Elle James - Hot Target

Delta Fierce!

On loan for a local assignment, Max “Caveman” Decker already feels at home in the backcountry of Wyoming. Protecting one woman—even petite spitfire Grace Saunders—is a vacation to the Delta Force warrior. But Grace thinks something darker is at work than the murder she witnessed. It wasn’t a case of the wrong place at the wrong time—it was her “curse.” Every man she gets close to dies. Now she’s saddled with Decker, her sworn protector, who won’t leave her side. Any hope for a simple assignment will change once they’re living under the same roof, where Grace’s curse will be just as inescapable as the crosshairs of a killer.

“Your battery is dead.” Caveman glanced around. “You got another handy?”

She shook her head. “No. Fresh out.”

“Got a helmet?”

She nodded. “Yeah, but I won’t need it if I can’t get my ATV started.”

He spun and headed for the barn door. “You can ride on the back of mine,” he called out over his shoulder.

Grace’s heart fluttered at the thought of riding behind Caveman, holding him around the waist to keep from falling off. “No, thanks. Those trails are dangerous.” She suspected the danger was more in how her pulse quickened around the man than the possibility of plunging over the edge of a drop-off.

“I grew up riding horses and four-wheelers on rugged mountain trails. I won’t let you fall off a cliff.” He held up a hand. “Promise.”

She frowned. Knowing she only had a few minutes to get to the meeting location, Grace sighed. “Okay. I guess I’ll put my life in your hands.” She followed him out of the barn and closed the door behind her. “Although, I don’t know why I should trust you. I don’t even know you.”

Hot Target

Elle James

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ELLE JAMES, a New York Times bestselling author, started writing when her sister challenged her to write a romance novel. She has managed a full-time job and raised three wonderful children, and she and her husband even tried ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas). Ask her, and she’ll tell you what it’s like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird! Elle loves to hear from fans at ellejames@earthlink.netor www.ellejames.com.

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This book is dedicated to my mother and father,

who taught me that the sky was the limit, and all I needed

was to apply the hard work to reach for my dreams.

I love you both to the moon and back.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Delta Fierce! On loan for a local assignment, Max “Caveman” Decker already feels at home in the backcountry of Wyoming. Protecting one woman—even petite spitfire Grace Saunders—is a vacation to the Delta Force warrior. But Grace thinks something darker is at work than the murder she witnessed. It wasn’t a case of the wrong place at the wrong time—it was her “curse.” Every man she gets close to dies. Now she’s saddled with Decker, her sworn protector, who won’t leave her side. Any hope for a simple assignment will change once they’re living under the same roof, where Grace’s curse will be just as inescapable as the crosshairs of a killer.

Introduction “Your battery is dead.” Caveman glanced around. “You got another handy?” She shook her head. “No. Fresh out.” “Got a helmet?” She nodded. “Yeah, but I won’t need it if I can’t get my ATV started.” He spun and headed for the barn door. “You can ride on the back of mine,” he called out over his shoulder. Grace’s heart fluttered at the thought of riding behind Caveman, holding him around the waist to keep from falling off. “No, thanks. Those trails are dangerous.” She suspected the danger was more in how her pulse quickened around the man than the possibility of plunging over the edge of a drop-off. “I grew up riding horses and four-wheelers on rugged mountain trails. I won’t let you fall off a cliff.” He held up a hand. “Promise.” She frowned. Knowing she only had a few minutes to get to the meeting location, Grace sighed. “Okay. I guess I’ll put my life in your hands.” She followed him out of the barn and closed the door behind her. “Although, I don’t know why I should trust you. I don’t even know you.”

Title Page Hot Target Elle James www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author ELLE JAMES , a New York Times bestselling author, started writing when her sister challenged her to write a romance novel. She has managed a full-time job and raised three wonderful children, and she and her husband even tried ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas). Ask her, and she’ll tell you what it’s like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird! Elle loves to hear from fans at ellejames@earthlink.net or www.ellejames.com .

Dedication This book is dedicated to my mother and father, who taught me that the sky was the limit, and all I needed was to apply the hard work to reach for my dreams. I love you both to the moon and back.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Extract

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Max “Caveman” Decker clung to the shadows of the mud-and-brick structures, the first SEAL into enemy territory. Reaching a forward position giving him sufficient range of fire, he dropped to one knee, scanned the street and buildings ahead through his night-vision goggles, searching for the telltale green heat signatures of warm enemy bodies. When he didn’t detect any, he said softly into his mic, “Ready.”

“Going in,” Whiskey said. Armed with their M4A1 carbine rifles with the Special Forces Modification kit, he and Tank eased around the corner of a building in a small village in the troubled Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Army Intelligence operatives had indicated the Pakistan-based Haqqani followers had set up a remote base of operations in the village located in the rugged hills north of Kandahar.

Caveman’s job was to provide cover to his teammates as they moved ahead of him. Then they would cover for him until he reached a relatively secure location, thus leapfrogging through the village to their target, the biggest building at the center, where intel reported the Haqqani rebels had set up shop.

Caveman hunkered low, scanning the path ahead and the rooftops of the buildings for gun-toting enemy combatants. So far, so good. Through his night-vision goggles, he tracked the progress of the seven members of his squad working their way slowly toward the target.

An eighth green blip appeared ahead of his team and his arm swung wide.

“We’ve got incoming!” Caveman aimed his weapon at the eighth green heat signature and pulled the trigger. It was too late. A bright flash blinded him through the goggles, followed by the ear-rupturing concussion of a grenade. He jerked his goggles up over his helmet, cursing. When he blinked his eyes to regain his night vision, he stared at the scene in front of him.