Excerpt of Catching Cara by Amy J. Hawthorn

“You prick!” A husky, feminine voice came through Joe’s earpiece loud and clear. He watched the front of the lot and the bar’s entrance but didn’t see anyone out of place. Then he saw a familiar male form throw his hands in the air and turn his back on a small woman. The man stomped off toward the parked vehicles and recognition hit him. The tall, pissed off man was James Holloway. So that meant that… His attention snapped back to where James had been standing. The spot was empty. He scanned the lot and his attention snagged and focused on the door. A curvy little woman with sexy legs and the finest ass he’d ever seen stepped inside the rowdy bar. The door closed behind her. He knew those legs. He’d dreamed of having them wrapped around his waist. And that hair? He’d lay odds that it smelled like sunshine and flowers. And there was no way he’d wait fifteen minutes before going in after her. He’d known she was a friend of Rick’s. The Dark Horse founder had even referred to her as a team member, but he still hadn’t put it all together. He had no doubt that she was an intelligent, capable woman, but he couldn’t picture her as a war-hardened soldier. The Dark Horse crew had been in some nasty situations in Afghanistan. She was too small. But she was a nurse, right? Maybe she stayed on base or something and waited for the trauma to come to her? What were they doing putting her in a situation like this? Talk about a mess. If Rick’s information was correct and someone from Potter County showed, then they’d likely see and recognize him. They’d question his reasons for being at a dive like the Thirsty Beaver, but that couldn’t be helped. He’d think of something. He checked the time and cursed. She expected him to wait a full fifteen minutes? No way. “Joe.” Rick’s voice sounded in his earpiece. “Yeah. I’m going in.” He reached for the handle of Trent’s truck. He borrowed it because his beast stuck out like a sore thumb, and anyone from the Sheriff’s department would recognize it. “Wait. She’ll be fine for a few. She can handle herself. Listen. Do you remember the images of Boyd Campbell from Kate’s rescue? Remember what he looks like? He’s lean, rangy looking, with brown hair.” Even through the connection, he heard Rick’s tension. “Yeah, I do.” He’d never felt such extreme anger for another person from just their picture before. Everyone suspected Boyd had kidnapped Kate and delivered her to Senator Bailey. He’d also framed Trent for murder. When that fell apart, he planted damning evidence in a way that placed all suspicion on Bailey. After all of it, he’d vanished like a cockroach in the light. “He and Mayhem have a history, and it’s not pretty. Years ago, when she refused his advances, things got ugly. He pinned her against a wall and crushed her throat, injuring her larynx. It’s why her voice sounds the way it does. Afterward, he dropped off the grid.” She is so tiny. His anger burned hotter, brighter. He felt his blood pressure rise and a sudden urge to choke Campbell came over him. He gripped the steering wheel and squeezed, reminding himself it wouldn’t be cool to put his fist through Trent’s window. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “What’s wrong with her voice?” It sounded fine to him. The first time he heard it, the low, sexy tone had gone straight to his dick. “Nothing really, it just never went back to the way it used to be.” “Is there anything else I need to know?” His hand itched to remove the pistol he’d left behind. “Don’t go right up to her. Wait five minutes then go in, but sit at the bar and have a beer. Watch her like you’re attracted to her. Think about how the scene will look before you make your move. If you rush in and storm right up to her, it’ll look suspect. You don’t even have to make a move, just provide an extra set of eyes. Watch your back. Noah’s inside, and he’ll tell us if he smells trouble.” Rick sounded resigned, as if trouble were inevitable. Joe prayed that wasn’t the case. Storm right up to her? He wasn’t that big of an idiot. A little voice somewhere in the back of his head laughed hysterically. He sat back to watch the five minutes tick by. Hell, he could do this. He’d give her six. His fingers fisted on the steering wheel until they turned white.