Seth Lynch stared at the woman who worked every one of his nerves. As she walked in boldly—like she owned the place—he gritted his teeth.

“Commander Hunter.” Dr. James nodded at Lachlan. She had a smoky voice that would have been sexy on any other woman.

When her gaze met Seth’s, he saw something flare in their hazel depths. He was pretty sure she was fighting not to bare her teeth at him.

“Lynch,” she said.

“James.”

Lachlan cleared his throat. “I hope your flight was okay?”

“Fine, thanks.”

“What have you brought us?” Lachlan waved her into the rec room.

Dr. James hefted the metal case onto one of the tables, spinning the locks sealing it. “I’m currently running a dig in Guatemala, deep in the jungle. Lidar scans have helped us locate thousands of previously undiscovered Mayan ruins belonging to the Mayan Snake Kings.”

“That sounds fascinating,” Rowan said.

Dr. James looked at Rowan. “We haven’t met.”

“Dr. Rowan Schafer, Dr. January James.” Lachlan introduced them.

The women shook hands.

“A pleasure,” Dr. James said. “And yes, the dig is fascinating.”

Seth leaned back against the table, and watched the woman’s face light up as she spoke. He couldn’t argue about her passion for her work. Shame she was a shrew.

“One of my grad students dug up this artifact.” James opened the case.

Inside was nestled a perfect crystal sphere the size of a tennis ball.

“Doesn’t look like much,” Seth said.

She shot him a look that seared like battery acid. “My student is in the hospital. It zapped him and stopped his heart.”

Ty moved forward. “Hi, January.”

The woman smiled. It turned her face from pretty into something else. “Ty.”

“I’ll take it from here.” Ty snapped the case closed and lifted it.

“Thanks, January,” Lachlan said. “We appreciate you bringing it in.”

She arched a brow. “I’ll be sending you a bill for my flights.”

Lachlan smiled. “Of course.”

“I’ll see you out,” Seth said.

The archeologist nodded at the rest of the team and swiveled. As she headed toward the elevator, Seth fell into step beside her.

“Want to make sure I definitely leave, huh?” she said.

“Hell, yeah.” Inside the elevator, he jabbed at the button. The doors closed, and they moved smoothly upward.

“So, still digging in the dirt?” he said.

“Still attacking unsuspecting people?”

He faced her, his anger sparking. “I have a job to do, and you know why.”

“Doesn’t mean I like how you do it.” She turned to him as well. “And I dislike all the secrecy.”

“I’m so cut up by your low opinion.” Sarcasm dripped off his words.

She stepped closer, her boots brushing his. “You’re an asshole.”

“And you’re a bitch.”

She smiled that gorgeous smile again. “I’m so wounded.”

She was such a ball buster. He lowered his head and she lifted her chin, their faces only inches apart.

The doors opened. Seth hadn’t even felt the elevator stop.

“Sir?” A guard peered in. “Ma’am?”

“Safe trip back to your dirt,” Seth said.

“Have a good time terrifying innocent people.” She pivoted and strode off the elevator with that confident sway of her hips.

Seth’s gaze fell to her pert ass. Shame she was such a harpy.

* * *

Rowan shut her briefcase. “I’m off. Have a great weekend.”

“You too.” Dr. Sofia Lopez smiled at her. “It really is a pleasure having you here, Rowan. We’re lucky to have you.”

Rowan smiled. She was making friends at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas, and enjoying both her new job and her studies. She’d been lucky to find a part-time teaching position in her hydrology field, and she was taking some archeology classes as well. She’d also enrolled in some chocolate-making classes with the executive pastry chef at the Paris Casino. The woman specialized in chocolate created in-house with special cacao beans sourced from the best farms located twenty degrees north and south of the equator. Lachlan was loving all of Rowan’s creations.

Her smile widened. Life was good.

As they headed down the hall, Dr. Chad Winston, from the Geosciences Department, swept in to join them.

“Ladies.” He shot them a wide smile. He was handsome in a typical, clean-cut way, with a tailored suit and carefully groomed hair.

He was a nice enough guy, but he had a pretty high opinion of himself.

“I’ll walk you out.” He made the offer to both of them, but he was looking at Rowan.

Sofia rolled her eyes.

“I’m pretty sure we can make it,” Rowan said.

“You can’t be too careful,” Chad replied. “There was some sort of crime rampage in Las Vegas a few weeks ago.”

Rowan tightened her hold on her briefcase. Nope, just one out-of-control, high-tech artifact.

Aimee Kowalski had recovered and been transferred to a military prison. She’d do some time for her actions, but from what Lachlan had told Rowan, the woman had wanted to make amends. Rowan had organized a fundraiser to help with Jenny Kowalski’s medical bills, and contributed a chunk of her own money. Jenny was recovering from her liver transplant, and the Kowalskis now didn’t have to worry about their finances.

As Rowan walked out of the building and into the afternoon sunshine, Chad prattled on about the tickets to a show he had.

“It’s a magic show on ice at the MGM.”

Rowan bit back a smile.

“Rowan, I have a spare ticket.” He upped the wattage on his smile. “Maybe we could grab dinner before the show?”

She smiled. “Sorry. I have plans with my man.”

Chad snorted. “You keep saying you have a boyfriend, but we’ve never met him.”

“He travels for work, but actually, he’s picking me up today.” Rowan was so excited. Lachlan had been away on a mission for the last few days in Washington DC, helping the FBI.

Chad made an unhappy sound. As they headed down the steps, Sofia leaned in close.

“The man has two PhDs, but he can’t read a subtle clue. He thinks that anyone with fewer PhDs than him can’t be good enough.”

Rowan grinned. “Lachlan doesn’t need any PhDs.”

At the bottom of the steps, Chad grabbed Rowan’s arm. “Please reconsider, Rowan. We’d have a good time.”

“Sorry, Chad.” She extricated her arm. “I’m happily in love. Thanks, though.” She turned and spotted Lachlan leaning against his motorbike, ankles crossed.

His faded jeans showcased muscular thighs, and his tight, black T-shirt hugged that mouthwatering, hard chest and biceps. Cool mirrored shades covered his eyes.

“My God,” Sofia breathed.

Rowan didn’t blame the woman. Her own ovaries did a little quiver. Mine. All mine.

With a distracted wave to her colleagues, she raced toward her man. He met her, sweeping her up into his arms.

His kiss was hard and deep, and left her breathless.

“Hi,” she breathed.

“Hi.” He pressed his nose to hers. “You smell good.”

“Missed you,” she said.

“Missed you, too.” His voice lowered. “Who’s the douchebag? If he touches you again, I’ll break his arm.”

“He’s nothing to worry about.”

Lachlan turned his head, looking at Sofia and Chad. “Afternoon.”

Sofia waved and when Lachlan looked at Chad, he nudged his sunglasses down. Just a glimpse of Lachlan’s eyes made goose bumps break out on Rowan’s skin, and she saw Chad swallow.

“Lachlan,” she whispered. “You can’t kill him.” She leaned up and nipped Lachlan’s jaw. “There is only one man I want. Only one man I love.”

His arms tightened around her. “Rowan.”

“Bye, Rowan.” Sofia waved again, her smile huge. “Have a great weekend.”

Chad nodded cautiously and hurried to his car.

Lachlan handed Rowan her helmet. “Ready?”

Always. “Ready.”

She sat on the bike behind him, loving when the engine throbbed. She wrapped her arms around him.

He turned back. “You’re the only woman I love. The only woman I’ve ever loved.” He squeezed her thigh.

Love chased the scary out of his eyes, and she smiled at him.

As they pulled out of the university parking lot, Rowan pressed against his broad back. It was hard to believe that from the worst, scariest, most terrifying moment of her life, the most amazing, important thing had emerged.

As they zoomed off down the street, Rowan thought of Lars and Aimee. She thought of Isabel, Emily, Samuel, Amara, and the others.

Rowan vowed that she’d live every day for them and for herself. She’d live, laugh, and love with her man.

* * *

Lachlan flipped the burger patty on the grill. The sun was shining, he had a beer in his hand, his friends around him, and his woman was close by.

And they all had a weekend off. Bliss.

He looked up, watching his team eating and laughing. They had staked out a part of Sunset Park, enjoying the sunshine.

Rowan walked over, holding a tray of marinated chicken for him to cook. She smiled.

Damn. He felt warmth in his chest. He’d never felt this…content. Happy. Complete.

She’d moved into his condo, adding splashes of color and life. He was also pretty sure he was going to gain a few pounds from the endless chocolate creations she made for him. Not that he cared, because her baking was awesome. She was also loving her work and studies at the university. Last week, he’d even taken a few days off and they’d flown to New York so they could get the last of her things and meet her mother. That had been…interesting.

Dr. Kathleen Schafer had been arctic, and made it clear she was unimpressed with her daughter’s choice of partner.

Lachlan hadn’t given a shit. He’d hated seeing Rowan so on edge, though. Not that she cared any longer what her mother said to her, but she’d worried about what her mother would say to him.

“She’ll be rude,” Rowan had warned.

“Sweetheart, I love you. As long as you love me, I don’t care what your mother thinks.”

Rowan had relaxed after that. At the end of a tense dinner, Rowan had left to use the restroom.

Kathleen Schafer had leaned forward. “You’re not what I would have chosen for my daughter.”

He stayed silent.

“But I see the way you look at her.” The woman sipped her drink. “I’m not an emotional woman. I know Rowan thinks I don’t care about her…but I do want her to be happy.”

“I don’t really care what you think, Dr. Schafer. But I will tell you that I love Rowan. I’d die for her.”

“And kill for her.” The older woman tilted her head. “I know there’s more to your work, and more to what happened in Canada and Las Vegas than either of you have let on.”

He knew the woman was a genius, and again, he stayed silent.

“Take care of her,” Dr. Schafer said.

“Always.”

“Hey.” Rowan leaned into him, bringing him from the past to the present. He flipped another burger.

“Hey.”

She set the tray of chicken down. “Happy?”

“More than you know.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

“God, you two.” Seth tipped his beer back. “Enough with the mushy stuff.”

Nearby, Axel snatched up a frisbee. “Who wants to take me on?”

Blair jumped off the picnic table where she’d been sitting. “Prepare to go down, Diaz.”

Axel snorted. “Bring it, Mason.” Then he turned his head, his sharp gaze landing on Natalie’s date. A lean, handsome professor from the university. A man that had made Axel scowl the minute he’d joined them.

“What about you, Prof? Up for it?”

The man blinked. “Uh, sure.”

“Axel.” Nat’s tone held a thread of warning.

Axel held up his hands and shot her grin. “I’ll be gentle with him.”

Nat glared at him. But before the frisbee could go anywhere, everyone’s cellphones beeped.

Fuck. Lachlan pulled his cell out and watched concern cross Rowan’s face.

He pressed the phone to his ear. “Brooks?” He listened as the man spoke. Damn. “We’re on our way.”

As he tucked the phone away, he leaned down and kissed Rowan. “Sorry to leave you with the cleanup.”

“Don’t worry, Nat and I will take care of it.”

“I’ll let you know when I’ll be back.”

She went up on her toes and kissed him again. “Don’t worry. I’ll be here.”

And he knew she would be. Waiting for him. “Love you.”

She smiled. “Right back at you.”

“Stay out of trouble.”

She pulled a face and he kissed her again. Then he nodded to his team and they headed toward the SUVs.

“What have we got?” Blair asked.

“Problem at January James’ dig in Guatemala.”

His team snapped to attention.

“January sent word that she found something else. She was planning to fly out of the site today.”

“And?” Seth asked, face tense.

“The plane crashed in dense jungle. The authorities think it’ll take days to reach the crash site.” His gut hardened. “They said no one could have survived the crash.”

“Damn,” Blair murmured. “I liked her.”

Lachlan had as well. Seth just stared, something indefinable radiating off him.

“Brooks said there’s more.” Lachlan paused beside the Suburban. “He said the plane didn’t crash. It was brought down.”

“By?” Seth demanded.

“Don’t know. But we have to assume whoever was responsible was after January’s artifact.”

Seth yanked open the driver’s side door. “Let’s get moving, then.”

Lachlan nodded, sliding into the car. Time for his team to do what they did best.

Across the grass, he caught sight of Rowan. She raised her hand in farewell.

He lifted his chin and smiled. He loved his job, but even more than that, he loved knowing he’d be coming home to his woman. A woman who loved him, just as he was, and a woman who made everything worthwhile. He’d wade through the muck every day for Rowan.

She blew him a kiss and inside him, he only felt the light. Best damn feeling in the world.

* * *