by Anna Hackett
Her smile widened. “I made you nachos.”
He scowled at her. “That’s not what I meant.”
She sat up and grabbed the plate off the coffee table. She held it out to him. “No? How about I’m loving my new job at Treasure Hunter Security?”
She’d taken over the business and investment side of THS. Darcy was in joyous convulsions…she’d never loved dealing with that side of things, preferring to work on her computers. Meanwhile, Sydney was loving it.
Logan pinched her. “Tell me what I want to hear, woman.”
She leaned down and sank her teeth into his bottom lip. “How about I’m grateful every day that I hired Treasure Hunter Security and ended up with a wild, stubborn alpha male by my side, on a crazy adventure into the Andean cloud forests?”
“Better.” He twined his hand in her hair. “But that’s not what I was after.”
“Hey,” she said. “Watch the nachos.”
He looked down at the plate and then his eyes narrowed. “Did you put Camembert on my nachos?”
“I’m not using that stuff in the can, Logan. It’s not cheese. Try this, you’ll like it.”
With a growl, he grabbed the plate and set it back on the coffee table. He tumbled her on top of him, lying back on the couch. His hands snuck under her shirt. “Tell me.”
She snuggled into him. “I love you, Logan. All of you. Every wild inch of you.”
Damn. There it was. He never got tired of hearing her say that. He yanked her closer for a kiss. “And I love you, Sydney Granger. Completely. Every beautiful, sexy inch of you.”
***
Sydney leaned forward, searching through the files in the drawer. Darcy was scary smart, but her filing system was a disaster. Sydney needed the originals of the investment documents she was working on.
She closed the cabinet drawer with a sigh, eying the rest of the cabinets filling the small filing room at the back of the Treasure Hunter Security warehouse. She’d already organized the electronic filing system, and it looked like she’d need to get someone in to sort out this mess as well.
Large hands circled her hips from behind, making her squeak. Sydney found herself spun around and pinned up against the exposed brick wall beside the filing cabinets by a big, muscled body.
“You know these sexy schoolmarm skirts drive me crazy.” Logan’s voice was a husky growl. He leaned in closer, his teeth scraping against her neck.
Instant desire. It had only been weeks since she’d tumbled head over heels in love with this big, wild man, but what she felt grew stronger and deeper every day.
His lips landed on hers, deepening into a kiss. She kissed him back, always hungry for him. She felt his hands slide down her leg, then grip the hem of her pencil skirt, lifting it up. Her breathing hitched.
“Yes,” she murmured against his lips.
“Will you two quit making out.” Darcy’s shout from out in the main warehouse. “I know what you guys are doing in there.”
Logan lifted his head and growled. Sydney stifled a laugh.
“We have company incoming,” Darcy added. “Mom and Dad are back from their dig and on their way in.”
Logan groaned and Sydney gasped. She pushed against his chest. She wasn’t meeting the Wards all mussed up.
When Logan finally stepped back, Sydney got busy straightening her clothes. “Persephone Ward and Dr. Oliver Ward. Living legends.” She fiddled with her hair.
Logan reached out and touched her cheek. “Nervous?”
“A little.” She straightened her collar. “I know you’re close to them.”
“They’ve always treated me like family. And they’ll love you.” He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. “Like I do.”
Sydney’s chest warmed, like it did every time this man said those words to her, but she couldn’t help but be nervous. For so long she’d lived in a place where she was judged on everything, and where she’d never quite fit and never quite found happiness.
Now she’d found a man who was hers, and a place where she felt she belonged. She wanted Declan, Callum, and Darcy’s parents to like her.
As she and Logan stepped out of the filing room, she saw Declan and Layne appear from upstairs. Declan’s hair looked a little mussed and Layne’s cheeks were flushed. Sydney bit her lip. It looked like she and Logan weren’t the only ones making out in dark corners.
Layne bounced on her feet. “I can’t wait to hear about your parents’ trip. Your dad’s dig at Petra in Jordan sounds so fascinating.”
“And of course, Mom discovered a hidden hoard of gold artifacts,” Declan added dryly.
There was a roar of a motorcycle and through the front windows, Sydney saw a fast, sleek motorcycle pull up. The man set his booted feet on the ground and flicked the bike’s stand down. The two riders took their helmets off.
Callum Ward and Dani Navarro were both as sleek as their transport. Callum looked a lot like Declan—dark and dangerous. Dani—a world-renowned photographer—laughed at her fiancé before he reached over and kissed her.
These two looked like the perfect match. Sydney glanced at Logan’s big form beside her. No one would glance at them and think they were a perfect match. The wild, rugged former SEAL and the stylish, society-raised woman. Her gaze drifted down his arms, taking in his tattoos and muscles. Her belly quivered. She didn’t care. They worked together, and they were perfect for each other.
Callum and Dani walked in. “Hi,” Callum called out. “Mom and Dad are right behind us.”
The history professor and the treasure hunter. Sydney clasped her hands together. The pair really did sound like chalk and cheese. A little like Logan and Sydney.
Logan dropped onto one of the tattered couches that filled part of the warehouse space. Before Sydney could say anything, he reached up and tugged her into his lap.
“Logan! They’ll be here in a minute—”
“You keep looking at me like you were and I’ll drag you back into the file room.”
She struggled against him. “Don’t mess up my—”
He reached up and tugged her hair out of its neat twist, the pale strands falling around her shoulders. She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, but he silenced her with his lips, and kissed her. Hard.
She struggled for a second before she gave in and kissed him back, her hands sliding into his shaggy hair.
“So, this is the young lady who tamed our Logan.”
The sharp female voice had Sydney scrambling off Logan’s lap. As she stood, she took in the tiny woman staring at her. The woman’s piercing gray gaze seem to be cataloguing everything. Sydney touched her hair and realized it was a mess. She saw Logan get to his feet beside her.
Dammit. She’d just been caught making out…and not even in a dark corner.
“Logan, my boy.” The woman moved forward, bustling with contained energy. He leaned down and the woman kissed his cheeks, then touched his hair. “You need a haircut.”
He grunted.
The woman rolled her eyes. “I’ve known you long enough to know that means you’ll ignore me.” Her gaze run over his face. “You look…” she tilted her head “…happy.”
Then Persephone Ward’s gray gaze moved back to Sydney.
The older woman was short, but had a compact, fit body. Her hair was a lovely shade of ash-gray that went with the gray eyes she’d given to two of her children. Sydney found it hard to believe this tiny woman had given birth to three children, including two strapping, former Navy SEALs.
“So, you’re Sydney.”
“I am, Mrs. Ward. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The woman waved a hand. “Call me Persephone, please. Mrs. Ward makes me feel old.”
“Heard you still have that magic touch for finding treasure,” Logan said.
Persephone straightened and winked. “Of course I do.” She looked at Sydney. “I heard you two discovered some treasure of your own in South America, including a magical healing cure.”
Now Persephone’s gaze narrowed. “And you gave it away? Anonymously? No fame, no fortune?”
Sydney felt the woman censure. Startled, Sydney glance at Logan and saw he was grinning. She looked back at Persephone. “Ahh…”
“Percy, leave them alone.”
Sydney glanced over and saw a man, flanked by Declan and Callum, striding toward them. She blinked. He was…an older but still sexy version of his sons.
Oliver Ward blew every stereotype of a stuffy, older professor out of the water. He had a toned body, and his hair was threaded liberally with gray. Oh, boy. Layne and Dani only had to look at this man to know they were going to be very lucky ladies in the future, if Declan and Callum aged the same way as their father.
“Professor Ward,” Sydney said.
He reached out and shook her hand, shooting her a charming smile. “Oliver, please.”
Oh, boy. Oliver Ward was one hell of a silver fox.
“Quit dazzling the girl, Ward.” Persephone slapped her husband’s chest. “My husband has been making students and coeds speechless from the first day he stepped foot in a university.”
“And I still only have eyes for you, my darling treasure hunter.” He slipped an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
She sniffed.
“Your Sydney is lovely, Logan,” Oliver said.
Logan pulled Sydney tight against his side. “I know. I’m a lucky man.”
“And I hear you’ve taken over the accounts and business side of THS from Darcy,” Oliver added.
“I’m the lucky one around here,” Darcy said with a grin.
Persephone gave a shudder of horror. “Let’s not talk about business or accounts.” Another shudder. “We’ve made reservations downtown at our favorite restaurant. Good food, good wine, good company. And time to discuss any upcoming expeditions.”
Oliver Ward’s face turned serious and he looked at his sons and daughter. “I think we also need to discuss one less pleasant topic…Silk Road.”
Persephone scowled. “I dislike the fact that this group keep trying to kill my children.”
“I’m not overly fond of that either, Mom,” Declan said.
“And you’ll have all my help with that,” Sydney added. “They were after my brother and nearly killed us all. They have to be stopped.”
Persephone smiled at Sydney. “I think I like you, Sydney.” Then she clapped her hands. “But first, let’s have some wine.”
As everyone headed out to the parking lot, Sydney moved to grab her coat from behind the reception desk. Logan reached out and took it, helping her into it.
He turned her, cupping her cheek. “Darcy might think she’s lucky that you’ve taken over some work from her, but I’m the lucky one. Having you here, in my bed every night, loving me.”
“I love you every minute of every day, Wild Man.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before moving his mouth down along her jaw until he nipped her earlobe. “Let’s eat fast and then head home,” he murmured. “I’m not letting anyone get in the way of loving my woman.”
“Quit making out, you guys,” came Darcy’s exasperated shout from the door. “Let’s go.”
Sydney leaned into Logan, where she belonged, and laughed.
---
I hope you enjoyed Logan and Sydney’s story!
There are more Treasure Hunter Security adventures on the way! The series will continue with UNFATHOMED, Morgan’s story, out in January 2017.
For more action-packed romance, read on for a preview of the first chapter of Among Galactic Ruins, the first book in my award-winning Phoenix Adventures series. This is action, adventure, romance and treasure hunting in space!
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Preview: Among Galactic Ruins
As the descending starship hit turbulence, Dr. Alexa Carter gasped, her stomach jumping.
But she didn’t feel sick, she felt exhilarated.
She stared out the window at the sand dunes of the planet below. Zerzura. The legendary planet packed with danger, mystery and history.
She was finally here. All she could see was sand dune, after yellow sand dune, all the way off into the distance. The dual suns hung in the sky, big and full—one gold and one red—baking the ground below.
But there was more to Zerzura than that. She knew, from all her extensive history training as an astro-archeologist, that the planet was covered in ruins—some old and others beyond ancient. She knew every single one of the myths and legends.
She glanced down at her lap and clutched the Sync communicator she was holding. Right here she had her ticket to finding an ancient Terran treasure.
Lexa thumbed the screen. She’d found the slim, ancient vase in the museum archives and initially thought nothing of the lovely etchings of priestesses on the side of it.
Until she’d finished translating the obscure text.
She’d been gobsmacked when she realized the text gave her clues that not only formed a map, but also described what the treasure was at the end. A famed Fabergé egg.
Excitement zapped like electricity through her veins. After a career spent mostly in the Galactic Institute of Historical Preservation and on a few boring digs in the central systems, she was now the curator of the Darend Museum on Zeta Volantis—a private and well-funded museum that was mostly just a place for her wealthy patron, Marius Darend, to house his extensive, private collection of invaluable artifacts from around the galaxy.
But like most in the galaxy, he had a special obsession with old Earth artifacts. When she’d gone to him with the map and proposal to go on a treasure hunt to Zerzura to recover it, he’d been more than happy to fund it.
So here she was, Dr. Alexa Carter, on a treasure hunt.
Her father, of course, had almost had a coronary when she’d told her parents she’d be gone for several weeks. That familiar hard feeling invaded her belly. Baron Carter did not like his only daughter working, let alone being an astro-archeologist, and he really didn’t like her going to a planet like Zerzura. He’d ranted about wild chases and wastes of time, and predicted her failure.
She straightened in her seat. She’d been ignoring her father’s disapproval for years. When she had the egg in her hands, then he’d have to swallow his words.
Someone leaned over her, a broad shoulder brushing hers. “Strap in, Princess, we’re about to land.”
Lexa’s excitement deflated a little. There was just one fly in her med gel.
Unfortunately, Marius had insisted she bring along the museum’s new head of security. She didn’t know much about Damon Malik, but she knew she didn’t like him. The rumor among the museum staff was that he had a super-secret military background.
She looked at him now, all long, and lean and dark. He had hair as black as her own, but skin far darker. She couldn’t see him in the military. His manner was too…well, she wasn’t sure what, exactly, but he certainly didn’t seem the type to happily take orders.
No, he preferred to be the one giving them.
He shot her a small smile, but it didn’t reach his dark eyes. Those midnight-blue eyes were always…intense. Piercing. Like he was assessing everything, calculating. She found it unsettling.
“I’m already strapped in, Mr. Malik.” She tugged on her harness and raised a brow.
“Just checking. I’m here to make sure you don’t get hurt on this little escapade.”
“Escapade?” She bit her tongue and counted to ten. “We have a map leading to the location of a very valuable artifact. That’s hardly an escapade.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Princess.” He shot a glance at the window and the unforgiving desert below. “This is a foolish risk for some silly egg.”
She huffed out a breath. Infuriating man. “Why get a job at a museum if you think artifacts are silly?”
He leaned back in his seat. “Because I needed a change. One where no one tried to kill me.”
Kill him? She narrowed her eyes and wondered again just what the hell he’d done before he’d arrived at the Darend.
A chime sounded and the pilot’s voice filtered into the plush cabin of Marius’ starship. “Landing at Kharga spaceport in three minutes. Hang on, ladies and gentlemen.”
Excitement filled Lexa’s belly. Ignoring the man beside her, she looked out the window again.
The town of Kharga was visible now. They flew directly over it, and she marveled at the primitive look and the rough architecture. The buildings were made of stone—some simple squares, others with domed roofs, and some a haphazard sprawl of both. In the dirt-lined streets, ragged beasts were led by robed locals, and battered desert speeders flew in every direction, hovering off the ground.
It wasn’t advanced and yes, it was rough and dangerous. So very different to the marble-lined floors and grandeur of the Darend Museum or the Institute’s huge, imposing museums and research centers. And it was the complete opposite of the luxury she’d grown up with in the central systems.
She barely resisted bouncing in her seat like a child. She couldn’t wait to get down there. She wasn’t stupid, she knew there were risks, but could hold her own and she knew when to ask for help.
The ship touched down, a cloud of dust puffing past the window. Lexa ripped her harness off, trying—and failing—to contain her excitement.
“Wait.” Damon grabbed her arm and pulled her back from the opening door. “I’ll go first.”
As he moved forward, she pulled a face at his broad back. Arrogant know-it-all.
The door opened with a quiet hiss. She watched him stop at the top of the three steps that had extended from the starship. He scanned the spaceport…well, spaceport was a generous word for it. Lexa wasn’t sure the sandy ground, beaten-up starships lined up beside them, and the battered buildings covered with black streaks—were those laser scorch marks?—warranted the term spaceport, but it was what it was.
