Page 23 of Tempted by a SEAL

Chapter 4

Hunter pulled open the door of his hotel room, feeling Emma’s small frame trembling behind. He shifted his backpack to one shoulder and stepped into the carpeted hall. Sucked to leave the rest of his things behind, but this was no time to gather up all his belongings. Maybe he’d be back—maybe not.

At the moment, he just needed to get Emma out of her unharmed.

Fucking hell.

How someone like her had gotten mixed up in this defied explanation. She was a British archeologist—an academic. She wrote papers and did research for a living. He jumped out of airplanes and infiltrated terrorist camps. Fought the bad guys. Deployed all over the goddamn world.

But a woman like her?

This situation was FUBAR—and he needed to get her the hell out of it. Sure, he could drop her off at the nearest police station and be on his merry way. Hop on a flight back to the States, assuming those two assholes in the pub were taken care of.

But to leave her here alone? Unarmed and frightened?

There wasn’t a chance in hell of that happening.

His gaze swept the vacant hall. Every door was closed, but that didn’t mean there were no threats. Despite his precautions, someone could have followed them up here. Could be casing the place now.

Which was why they needed to leave as quickly as possible.

His phone buzzed with a new text from Mason.

Finishing up with the Brits. Flight’s leaving out of Heathrow at 0800.

Shit.

He quickly thumbed a response.

They take you down to the station?

Mason’s reply flashed on his screen.

Yep. Had to call the CO and American Embassy. Headed back soon.

Hunter clenched his jaw. He should be glad they were on their way home—neatly extricating themselves from a situation they shouldn’t have been involved with in the first place.

But as for Emma?

He’d bring her back to Little Creek with him if he had to.

He’d sure as hell feel a lot better on familiar territory—with his SEAL team close by. He could get whatever documents she had to the proper British authorities, but leaving her behind? No fucking way. Not when there were still men looking for her.

“I don’t suppose you have some quiet little house in the country we could hide out in,” he said over his shoulder as they walked down the hall.

“A quiet house in the country?” she laughed. “Why, are you looking to extend your vacation?”

He muttered a curse. Yeah, that was just his thing—a bed and breakfast that served scones and clotted cream every morning. In her dreams. “My CO has us on a flight tomorrow out of Heathrow. And I’m not leaving you alone here, princess.”

“London’s a big city. I can find somewhere to stay aside from my flat. If you’re returning home, you needn’t concern yourself with me.”

“Too late for that,” he muttered, feeling his gut clench. Uneasiness rolled over him at the thought of leaving her alone. He glanced back, not missing the fear and concern etched across her face. The uneasiness in her green eyes. “We just need somewhere to spend the night, and then I’ll bring you with me.”

“Bring me where? Back to the U.S.? In case you’re forgetting, I just got back to London. I can’t go running off again. I have my work. My family and friends.”

He paused and nailed her with a glare. “And where exactly are you planning on going? You already told me your apartment’s been ransacked. That you don’t want to drag your friends into this.”

“Agreed—my flat isn’t safe right now.”

---