Covert Cargo. Elisabeth Rees

      

      DANGEROUS WATERS

      Undercover as a coast guard captain, navy SEAL Dillon Randall is determined to capture the leaders of a human trafficking ring off the California coast. When a woman living in a remote lighthouse unwittingly becomes a target of the traffickers, Dillon’s mission suddenly includes protecting Beth Forrester. Yet he can’t let himself get too close to the reclusive beauty. The last time he lost focus on a mission, people died. He won’t make that mistake again. Dillon must win Beth’s trust—while keeping his identity as a SEAL a secret. However he’s finding it harder to maintain his cover around the woman working her way into his heart. Can he save Beth’s life without breaking her already wounded heart?

      Navy SEAL Defenders: Bound by honor and dedicated to protection.

      “I’m the target, aren’t I?” Beth asked.

      Her voice shook as she continued, “The cartel wants to eliminate me. They want me dead, right?”

      Dillon said nothing at first, his silence answer enough. “I’ll need to assign you protection. This is too serious to ignore.”

      Beth thought of her tranquil, little cottage by the lighthouse, cramped with people allotted to look after her. “Okay,” she said quietly. “Who would be staying with me?”

      “A surveillance expert and I will create a lookout post in your lighthouse tower and set up home there for the mission until the cartel members are in custody and no longer a threat to you.”

      “Mission?” she questioned. “You make it sound like a military operation.”

      “The coast guard is a branch of the US Armed Forces,” he replied. “Ensuring your safety is as important as any task I need to accomplish in my day job, but I can’t take personal responsibility for protecting you.” He sighed. “It’s complicated.”

      She looked him full in the face. “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that things are always complicated.”

      “I will make absolutely sure that nothing bad happens to you.” He laid a hand over hers. “You deserve all the resources we have, and you’re worth the effort. You should know that.”

      His words almost took her breath away.

      ELISABETH REES was raised in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, where her father was the parish vicar. She attended Cardiff University and gained a degree in politics. After meeting her husband, they moved to the wild, rolling hills of Carmarthenshire, and Elisabeth took up writing. She is now a full-time wife, mother and author. Find out more about Elisabeth at elisabethrees.com.

      Covert Cargo

       Elisabeth Rees

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress,

      My God, in whom I trust.

      —Psalms 91:2

      “A good teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others.”

      —Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

      For Elin Watkins, a head teacher who has guided countless children to realize their potential and then encouraged them to surpass it, with love and thanks from the pupils, staff and governors at Llansadwrn School.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

ONE

TWO

       THREE

       FOUR

       FIVE

       SIX

       SEVEN

       EIGHT

       NINE

       TEN

       ELEVEN

       EPILOGUE

       Dear Reader

       Extract

       Copyright

       ONE

      The Return to Grace Lighthouse was under familiar attack. A wailing wind whipped around the tower and rattled the windows of the cozy keeper’s cottage. Beth Forrester put another log on the fire of her unique home and pulled her dog, Ted, away from the front door, where he whined and scratched, seemingly eager to go out into the wild, dark night.

      Ted reluctantly walked toward the hearth, stopping