“It, uh…” Doc lifted a hand to scratch his head.
“What’s up, bro?” And, yes. More than his men, or his friends, or even his crew, the five guys who’d hitched their wagons to his mule were his brothers. In every way that counted.
“You know, the, uh, the way I see it,” Doc said haltingly, “part of our pledge included no more *footing around when it comes to going after the things we really want.” Leo watched Doc unconsciously rub the tattoo on the inside of his left forearm. “And it’s been obvious since day one that you want Olivia Mortier.”
Damn. Just hearing her name spoken aloud made the hairs along the back of Leo’s neck stand up.
“So, why don’t you send her an email, huh? See if she’ll take some time off from The Company to come down here for a little visit.” And now that smug smirk was back on Doc’s face. “Maybe after she’s wobbled your knob a time or two, you’ll stop mooning around like a lovesick teenager.”
Sonofa—Sometimes it sucked ass living in such close quarters with a group of men trained and tested in the fine art of observation. “Wobble my knob? What are you? Thirteen?”
“Avoiding the question?”
Damnit. “For the record,” Leo growled. “I don’t want her to wobble my knob, as you so eloquently put it.” A voice inside his head warned him his nose would be growing Pinocchio-style any minute now.
All right. So, if he was totally honest, he would have liked to see where things with Olivia were headed. He would have liked to know if all those not-so-subtle flirty looks and that one ball-tightening kiss could have turned into something more—knob wobbling included. Unfortunately, Fate had intervened in the form of the goatfuck of all goatfucks, which had precipitated his exit from the Navy and negated all chances that he’d ever again work in the same arena as one oh-so-tempting Olivia Mortier.
He was a civilian now. And civilians and CIA field agents weren’t exactly known to find themselves in a position to mix it up. So even if he could convince her to take a vacation from missiles and mayhem, it’s not like there was any real chance at a future for them. After all, the woman was all about the adrenaline high, and he was…well…retired.
Order Julie Ann Walker's first book
in the Deep Six series
Hell or High Water
On sale July 2015
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Acknowledgments
It should come as no surprise to fans of my books that my first round of thanks goes to my husband. Sweetheart, you’re my sounding board when I need advice, my inspiration when I’ve run out of ideas or funny bro-isms, and my biggest cheerleader when I start to doubt myself. I couldn’t do any of this without you. I love you!
My second round of high fives goes to my editor, Deb Werksman. Deb, your ability and willingness to brainstorm with me, not just about my books but about the path of my career, is invaluable. Thank you so much for going above and beyond, for not only caring about the stories but about me. I couldn’t ask for a better advocate. You da bomb, lady!
A big round of applause and giant thanks to all the folks at Sourcebooks. I cherish the day I signed the contract that made Sourcebooks my publishing home and all of you my publishing family. I couldn’t ask for a better team. Huzzah!
About the Author
Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning romantic suspense. A winner of the Book Buyers Best Award, Julie has been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Her latest release was named a Top Ten Romance of 2014 by Booklist. Her books have been described as “alpha, edgy, and downright hot.” Most days you can find Julie on her bicycle along the lakeshore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission. Be sure to sign up for Julie’s occasional newsletter at: www.julieannwalker.com.
And to learn more about Julie, follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor and/or Twitter: @JAWalkerAuthor.
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I Own the Dawn
The Night Stalkers
by M. L. Buchman
NAME: Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III
RANK: First Lieutenant, DAP Hawk copilot
MISSION: Strategy and execution of special ops maneuvers
NAME: Kee Smith
RANK: Sergeant, Night Stalker gunner and sharpshooter
MISSION: Whatever it takes to get the job done