Page 25 of Atlanta Heat (Tempting SEALs 6)

“That’s not all that matters.” She lifted her head as he eased back, her expression pale and distressed, her sensual lips trembling. “I’m sorry. Macey, I’m so sorry. I should have told you …”

He laid his fingers against her lips. “You tell me later, Em. When we’re safe. Where I can hold you.”

“I love you, Macey. I’ve loved you for nearly two years. I love you so much that you terrify the hell out of me.” Her voice hitched as his arms eased around her, pulled her against his chest, and felt his heart trip in joy.

Burying his head in her hair, Macey closed his eyes, fighting back the need to run away with her and hold her until he heard those words enough to fill his soul. But he didn’t think he would ever hear it enough.

“Landry bypassed your security.” Admiral Holloran stepped into the room, his voice scathing. “Emerson, sweetheart, Reno’s getting you some clothes so you can dress upstairs …”

“There’s a bathroom under the stairs.” Macey jerked his head up and glared at the admiral. “She’s not going upstairs until I can go with her.”

“Macey …” Emerson’s voice was edged with steel. It was the same tone his mother used on his father when she thought he was getting out of hand.

“Don’t ‘Macey’ me, Em,” he told her gently. “When Reno brings your clothes out, you can dress down here. This was too close.” He touched her cheek, let his thumb run over her lips. “I came too close to losing you tonight. Don’t separate yourself from me.”

He saw the understanding in her eyes as Reno stepped from the bedroom, one of Macey’s t-shirts in his hands and a pair of Stacey’s leggings.

“Get dressed, baby,” he whispered, ignoring the admiral for now. “We’ll get out of here soon. I promise.”

She turned and gave her godfather a hard look, rose to her feet, and took the clothes Reno held out to her.

“Morganna, Raven, and Emily will be here soon to take care of her,” Reno told him. “We have a full night ahead of us, Macey. Cleaning this up with the local cops isn’t going to be easy. Your security here will be compromised further. It won’t be a secret any longer.”

Macey shook his head. He’d be damned if he cared right now.

He turned his head and watched Emerson disappear into the bathroom before turning back to the admiral.

“Respectfully, sir.” He clenched his teeth around the words. “Don’t try to take her away from me. I’ll fight it.”

Admiral Holloran’s eyes widened, his expression stern, though if he wasn’t mistaken, Macey detected a glimmer of humor in his blue eyes.

“I expect to see a ring on her finger soon,” he finally snapped. “Don’t disappoint me.”

Macey grunted at that and turned back to Reno. The ring would be there because that was where it belonged, not because the admiral ordered it.

“How did he get in?” he asked Reno. “He bypassed every safeguard I had.”

Reno glanced disapprovingly at the admiral, his expression quiet. Macey felt his stomach sink as he turned back to Holloran.

Holloran was one of the few

people who knew about the cave. He and Durango team. It was a secret that shouldn’t have been uttered.

“I told Pierce about the cave.” The admiral sighed. “This one is on my shoulders, Lieutenant; I accept responsibility for it.”

He wasn’t going to say anything. He really wasn’t.

“Respectfully, sir,” he sneered. He guessed he was going to say something after all. “That’s hardly acceptable.”

Holloran’s lips pressed together in irritation. His arms crossed over his wide chest, his expression darkening.

“It worked out,” he snapped back. “I won’t be chastised by you, Lieutenant, remember that.”

“Like hell! With all due respect, Admiral, your decision sucked, endangered my woman, this team, and the operation you ordered. Chastising you is the last thing I want to do.”

He wanted to plant his fist in the other man’s jaw.

“I want to know how we managed to miss Landry when we took this terrorist cell’s leader down,” Reno said.

---