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F or a moment, I can’t quite catch my breath. Staring into the deep blue of Knox’s eyes, my belly coils with heat. “I’m still not convinced it’s a good idea,” I respond.

No, it’s definitely not. The more time I spend in Knox’s alluring company, the more risk I place my heart in. Letting myself get too close to Knox would be foolish. Lock it down, Hunter. Don’t fall for his BS. You know him. You know his type.

I learned the hard way you can’t change a leopard’s spots. Now I just need to remember that and not fall flat on my ass because I believed all the pretty lies pouring from his very tempting lips.

My voice of reason having spoken, I turn my attention back to flying. If he thinks he can just stroll in here and hang out for the rest of the trip, he’s sorely mistaken.

“I have some things to take care of now. If you don’t mind?” I slant him a quick glance then pretend to study the readings on the instrument panel. Okay, so I’m not exactly being truthful, but I need him to leave. The cockpit suddenly feels too small, and Knox’s presence is larger than life.

“You want me to leave?”

He sounds surprised, maybe even a little hurt?

“That would be great, thanks.” I know I’m being rude, dismissing him. But he’s far too dangerous, and he needs to leave before I do something stupid—like start believing him.

“Yeah, okay.” He unbuckles himself and stands up. His hand touches my shoulder and squeezes lightly. “I don’t want to be a distraction.”

Well, you are! I mentally scream. A gigantic, overwhelming distraction that’s playing havoc with my fragile heart.

Finally, he leaves, closing the door behind him, and I slump back in my seat. Thank God .

“This was a mistake,” I whisper, my mind wandering back to last night.

After leaving the meeting, I went to Brighton’s house. I’m glad she offered because, for a brief moment, I thought Knox was going to offer up his guest bedroom. And that had a huge red X all over it, with a loud siren and blinking warning lights.

Brighton’s place suits her perfectly. It’s very feminine and smells like a garden thanks to the number and variety of plants and candles everywhere.

There are a lot of windows, and I imagine it’s probably awash with natural light during the day.

It’s also decorated beautifully with delicate trinket trays, fresh flowers everywhere and coffee table books about makeup and fashion.

Even though it was late, we ended up hanging out in her kitchen, munching on snacks and chatting, for almost two hours.

She’s very engaging, and I found out her parents are French, which explains her faint accent.

Even though I’m more of a tomboy who doesn’t have a clue about fashion and she should be walking red carpets in couture, we really clicked.

Of course, I tried to learn more about Knox without appearing too obvious. But Brighton is damn smart, and I don’t think I was fooling anyone.

“He likes you,” she’d said, green eyes twinkling. “It’s obvious.”

I can’t lie. Her words sent a little thrill through me.

“I have a feeling that man hasn’t met a woman he didn’t like,” I replied dryly.

But she shook her head. “Most women are a part of the job for him. Like most men are a part of it for me. We may appear like we’re completely engaged, but we never let them get too close. It’s a skill.”

She’d let out a musical laugh and I wished I could be more carefree like her. But that’s not the way I’m built. I overanalyze and sweat every single detail.

“Seriously, though,” Brighton continued, eyeing me closely, “he watches you like he wants to devour you.”

Devour me? A wave of satisfaction licked through me, as well as a shiver, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“He never pays attention to anyone for very long, and he’s used to women falling all over him. Maybe he senses you’re a challenge.”

“Or, maybe he’s bored and wants a new plaything,” I suggested, unable to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

“Knox isn’t like that, Hunter. Under all the polish, swagger and pretty boy smiles, he’s a damn good guy. If you’re smart, you’ll give him a chance.”

“I don’t mean to sound rude, but if he’s so great, why haven’t you or Addie snagged him up yet?” I couldn’t wrap my head around how this crew of attractive people could only be just friends.

“Quite a few reasons. First, we work together, and Addie and I are too smart to get tangled up in that potential mess. Second, I prefer older men. Give me a silver fox any day of the week.”

“Really?”

She leaned closer. “Older men make the best lovers. They know how to make you scream.”

I flushed, deciding to take her word for it since I’d never slept with anyone older than my thirty-two years.

Truthfully, as much as I thought Shane and I had a future together, he’d never made me scream.

Not even close. He’d been all about himself in the bedroom.

Always finished before me, and then seemed annoyed when I didn’t immediately orgasm after him. I learned to fake it to keep the peace.

Crossing my arms, lost in my thoughts, I gaze out at the clear, blue skies ahead.

We should be arriving at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport in Spain right on schedule.

From there, it’s a thirty to forty-minute drive to Marbella, where Torres’ mansion perches on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

After landing, we split up into two SUVs and drive to a safehouse provided by someone referred to only as “The Man.” They’ve mentioned him a couple times, and I want to ask a million questions, but file them away for later.

Marbella is even more beautiful than I imagined.

When we arrive at the safehouse, and I use the word lightly, I try not to gape.

It’s beyond enormous and so luxurious. Definitely the biggest, most amazing villa I’ve ever visited.

Tucked away on the side of a cliff behind decorative, wrought-iron gates, it boasts ten bedrooms, cobblestone walkways and a view of the sea.

It seems like everything is covered in jasmine and I inhale the sweet scent deeply, unable to imagine Alejandro Torres’ place being much nicer.

“Marbella is well-known for its extremely wealthy, often famous occupants and visitors. Or, infamous, as the case may be,” Knox tells me. “Bin Laden himself used to bring his family here.”

“Princes, sheiks and movie stars are the norm,” Addie adds, wheeling her suitcase over the uneven cobblestone courtyard. “Why doesn’t everyone find a bedroom and get situated? Let’s freshen up and meet in an hour.”

“Sounds good,” Ryder says. “I need a nap.”

“Didn’t you just sleep almost the entire way here?” Linc asks.

“What can I say? I need my beauty sleep.”

“Can’t argue with that.” Linc chuckles and Ryder slugs him in the shoulder as they walk off, Addie and Brighton on their heels.

I hesitate and look over at Knox. “Who’s The Man?” I ask, unable to hide my curiosity any longer.

He shrugs. “I don’t know.”

My brows shoot up in disbelief. “You don’t know? How can you trust him? Or her ?”

Because if none of them have ever met their so-called benefactor and master of ceremonies, how can they blindly follow what he says?

This is beginning to sound a little familiar and it makes me nervous.

Ex Nihilo went through a similar situation with their mysterious handler. And it didn’t end well.

“Addie’s mom told us to trust him. Implicitly. So we do.”

That’s far too simple and naive of an answer to me.

Frowning, I shake my head. “But what if he’s lying to you? What if he sets you up or—”

Knox captures my chin between his thumb and forefinger, sending my pulse skittering. “Sometimes you think too hard, sweets.”

“But how can you blindly trust him?” I press.

“I trust Angel, and she wouldn’t steer us wrong. Whoever The Man is, he’d go down fighting for all of us. I have zero doubts about that.”

He lightly rubs the indentation on my chin and my heart thumps madly.

“You worry too much, Ms. McGrath.”

“I know,” I admit. “I’m a bit of a control freak.”

“I can help you with that.”

“With what?” I ask, my attention dropping to his lips. Gah, they’re perfect. Just like the rest of him.

“Letting go,” he says huskily.

Every nerve ending in my body thrums and I can’t help how much I want him to kiss me. Even though my rational side is screaming to pull away and go to my room, I find myself leaning in closer. His scent envelops me, that velvet musk laced in amber, and my lips part.

Unable to control the desire firing through my veins, I push up on my toes. He moves at the exact moment, and our mouths crash together. My fingers curl into his soft Henley, trying to pull him even closer.

Am I surprised he’s an amazing kisser? Nope, not even a little.

So far, there’s not one thing this man isn’t good at. Not only is he beyond beautiful, he knows how to make my knees weak by kissing me senseless. No one has ever kissed me the way Knox Beckett does. Deeply, thoroughly, oh-so sensually.

He knows what he’s doing, and the moment I realize that, it’s like someone pours a bucket of ice water on me.

How many other women has he kissed like this on a job?

How many have been seduced by his promises and captivating words?

Am I just a pleasant diversion? A way to pass the time until the heist is over?

I jerk my mouth away from his and take a wobbly step back. He instantly reaches out, grabbing my elbow to steady me. His blue eyes look a bit dazed and he lets out a breath, his firm chest rising and falling harder than before.

“Hunter—”

But I shake my head, pulling my arm free. “That shouldn’t have happened.” I spin around, looking for my duffel bag. “Pretend it didn’t.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

I grab my bag off the floor and try to get my bearings, but it’s proving easier said than done after Knox just kissed me into sweet, dangerous oblivion.

My fight or flight kicks in, and I turn away and bolt down the hallway.

I can’t deal with this right now. Knox is nothing but a big complication I don’t need in my life.

“Hunter!” he calls, but I don’t stop, blindly hurrying away as my protective walls shoot up around my heart.

Knox Remington Beckett is a chance I can’t take. I’ve gone down that road and I know exactly where it leads.

Nowhere good.