package of Oreos. “How do you eat these?” she asked.
“The usual methods. Sometimes, I pop it in whole. Sometimes, I twist it open and lick the cream filling.”
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