Colby Roundup: Colby RoundupColby Agency Companion Guide
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“I can’t deny that I miss the fulfillment of helping with a top-secret mission that involves national security.”
And there it was. The bare truth. He did not want to retire.
“So you don’t want to retire, after all?” She hated that disappointment weighted her words but there was no help for it.
“Victoria, this whole business about retirement has been about you being afraid I would be hurt.”
That was true. She couldn’t deny it.
“And we both know that could happen getting out of the shower in the morning.”
“Let’s not compare work with the CIA to getting out of the shower, Lucas.”
“It could happen rushing back to help someone who had fallen, despite knowing that bombs were buried in that area.”
He had her. “Yes, yes, I rushed back to help Clare with no thought to the danger to myself.” It was true and she would do it again. “I know this about both of us, Lucas. And it terrifies me. I just want us to be a normal couple with a normal life.”
He laughed long and loud.
“I see absolutely nothing amusing. I’m completely serious.”
“Pull over, my dear.”
“What? Now?”
“Yes.”
Since they had left the interstate behind, his request wasn’t a problem. She turned into the parking lot of the next convenience store. She put the car in Park and turned to him.
He leaned over the console and took her face in his hands. “Victoria, we are not normal people. We will never be normal people. We have a calling, and to deny that calling is to live in fear or avoidance and that would only make us unhappy and resentful. It’s far better that we embrace who we are and what we do.”
“But what about traveling and spending time just the two of us?”
“That we will do, I promise you. What we need in our lives now is balance. We can achieve that without giving up our calling. When we’re needed on a special case, like this one, we’ll be there. The rest of our time will be ours to do with as we please. Does that sound like an acceptable compromise?”
Victoria smiled. “It’s more than acceptable. It’s brilliant.”
Lucas kissed her and Victoria understood that this was exactly what they were supposed to do for the rest of their lives.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt of Wrangled by B.J. Daniels!
Dear Reader,
I really hope you enjoyed the fiftieth story in the Colby Agency series! Last year, as I neared that milestone, I began to think about what I might be able to give all of you as a special thank-you for being such loyal friends of the Colby Agency. After much discussion and planning, Harlequin, my terrific editor and I came upon the perfect idea—a companion guide to all fifty Colby books!
I know many of you have followed the series from book one, but some have joined our journey along the way. Over the years I have gotten many questions about which characters were in what books. So I am pleased to say that the official Colby Companion Guide is our gift to you in this fiftieth installment of the Colby Agency series.
Enjoy!
Debra Webb
The Colby Agency
A Companion Guide
Contents
The Colby Agency
Safe by His Side—#1
The Bodyguard’s Baby—#2
Protective Custody—#3
Solitary Soldier—#4
Personal Protector—#5
Physical Evidence—#6
The Marriage Prescription—#7
Contract Bride—#8
Undercover Wife—#9
Her Hidden Truth—#10
Guardian of the Night—#11
Her Secret Alibi—#12
Keeping Baby Safe—#13
Guarding the Heiress—#14
Cries in the Night—#15
Striking Distance—#16
Romancing the Tycoon—#17
Agent Cowboy—#18
Situation: Out of Control—#19
Full Exposure—#20
Colby Conspiracy—#21
Investigating 101—#22
Raw Talent—#23
The Hidden Heir—#24
A Colby Christmas—#25
A Soldier’s Oath—#26
Hostage Situation—#27
Colby vs. Colby—#28
Colby Rebuilt—#29
Guardian Angel—#30
Identity Unknown—#31
Small-Town Secrets—#32
The Bride’s Secrets—#33
His Secret Life—#34
Christmas Past—#35: A Very Nascar Holiday
First Night—#36
Colby Lockdown—#37
Colby Justice—#38
Colby Control—#39
Colby Velocity—#40
Colby Brass—#41
Colby Core—#42
Missing—#43
Colby Damaged—#44
Colby Broken—#45
Colby Classified—#46
Decoded—#47
Colby Law—#48
High Noon—#49
Colby Roundup—#50
Safe by His Side—#1
Harlequin Intrigue
The Colby Agency began with this first book. Victoria Colby, head of the agency, and Lucas Camp were introduced along with Nick Foster, the hero of book two. The story revolved around the enigmatic Jack Raine and the determined Katherine Robertson.
No one could find special agent Jack Raine if he didn’t want to be found. So who was the beautiful amnesiac on his doorstep, and how had she gotten to his hideaway? When a killer soon followed, Jack suspected a trap—so he took the lady and ran… .
Katherine “Kate” couldn’t remember her own name, but she wanted the strong and silent Jack Raine the moment she saw him. Even as a slow heat burned between them, Kate knew she risked falling for this stranger who’d saved her life—a man her flashes of memory suggested she might have been sent to capture… .
As the story concluded, Kate and Jack got married during a private ceremony at a tiny wedding chapel in the Smoky Mountains before moving to Jack’s house in Virginia. Both left their jobs (hers at the Colby Agency and his at the CIA’s new Special Ops division). Both Victoria and Lucas attended the wedding and laughingly blamed the other for losing one of their best agents!
Raine is still advising various government entities from time to time, but mostly he spends time with his two children. Katherine is absolutely satisfied with being a stay-at-home mom and a loving wife to Raine. Her father recently moved into a small cabin next door and loves being a full-time grandfather.
The Bodyguard’s Baby—#2
Harlequin Intrigue
Book two introduced Nick Foster and Laura Proctor, along with her sweet son, Robby (who was named for my eldest nephew!). Ian Michaels, who still works with Victoria forty-eight books later, also made his unforgettable entrance in this story.
Nick had been fully prepared to give his life to protect
Laura’s. And that’s what it almost cost the handsome bodyguard. Laura Proctor was more than a job to Nick—and they had unfinished business. For two years Laura was suspected dead. Nick hadn’t believed it. But he also couldn’t believe she’d had a baby in that time…with anyone else but him.
Laura would trust Nick with her life, but not with her secret. And she wouldn’t go back to Jackson, Mississippi, with him and leave her child in the hands of a kidnapper. Somehow she had to convince Nick that her baby was missing, but that the child wasn’t his. Because the closer he got to the truth, the more danger would come to them all.
As the story concluded, Nick and Laura decided to get married. Neither could picture life without the other, and together they would raise little Robby! Nick decided to take an extended leave of absence from the Colby Agency to be with his wife and son. Eventually he left the agency in order to pursue a quiet life with Laura and their son. Since leaving the Colby Agency, Nick has pursued a career in developing a state-of-th
e-art security system for residential use. He and Laura welcome a second child into their family.
Protective Custody—#3
Harlequin Intrigue
Ian Michaels was Victoria’s second-in-command and one of the best investigators at the Colby Agency—also one of the most gorgeous. Nicole Reed knew all too well just how good Ian could be. Together they had worked to protect a federal witness. In close quarters, desire erupted and ultimately played a role in the death of their client. Or so Ian thought. But it was Nicole who had been sent to see that Ian—the best protector money could buy—failed and that the witness was secreted into hiding. Losing her heart to Ian wasn’t part of the assignment.
Now in order to stay alive, Nicole needed the help of the man she once betrayed. Only, this time, would that all-consuming passion cause Nicole’s and Ian’s demise?
Ian and Nicole move in together in Chicago (Nicole’s apartment had gone up in flames) and are pregnant! They are 90 percent positive it’s a girl. They both remain at the Colby Agency as two of Victoria’s top investigators. They eventually have a second daughter.
Solitary Soldier—#4
Harlequin Intrigue
She’d heard his heart was as hard as his honed body and as cold as the steel of his gun. But the man called Sloan was Rachel Larson’s last hope. She had nowhere else to hide from her son’s father—a cold-blooded assassin, and Sloan’s deadliest enemy. So she faced this lone wolf in his lair and pleaded for his help.
Ex-Colby investigator Sloan lived only to take down the man who’d killed all he loved, including his own son. Now a desperate, desirable woman offered him that chance on a silver platter. Vengeance was his—if he could keep Rachel and her son from invading the fortress around his heart… .
By story’s end Sloan came to New Orleans and proposed to Rachel. She accepted his offer of marriage. Sloan promised to raise and love Rachel’s son just as he did his own! These days Sloan is retired. He and Rachel live in Mexico and homeschool their two children. They spend much of their time working to make life better for those less fortunate. After an unfortunate miscarriage they have a third child.
Personal Protector—#5
Harlequin Intrigue
Atlanta’s most beloved news reporter wanted her new cameraman fired. Why? Because she couldn’t even glance at the sexy Latino without wanting to touch him to see if he felt as hot as he looked. He was a distraction she couldn’t afford…not when her first priority was staying alive.
But what Piper didn’t know just might save her life. Because Ric Martinez was more than just a cocky cameraman with a knack for protecting Piper and making her melt with desire. He was an undercover Colby investigator on the biggest bodyguard assignment of his career: her!
Ric and Piper get married and are going to live in Chicago! Ric will return to the Colby Agency after he and Piper take some time together. Ric is still a mover and a shaker at the Colby Agency. He and Piper have tied the knot but don’t plan to have children for a while. Piper has become a household name in Chicago as the princess of investigative journalism.
Physical Evidence—#6
Harlequin Intrigue
Nobody came to Mitch Hayden’s county and caused trouble—least of all a fancy-pants lady P.I. from the big city. And Sheriff Hayden was nothing if not a man of his word. But Alexandra “Alex” Preston made a liar out of him with her blank memory and maddening allure. She’d come to town to investigate a missing-person case, and ended up a prime suspect in the murder of one of Mitch’s deputies. Though all evidence pointed to Alex, Mitch believed otherwise. So was his lawman mettle on the fritz…or was his physical knowledge of Alex suspect?
Victoria hates to lose a good Colby investigator like Alex, but the kind of love Alex and Mitch have found doesn’t come along every day. Instead of trying to make a long-distance relationship work, Mitch and Alex decide to settle in Tennessee. The two marry and Mitch remains sheriff while Alex does a little selective private-investigation work locally in Raleigh County. The happily married couple have a beautiful daughter!
The Marriage Prescription—#7
Harlequin American Romance
Operation: Seduction. As a love-struck teen, Beth McCormick had offered her innocence to Zach Ashton…only to have him turn her away. Now, years later, he returned to their one-horse hometown, a successful legal crusader legendary with the ladies and less attainable than ever… .
But then, Beth wanted only one night.
One night to make Zach see her as a seductive woman and not the sweet lady doctor next door. One night to exorcise the man of her dreams from her system forever. But Beth underestimated her heart…and her childhood hero. Because Zach was a master at turnaround—and a man with an agenda of his own… .
Beth and Zach get married in a beautiful October wedding and their son’s name is Charles Zacharius Ashton III. He is christened in a Catholic cathedral with the most important people in his parents’ lives there, including many friends from the Colby Agency. They end up having two beautiful children and find the perfect house in the suburbs near Chicago. Beth is practicing medicine at Chicago General and Zach is a stay-at-home dad, advising on cases at the Colby Agency once in a great while—like when Victoria’s son was in trouble.
Zach and Beth both move their moms to Chicago to be near their grandchildren. The two women still bicker over who will do what with which child first.
Contract Bride—#8
Harlequin Intrigue
Bride-to-be…murdered?
Jennifer Ballard never anticipated her wedding day to be an intricate setup. Her fiancé plotted to kill her, then take over her family pharmaceuticals business—and Jennifer’s first instinct was to turn to the prestigious Colby Agency for help. Suddenly she found herself under the protection of Ethan Delaney, the larger-than-life investigator assigned to her case. But in the midst of their clandestine mission to uncover the conspiracy that threatened to destroy her life, Jennifer was unwittingly drawn to her tough-as-nails bodyguard. With only each other to trust, they had to overcome danger—and desire—to unravel the dangerous plot.
Ethan and Jenn marry and have their first child. Ethan stays on with the Colby Agency, but is extra cautious now because Jenn wants him around for a long, long time! Dr. Austin Ballard begins dating the Colby Agency’s Mildred Parker, Victoria’s personal assistant. Ethan and Jenn eventually begin working side by side at the Colby Agency. In time they welcome the birth of twin boys and Mildred plays surrogate grandmother.
From an Interoffice Memo from Victoria: Marriages announced: Katherine Robertson and Jack Raine, Nick Foster and Laura Proctor, Ian Michaels and Nicole Reed, Trevor Sloan and Rachel Larson, Ric Martinez and Piper Ryan, Alex Preston and Mitch Hayden, and Zach Ashton and Elizabeth McCormick! Who will be next? Perhaps Mildred Parker and Austin Ballard!
Undercover Wife—#9
Harlequin Intrigue—The Specialists
Mission Recovery “Special Operations.” When all else fails, a Specialist is called in to “recover” a situation.
This team of highly skilled men and women was created to serve the needs of all other U.S. Government agencies whenever the usual channels failed. The elite force is trained in every area of antiterrorism and aggressive infiltration and headed by Thomas Casey and Lucas Camp. All agents have extensive stealth and sniper training and are multilingual. They must meet the most stringent mental and physical requirements of any national or international security force. They are prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish their mission. Failure is not an option.
Specialist John Logan was dedicated to duty—the mission always top priority—and he’d do anything to carry out an assignment. Even if it meant posing as the unthinkable—husband to the newly “recruited” Erin Bailey.
He’d shown up in the middle of the night and offered Erin her freedom if she’d pose as his wife to catch an insidious drug lord/arms dealer. Except, giving the compromising position she found herself in as victim of a frame
-up, Erin was totally at the mercy of her “guardian” as an untrained, stand-in agent. All she had to do was assume someone else’s identity, learn the ins and outs of weaponry and share a bed with her dangerously attractive “husband,” John Logan. And if she came out of this mess with her life intact, she’d surely lose her heart in the process.
When the case is closed, John and Erin get engaged and become partners in Lucas’s elite team.
Her Hidden Truth—#10
Harlequin Intrigue—The Specialists
The mission was always top priority for a Specialist—except this assignment was personal for agent Vince Ferrelli. Though anyone would be hard-pressed to find a tougher operative, Vince had one vulnerability…Katrina Moore.
“Kat” had been fitted with a new memory implant to protect her identity while undercover. But the device malfunctioned and put her in serious jeopardy. Only Vince could extract her from the demented organization—if she remembered the love she’d shared with Vince…and not the truth.
But pretending that they were a passionate couple would be torture for Vince. Because he still loved Kat. And he sure hoped she wouldn’t kill him when this case was closed.
Once the mission is recovered, Kat and Vince realize they are still in love and confess it. They marry and have a son.
Guardian of the Night—#11
Harlequin Intrigue—The Specialists
It was just the two of them in the darkness… .
Former military intelligence officer Noah Drake exiled himself to a small island off the coast of Georgia after the side effects of an untested drug destroyed his body’s tolerance to light. But because of his sacrifice, he brought down a dangerous traitor. Five years later, Noah’s adversary was back to settle the score.