Page 10 of Exposed (Dangerous Distractions #3)

But with the order from the FBI and a high priority investigation, they’d managed. He and Ashley would stay in the penthouse across from Maddie and Carlos. Dylan had a deluxe room on the floor directly below them.

“Something funny?”

Dylan’s lips dipped and he shook his head. “Not at all. Just don’t go swimming and you’ll be all right, boss.”

“Ha ha, very funny. Keep it up and you’ll be the one swimming.”

Ashley whistled and turned her head to look out the window.

The driver pulled up to the arrival area and Nate stepped out of the car. He craned his neck back and took in the enormous vessel. Nausea bubbled in his stomach. Goddamn it to hell.

To be stranded in the middle of the ocean with Maddie was the last thing he wanted. He needed distance from her. The only good thing was that they had to be cautious of Carlos. They couldn’t take any chances. Something as little as too much eye contact could put them in the crossfire.

Nate’s mouth twisted at the long line to board the ship and he accepted their bags from the driver. This would take all fucking day. Ashley linked her arm in his.

“We’re VIP, darling. Over to this line.” She tugged him through the crowd, and a small freestanding sign read: VIP boarding.

Thank god.

Dylan’s bag dropped to the ground and his mouth hung open. “Are you kidding me?”

Nate chuckled and saluted him as they stepped in their much shorter line. They were on the ship and checked-in twenty minutes later. Nate took in the opulent crystal chandeliers and Persian rugs as Ashley led the way to the elevator banks.

“This is gorgeous,” she breathed.

Nate squeezed her arm in the crook of his. They had to act the part of a happy couple at all times. Which was pretty damn difficult of a task for two agents. “Shhh. You’re not supposed to be impressed. No one else here is.”

Ashley grunted and they stepped into the elevator.

His nerve endings hummed through his body.

What was taking Maddie so long? She should have been here a long time ago.

The ship would be leaving in an hour. There was no way in hell he could deport without hearing from her.

When they got to the room, he’d contact their other agent on the ship that had been placed with the concierge.

He’d be able to see if she had checked in.

His phone buzzed against his thigh. Anticipation shot through him as he dug his hand in his pocket and pulled it out.

I’m here.

She was safe. Relief washed over him and the vise that had been squeezing his chest loosened. He turned the screen to show Ashley, and punched the eighth floor button.

The elevator dinged and the doors started to close.

“Hold the elevator,” a voice called, as a long, olive-skinned arm slipped between the crack.

The doors bounced open, just as Nate pressed the button. “Sorry about that, I didn’t see you.”

Two men brushed through the door. The smaller of the two pulled his sunglasses off and Nate curled his hands into fists.

“No problem. There’s a wave of people coming behind me, so we’d better hurry up.” Carlos loosened the tie at his throat and cuffed up the sleeves on his suit jacket. Ashley’s fingers dug into Nate’s forearm in warning—as if he didn’t know who he was.

Nate released the open button and the doors glided shut. He cleared his throat. “Floor?”

“Eighth.” Carlos leaned back against the elevator wall and smiled at them.

His gaze lingered on Ashley. Disgust roiled through Nate.

The breadth of his bodyguard’s shoulders spanned the width of the elevator.

The cart lifted off the ground and after a few floors, the elevator shaft turned to glass and they had an expansive view of the atrium.

Nate forced a smile. The muscles in his face strained in protest. “Beautiful ship. Have you been on it before?” he asked.

Ashley squirmed next to him, and he tightened his hold on her arm. The bodyguard didn’t look at them. Hector Jose was a rough and hard sonofabitch.

The elevator slowed to a smooth stop and the doors opened. Carlos extended his hand to let them off first. “First time. Although it first sailed in January so it’s still very new.”

“Ah, well you guys have a good time.” Nate waved and led Ashley through the doors and down the hall.

Ashley waggled her fingers and followed Nate. They stayed close at their heels and fire scorched up Nate’s back. He tucked Ashley’s hand close to his side as they proceeded down the cerulean blue-carpeted hallway.

He stopped at the wide double doors of their suite and fished his key card from his pocket.

“Look at that, we’re neighbors.” Carlos gave him a jovial smile, but his green eyes darkened a shade. He dug his hands in his pockets. Hector rapped his knuckles against their door.

“Small world.” Nate smiled and swiped the key in the lock.

Carlos’s door swung open and Maddie stood in the doorway. Her long hair tumbled in loose waves around her shoulders, blond highlights flashing through the chestnut strands. Goddamn, she’d changed her hair. His breath caught in his throat and he froze with his hand on the door.

Carlos beamed and turned to face Maddie. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her slim fingers tangled in his hair as her mouth closed over his. Carlos groaned and turned to press her against the door. Her lashes flicked open and landed on Nate. Her eyes went wide and she froze in Carlos’s arms.

Carlos’s dark brows snapped down and he frowned at her. Like a slate wiped clean, Maddie straightened and flashed her perfect teeth. “Hi honey, you made it.” Her neatly manicured fingernails curled into his hand. “Come see the room, it’s gorgeous.”

Ashley covered his hand with hers, opened their door, and nudged them inside. He moved through the door just as Hector closed Carlos’s door behind them. His eye caught Carlos’s hand slide over Maddie’s ass as she led him into their suite.

Pressure built against his temples. Ashley sidled in front of him and shut the door. Her brown eyes flashed at him and the corner of her mouth twitched.

“Don’t even think about it,” she hissed. Her long finger pointed at his chest. “Whatever is going on between you and Maddie, you need to leave that shit on land. Got it?”

Hot air blew through his nose. He rubbed his face and turned from the door. Christ, what had he been thinking? That he could break the door down and knock Carlos out for touching Maddie?

If he didn’t get his emotions in check, he was going to fuck everything up.