“Then that’s Steve’s problem.”
How like a man. She rolled her eyes. She would have loved to find out more about any new assignment. Information was money, and…She let it go. She realized that he wouldn’t understand how little bits of knowledge added up to make big money, thus paying for expenses incurred by her and Lily’s venture. Anyway, she was in this for him.
When she nodded, Hawk turned his attention back to his cousin. “Jeep it is. You guys aren’t afraid of a bomb, are you?”
“A bomb? Let’s go for it.”
Marlena sighed again as she fell into step with Amber. “You know about their penchant for explosions and destruction, don’t you?”
“Besides other things,” Amber replied.
“Oh, of course. They are SEALs,” Marlena agreed. “How did you and Hawk meet?”
“I own a café in Velesta.”
“Oh, I have to drop by sometime. Do you do your own dishes there? Stash adores my cooking,” Marlena said, suddenly looking mischievous again. “Don’t you, husband, dear?”
“Absolutely,” Steve said without looking back at them.
“Stash?” Amber prompted.
“Personal nickname. You have to have one with the McMillan men, darling. They are all named Steve.”
“I don’t understand,” Amber said with a frown.
Marlena tsk-tsked. “Hawk, darling, you really should tell her.” She turned back to Amber. “It’s a shock to the system to find out that not only is Stash Steve McMillan, but every damn male in that family is also Steve. Or Steven. Or, if I remember, there was one named Stephanus. Stupid family tradition.”
“You mean, Hawk’s name is…” She had never really thought about asking him.
“Steve McMillan,” Marlena sagely finished for her. “And if you have a kid with him, he’s doomed to be called Steve. Oh, quit looking at me like that, Hawk.”
Climbing into the vehicle, Amber returned Hawk’s amused gaze. A kid. She definitely hadn’t thought that far ahead. She didn’t tell Marlena that she already had a nickname for Hawk.
Hawk squeezed her hand gently. “We’ll sort it all out when this is over,” he whispered into her ear. She smiled back at him.
She had to admit that the Land Rover was a good idea. It covered the rocky terrain in no time and it felt great not to be on her feet. She was in good shape, but it had been a while since she had done such strenuous exercise. Besides—she glanced furtively at Hawk—she was glad Hawk was resting, too. She didn’t care that he hadn’t said one word about his injuries; she knew they had to hurt him, especially when tackling the steeper paths.
Feeling her eyes on him, he turned. The sunlight reflected the deep brown shades in his hair. His eyes had that golden glow that always fascinated her, and they had that heated expression that never failed to make her insides clench in anticipation. She kept her hands in her lap even though what she really wanted to do was reach out and touch that scruffy handsome face, pull him by the collar, and kiss those lips.
Her eyes moved to his mouth. Masculine. Sensuous. She blinked and looked back up. He was watching her silently, but she knew he was reading her mind. His eyes lazily roved down her face and to the V opening of her shirt. A small quirk lifted the corners of those lips. Then his eyes went lower and she unconsciously squeezed her thighs tightly together. He was driving her crazy by just looking at her. It just wasn’t fair what the man could do.
She was about to do the same thing, let her eyes travel where her mind was leading, to see whether she could get a reaction, when the sound of vehicles from behind them caught her attention. Hawk and she turned around at the same time.
“Two vehicles behind us, Kisser,” Hawk said.
“We’re going to turn into that small road. If they follow us, start shooting,” Steve said.
Marlena had already turned around, weapon ready. Amber caught the Uzi Hawk tossed and positioned herself against the back seat.
“Not much protection this way,” Amber said.
“I have some grenades to do the job,” Marlena said.
“That definitely ups our protection,” Hawk said quietly.
The Rover turned. So did the other two vehicles. Sunlight glanced off the weapons pointed at them.
Marlena didn’t wait. She tossed the first grenade just as Steve made another sharp veer into the side road. Steve pushed Amber’s head down as he also hunkered down. The loud explosion hurt her ears and she felt things spraying over them and into the vehicle. There were shouts and screams.
