by Elle James
Hector’s gaze shifted to Tracie. “And you, Senora? Were you equally entertained?” he asked, his tone doubtful.
Tracie slipped her hand into the crook of Rip’s elbow. “Very much so. I felt like I was on the set of an action-adventure movie. It was exhilarating.” She smiled and shook her hair back from her face.
The motion made Rip’s pulse quicken. How he’d love to run his hands through her pretty brown hair. She’d been stoic and held it together throughout the entire confrontation with Delgado.
Their host’s frown deepened. “Carmelo Delgado is not a man to be toyed with. He will not be happy that he couldn’t find you. Were you able to speak to him about buying a coffee plantation?”
Rip pressed his lips together, aiming for a sufficient look of irritation. “He didn’t want to sell his place.”
Tracie touched his arm. “Oh, honey, he was quite adamant. He even had his people point guns at us.” She raised a hand to her breast, although Rip was certain she didn’t have to feign her shock at their hostile reception on le Plantación de Ángel. She dropped her hand and looked around. “I don’t know about you, but all that excitement made me hungry.”
Hector hesitated, his eyes narrowing as if he wasn’t convinced they were telling him everything. Then his brows rose and he waved toward the door. “Please. I will have my staff prepare a meal.”
“And I so look forward to swimming in that lovely pool,” Tracie said.
Rip could have kissed her for pulling Hector’s attention off their day’s adventure and back to his duties as a host. His gut told him that Hector was on the up-and-up and could be trusted with the truth, but Rip wasn’t going to risk the lives of Tracie, Carlos and Julio on instinct. They entered the hacienda and settled down to a meal in the airy dining room. Afterward, Tracie excused herself and left the men to talk, claiming a headache.
Hector received a call at the end of the meal and left the room to go to his office to take it.
Rip stood and motioned to Carlos and Julio. “Please, let’s go out to the pool to discuss tonight’s plan. My wife wishes to attend the festival, but I worry that Delgado’s men will be there. I want to make certain we have a way out, should things get sticky.”
Carlos’s gaze shifted left then right before he nodded. “Let’s go.”
Once outside, Rip settled in chairs far enough away from the hacienda walls they need not worry about listening devices. Carlos and Julio dragged seats close to him and they put their heads together. The night ahead could prove to be difficult.
“It might be suicide going to the festival tonight,” Carlos started.
Rip nodded. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea himself. “I’ll check in with Hank before we go. If they haven’t been able to locate the rebel base, we have to get close enough to Delgado’s men to plant GPS devices on them.”
“If they attend.”
“They will.” Rip grinned. “I told them we’d be there.”
Carlos’s mouth quirked up on the corner. “You did, didn’t you?”
“Purposely,” Rip said. “And with the suggestion I was a competing weapons supplier, I don’t think he will try to kidnap us. Follow, yes. Kidnap or kill, no.”
Carlos frowned. “From Hank’s briefing, these guerillas prefer to shoot first, question later.”
“We’ll be prepared.”
Julio leaned close. “Hank sent along enough equipment to outfit an entire SEAL team. All we need is for Delgado’s team to lead us into their camp.”
“Good. Let’s be sure to take what we need with us. I have a feeling we’ll be headed into the jungle before the night is over.”
“What will you tell Hector?” Carlos asked.
“Leave it to me.”
Julio’s eyes narrowed. “He’ll want to send reinforcements with us. I prefer to leave them behind. We can handle this mission without them.”
“They might prove a good distraction. Delgado won’t know who to target if he has eight people to follow instead of just the four of us. I’ll have Hector instruct them to dress casual like they’re going to the festival and leave the big guns at the house.”
Julio laughed. “Yeah, the camouflage might give them away.”
Carlos nodded. “We’ll have to lose them, as well, or risk them following us to the rebel camp.”
Rip stared at the two men and felt a kinship, even though they’d only met the night before. “What unit were you with?”
“SEAL Team Six,” Julio answered.
“And you’re working for Hank now?”
Julio nodded. “He recruited us when he’d heard we’d left the Navy.”
“Why’d you leave?” Rip asked.
“Our missions were becoming too bogged down in politics,” Carlos answered.
“Yeah. Watched one of our own get gunned down because we weren’t allowed to fire first.”
Rip sucked in a deep breath. “I understand that. We’re here because someone in our government ratted out the DEA agent we went in to rescue. Set us up to pull him out far enough for a sniper to take him down and we lost one of our team.”
Carlos and Julio nodded.
“That’s what Hank told us.” Carlos’s mouth pressed into a tight line. “Makes you wonder who you’re fighting for.”
Julio’s brows dipped. “When we heard about your situation, we asked to be a part of the team.”
Rip’s chest tightened. “I’m glad you’re on board.” A movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
Tracie, emerged from the hacienda wearing a hot-pink bikini and a sheer wrap knotted around her hips. The ends of the wrap billowed out in the breeze and then plastered against her shapely legs.
Carlos gave a low whistle. “None of our buddies looked like that in the Navy.”
“Yeah,” Julio said. “Glad she’s on our team.”
Rip’s fists clenched. He wanted to tell the guys to back off, but what good would it do? Tracie had been clear about not wanting a relationship with him. On this four-person team, Rip was the outsider. Julio, Carlos and Tracie worked for Hank.
“Hank said she was a Fed,” Carlos said.
“Former FBI,” Rip confirmed. “I would have thought you three would know each other.”
Carlos shook his head. “Julio and I are out of San Diego. We’ve only been to Hank’s ranch once. When he has a job, he either picks up the phone or takes one of his planes and meets with us in California.”
“Just how many people does Hank have working for him?”
Julio shrugged. “None of us know. He started with four cowboys from Texas. Since then, he’s expanded out. I think he has one in Colorado, the two of us in California and now a woman. All of us were born and raised on ranches.”
Which would exclude Rip from Hank’s selection criteria. He’d never been on a ranch in his life, having grown up in the suburbs of Atlanta, raised by his father, a member of the Atlanta Police Department. Not that he cared about Hank’s methods of choosing his Covert Cowboys. He wasn’t interested in giving up on the Navy SEALs yet. He loved his job, despite the corruption within the government.
If he could trace the source of the weapons sales back to the United States, he was almost certain he’d find a corrupt government official at the root of the problem. Clean out the traitor and he could go back to business as usual.
Silence fell over the three men as they sat in the shade, studying Tracie as she strode out into the sunshine, untied the wrap and let it fall onto a lounge chair.
Her body was trim, not an ounce of flab, her muscles tight and well defined. She’d let her hair hang straight down her back. Her skin was tanned, not too dark, but a perfect contrast to the bright pink of the bikini. For a moment she stood at the edge of the pool, staring across the hilltop to the east, as if she
could see all the way to the coast.
Rip’s breath caught in his throat. She was as beautiful in the bikini as she’d been naked in the shower and he wanted her even more. What would it take to break through her defenses and convince her they had a chance?
Then she sucked in a deep breath, her lungs expanding before she dove cleanly into the sparkling water.
When she surfaced, Carlos and Julio clapped loudly and whistled.
“Well done, Senora Gideon,” Carlos said.
Tracie twisted in the water, pushing the wet hair back from her forehead. “I didn’t see y’all there,” she said in her soft Texas drawl. “Am I missing anything?”
Rip shook his head. “Not really. We were discussing going to the festival tonight.”
“Oh, good. I haven’t danced since our wedding.” She winked at Rip.
“Ah, the beautiful Senora Gideon is taking advantage of the pool.” Hector stepped out of the shadows, wearing swim trunks with a towel slung around his neck. “The pool sees so little use with only me to enjoy its pleasures.” He draped the towel over the back of a chair and stood with his arms crossed, facing Rip, Julio and Carlos. “Gentlemen, perhaps you would care to join us?”
“I’m more interested in a siesta,” Carlos said.
Julio stood and stretched. “I could use one, as well. If we’re to go to the festival tonight, I want to be well-rested and alert in case we encounter trouble.”
The two SEALs left the patio. Rip stood. “I suppose I could do with a swim. I’ll be right back.”
He entered the hacienda, glancing back at the sound of a splash.
Hector surfaced next to Tracie, close enough to touch.
Rip’s blood heated. He was tempted to turn around and jump into the pool fully clothed to put a little space between Hector and Tracie.
For a long moment, he clenched his fists and counted, reaching fifty before he finally calmed enough to enter the house. He strode across the living area and ran up the stairs taking the steps two at a time, not slowing until he reached the bedroom he shared with Tracie.
He riffled through the drawers, digging deep, searching for swim trunks. After the first two drawers, he was throwing shirts, shorts and underwear on the floor, grinding his teeth down to the nub. Where the hell were his swim trunks?
Finally, he reached the bottom of the shorts drawer and unearthed what was nothing more than a pair of shiny black men’s underwear.
“Really, Hank? Real men don’t wear tiny swim briefs unless they’re competing in a swim competition.” He flung the offending item on the bed and dug through the next drawer. None of the shorts would do. As soon as they got wet, they’d be sheer.
“I’m not wearing that,” he grumbled. The image of Tracie laughing into Hector’s face flashed in Rip’s mind and he grabbed the swimwear, shucked his trousers and yanked the garment up over his thighs. He might as well be swimming naked.
He stood in front of the mirror, his cheeks hot, and almost ditched the entire idea. If not for the thought of Hector flirting with Tracie, he would have. Grabbing a towel from the bathroom, he wrapped it around his waist and ran back down the stairs and out to the pool.
Tracie and Hector glanced up as he skidded to a halt at the edge.
“Join us, sweetheart, the water’s wonderful.” Tracie stood in water that came up to just beneath her breasts, the reflection of sunlight emphasizing the hot-pink bikini top.
“Si. Join us Senor Gideon.”
“Oh, Hector, we don’t need to be so formal. Call him Chuck.”
He smiled at Tracie, his charm turned up full blast and then he faced Rip and dipped his head. “Join us, Chuck.” His emphasis on Chuck made it almost sound like an insult.
With both of them watching his every move, Rip didn’t want to remove the towel. “I think I’ll enjoy the sunshine.”
“You have to get in. The water is just the right temperature.” Tracie batted her eyes at him, making his stomach do all kinds of flips, even knowing she was putting on a show for Hector’s benefit. “Please.”
The please won. With a sigh, he dropped the towel.
Hector’s brows rose.
Tracie’s green eyes flared and darkened, but she didn’t say a word.
Rip dove into the water, figuring that the sooner he got in, the sooner his swimming apparel wouldn’t be as conspicuous. When he surfaced, he came up behind Tracie and pulled her against him. “Did you tell Hector where we’re going tonight?”
Tracie shook her head. “I thought I’d let you.”
Hector’s head canted to the side. “Are you going to the festival as planned tonight?”
“We are.”
Hector’s brows dipped. “It is dangerous for foreigners to wander around the countryside at night. There have been many kidnappings and murders at the hands of Los Rebeldes del Diablo. I wish you to reconsider.”
Rip smiled and nuzzled the back of Tracie’s neck. “My wife has made up her mind.”
“What of Senor Delgado?” Hector asked.
“There will be a lot of people in the town. We’ll do our best to blend in.”
Hector snorted. “Senora Gideon, your skin is far too pale to blend in and Senor Gideon is much taller and broader than most men of the area. I am afraid you will have difficulty getting lost in the crowd.”
“That’s where your men could come in. Do you mind loaning us the four men you sent with us this morning?” Rip asked. “I need them to dress in clothes that will help them to blend into the crowd. I will have my men do the same. That way if we run into trouble, no one will know they are there to protect us and they can help us get out.”
“Oh, sweetie, I do so want to dance. And the decorations were so cute.”
Rip shrugged toward Hector. “You see? I can’t disappoint my bride.”
Hector’s frown deepened. “You are putting yourselves in unnecessary danger when you can stay here, behind the walls where you will remain safe.”
“But we’ll miss the music and the dancing.” Tracie leaned toward Hector, though Rip held her back. “We’ll be okay. Chuck will be there to protect me, and the other men will be, as well.”
Hector shrugged. “So be it. I will inform my men.”
“Good. It’s all settled. We’ll leave at dark.” Rip pulled Tracie closer, nibbling the back of her ear. “Now where was I. Ah, yes. I missed you.”
She giggled and responded with, “I missed you, too.”
Hector’s eyes narrowed and he swam away. Lifting himself out of the water, he rose to stand dripping beside the pool.
“Aren’t you going to stay?” Tracie asked, her hands resting on Rip’s arms, which he’d wrapped around her waist.
“I have business to conduct and I do not intend to be what you call, the third wheel.” He nodded to Rip. “Enjoy for as long as you like.”
Once Hector left the patio, Tracie squirmed, pushing Rip’s hands away. “Let go.”
He didn’t release her, instead he turned her in his arms and clamped her to him.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, a smile pasted across her angry lips.
“Hector went inside, but I’d bet my favorite snorkel he’s standing in the window watching.”
Tracie stopped wiggling and sighed. “I supposed you could be right.”
“We really need to act more like a newlywed couple,” he said. “For the sake of our cover, of course.” Rip tightened his hold on her.
“I thought you didn’t want to get closer. You don’t want to waste your time on a relationship that isn’t going anywhere.”
“Maybe I’ve decided to use my indomitable charm to convince you a relationship with me isn’t such a bad idea.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Now show Hector that we’re crazy in love, and you can’t liv
e without me.”
“You’re impossible,” she whispered, her wet hands rising to capture his face between her palms.
“No, I’m indomitable. We SEALs—” Rip was cut off by Tracie’s lips pressing against his.
She leaned back for a moment to say, “You SEALs talk way too much.”
“Only when we have—”
Her mouth descended on his again and her legs wrapped around his waist beneath the water.
For sure now, he wouldn’t be able to leave the pool without displaying just how turned on he was by her. At that moment, he didn’t care.
He deepened the kiss, pushing past her teeth to slide along the length of her tongue, stroking, caressing and loving every inch of his possession.
Tracie moaned, her thighs tightening, her center rubbing against the front of his swimsuit, igniting a desire so strong, he wanted to take her, there in the pool and to hell with whoever was watching.
“You want me now, don’t you?” Tracie nibbled at his ear.
“I’ve always wanted you.”
“Then let’s go to our bedroom.”
God, he wanted to. More than he wanted to breathe. If they weren’t at Hector’s house in his pool, and if he wasn’t wearing that damned bathing suit, he might have been beyond temptation and carried her into the house and up the stairs to the massive king-size bed and taken her places she’d never dreamed possible.
But they weren’t alone. With the possibility that they were being watched, maybe even recorded, Rip knew he couldn’t throw caution to the wind.
Tracie had to want to be with him for longer than just the operation. When they were no longer playing the newlyweds, she had to want him to make love to her as much as he wanted to make love to her.
The physical attraction could not be denied. Rip knew there was so much more to life than that and he wanted Tracie to know that, too. If he could find the bastard who’d betrayed her trust, he’d kill him. On the other hand, he was glad she’d met someone who wasn’t trustworthy so that when she met someone who was, she’d eventually know the difference.
