by Lara Lacombe
“Because I was trying to protect you!”
Her heart softened at his admission. He was such a good man, but he didn’t seem to realize it. The fact that he was so ready to sacrifice himself for her safety made her want to cry, but she blinked hard, knowing he’d mistake her tears for sadness or pain.
“I couldn’t stand there and do nothing. Maybe a few weeks ago I would have cowered behind you and let you handle the situation, but not now.” She shook her head. “I’ve changed since I met you. I’m no longer satisfied to take a backseat in my own life. Being with you has reminded me of the strong person I once was.” She reached out to lay a hand on his chest, needing to touch him He echoed her gesture, laying his hand on her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, drawing comfort from his warmth.
“I miss the woman I used to be,” she continued. “And while I can’t go back to being the exact same person, I’m going to try to be someone she’d be proud to know. That means no more hiding from life, and no more excuses.”
He was quiet for a moment, digesting her words. Then he tugged her until she was pressed to his chest. “I guess we both have some habits to break,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight.
“We certainly do,” she replied, her lips against his throat. “But as long as we stick together, I know we can do it.”
“You know what?” He leaned back to press a soft kiss to her mouth. “I think you’re right.”
* * * * *
If you loved this novel, don’t miss other
suspenseful titles by Lara Lacombe:
LETHAL LIES
FATAL FALLOUT
DEADLY CONTACT
Available now from Harlequin Romantic Suspense!
Keep reading for an excerpt from
COLTON COWBOY PROTECTOR by Beth Cornelison
http://www.harlequin.com/harlequinexperience
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Romantic Suspense title.
You want sparks to fly! Harlequin Romantic Suspense stories deliver, with strong and adventurous women, brave and powerful men and the life-and-death situations that bring them together.
Enjoy four new stories from Harlequin Romantic Suspense every month!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
A SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Jack Colton wants Tracy McCain as far away from his son as possible.
But when she becomes an assassin’s target, the stakes have never been higher…
Read on for a sneak peek of
COLTON COWBOY PROTECTOR,
the first book in the Coltons of Oklahoma series.
Excuse me.”
Jack pushed to his feet, his knee cracking thanks to an old rodeo injury, and faced the woman at eye level. Well, almost eye level. Though tall for a woman, she was still a good five or six inches shorter than his six foot one. He recognized her as the woman he’d seen earlier lurking in the foyer, practically casing the main house.
“Are you Jack Colton?” she asked.
“I am.”
“May I have a word with you?” she asked, her voice noticeably thin and unsteady. She cleared her throat and added, “Privately?”
In his head, Jack groaned. What now?
“And you are…?”
He suspected she was a reporter, based on the messenger bag hanging from her shoulder. He had nothing to say to any reporter, privately or otherwise.
“Tracy McCain.” She added a shy smile, her porcelain cheeks flushing, and a stir of attraction tickled Jack deep inside. Hell, more than a stir. He gave her leisurely scrutiny, sizing her up. She may be tall and thin, but she still had womanly curves to go with her delicate, china-doll face.
“Am I supposed to know you?”
Her smile dropped. “Laura never mentioned me?”
His ex-wife’s name instantly raised his hackles and his defenses. His eyes narrowed. “Not that I recall. How do you know Laura?”
“I’m her cousin. Her maternal aunt’s daughter. From Colorado Springs.”
Jack gritted his back teeth. Laura had only been dead a few months and already relations she’d never mentioned were crawling out of the woodwork like roaches after the light’s turned off. The allure of the Colton wealth had attracted more than one gold-digging pest over the years. “You should know Laura signed an agreement when we divorced that ended any further financial claim on Colton money.”
Tracy lifted her chin. “I’m aware.”
“So you’re barking up the wrong tree, if you’re looking for cash.”
Tracy blinked her pale blue eyes, and her expression shifted, hardened. “I’m not after money,” she said, with frost in her tone.
Jack scratched his chin and tipped his head, giving her a skeptical glare. “Then what?”
“I wanted to talk about Seth.”
Jack tensed, his gut filling with acid. He squeezed the curry comb with a death grip and grated, “No.”
“I… What do you mean, no? You haven’t even heard what I want to—”
“I don’t need to hear. My son is off-limits. Nonnegotiable.”
Don’t miss
COLTON COWBOY PROTECTOR by Beth Cornelison
available June 2015, only from Harlequin Romantic Suspense
www.Harlequin.com
Copyright © 2015 by Beth Cornelison
ISBN-13: 9781460381298
Killer Exposure
Copyright © 2015 by Lara Kingeter
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com