Page 2

Nine months later.

A shiver of disgust rippled over Maddie’s skin.

Her six-inch heels scuffed across the pavement and her feet throbbed.

She scooped her hair off the back of her neck and dropped it over her shoulder.

His hands had been all over her tonight—serious progress.

But the second she got home, she was going to scrub her skin raw.

A horn blared from the dark street ahead and a car whizzed past. The smash of a beer bottled sounded behind her. She didn’t turn around.

She dug her hand in her black shoulder bag that matched her skimpy, black dress and pulled out her keys. She enjoyed dressing sexy every once in a while, but prancing around the club with naked dancers on stage and bringing drinks to sleazy punks was not her cup of tea.

But she was almost done.

She’d spent two months laying bread crumbs, and the stupid oaf was finally showing interest other than wanting to take her in the back room and screw her senseless.

She shuddered. One day, she’d have to sleep with Carlos in order to keep up the charade.

Her finger pressed the unlock button and the headlights of her sleek, black Mercedes flashed at her.

She opened the driver’s side door and her bare legs slid over the warm leather. Goosebumps raced over the back of her neck and she slammed the door and locked it. She swallowed and closed her eyes.

This assignment had her on pins and needles. It wasn’t like her other investigations in the past. This one was more than just work, more than putting a bad guy behind bars. This one struck a nerve. And if Carlos found out what she was up to… he would kill her.

An arm closed around her throat from behind her, crushing her back against the seat. Her heart slammed against her breastbone and her fingers gripped the black sleeve that surrounded her. Her chest screamed for air, but not a sound left her mouth.

She wouldn’t die like this.

She twisted against the arm, hurling herself forward, but he held her tight.

Her fingernails dug into her palm and she shot her fist over her shoulder, connecting with his face.

The impact was enough to loosen his hold.

She yanked his arm forward, gripped his fingers, and bent his wrist back toward his elbow. He yelped.

“Christ, Maddie. It’s me,” he growled.

Her gaze flew to the rear-view mirror. Fiery hazel eyes met hers. Her chest expanded on an exhale and she whipped around in her seat. Her eyebrows snapped down.

“You stupid—”

“Hey, easy now. I was only trying to help you. What the hell are you thinking getting in your car without checking the back seat? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Because that’s how easily it could have happened.”

Her anger settled to a low simmer. Nate McIver made her blood boil like no one else. He pressed her buttons, teased her, and worst of all, wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole.

Oh no. Nate was too noble.

Too good of a friend to give in to the attraction that burned between them like a flashfire. And he wasn’t her friend. Barely, anyway. He was a coward and a jerk… but he was here. He’d shown up when she’d needed him. The only one she could trust right now.

His dark blond hair was shorter than usual, giving him a more clean-cut appearance aside from the light shadow that grazed his jawline.

He’d always looked the epitome of a surfer-boy.

Though the longer hair had been sexy, the shorter hair suited him better.

He massaged his arm and a grimace drew his brows together.

“You’re lucky I didn’t kill you,” she breathed.

She’d been ready to. Her stomach flipped over at what Nate had said. Had it been someone who had wanted her dead, she could have been sporting a bullet wound in the back of her head right now.

Maybe her brother Ethan was right. Maybe she was in over her head after what had happened with her last undercover operation.

She set her teeth. No. This was different.

She’d been young then, only twenty-three and fresh out of college.

Her youth had landed her a rare, early undercover position in the investigation of a college drug bust. She’d slipped up and the dealers suspected her, which resulted in a school shooting.

She should have been the only target, but instead six other innocent lives were lost. She’d been shaken and vulnerable and had taken a few months off.

But that was years ago. She had many successful missions under her belt during her time in the Criminal Investigation Unit. Now she—and her lieutenant—knew she was ready for bigger cases.

Her experience with the school had only flamed the burning urge to serve and protect. She’d had to work her ass off to prove herself, and now she was a detective with the Narcotics Unit.

Ethan still thought she was investigating insurance fraud—he would flip his lid when he found out she’d been sent undercover to Miami to take down Carlos Santiago.

The streets of Miami would be cleaner and safer without Carlos’s pollution of cocaine getting into the hands of adolescents.

Putting him behind bars was her sole mission and she’d be damned if anyone would stand in her way.

Nate included.

She was getting closer and closer to Carlos by the day, and all she needed was to find out when and where his next drug shipment would come in.

Once she had that, Nate’s team of FBI agents would ambush him at the hand off—and voilà.

Carlos would be put away and she’d be on the fast track to her career as an FBI agent.

Nate massaged his eyebrow. “I’m glad you’re on your toes, but you’re lucky I wasn’t Carlos.”

The interior light switched on as Nate climbed out of the back seat, shut the door, and rounded the car to the passenger seat.

He stepped into her car and shut the door, cutting off the warm breeze from outside. His scent filled the interior of the car, mixing with the faint smell of new leather and the vanilla air freshener. His cologne was light and woodsy and tickled her nostrils.

Her fingers curled into a fist. That scent had haunted her dreams. It was the only memory she had of that night other than pure rage… and longing. Nate’s eyes dropped to her hand on the console.

“Don’t you dare hit me again.” His eyes sparked playfully at her and his knuckles brushed over hers until her hand opened.

She curled her fingers and pulled away. Hitting him had felt good. But it was the effort it took not to climb over the seat and straddle him that she fought with.

He pulled his seatbelt across his chest and clicked it into place. “I see you’re being inconspicuous with your hundred thousand dollar car. Did it ever occur to you that a waitress wouldn’t make that kind of dough? And that Carlos might get suspicious?”

Maddie drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. She hadn’t expected him to show up tonight. Their agreement had been that they would stay as far away from each other as possible until this was over.

Desire swirled in her belly. She didn’t need the distraction of Nate any more than he wanted to be around her.

“Yes, I did think of that. I also thought it would be worse if he found out that I have money and didn’t tell him. This way, I have nothing to hide.”

His mouth twitched. Something sparked in his eyes… appreciation?

As quick as it had appeared, it was gone.

The glow from the outdoor lights that lined the concrete building caught the sharp green in his irises. His lips curved, revealing a glimpse of his teeth.

Her pulse skidded to a halt. God, she could still taste him. Nine months ago, they’d come inches away from mind-blowing sex before he’d run away with his tail between his legs.

“I see. You’re hiding in plain sight?”

“Exactly.”

He lifted a shoulder. “Could work. Let me know how that goes.” His tone dripped with skepticism. “We’d better go before someone sees us. Head down the strip, my hotel isn’t far.”

Maddie moved her tongue along the inside of her cheek, buckled her seat belt, and started the car. “Didn’t you rent a car?” She backed out of the parking spot and turned toward the road.

“Yeah, but I took a cab. Just in case someone saw me with you and got suspicious.”

“Why did you come here anyway?” She eased out onto the road. “You hassle me about not being careful, but if someone sees us together it could blow everything.”

He settled back in his seat and stretched his legs out.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched his gaze slide over her body.

Her knees clenched together and her hands tightened on the steering wheel.

She shouldn’t want him as bad as she did.

Especially when he had blown her off after her sister’s wedding.

Who did that? Who takes a woman to a hotel room and then runs away?

He wanted her. The glint in his eyes whenever he was around told her that. But he was too damn scared of her—and Ethan.

She wasn’t like most women who occupied Nate’s company. Nope. She intimidated Nate and it was probably for the best. If she hooked up with him, the shit would hit the fan. She didn’t care, but he sure did.

Enough to get her hot and panting and then leave her hanging and in need. That was another thing she hadn’t expected from him. Nate was a bit of a ladies’ man, so not following through with her really ate at her.

“I figured it was better than coming to your house. Has he made a move yet?” Nate’s tone turned hard, and Maddie kept her gaze on the road. Disgust filled her at the memory of Carlos’s meaty hand sliding up the back of her dress.

“Yeah, he did. Who would have thought Carlos Santiago has bigger balls than you?”

Nate shook his head. “You can’t let shit go, can you?”

She laughed; the sound belied the ache in her heart. “Oh, believe me, I let it go. Your loss anyway.”