We shouldnt be seen together any more than necessary, Natalie said.
Why not? Weve shared a breathing apparatus, a fishing boat and a taxi.
Still. If theres a chance of me being taken rather than one of the other girls, Id rather it was me.
Duff touched her cheek. Again, they might not take you. Since we returned to the cave and those thugs fired at us, Id say there is a strong possibility theyd shoot you rather than take you as a hostage.
How else am I supposed to find where they hid my sister? I can almost bet they wont tell us if we ask.
Then we have to find a way to follow them to where they are hiding your sister and the other girls.
The longer shes missing
Well find her. Duff tipped her chin upward and lowered his lips to hers. I promise.
Navy SEAL Survival
Elle James
www.millsandboon.co.uk
MILLS & BOON
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Table of Contents
Cover
Introduction
Title Page
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Copyright
ELLE JAMES, a New York Times bestselling author, started writing when her sister challenged her to write a romance novel. She has managed a full-time job and raised three wonderful children, and she and her husband even tried ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas). Ask her, and shell tell you what its like to go toe-to-toe with an angry 350-pound bird! Elle loves to hear from fans at ellejames@earthlink.net or www.ellejames.com.
This book is dedicated to all those men and women who serve in the armed forces protecting our country and our way of life.
Thank you for your dedication and service.
Chapter One
This is the life. Dutton Duff Calloway stretched out on the lounge chair beside the pool and closed his eyes.
Sawyer handed Duff a chilled and fruity Pain Killer drink before easing into the chair beside him. Im surprised all four of us were granted leave at the same time. He pulled the colorful miniature umbrella out of a chunk of pineapple and dropped it on the end table between them.
Duff downed a third of the drink. Normally he preferred an ice-cold beer. But the combination of orange juice, pineapple and whatever else went into the icy concoction was refreshing and helped add to the sense of relaxation hed hoped to find in Cancun, Mexico. I didnt look that gift horse in the mouth. I took the leave and ran.
Flew, Sawyer corrected. Yeah, I wasnt questioning our luck, either.
Duff shaded his eyes and stared past the palm trees to the beach beyond. Where do you suppose Quentin and Montana got off to?
They said something about reserving a diving excursion for tomorrow. I told them to sign us up while they were at it.
Duff closed his eyes and soaked in the warm rays of sunshine. Sounds good. After our last mission to clean up that terrorist training camp in Honduras, Im satisfied to just be a bum and let the hotel staff and excursion coordinators do all the work.
Sawyer crossed his hands behind his head and leaned back, grinning. Yeah. This is the life.
Duffs grin matched Sawyers. No boss, no guns, no terrorists. Just me, my friends and this... He lifted the Pain Killer. Now all we need is a good beer.
And women, Sawyer added.
Silently, Duff agreed. How many months had it been since hed been with one? He sighed. Too many to count.
A giggle sounded at the opposite end of the pool and the tittering of female voices drifted through the balmy air.
Sawyer leaned his head up. Speak of the devils.
Life couldnt get more perfect. Duff swallowed more of the fruity drink.
The gaggle of young ladies appeared to be college-aged, all wearing bikinis and makeup, and carrying beach bags filled with towels and sunscreen.
Duff sighed. Too young.
Hey. Were not old men, yet. Sawyer sat up and studied the women as they strolled past their lounge chairs, headed for the beach. Oh, wait. You are an old man at the ripe old age of thirty.
Thats right. And twenty-year-old, vapor-headed women dont do it for me. I like mine more mature.
Here you go. Sawyer chuckled. Mature women, three oclock.
Two women who couldnt be a day under fifty strolled by.
Duff nodded. I bet they know a lot more about passion than the girls headed for the beach.
What about her? Sawyer tipped his head toward the woman whod just stepped out of the resort building. She wore a one-piece black swimsuit, the front cut in a sharp V down past her navel, her blond hair loose around her shoulders. Pausing for a moment at the door, she slipped sunglasses onto her nose. Then she strode across the concrete, her bare feet tipped in bright red polish.