Saturday Snippet

Today is an author's choice day. I'm thinking it's a good time to talk about some Navy SEALs. By now you know I wrote a short story for the charity anthology SEAL OF MY DREAMS. I love this book. I love that the authors and everyone at the publisher dedicated their time. I love that we raised (and continue to raise) money for veterans. And I love this hero…

Hal guided her through the room to the far hallway. Gun up and ready to pounce, he planned to get them out through the kitchen and through a planned zigzag of small homes and dirt alleys. He had to take care of a few problems first.

He stopped. Since Megan had a death drip on his pants and her body plastered against his back, the move slammed her into him. "Megan?"

"Yes?" Her whisper blew across the back of his neck, causing a blip in his concentration. But the real problem was the way she tugged on his pants. She'd hiked them into danger territory.

He propped his shoulder against the wall and tucked her in behind him. "Few things. First, you're shuffling."

"What does that mean?"

He slid her flat against the wall and shifted until he loomed over her. The only thing holding their bodies apart was her hands, which she had balanced between them.



His gaze traveled around the enclosed space just in case the owners of the voices he heard on the street decided to step inside. "You need to pick up your feet. The goal is quiet."

"Sorry." Pink raced up her neck and stained her cheeks.

When she started rubbing her hands together, her fingers brushed against his stomach and both of them froze. This close, he could see the green flecks in her eyes and the round angel face with full lips that begged for him to run a finger across them. She was a beautiful woman, curvy behind her conservative black suit and tall enough for her mouth to reach his chin.

The lacy white shirt under her blazer hinted at her feminine side.

And her ability to stay calm and on her feet while the world crumbled around her…well, that was sexier than any of her other obvious female attributes.

He put his hand over hers and held them against his stomach. Something sparked in her eyes and her body went still. He sensed the second she remembered where they were.

"You are safe with me." He waited until she nodded to go on. "Hold my pants or my shirt. Do not let go."

"Got it."

"Also might be a good idea for you not to yank the pants up so high."

He gaze shifted to his lower half and her mouth dropped open. "I didn't-"

"Any higher and my belt will be at my neck. I can fight through most things, but having my pants at my ears will down my running speed."

She let out a half-laugh that sounded more like a squeak then put her hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry."

"I've got swim trunks on, so we're fine." When her shoulders stopped shaking, he skipped to the tougher stuff. "The sun is at full power. You need to lose the jacket."

At this time of year, the temperature bounced from cool fifties at night to boiling high-nineties with no wind in the afternoon. A dark blazer might hide her identity but heat stroke could kill her. Wearing nothing but a blinding white shirt would put a target on her back.

She slipped the blazer off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. He tried not to notice her bare shoulders or the way the shirt stretched across her breasts. The slight definition of muscles down her tanned arms suggested she worked out. His brain processed the fact and stored it for later use in their escape. The not-so-smart part of him wanted to reach out and test her skin to see if it was as smooth as it looked.

She rubbed her hands over her exposed arms. "Better?"

"Yeah." He untucked his shirt and slipped it over his head, leaving the top of his wet suit on. "Slip this over your shirt. It will give you a bit of camouflage"

When she just stood there staring at him, he tried again. "Megan?"

She visibly snapped back to attention. "Right."

The shirt fell to her upper thighs. The baggy clothes took her from business and in charge to vulnerable. The bunny slippers probably had something to do with the change.

"We're going to get to the edge of this neighborhood then wait for the signal. Once we're clear, we'll get to the water and get you out."

She swallowed hard enough to make her throat move. "You do mean by boat and not by swimming."

"Are you afraid of the water?" He could knock her out if he had to, but he sure as hell hoped it didn't come to that.

"Terrified of sharks."

A phobia he could handle. "Won't let them near you. Promise."

She pushed away from the wall and put a hand on the back of his shirt. "Ready."

"I like your style, Megan White."

____________

Remember to check out the other authors' snippets:

Eliza Gayle

Rhian Cahill

Anne Rainey

Jody Wallace

Lissa Matthews

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Taige Crenshaw

Alison Kent

Delilah Devlin

Shiloh Walker

TJ Michaels

Shelli Stevens

Zoë Archer

Leah Braemel