Snippet Saturday

Today's topic is the big moment, that first look between the hero and heroine. I love a surprise "meet-up" and have one in my story, Finding Home, in the SEAL of My Dreams anthology. The heroine, Megan, is a Foreign Service officer on the team setting up a new embassy. When the country explodes, Hal, the hero, comes to the rescue. Here is their first meeting:

Megan slipped her shoulder out of her hiding place and peered around the desk. The door to the office remained close but the shouting had stopped. She couldn't even hear a low rumble of voices, which touched off a free-fall in her stomach.

She cleared the throat, trying to fight off the cough tickling her. Smoke choked the room now. A steady stream of gray haze moved through the one-story building. That meant there was an open window somewhere and either a huge lapse in protocol or a situation too horrible to contemplate.

She shifted to her knees, ignoring the hard shaking that moved her body from side to side. She'd keep low, crawl then run. She repeated the plan until it was the only thought running through her mind.

"Don't stop." She mouthed the words, surprised when they escaped her lips as a soft groan.

She tried to get a foot under her when something moved in front of her. A face peeked around the doorway connecting the area to the hallway running to the back door and kitchen. A scream raced up her throat but she stopped it in time when the figure put a finger to his lips. Black pants, black long-sleeved tee, black hair. The man almost blended into the dark wall, which she guessed was the point.



Even from across the room, a good fifteen feet away, she could make out his shocking blue eyes. The black watch and razor short haircut shouted military but she'd met every Marine protecting the Ambassador on this mission and he wasn't one of them. She'd remember that face, lean with a strong chin and a serious frown that comforted rather than scared her.

Ducking low, he ran in a line straight for her. Crouched and soundless. Focused and determined. He reached her before she could lift her hands to fend him off.

Then he balanced in front of her, right at the small opening under the desk. "Lieutenant Commander Hal Robertson, U.S. Navy."

Relief raced through her, zapping every ounce of strength as it went. "You're a SEAL."

It wasn't a question because she knew. The steely determination, the absolute lack of fear. He walked into a disaster, his gaze constantly surveying as if he were analyzing and dissecting every move and every exit.

"Yes, ma'am." He lowered his weapon as he stared straight into her eyes. "You are?"

"Megan White." She held out her hand.

He folded her cold fingers in his palms, heating them with a gentle rub. "Are you hurt, Megan White?"

"Scared witless."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Understood."

Right behind the relief came a rush of guilt. She'd hid under a desk while her boss fought off who knew how many men. "The Ambassador?"

"Wait here." Hal stood up and stalked, not stopping or landing even one loud footstep, on his way to the office door.

She guessed then he'd had the building under surveillance. He knew where to look and the layout of the building, which she hoped meant there were others out there ready to move in for a rescue. Scrambling out of the tiny hole and using the desk as a shield, she watched him. Long and lean, he moved with the grace of a jungle cat with the air crackling around him. His body in perfect control. His mind centered on the door.

____________

Remember to check out the other authors' snippets:

Megan Hart:Read in bed!

Rhian Cahill

Jody Wallace

Eliza Gayle

Lissa Matthews

Mandy M Roth

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

Lauren Dane

Leah Braemel

Shelli Stevens

Shiloh Walker

TJ Michaels

Zoë Archer