“Gracias, amigos,” the stranger said, his eyes steady on hers. “As you see, my wife is anxious. You may go.”
“Vaya, hombre. Take her in your arms. Show her who’s the boss,” another male voice shouted.
This time Laura caught a glimpse of two figures, Ruiz’s men, in the dark behind the stranger.
He took one step into the claustrophobic room. The overhead light played across his angular features, revealing two small but noticeable, scars. One on the left of his upper lip, another across the arch of his right brow. His light brown hair glinted gold and barely covered what had to be a longer scar on his left temple.
“Go away,” he said harshly to the men behind him. Then his eyes gentled. “Come here,” he whispered to her.
She wasn’t sure if she did as he ordered because of his eyes or because she was so scared she could think of no alternative.
As she took one tentative step forward, her T-shirt in a death grip against her breasts, one corner of his mouth kicked up, softening his features despite its hard angles and days’ growth of beard.
“Show no fear,” he whispered. “If I push you down, stay on the floor.”
Dios mío. What was happening?
He placed his left hand gently at the juncture of her neck and bare shoulder, then ran it down her arm, leaving a trail of chill bumps. When he reached her elbow, his eyes intent on hers, he reached behind her, grasped her waist and pulled her flush against himself.
Laura’s breath caught.
Behind the stranger, Ruiz’s men shouted and whistled.
“Enough,” the stranger said to them, his words warm against her hair. “Go now.”
“Of course,” the heavier of the two men said. “But if you need help, call.” He and his friend laughed.
The stranger shut the door shut with his foot, but still held her firmly. She pushed against his chest and backed away.
“¿Qué quieres?” she asked, as if she didn’t know what he wanted.
“What were you thinking?” he countered in a low voice. “You cannot handle someone like Ernesto Ruiz.”
Laura didn’t know what to do, how to reply. How to react. “I— You—”
“I don’t have the time to deal with him for you,” he continued, his voice still pitched low, the cadence of his Spanish definitely Argentinean. He turned, pulled the cheap curtain aside and peered out the tiny window before turning back. “Couldn’t you think of anything besides slapping him?”
Hands clenched, she replied, “What was I supposed to do? No one asked you to interfere.”
“Was I supposed to leave you to Ruiz’s tender mercies?” He shook his head, muttering something she only half heard, something about bad timing, as he rubbed his brow impatiently.
He was crazy, but didn’t seem to know who she was. She hoped her voice didn’t shake. “Gracias por—”
“Do not thank me,” he said, his attention fully on her again. “What are you going to do now?”
“Avoid Ruiz?” What she thought was a statement came out like a question.
But he wasn’t paying attention to what she said. He was staring, and she realized that even though she held her shirt to her chest, barely covering her breasts, his very pointed examination didn’t include her body, just her face.
“Step forward,” he ordered.
“¿Qué?”
“You heard me, step forward.”
No. No way. She stepped back. “I thanked you. That is all—”
She backed away even more, but he followed, trapping her against the wall, his eyes hooded in the dim room, his mouth set in an implacable line. Before she could react, he tilted her face up toward the light.
“Good God,” he said softly in perfect American English, a dark expression on his face. “You’re Laura Iglesias.”
Note from the Author
Thank you for reading To the Limit. I hope you enjoyed it! I'd love to hear from you. Please drop me a note at [email protected]
Reviews help other readers find books. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. To leave a review, please go to Amazon and/or Goodreads
Please add me to your BookBub recommended authors list by logging in to your BookBub account here: http://www.bookbub.com/
Each book in the Florida Romantic Suspense series is a stand-alone novel with its own conclusion and limited overlapping characters
Dancing in the Dark
In the Arms of a Stranger
To the Limit
Whatever it Takes
•A list of all my books is available on the next page. I hope you’ll enjoy them all.
Best wishes and happy reading,
Virginia
Book List
The books in each series are stand-alone novels. They each have their own conclusion and limited overlapping characters
Look for these at all Amazon Bookstores
Against the Wind (2012). Florida Sands Romantic Suspense, Book 1.
Just One Look (2014). Florida Sands Romantic Suspense, Book 2.
Take a Chance on Me (2016) Florida Sands Romantic Suspense, Book 3.
Dancing in the Dark (2013). Shadow Heroes, Book 1.
In the Arms of a Stranger (2016). Shadow Heroes, Book 2.
To the Limit (2017). Shadow Heroes, Book 3.
Whatever it Takes (2018). Shadow Heroes, Book 4.
About the Author
Virginia Kelly is the author of romantic suspense and romantic adventure novels. Her books have been nominated for several awards including the RWA Golden Heart, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Quill, the Aspen Gold and the National Reader's Choice Award.
Virginia writes about dangerous heroes (sexy, protective, gorgeous ones, of course!) and the adventurous women willing to take a chance on them. Adventure, steamy scenes and happily-ever-afters are a must in her books.
An academic librarian, Virginia is a native of Peru and lives in Florida with her family. She’s a travel buff, loves to hike and pretends to be a somewhat passable, very amateur photographer. View her photos on Instagram.
Website: http://virginiakelly.net
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Virginia-Kelly/e/B001KDD8FK
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3151712.Virginia_Kelly
Twitter: http://twitter.com/virginiagkelly
Facebook: http://facebook.com/virginiakellyauthor
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/virginiagkelly
Copyright
Copyright © 2004, 2017 by Virginia Kelly Vail
Published by RBV Press
Originally published under the same title in 2004
Second edition, revised, updated and edited, 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.
This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in the book have no existence outside the imagination of the author. Any similarity to real person, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Cover by Covers by Rogenna
To the Limit (Shadow Heroes Book 3) Page 26
