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Since we love arrogant bad boys, hitman, ex-Navy Seals with our romantic suspense, we are thrilled to share Beck with you! Read an excerpt & Click here to get your copy today.
Since we love arrogant bad boys, hitman, ex-Navy Seals with our romantic suspense, we are thrilled to share Beck with you! Read an excerpt & Click here to get your copy today.
Beck welcomed darkness. The night was a cloak of anonymity that provided him with a freedom the daylight never did. When he chose to be, Beck was soundless in his movements. Swift and stealth under the cover of night he could move before anyone knew of his presence. You didn’t get nineteen confirmed kills without embracing silence.
He entered Natalie’s bedroom. Moonlight glanced through the window and shone on her face. Her dark hair lay like liquid night on a pillow. Those perfect lips barely parted. Her sleep was peaceful. Restful. A thought...a memory...a moment from before with Marisol flashed through Beck’s mind like lightening in a summer sky then was gone.
Natalie was tough. She might appear like a sexy-girly-girl but with all the treachery she’d endured from her family and friends, she’d developed a thick hide to survive and thrive.
Beck circled the room. Tested the locks on the French doors that led to the balcony. Her room was on the second floor but if a person was determined they’d find a way to get inside. He scanned the bathroom. Pretty damn swank. Next was the walk-in closet which was bigger than his last apartment and filled with more shit than one of those fancy-ass department stores.
He circled back to the bedroom and stopped beside Natalie’s bed. She had no reason to trust Beck. All the people in her life had failed her when she’d trusted them. Why would she expect anything different from him?
Because Beck wouldn’t fail. Not again. Not this time.
“What are you doing in my room?”
“My job.”
“Watching me sleep is your job? Sounds a little stalker to me.” She reached out and flipped on the light beside her bed.
“You already have a stalker you don’t need two.”
No reaction to his words, she scrubbed her hands over her face. “My head hurts.” She reached for the water glass on the nightstand. Empty. Beck wasn’t her maid, but against his better judgment, he liked her. He slid from the shadows and lifted the glass from her hand. Minutes later he returned with water and ibuprofen
“Thank you.” Her tone was soft and her gaze gentle.
His heart pinged. Dangerous territory when she was kind. Much easier when she tested his resolve.
She threw the pills into her mouth and swallowed the water. “So the security system Ari had installed sucks?” She sunk back against her pillow and watched him with those eyes. Every word, every look from her, every movement seemed calculated to assess who he was and what he was after as well as where his vulnerable points might be. She’d make a good operative, so far, aside from when she was drunk, he hadn’t seen her let down her guard. Even then, after the booze, she’d been calculating a way to get what she wanted, which at the time wasn’t him, so much as a way to remain alone.
“The system is inadequate for our level of need.”
“You say inadequate, I say sucks. Same difference. You don’t have to kiss Ari’s ass.” She pulled at her comforter and tucked it up higher around her. Her gaze dropped to her hands. “I’m the one who pays you”—her gaze locked with his. A weariness in her eyes—“not him.”
“Then I don’t have to kiss your ass either.”
She squinted.
“Because Estrella pays me.”
“Ah,” A smile slid over her face. “That explains why you’re such a jerk. You think I can’t fire you.”
“Oh, I know you can fire me, but I also know that I’m the best person on the planet for this job, and the studio believes I’m the best person on the planet for this job and for you to keep the Shemax role with the studio, you need to keep me.”
Red flooded up her neck and spotted her cheeks. He’d already pissed her off once today, looked like he’d gotten in two solid shots. How long since anyone told Natalie the unvarnished truth? Years? A decade? Before her first big role when she was nine? The inhabitants in Natalie’s world depended on her for their rent, their house payment, their groceries. None of them, Ari included, wanted to upset the rainmaker. Nope, they would go along, to get along where Natalie was concerned.
Not Beck.
His job was secure and he got paid whether Natalie fired him or not.
She wouldn’t fire him.
He’d called her bluff. She lay in bed burning. She shot words like bullets aimed with that smart mouth but now, her tongue was locked. A truth she couldn’t admit, most likely not even to herself, was that Natalie wanted, no neededBeck to take the wheel. Especially now that they were on some slick-ass dangerous terrain.
“Get some sleep.” Beck’s gaze slid over her outline under her comforter. What would it feel like to slide beneath the comforter and wrap his arms around those dangerous curves of hers? Those firm legs wrapped around his body, her breasts pressed to his chest, the warmth of her inner core sheathing him.
He wouldn’t find out.
“I’ll be right outside your room.”
Fire crackled between them. He’d be a fool to ignore the attraction. Better to acknowledge the want, if only to himself, so he could assess and insulate against his own weaknesses.
“Just say my name and I’m here.”
Her eyes flashed and then her body relaxed as though she’d carried the world on her shoulders and she was grateful for another person to carry part of the load.
“I’m safe,” she whispered her eyelids drooping and those long lashes brushing against her skin.
“How long since you felt that way?”
She shook her head. Her gaze distant and unfocused. A sad little smile played across her lips. “I can’t remember feeling safe.”
His heart tightened. Beck understood Natalie’s words. He’d worked hard to guarantee his own safety with brute strength, weapons knowledge, and training, because as a kid, he’d felt unsure and at risk.
“You’re safe now.” He pounded down the urge to reach out and caress her jaw, cradle her face, press his lips to the top of her head. Feelings of warmth and possession and want mixed with his need to protect. A dangerous cocktail of chemical desire pumped through his body.
“Go to sleep. No one is getting into this house tonight.” Let her get the kind of rest you could only get when you knew you were secure. She believed him. Gone was the hint of fear in her eyes, instead gratitude warmed her gaze.
She snuggled beneath her covers burrowing in like a kitten with a warm blanket. “Thank you,” she whispered.
His heart clutched and his cock hardened. Bad. News. Shit, she was too fucking beautiful and smart and sassy and vulnerable. Four things he didn’t want in this woman because those four things, combined with his desire for her, could completely undo him.
He entered Natalie’s bedroom. Moonlight glanced through the window and shone on her face. Her dark hair lay like liquid night on a pillow. Those perfect lips barely parted. Her sleep was peaceful. Restful. A thought...a memory...a moment from before with Marisol flashed through Beck’s mind like lightening in a summer sky then was gone.
Natalie was tough. She might appear like a sexy-girly-girl but with all the treachery she’d endured from her family and friends, she’d developed a thick hide to survive and thrive.
Beck circled the room. Tested the locks on the French doors that led to the balcony. Her room was on the second floor but if a person was determined they’d find a way to get inside. He scanned the bathroom. Pretty damn swank. Next was the walk-in closet which was bigger than his last apartment and filled with more shit than one of those fancy-ass department stores.
He circled back to the bedroom and stopped beside Natalie’s bed. She had no reason to trust Beck. All the people in her life had failed her when she’d trusted them. Why would she expect anything different from him?
Because Beck wouldn’t fail. Not again. Not this time.
“What are you doing in my room?”
“My job.”
“Watching me sleep is your job? Sounds a little stalker to me.” She reached out and flipped on the light beside her bed.
“You already have a stalker you don’t need two.”
No reaction to his words, she scrubbed her hands over her face. “My head hurts.” She reached for the water glass on the nightstand. Empty. Beck wasn’t her maid, but against his better judgment, he liked her. He slid from the shadows and lifted the glass from her hand. Minutes later he returned with water and ibuprofen
“Thank you.” Her tone was soft and her gaze gentle.
His heart pinged. Dangerous territory when she was kind. Much easier when she tested his resolve.
She threw the pills into her mouth and swallowed the water. “So the security system Ari had installed sucks?” She sunk back against her pillow and watched him with those eyes. Every word, every look from her, every movement seemed calculated to assess who he was and what he was after as well as where his vulnerable points might be. She’d make a good operative, so far, aside from when she was drunk, he hadn’t seen her let down her guard. Even then, after the booze, she’d been calculating a way to get what she wanted, which at the time wasn’t him, so much as a way to remain alone.
“The system is inadequate for our level of need.”
“You say inadequate, I say sucks. Same difference. You don’t have to kiss Ari’s ass.” She pulled at her comforter and tucked it up higher around her. Her gaze dropped to her hands. “I’m the one who pays you”—her gaze locked with his. A weariness in her eyes—“not him.”
“Then I don’t have to kiss your ass either.”
She squinted.
“Because Estrella pays me.”
“Ah,” A smile slid over her face. “That explains why you’re such a jerk. You think I can’t fire you.”
“Oh, I know you can fire me, but I also know that I’m the best person on the planet for this job, and the studio believes I’m the best person on the planet for this job and for you to keep the Shemax role with the studio, you need to keep me.”
Red flooded up her neck and spotted her cheeks. He’d already pissed her off once today, looked like he’d gotten in two solid shots. How long since anyone told Natalie the unvarnished truth? Years? A decade? Before her first big role when she was nine? The inhabitants in Natalie’s world depended on her for their rent, their house payment, their groceries. None of them, Ari included, wanted to upset the rainmaker. Nope, they would go along, to get along where Natalie was concerned.
Not Beck.
His job was secure and he got paid whether Natalie fired him or not.
She wouldn’t fire him.
He’d called her bluff. She lay in bed burning. She shot words like bullets aimed with that smart mouth but now, her tongue was locked. A truth she couldn’t admit, most likely not even to herself, was that Natalie wanted, no neededBeck to take the wheel. Especially now that they were on some slick-ass dangerous terrain.
“Get some sleep.” Beck’s gaze slid over her outline under her comforter. What would it feel like to slide beneath the comforter and wrap his arms around those dangerous curves of hers? Those firm legs wrapped around his body, her breasts pressed to his chest, the warmth of her inner core sheathing him.
He wouldn’t find out.
“I’ll be right outside your room.”
Fire crackled between them. He’d be a fool to ignore the attraction. Better to acknowledge the want, if only to himself, so he could assess and insulate against his own weaknesses.
“Just say my name and I’m here.”
Her eyes flashed and then her body relaxed as though she’d carried the world on her shoulders and she was grateful for another person to carry part of the load.
“I’m safe,” she whispered her eyelids drooping and those long lashes brushing against her skin.
“How long since you felt that way?”
She shook her head. Her gaze distant and unfocused. A sad little smile played across her lips. “I can’t remember feeling safe.”
His heart tightened. Beck understood Natalie’s words. He’d worked hard to guarantee his own safety with brute strength, weapons knowledge, and training, because as a kid, he’d felt unsure and at risk.
“You’re safe now.” He pounded down the urge to reach out and caress her jaw, cradle her face, press his lips to the top of her head. Feelings of warmth and possession and want mixed with his need to protect. A dangerous cocktail of chemical desire pumped through his body.
“Go to sleep. No one is getting into this house tonight.” Let her get the kind of rest you could only get when you knew you were secure. She believed him. Gone was the hint of fear in her eyes, instead gratitude warmed her gaze.
She snuggled beneath her covers burrowing in like a kitten with a warm blanket. “Thank you,” she whispered.
His heart clutched and his cock hardened. Bad. News. Shit, she was too fucking beautiful and smart and sassy and vulnerable. Four things he didn’t want in this woman because those four things, combined with his desire for her, could completely undo him.
About the Book
A Bad Boy Hollywood Hitman Novel
He has one chance to redeem himself. If he fails, she's dead...
Former SEAL, Beck Tatum, has a mission and no patience for Hollywood bad-girls. Box office breaker, Natalie Warner might be the Princess of Tinseltown, but she's a starlet with a bad-attitude, a frightening past, and a stalker. Beck must protect Natalie and stay out of her bed. Is it Mission Impossible for this Hollywood Hitman?
A Bad Boy Hollywood Hitman Novel
He has one chance to redeem himself. If he fails, she's dead...
Former SEAL, Beck Tatum, has a mission and no patience for Hollywood bad-girls. Box office breaker, Natalie Warner might be the Princess of Tinseltown, but she's a starlet with a bad-attitude, a frightening past, and a stalker. Beck must protect Natalie and stay out of her bed. Is it Mission Impossible for this Hollywood Hitman?
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