Deep Rising (An Outside the Lines Novel) (Entangled Select) by N.R. Rhodes

imagine what could’ve been if they’d met outside of this insanity. If they’d been free to act on the undeniable spark between them. She could only wonder at what fantasies he held—and damn if she wasn’t curious—but she had to draw the line there. Because as he’d told her on more than one occasion—case in point, this discussion now—he would do what he had to do. Attraction, sympathy, compassion—she’d be a fool to think he’d let any form of emotion cloud his purpose. Nothing would.
    If only she could prove her innocence…
    “I wanted to help,” she insisted. “I thought if people were informed they could protect themselves.”
    “Knowledge is dangerous. It becomes a weapon in the wrong hands.”
    “If I’d had the prescience… I swear I never would’ve typed a word.”
    When he glanced away, frustration rimmed his eyes. No matter how hard she tried, she suspected nothing she said or did would change his opinion of her.
    “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” she muttered.
    “Ain’t that the truth.”
    From his tone, she suspected he might be referring to his good intentions toward her. She inwardly sighed. Why, oh why is this happening to me? Jared’s nearness affected her. Sure, it was likely the adrenaline and the circumstances that had thrown this devastatingly attractive man into her path, but a stupid, very irrational part of her mind occasionally forgot all the negative things he’d done—and potentially would do—and instead she just thought about him . The strength and comfort she’d found in his hard arms. The way he was gentle and patient when he could’ve been far more brutal. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners and lightened with—dare she say kindness? Desire?—when he wasn’t busy glaring at her, that is. And then he had to go and admit to fantasizing about her… ’Cause she’d been fantasizing, too.
    It was crazy. No, she was likely crazy.
    With the batshit events of the days past, who could blame her?
    She concentrated on the question that had been needling her since they left the tarmac. “Who was the guy at the airport? It looked like you recognized him.”
    Jared nodded. “He’s an old friend. Haven’t seen him in a couple of years. I sure as hell didn’t expect to see him now, but I’m glad he’s here.”
    “Will he be working with us?”
    “Not in an official capacity. But I can call on him if need be.”
    “That’s good. Is he, um, in your line of work?”
    “Something like that.”
    Lana hoped he would elaborate, but when Jared turned his attention back to the road and remained silent, she realized he would not confide in her. It shouldn’t matter, she reminded herself. Jared, his opinion of her, the way he looked at her, none of it bore any pertinence to the issues at hand. But she wanted him to believe her, to trust her, to look at her with something more than annoyance or regret. Pursing her lips, Lana stared out the window.

    When they pulled up to the hotel, a valet greeted them. Jared slipped him cash as he passed along their bags. The money disappeared into the tall, stocky man’s hand. A native islander with thick blunt features, wide-set eyes, and a wider smile, Lana would’ve considered him handsome if he didn’t loom so large. She’d witnessed Jared’s strength, how much of it he restrained, and it had forced her to examine all men in a new light. Jared matched the valet in height, but rather than packing extra weight, Jared was in fighting form. In light of his “if you’re guilty you don’t wanna know what’ll happen to you” comment, she would’ve preferred him slack around the middle.
    “This way, Lana.”
    He cradled her arm and escorted her through the lobby as though she embodied a Southern belle rather than a terrorist’s sister whom he couldn’t decide whether to seduce or strangle.
    The heat of his skin permeated hers, invading her space, her air, until with each step she felt infused with