HOT SEAL Rescue (HOT SEAL Team - Book 3) by Lynn Raye Harris

really.
    “Why are you telling me this?”
    “Because I need you to understand what I’m about to ask of you.”
    “If you intend to ask me to harm Cody, I’m not going to do it.”
    Sam laughed. “Hardly, my dear. It would be a waste not only of a sexy man but of a damned fine Special Operator as well. There aren’t enough of them to toss away so casually.”
    Miranda felt herself grinding her teeth. “Then what?”
    “I need you to betray him before he betrays you.”
    The pain behind her eyes intensified. “And what do you mean by that?”
    “I mean that if you want to live, if you want to get out of this mess you’ve gotten yourself into, then you need to do exactly what I tell you to do. No matter how difficult. Understood?”
    Miranda’s chest ached. For what? For a man she’d known only a few hours? A man she’d had fantastic sex with, sure, but what more was there between them? Nothing, that’s what. They were strangers, nothing more. No matter how he’d held her close when she’d been upset over the way her life had imploded. He’d been nothing but kind. Helpful. Loyal.
    And yet this was her life. Her career. She couldn’t go down without a fight. She had to get the evidence to bring down Conti’s organization. It was justice for Mark’s life and his sacrifice.
    “It’s not only you in this mess,” Sam said, as if sensing her inner turmoil. “You’ve dragged Cody into it. He could be in danger too if you don’t follow my instructions.”
    She thought of the man who’d touched her so sweetly last night, and determination filled her. No way could she let him be in danger because of her. “Tell me what you want me to do.”

15
    W hen Cody went back inside , he heard movement in the bedroom. Miranda was awake. He strode over and pushed the door open. She was standing beside the bed, dragging on her jeans. She stopped in the process of doing so and stared at him.
    His chest tightened. God, she was beautiful. And she had no idea what was coming. What he had to do.
    “How you doing?” he asked.
    She dropped her gaze to the floor. Was that a blush?
    “Fine. A little sore.”
    At the thought of how she’d gotten that way, his cock started to tingle with arousal. Not now.
    “Sorry about that.”
    Her whiskey eyes were on his, wide and innocent. “Oh no, I loved it. Really. It’s been a long time and you—you treated me right. Thank you.”
    Fuck.
    “You’re welcome.”
    She finished pulling her jeans on and spread her hands. “Look, I don’t want this to be awkward, okay? We had sex. I don’t expect anything from you. I don’t want anything.”
    Now why did her words make him angry? He got what she was saying, and yet it pissed him off anyway.
    “What if I want something?”
    Her eyes widened a second. And then she looked… hurt? Regretful? A moment later she masked her expression, and he couldn’t tell what it was he’d seen.
    “What could you possibly want?”
    “Maybe I want to know more about you.” Whoa, since when had he ever wanted to know more about a woman he slept with?
    She looked uncertain, and he hurried on. No way was he going to sound needy. That was weird. And not at all like him.
    “I could also want you to know that I intend to do everything I can to help you, Miranda. I could want you to know that I’m not going to stop until we find out who betrayed you. No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”
    Because tonight, when he handed her over to Samantha Spencer, she was going to hate him.
    Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I appreciate that. You’ve been more than kind to me.”
    Now it was his turn to look pained. Goddammit, he still hadn’t figured out how he was going to obey orders and keep his promise to her at the same time. But he would. He had no choice.
    “I’ve been on the phone with my guys. We’re going to have to head back to Vegas and catch a flight out.”
    She straightened from where she’d bent to pick up her shoes. “Is