Title: HOT Secrets
A Hostile Operations Team Series Standalone
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: September 18, 2018
Blurb
She
nearly ruined his life. Now she needs him to save hers.
nearly ruined his life. Now she needs him to save hers.
It was supposed to be a simple job for hacker Bliss Bennett: access
confidential files and turn them over to the CIA. But something went wrong—and
now Bliss has a target on her back. With no idea who to trust, she heads
straight toward the one man she hopes won’t turn her away.
confidential files and turn them over to the CIA. But something went wrong—and
now Bliss has a target on her back. With no idea who to trust, she heads
straight toward the one man she hopes won’t turn her away.
Sky “Hacker” Kelley is a badass Special Operator with lethal moves and
mad computer skills. He hasn’t seen his former lover—former wife—in four
years, not since she nearly cost him his military career. Her arrival on his
doorstep in the middle of the night reveals a gut-deep truth—he might want
nothing to do with her, but he still wants her. And as much as he’d love
to slam the door in her face, Sky isn’t wired to turn away anyone in distress.
mad computer skills. He hasn’t seen his former lover—former wife—in four
years, not since she nearly cost him his military career. Her arrival on his
doorstep in the middle of the night reveals a gut-deep truth—he might want
nothing to do with her, but he still wants her. And as much as he’d love
to slam the door in her face, Sky isn’t wired to turn away anyone in distress.
Protecting Bliss won’t be easy. The files she stole are at the heart of a
dangerous conspiracy, and someone is willing to do whatever it takes—including
kill—to get them back. It’ll take all Sky’s considerable black-ops skills to
keep Bliss safe—and all his willpower to resist falling into her bed, and her
life, ever again…
dangerous conspiracy, and someone is willing to do whatever it takes—including
kill—to get them back. It’ll take all Sky’s considerable black-ops skills to
keep Bliss safe—and all his willpower to resist falling into her bed, and her
life, ever again…
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Excerpt
*Sky, I need to see you. Please. Bliss*
Sky “Hacker” Kelley stared at the message on his laptop
before snapping it closed with a growl. Why had he clicked it? Why? It’d been
in his inbox for a couple of days now. He’d been steadfastly ignoring it,
though he hadn’t been able to ignore the range of emotions it called up inside.
before snapping it closed with a growl. Why had he clicked it? Why? It’d been
in his inbox for a couple of days now. He’d been steadfastly ignoring it,
though he hadn’t been able to ignore the range of emotions it called up inside.
Fury, hate, desire, rage. More rage, more hate, more desire. The desire was the
maddening part. He got up and headed for the kitchen, intent on getting another
beer and getting drunk before the night was over. He’d been over at Garret
“Iceman” Spencer’s house with his Alpha and Echo Squad teammates, drinking and
having a good time. Except he hadn’t been having all that great a time, mostly
because fucking Bliss’s message was preying on his mind. The fact she’d
messaged him at all, actually, because he still hadn’t read it at that point.
It took a lot of fucking nerve to contact him after so long.
maddening part. He got up and headed for the kitchen, intent on getting another
beer and getting drunk before the night was over. He’d been over at Garret
“Iceman” Spencer’s house with his Alpha and Echo Squad teammates, drinking and
having a good time. Except he hadn’t been having all that great a time, mostly
because fucking Bliss’s message was preying on his mind. The fact she’d
messaged him at all, actually, because he still hadn’t read it at that point.
It took a lot of fucking nerve to contact him after so long.
After what she’d done.
He hadn’t taken three steps toward the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Fuck. It
was almost ten o’clock at night. It could be Mrs. Ernst wanting to borrow a cup
of sugar. The woman found an excuse to visit him every couple of days. Hell,
she didn’t even bake because she’d never once offered him a brownie or a
cookie, even when she insisted that’s what she needed the sugar for.
was almost ten o’clock at night. It could be Mrs. Ernst wanting to borrow a cup
of sugar. The woman found an excuse to visit him every couple of days. Hell,
she didn’t even bake because she’d never once offered him a brownie or a
cookie, even when she insisted that’s what she needed the sugar for.
He never had the sugar because he didn’t cook. And he damned sure didn’t bake.
He went to the door and looked out the peephole.
He went to the door and looked out the peephole.
His heart stopped. Just stopped. A small figure stood on the other side. Dark
sleek hair, full lips, wide-set eyes, an air of innocence that was an absolute
fucking lie.
sleek hair, full lips, wide-set eyes, an air of innocence that was an absolute
fucking lie.
He felt nothing at seeing that face. Nothing at all.
And then he felt everything. Anger, hot and swift, rushed through his veins. He
started to leave her standing there but he’d had enough to drink that his
inhibitions were down. He jerked the door open before he could think better of
it.
started to leave her standing there but he’d had enough to drink that his
inhibitions were down. He jerked the door open before he could think better of
it.
She blinked up at him, long dark lashes framing pretty blue eyes. She was
wearing a pair of jeans, tennis shoes, and a tank top that clung to her
breasts. A Louis Vuitton bag hung from her shoulder. Of course it did. Bliss
liked her luxuries.
wearing a pair of jeans, tennis shoes, and a tank top that clung to her
breasts. A Louis Vuitton bag hung from her shoulder. Of course it did. Bliss
liked her luxuries.
She smiled tentatively. “Hello, Sky. It’s been a while.”
Rage urged him to slam the door. Curiosity wouldn’t let him. He should, but he
had to know. What the fuck was she doing here?
had to know. What the fuck was she doing here?
“What the hell do you want, Bliss?”
She arched an eyebrow. And then she wrapped a mantle of self-righteousness
around her shoulders just like she’d thrown on a blanket to ward off a chill.
“Is that any way to talk to your wife?”
around her shoulders just like she’d thrown on a blanket to ward off a chill.
“Is that any way to talk to your wife?”
A strange kind of melancholy rolled over him. “We aren’t married. Got a
divorce, remember?”
divorce, remember?”
She nibbled her lip and threw a glance over her shoulder. “I know that. But we
used to be.”
used to be.”
He gripped the door frame and tried not to rip it off the hinges. “And now
we’re not. Any obligation I had toward you is over.”
we’re not. Any obligation I had toward you is over.”
She frowned and threw a glance over her shoulder. “Can I come in?”
His eyebrows climbed his forehead. “Are you kidding me? No. What for anyway?
You think we’re going to have a tea party and discuss the past?”
You think we’re going to have a tea party and discuss the past?”
“I need your help, Sky. Someone is trying to kill me.”
“Good for them. You probably deserve it.” He started to push the door closed
but she launched herself at it. Wedged her small body into the opening. Her
eyes were wide, frightened. Determined.
but she launched herself at it. Wedged her small body into the opening. Her
eyes were wide, frightened. Determined.
“Sky, please. I’m not kidding. Just hear me out. If you don’t want to help me
once I’ve told you what’s going on, I’ll leave. Just give me a chance.”
once I’ve told you what’s going on, I’ll leave. Just give me a chance.”
He wanted to push her backward and shut the door in her face. He envisioned it.
Relished it. But, fuck, the fear on her face was real. He’d worked long enough
in Special Ops to recognize terror when he saw it. Part of him wanted to throw
her out anyway.
Relished it. But, fuck, the fear on her face was real. He’d worked long enough
in Special Ops to recognize terror when he saw it. Part of him wanted to throw
her out anyway.
Bliss was a con woman. A brilliant hacker who had no problems stealing or lying
or cheating her way to a paycheck. Sure, she’d been working for the government
when she’d conned him, but it didn’t matter. She’d have done it for anybody who
paid her.
or cheating her way to a paycheck. Sure, she’d been working for the government
when she’d conned him, but it didn’t matter. She’d have done it for anybody who
paid her.
And maybe she was doing it now. Maybe this whole thing was an act and the fact
he’d been drinking was messing up his bullshit censors and making him believe
she was really scared. Or maybe her acting had improved.
he’d been drinking was messing up his bullshit censors and making him believe
she was really scared. Or maybe her acting had improved.
But refusing to help people wasn’t what he did. It wasn’t who he was. He yanked
the door open. “Five minutes, Bliss. And it better be good or I’m throwing your
ass onto the street and I don’t care what happens after that.”
the door open. “Five minutes, Bliss. And it better be good or I’m throwing your
ass onto the street and I don’t care what happens after that.”
She came inside and he closed the door behind her. But not before looking at
the parking lot and the street. Nothing moved—or nothing that was out of place,
anyway. A cat. A car that crawled past on its way out of the complex. A dog
barked. Someone shouted, but he couldn’t see them.
the parking lot and the street. Nothing moved—or nothing that was out of place,
anyway. A cat. A car that crawled past on its way out of the complex. A dog
barked. Someone shouted, but he couldn’t see them.
He turned to face her. She stood in his living room, bag still on her shoulder,
looking small and more vulnerable than he believed she was. There was a con
here somewhere, but he couldn’t see it yet.
looking small and more vulnerable than he believed she was. There was a con
here somewhere, but he couldn’t see it yet.
He headed toward the kitchen and retrieved the beer he’d been after. “Want
one?” he asked, throwing her a glance from the coolness of the fridge.
one?” he asked, throwing her a glance from the coolness of the fridge.
“I shouldn’t.”
He shut the door and shrugged. “Suit yourself.” Then he strolled over and sank
onto the couch, kicking up his feet and crossing them at the ankles. “So what’s
the problem, Bliss? You piss somebody off?”
onto the couch, kicking up his feet and crossing them at the ankles. “So what’s
the problem, Bliss? You piss somebody off?”
She sighed and perched on the arm of a chair, letting the Louis Vuitton drop
slowly to the floor. Like wax melting from a candle. Her shoulders sagged. Her
dark hair dropped over her shoulder and she pushed it back again. Her tank top
was black, her jeans tight. She wasn’t dressed in anything special, but she
tempted him more than he liked.
slowly to the floor. Like wax melting from a candle. Her shoulders sagged. Her
dark hair dropped over her shoulder and she pushed it back again. Her tank top
was black, her jeans tight. She wasn’t dressed in anything special, but she
tempted him more than he liked.
“I don’t know what happened. I only know I’m in trouble.”
He picked up the remote and flipped the channels, sipping his beer. Every once
in a while he cast an eye in her direction. She chewed the inside of her lip
and one leg bounced up and down. Whatever was going on with her, she clearly
wasn’t comfortable.
in a while he cast an eye in her direction. She chewed the inside of her lip
and one leg bounced up and down. Whatever was going on with her, she clearly
wasn’t comfortable.
But how could she be? She’d turned up at his house after four years. After
she’d betrayed him and left him to deal with the fallout from her bullshit.
He’d nearly lost his Army career because of her.
she’d betrayed him and left him to deal with the fallout from her bullshit.
He’d nearly lost his Army career because of her.
“Yeah? And? What do you want me to do about it?”
She suddenly stood and crossed the distance between them, snatching the remote
from his fingers and stabbing the button to turn off the television. He stared
at her. Her face was flushed as she tossed the remote onto the couch. “I want
you to listen. And then I want you to use that brain of yours and help me
figure out what to do.”
from his fingers and stabbing the button to turn off the television. He stared
at her. Her face was flushed as she tossed the remote onto the couch. “I want
you to listen. And then I want you to use that brain of yours and help me
figure out what to do.”
He sat up a little straighter. “Seriously? You fucking betrayed me, lied to me,
and now you want me to help you figure out what to do? What happened, Bliss?
You steal from the wrong person this time?”
and now you want me to help you figure out what to do? What happened, Bliss?
You steal from the wrong person this time?”
She frowned. Hard. Her cheeks flushed as she folded her arms over her chest and
looked away from him. “Apparently so.”
looked away from him. “Apparently so.”
Author Bio
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynn Raye Harris burst onto the scene when she won a writing contest held by Harlequin. A former finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and the National Readers Choice Award, Lynn lives in Alabama with her handsome former military husband and two crazy cats. Lynn writes about hot military heroes, sizzling international billionaires, and the women who dare to tame them. Her books have been called “exceptional and emotional,” “intense,” and “sizzling.” To date, Lynn’s books have sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
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Review
Bliss is an accomplished hacker who has been commissioned by the CIA to access some files. She has now attracted the attention of the wrong people and she finds herself in danger with very few options. She knows that the only person who would be able to help her is the one person who because of her past would be the one least willing to.
When Sky opens the door his ex-wife Bliss is the last person he expected to see. They were married four years ago until he realized he was nothing but a means to an end and not only did she break his heart she almost destroyed his career. He wants nothing to do with her but once again he feels the need to protect her and can’t send her away.
This story leads us on an adventure filled with suspense and twists as Sky and Bliss must re-evaluate what happened in the past as the feelings they had for each other might have been buried but they never disappeared. As an added bonus we get to get up the fabulous members of HOT.
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