Hell Bent by Becky McGraw Read Free Book Online Page A

way. 
    All the temporary relationships she’d had since him, the ones she’d blamed on moving around so much with the military, weren’t a result of that at all.  She’d been harboring the hurt Cade dealt her six years ago, letting it fester inside of her and cause her to close herself off from other men.  Because she was afraid they’d hurt her too.
    “What did you tell David about taking the job he offered you?” Cee Cee asked. 
    God, she hoped he hadn’t committed to it because, considering her revelations a moment ago, that would be a disaster.
    “I told him I’d think about it and agreed we’d take a ride out to his compound tomorrow to talk about it more.”  His genuine smile said he was excited about it.
    Cee Cee wasn’t excited in the least. 
    She wanted to spend time with Keegan, relax with him and have some fun.  Going to her brother’s compound this weekend would not accomplish that.  She should probably just tell him to go back to Virginia now, but she couldn’t do it.  He’d ridden all this way just to see her so that would be a very shitty thing to do.  This was his vacation and she wasn’t going to ruin it for him. 
    Well, she would, but she would at least spend a little time with him first.
    “You okay with that?” he asked, kissing her temple. “From the directions he gave me, it sounds like it will be a long ride out in the country—just what you said you wanted.”
    Just what she wanted.  Like she wanted a hole in her head the size of that bullet Cade put into the forehead of the target at the range today with that bazooka he brought with him.
    “Yeah, I guess so,” she said with a long sigh.
    “Good, because even if I don’t take the job, I’m damned curious to see his compound.  Logan also said he was inviting the other SEAL who works for him out there to talk to me.  Jaxson Thomas? Do you know him?”
    “No, I haven’t met him yet.”  Jaxson had quit the company before she’d been hired.  He was officially back on their roster now, but he was taking some time off with his new wife before coming back full-time.
    “We’ll kill two birds with one stone, then…”  He smiled at her, and it warmed Cee Cee’s cold insides.  “Three really, because we’ll get our ride in the country out of the way too.” 
    Keegan’s smile met her mouth as he hugged her to him, his tongue rasped over her lower lip looking for entry but she didn’t open.  In a similar motion, his thumb stroked over her nipple and Cee Cee tensed.  Making out with Keegan didn’t hold its appeal now, having sex with him held even less.  This was just leading him on, and she refused to do that.  Pushing back, she placed her hand over his heart and it hammered against her palm as she met his confused eyes.
    “It’s been a really crappy week and I’m so tired.  Can we just go to bed?” 
    And tomorrow, I’m going to send you back where you belong, at least until I bury a few ghosts.
    ***
    Cade’s palm heated as he bounced the basketball at his side while studying the subtle movements of Hawk’s body.  The tall, leanly muscled pilot guarded him as well as any point guard in the NBA and was pretty agile for a freaking flyboy.  Faking left, Cade rolled to the right and thought he had him, but met the hard wall of Hawk’s chest.  He faded back, dribbled more and watched for his opportunity. 
    Minutes passed as the morning sun beat down on his bare back, beads of sweat streaked down his forehead into his eyes to burn them, and his heart pounded in his ears as he waited.  He had to make a move soon, because if he just stood there dribbling, Hawk would steal the ball from him like he had earlier.  The pilot watched the ball like the bird for which he was named, so Cade knew that was just his plan too.
    A loud engine roared and the gate rattled as it slid open, drawing Hawk’s attention away for a split second.  Cade took the opening, drifted right and leapt high to let the ball go