Hot & Bothered (A Hostile Operations Team Novel - Book 8) by Lynn Raye Harris Page A

into his hands? Had she promised him the moon when she could have gotten away with less?
    Emily took a deep breath and finished her water. Then she stood and wove her way between tables. Once outside, she started the long walk back to the compound. She scanned her surroundings, looking for anything out of place. There was nothing but people going about their daily tasks. Women with baskets of groceries, children playing in the dusty street, vendors with market stalls selling everything from vegetables to touristy gadgets. Not that Acamar had many tourists these days, but the excavation of the Lost City had brought hope they would have more—until the kidnapping.
    It was always a shame when certain radical elements ruined opportunities for everyone. If the Freedom Force was spilling out into Acamar, that could be a sign they were regaining strength. It could also be a sign of discontent in the organization.
    Speaking of which—a woman in charge? That was practically unheard of, or would have been just a few months ago. None of the women she’d known while she lived in Qu’rim had struck her as having even a remote chance of taking over the organization.
    It was definitely a puzzle and one she couldn’t wait to share with Ian and the HOT operatives. This was what being out here was all about. Making a difference. Being useful to her country.
    Emily didn’t see any sign of her bodyguard detachment, but she knew they were there, following along like the wake to her ship. Sweat rolled down the inside of her abaya and her heart pounded. She wanted to get back to the compound, but she had to stop for a minute. She walked in the shade of the buildings as much as possible, but the dust and heat were stifling nevertheless.
    She pulled up and leaned back against a mud-brick building, wishing she could pull the abaya off and get more air. People passed her by without pause. Her mouth was as dry as the sand beneath her feet, and she wished she had more water.
    Oddly enough, she also had to pee from all the water she’d drunk at the café. She stood there for several minutes, breathing evenly and cooling down, before she pushed away from the wall, determined to continue. The minute she was back at Ian’s place, she could take this abaya off and stand in front of a fan with a bottle of cold water in her hand.
    She just had to get that far. But her head swam and she stumbled as she felt suddenly light-headed. She reached out and caught herself on the hood of a car parked on the street.
    Dammit. What the fuck was this?
    Hands settled on her shoulders. She started to scream, but the hands turned her in time to see blue eyes staring back at her.
    “Ryan, you have to let me go,” she choked out. “Someone could see us.”
    “I don’t give a fuck,” he growled. “You’re sick.”
    Before she could stop him, he swept her into his arms and strode down the street. She protested feebly, but he wasn’t letting her go, so she tucked her head into his chest and clung to him. In truth, it felt nice to be moving down the street without having to do the work herself.
    Soon they reached Ian’s compound and Ryan passed into the interior courtyard. He still didn’t put her down. Emily kicked her legs, though her stomach boiled when she did so.
    “Put me down, Ry. We’re here.”
    “Like fuck.” He turned his head and barked at someone. “She needs medical attention. Now.”
    Emily clutched his tunic in her fists. “No, I’m fine. Just hot. Makes me light-headed.”
    This was not the triumphant return she’d been envisioning. But Ryan didn’t stop, and he didn’t put her down. He carried her up the stairs and then stopped in the darkened hallway.
    “Which one’s yours?”
    “How do you know I have a room up here? I could be in one of the other buildings.”
    He snorted. “You’re here. Now tell me which one before I start kicking in doors.”
    Emily steamed. “Second on the left.”
    Ryan strode over and opened the door, then