Page 14 of Tempted by a SEAL

Chapter 3

Emma calmly took a sip of her gin and tonic and tried to ignore the palpitations in her heart as piercing blue eyes bore into her. As Hunter’s hand, resting on top of the bar, clenched into a fist. The tattoo of a snake curling up his forearm was somehow both intimidating and enticing. As was all that corded muscle beneath his skin.

He was gruff and macho, but all that strength wrapped up in tanned, toned, flesh?

Hotter than hell.

As were his broad shoulders, muscled chest, and thick biceps.

The stubble covering his strong jaw.

After the week she’d had, the last thing she needed was a macho American military guy following her around the pub and hitting on her.

Asking too many questions.

Making her stomach do flips any time he looked her way.

At the moment, all she needed was to calm her nerves with a drink or two while she figured out her next move. While she determined just how deeply in trouble she actually was. Certainly she should be able to make it to the police station. How many men could actually be after her?

Her gaze slid to her brown leather backpack, now resting on her lap. The documents she’d found in Afghanistan were there, as well as backup copies on a thumb drive she’d carefully sewn into the lining.

Look at her—so damn domestic.

Sewing.

She’d laugh if the situation wasn’t so out of control and beyond anything she could’ve imagined.

And when she’d ducked into the pub earlier because she was certain she was being followed, she’d nearly run into the first person who’d crossed her path. A man who was now perched two barstools away from her, looking dangerous and sexy and too damn attractive for his own good.

The guy she was seated beside seemed harmless enough—tan, blond hair, blue eyes. He probably lived on a beach somewhere in the US and went surfing every weekend. He looked muscular and fit. All American.

But just because he was military didn’t mean he was used to dealing with the type of men who were after her.

Ruthless businessmen who’d turned her over to armed insurgents.

Who’d thought nothing of taking cash for an innocent woman.

She’d heard about the American woman who’d been kidnapped a few weeks ago yet had been foolish enough to travel to Afghanistan anyway while conducting her research. Thinking that she’d be safe posing as an aid worker.

Assuming no one would notice when she’d snuck away from the others.

A chill raced down her spine at the memory of being grabbed from the streets. Nearly tossed in the back of a truck. She’d managed to escape and hide behind some of the booths in the market until nightfall, and she hadn’t returned to the aid office where she worked.

She’d simply vanished.

“Are you all right?” Mason asked beside her, his expression concerned.

She realized she’d gone perfectly still, staring at her drink, as she thought back over the past week.

“Fine,” she said, mustering up a smile. Forcing herself to glance around the crowded pub. She was safe here—safe from any outside threats, at least.

It was the man whose penetrating gaze kept sweeping her way that sent her heart skittering to a halt—Tall. Dark. Mysterious.

She didn’t need a distraction like him right now.

Or ever.

“You’re an archeologist?” he asked as he carefully watched her, his voice a deep rumble that sent shivers of a different sort racing down her spine.

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