Epilogue

It was dark when Oz returned to the safe house. He heard voices in the makeshift office the team had on the first floor, and changed course, heading for the back patio. Sinking into the same chair he'd sat in earlier in the day, he stretched out his legs and put his hand over the right front pocket of his pants. When he felt the small bump, he rubbed his thumb over it.

Losing his job with Vargas was a curse. It gave him too much time to think. Too much time to remember. A casual hookup shouldn't be such a big distraction.

Shouldn't be, but his thoughts kept circling back to her.

They hadn't exchanged names. He'd been in Los Angeles for Stony and Zo's wedding and had flown in the Thursday before the big day. That first night, the hotel room walls had started closing in on him and he'd gone to the bar. And he'd seen her.

The word he always used to describe her was prissy. It fit to a T. His prissy little blonde had been dressed in a black skirt and a white shirt with high heels and small gold hoop earrings. Business babe attire. Not his type, not even close, but Oz had swooped in to rescue her from some asshole who wouldn't take fuck off for an answer and the evening had progressed from there.

Oz scowled. The night had been fantastic. Unforgettable. Unfortunately, so was the next morning.

Los Angeles, California

Six Weeks Earlier

Oz's body was still on east coast time. Army east coast time. It was dark when he woke up. He knew immediately who was sprawled beside him in bed. The sexiest little blonde he'd ever spent the night with.

He started to reach for her but stopped. Maybe he didn't know her name, but he did realize she wasn't very experienced, and that hooking up was out of character for her. As many times as they went at each other last night, she'd be sore this morning. But damn she was tempting with her hair loose and her body naked.

Lacing his hands behind his head, Oz wondered if she'd be amenable to extending their acquaintance. It was too late to take her as his plus one to Stony's wedding, but maybe it would be okay to bring her to the groom's dinner tonight. Then they could come back to the hotel and have a second night. His plane for Tampa didn't leave until Monday morning, so they could hang out on Sunday, too. If she was interested.

Oz scowled. Why was he thinking about more with her? Why wasn't he eagerly waiting for her to wake up so he could hustle her out the door?

This wasn't like him. He did one-night stands, not relationships, and a four-day hookup sounded a hell of a lot like, well if not a relationship, then at least an affair. He didn't do those either. One and done, that was his motto.

It wasn't as if anything would develop if they spent a few nights together. He was stationed in Tampa and out of the country more than he was in it. She lived in LA. After he flew back to Florida, they'd never see each other again.

He ignored the twist in his stomach. He was hungry, that's all.

Moving slowly, not wanting to disturb her, he brought his hands down and shifted to look at her. He'd had his hands and mouth all over her and it wasn't enough. Fuck, she was beautiful. Her light blonde hair, that pointed little chin, those full, kissable lips, and when her eyes were open, she had the deepest sapphire-blue irises he'd ever seen.

Remembering her mouth wrapped around his cock, as she'd looked up at him with those eyes of hers, caused blood to rush south, and Oz swallowed a curse.

He slipped out of bed and headed for the shower. Setting the temperature to cool, he hopped in. A couple of extra nights wasn't a commitment, he decided. It didn't mean anything except having more great sex. After drying off, he tied the towel around his waist and left the bathroom.

The bed was empty.

Oz looked around, but he already knew she was gone. As illogical as it was, it pissed him off. Oz sank onto her side of the bed.

Something dug into his hip and he reached for it.

One tiny gold hoop earring.

The sound of someone laying on their horn jerked Oz back to the present. Back to Puerto Jardin and the op. Back to the grungy patio behind the safe house.

He was still pissed off about the way she ran out on him. That had to be the reason why he couldn't forget her. Oz reached into his pocket, pulled out the hoop, and ran his finger over the curved edge. He'd kept it to remind himself he wasn't cut out for more than hookups.

Carrying it everywhere couldn't mean more than that.

Ayla Desmond never takes risks, but when she senses her twin is in trouble, she boards a plane to Puerto Jardin—a country teetering on the edge of chaos. As a Public Relations specialist at the Paladin League, she's used to spin, not bullets. But this mission plunges her into a deadly game where trust is scarce and danger is everywhere.

Special Forces Sgt. Oziah "Wizard" West is the king of one-night stands, but he hasn't been able to forget the last woman he hooked up with, a mysterious blonde who slipped away from his hotel room. When he spots her in Puerto Jardin, he knows there'll be trouble. Oz rushes to her side, determined to keep her safe.

Ayla wants nothing to do with Oz. He's a mistake she'd rather forget, but circumstances force them together. Surrounded by mercenaries and stalked by an arms dealer who believes she holds the key to a hidden treasure, she has no choice but to rely on the enigmatic stranger who ignited her passion. As danger escalates, so do their feelings, and then a positive pregnancy test changes everything.

Now, Oz risks not only his heart but also his life to protect Ayla and their unborn child. Can they survive the treacherous game they're caught in, or will their love become the ultimate casualty?

Indulge in a protective Special Forces hero and a heroine who is a fish-out-of-water, but will do whatever it takes to save her sister. This romantic suspense story features a one-night stand, an unexpected pregnancy, and a second chance romance.