Chapter
One
Three months ago
The beer slid down Andy Grimshaw’s throat, the bitterness of the ale sharp on his tongue, and the coolness of it doing little to combat the heat and humidity that lingered in the early evening air.
The chatter and laughter from the patrons at the hotel bar was a welcome sound after four days of nothing but the incessant buzz of insects, screech of birds, and the rapid tattoo of gunfire in the depths of the jungle in Bali. Far enough away from tourists so as not to attract attention, but close enough to the coast to escape by boat.
Luckily Andy was good at his job, and theasshole, Bintu Dunang, a small-time drug runner who dreamed of bigger hauls, was rotting at the bottom of a hidden cave where he would never be found. His associates all scattering like rats now their leader was gone. He’d completed his mission quicker than he’d planned. A solo mission because he was one of the best operatives at Power Security, and because Bintu was careless and left himself wide open to be taken down.
Going on solo missions wasn’t the norm for him, or anyone at Power Security. Their usual tactic was to all go together. Bayden Price, their contact at the Australian Federal Police, had given them all the intel, and Andy had assured the team he could do it himself.
No way was he going to admit he’d wanted to do it solo as a test for himself and his abilities. Prior to the assignment, he’d been feeling stale, and had needed to be challenged. Steve, his boss, hadn’t been happy, but Bayden had assured him it was an easy one-man job, and he’d been right.
Now, though, he planned to enjoy his last night in Bali before heading back to Perth and the job he loved. With Power, he got the chance to serve and protect without the restrictions of being in the Army. He’d loved his time in the military, but it hadbeen an easy yes when Steve asked Andy and the rest of the team to join him in the private sector. Business was booming, and they were busier than they ever thought they’d be.
Sweat trickled down his back as he took another swallow of his drink. He should make use of the hotel pool to wash away the remnants of his mission. Clear his mind. A swim before he crashed for the night sounded like his idea of heaven. His flight was first thing in the morning, so an early night wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Andy slid off the stool, snatched his phone up, and turned straight into someone—a woman. Reflexively, he grabbed her arms, surprised at the thrum of electricity shooting through his hands and traveling down the rest of his body. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I shouldn’t have gotten so close.” Her voice was a little hoarse, as if she’d been yelling. She looked as sexy as she sounded, dressed in a short skirt with a tank top. The pale pink straps of her bikini curled around her neck. The combination of it all, and because they were practically pressed up against each other, caused his body to flare to life.
A spontaneous erection wasn’t something he’dhad since he had been a teenager. It wasn’t a great first impression either, so he stepped back.
Why was he worried about what impression he made? He wasn’t likely to ever see the woman again, yet the desire to go to for a swim wasn’t as pressing as it had been only a few moments ago.
“Can I buy you a drink?” He inwardly cringed at his blatant pick-up line. Her lips curved into a sexy and open smile, as if she too caught on to the cheesiness of his words. Her blue eyes glittered with mirth.
Lust flooded him, and he had to resist the urge to haul her close and sample her tempting mouth.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Even when he’d been young and drowning in his own arrogance, he’d never reacted to a woman as instantly as he was now. He was thirty-two; he should have better control over his body’s reactions.
“Sure, why not?” She shrugged casually and held out her hand. “I’m Narelle.”
She’d only given her first name, and he was okay with that. He only had a few more hours in the country. Why not spend it in the company of a beautiful woman?
“Andy.” He grasped her hand, once again feeling a jolt of energy sizzle through him. He was standing on hardwood floors. Therewas no way he could blame it on static electricity. Yet, that’s what he did. It couldn’t be anything else.
Andy spied a free table and led them toward it, her hand still clasped in his.
Once she sat, he leaned down, not because the music had gotten louder making conversation a little more difficult, but because he just wanted to get closer to her. He caught the faint scent of vanilla and coconut. Was it from lotion or from sunscreen? “What would you like to drink?” His lips almost brushed the outer curve of her ear, and he didn’t miss her slight shiver.
“I’ll have a white wine, thanks.” The more she talked, the less raspy her voice appeared to get, and he was kind of disappointed. Which was such a silly reaction.
He made his way over to the bar, constantly scanning the area, looking for anything that signaled the possibility of shit about to go down. A habit of his job, but a good one to have, especially considering the past tragedies which had occurred in the tourist city.
Nothing appeared out of place, and there wasn’t anyone suspicious lurking by the entrance. All he could see were people enjoying themselves, the way life should be.
After what seemed like a half an hour, Andy had their drinks in hand, and he could head back to the table.
Relief swept through him at seeing Narelle where he’d left her. The bar had gotten busier, so with the length of time it had taken him to get served, she could’ve got cold feet and decided it would be safer to leave, rather than waiting for him. Instead, she was people watching with a small smile teasing her full lips.
What was going through her mind?
Was she looking for someone in particular? Did she have friends waiting for her? Or maybe a boyfriend? He hoped like hell she didn’t have a partner, because then she wouldn’t be the type of woman he wanted to get involved with. Anyone who would accept the offer of a drink from a random stranger while in a relationship was someone he didn’t want to associate with.
