Keeping Her Safe

by Myrna Mackenzie

  Do you have a favorite book or film?

  Not the dreaded “a” which means I have to choose! This could take pages, years, even decades. But only one? All right. Jane Eyre. It was my first favorite and has great sentimental value for me.

  Any last words to your readers?

  Yes, thank you for the companionship of loving books as much as I do. No one understands a reader the way another reader does, that thrill of holding a single small paperback in one’s hands and realizing that an entire world resides inside. May all of you keep discovering new and wonderful worlds and stories!

  Author’s Journal

  Ten Ways to Conceal the Identity of Your Bodyguard by Myrna MacKenzie

  1. Go jogging with him. Tell everyone you were never going to fit back into that size-six dress for your next high school reunion without a personal trainer, and yours has been accommodating enough to make himself available whenever you have a “doughnut attack,” which is pretty much around-the-clock occurrence.

  2. Teach him some foreign phrases. When in the presence of others, converse only in your language of choice. Tell your friends that you’re planning a trip abroad and need to immerse yourself in the language. Your “personal tutor” is here to help in any way he can.

  3. Along those lines, have your bodyguard speak to you only in foreign endearments (Je t’adore, Te quiero or Ti amo are all good). Tell everyone he is your long-lost pen pal and now that you have “found” each other you may never speak English again.

  4. Set him to washing windows, painting the house or whatever suits your fancy, preferably sans shirt. Your female neighbors will enjoy the show of watching your handsome, muscular handyman so much that they won’t ask any questions (other than how much does he charge?), and you’ll get the double benefit of having a bodyguard and a man who knows how to handle a hammer.

  5. Suggest that he’s your ex-boyfriend here to take part in a new reality show titled My Former (Worthless) Lover. The two of you have to live together until one of you runs screaming into the night (in which case, the remaining person wins $25,000) or until you end up in bed (in which case no one wins anything…but neither of you cares).

  6. Ask him to wear a cowboy hat and boots (chaps might be pushing it) and spread the word that he used to be your cousin’s friend from Montana, but now he’s your own personal cowboy. Women will envy you; men will want to steal you away (because any woman who rates a cowboy must be worth having).

  7. Kissing cousins. Need I say more?

  8. Dress him in black and have him answer the door. Haven’t you always wanted to have a hunky butler to do your bidding? Do not miss this opportunity!

  9. Tell everyone he is your bodyguard. Is anyone really going to believe that? (And if they do, wouldn’t that be the coolest thing?)

  10. Marry him. Now he’s your husband, your knight in shining armor, the future father of your children, the man of your dreams, your soul mate and…oh yes, your bodyguard, as well (but what’s one teensy little title amongst all the others—as if anyone would ever notice that big gun he carries when most of the time they’re watching the way he gazes into your eyes). Sigh.

  Author’s Journal

  Getting Away in Outdoor San Antonio by Myrna MacKenzie

  After being cooped up in her house, Natalie McCabe was more than ready to get out, but her sexy bodyguard, Vincent Fortune, refused to put her at risk. If they were going to go out, it would have to be to a more secluded area, something outdoors. Finding the right place was a tough choice for Vincent, so…for anyone else who might feel the need to make a brief respite from the everyday world, here are some suggestions:

  O.P. Schnabel Park, 9600 Bandera Street, San Antonio, TX 78250

  Open Daily 5:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

  A great place to get out and away from your troubles!

  Once known as “the cleanest little park in Texas.” O.P. Schnabel Park boasts basketball courts, a baseball and soccer field and picnic areas, as well as several miles of trails suitable for running, biking and hiking. The trails range from gently sloping to challenging and boast some lovely oak and laurel cover.

  McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Road, San Antonio, TX 78247

  Open Daily 5:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

  Another good place for biking, hiking, jogging and a good choice when our heroine needs to escape the tension of being in constant danger while trying to avoid falling for her bodyguard.

  Located on over 900 acres of land north of the San Antonio International Airport, the park has three miles of jogging paths as well as soft surface and nature trails. Picnic areas are shaded with barbecue pits, and there are fields for baseball, soccer and softball.

  Hill Country State Natural Area,

  10600 Bandera Creek Road, Bandera, TX 78003 Feb-Nov open seven days a week; Dec-Jan open Fri. noon to Sun 10:30 p.m.

  An excellent choice for escaping whatever troubles ail you.

  The 5,400 acres here offer a grand taste of nature, including steep canyons, stands of oaks, springs and grasslands. There are thirty-six miles of trails suitable for horseback riding, backpacking and mountain biking (four miles are open only to horses and hikers). Primitive camping as well as limited swimming, fishing and equestrian camping are also available.

  San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, TX 78209

  Open year-round 9:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. (closed Christmas and New Year’s)

  What could be better than the solace of beautiful gardens when our heroine needs to get out and smell the roses?

  Founded in 1980 and occupying thirty-three acres in the heart of San Antonio, the gardens are a great place for birders and for letting one’s spirits soar.

  Dwight D. Eisenhower Natural Area Park, 19399 NW Military Highway, San Antonio Open seven days a week (closed Christmas and New Year’s)

  A great place for soaking up the sun, for communing with nature and for trying to forget that someone is trying to harm you…and that you’re falling in love with the wrong man!

  The 320 acres of Eisenhower Park offer examples of Texas Hill Country vegetation and landscapes. Wooded dry creek beds and rocky canyons may be found along the five miles of trails suitable for hiking, jogging or nature study. Trails vary from Level 1 (handicapped accessible) to Level 4 in difficulty. Trail Markers along four of the trails indicate examples of Texas Hill vegetation, and the Cedar Flats Trail leads to the highest point in the park and a lookout tower offering views of the surrounding area. Picnic facilities are available; however, no roller blades, scooters or bicycles are allowed.

  Emilie & Albert Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa Road

  Open seven days a week 7:30 a.m.-Sunset (closed Christmas and New Year’s)

  A few hours of fresh air, breathing in the wonderful scent of cedar and hiking up and down canyons can really help a girl get away from it all. About fifteen miles from downtown San Antonio and situated on 233 acres, seven hiking trails (5.5 miles) ranging from Level 1 to Level 4 in difficulty offer access to ancient cedar, rare birds (the park is internationally known for bird-watching), terrestrial orchids, steep hills and canyons.

  Choke Canyon State Park

  Gates are open 5:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Seven days a week, year-round except for Public Hunts. If a girl really needs to escape the area and her troubled thoughts…

  A bit farther afield, Choke Canyon State Park is about seventy-five miles south of San Antonio near the town of Three Rivers. There are two units, the South Shore and Calliham (about ten miles west of the South Shore unit). The Calliham Unit is located on 1100 acres in McMullen County and the South Shore Unit is located on 385 acres in Live Oak County. Both units offer camping, picnicking, boating, hiking, wildlife viewing, birding, fishing and lake beach swimming. The Calliham Unit also has a swimming pool (open summers from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.), shuffleboard, tennis, volleyball and basketball, two miles of hiking trails, a mile-long bird trail and a wildlife educational center. The South Shore unit offers baseball an
d volleyball areas. Wildlife in the area includes the American alligator (the westernmost occurrence), Rio Grande turkey, whitetail dear, javelina, coyote, opossum, fox squirrel, raccoon, skunk and the crested caracara (Mexican eagle).

  Lost Maples State Natural Area, 37221 FM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885

  Open seven days a week year-round except during Public Hunts.

  What a great romantic name for a getaway! How could our heroine resist?

  About sixty miles west-northwest of San Antonio, Lost Maples covers 2,174 scenic acres north of Vanderpool on the Sabinal River. The area was once used by prehistoric peoples at times and later played host to the Apache, Lipan Apache and Comanche. The land is a combination of steep canyons, springs, grasslands, wooded slopes and clear streams. There is a large, isolated stand of Uvalde Bigtooth Maple with beautiful fall foliage. Rare species of birds (such as the Green Kingfisher) can be seen year-round. Activities include camping, picnicking, backpacking, hiking (half-a-mile nature trail, eleven miles of hiking trails), bird-watching, fishing and swimming.

  San Antonio Missions National Historic Park,

  2202 Roosevelt Ave., San Antonio, TX 78210 Hours 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 25, Jan 1)

  Biking the trail here is sure to make our heroine feel rejuvenated and ready to face her troubles when she returns home.

  Though not an outdoor area in the sense that the other places listed here are, the park boasts a 7.1 mile Mission Hike and Bike Trail that connects the four missions (Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada), all located along the San Antonio River. A large portion of the trail runs parallel to the river with ample opportunities to see egrets, great blue herons and terns, and the missions themselves are unique.

  Enjoy your days of sunshine and fresh air in the beautiful San Antonio area!

  Here’s a sneak peek…

  The Law of Attraction by Kristi Gold

  You won’t want to miss the continuation of THE FORTUNES OF TEXAS: REUNION, a 12-book continuity series featuring the powerful Fortune family. Enjoy this excerpt of Kristi Gold’s

  THE LAW OF ATTRACTION, the eighth book in the series

  THE LAW OF ATTRACTION

  Daniel Fortune was tempting. He also qualified as a potential mistake.

  When Alisha pushed out the door into the cool, misty night, that potential mistake was leaning against the lone lamppost, hands in his pockets, face illuminated by the halogen bulb. Suddenly making that mistake didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

  You should do him, Hart….

  Alisha could not imagine that. All right, she could imagine it, and she had, several times. She certainly wasn’t going to make the first move, or any kind of move, for that matter. But she faced a certain dilemma. She had to walk past him on her way to the pay-by-the-hour parking lot across the street. Of course, she could ignore him, as if that were really possible since he’d already seen her. Or she could sprint to her car with only a muttered good-night.

  How silly. She could handle this situation with adult diplomacy.

  This is not that difficult, Alisha.

  Stepping onto the sidewalk, Alisha studied the stars and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “A really nice night for sex.” Oh, crap. She’d been paid a visit by Freud instead of Baby New Year.

  Daniel pushed off the pole and narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me? What did you just say?”

  Alisha felt the fire rising to her face and more than likely, she probably looked as if she’d been slapped. Someone should slap her for the questionable comment. “I said it’s a nice night in Texas.” Good save, Alisha. “Why?”

  “Because I could’ve sworn you said something about sex.”

  She folded her arms beneath her breasts and prepared to lie. “I’m not surprised you thought that. I hear men think about sex about every six seconds.”

  “A total exaggeration. More like every ninety seconds.” He topped off the comment with the most patently seductive smile she’d ever seen on a man.

  “I stand corrected.” Although right now standing before him made her want to drop to her knees in brazen worship as if he’d been ordained as a D.A. demigod.

  I’d do him…in a heartbeat….

  A round of pop, pop, pops from a series of firecrackers echoing through the streets yanked Alisha back into the real world, where defense attorneys and prosecutors didn’t mingle, especially between the sheets. Yes, it happened, that much Alisha knew. But not to her. She’d learned her lesson the hard way, and since that time she’d walked the professional line even though right now she wanted to walk right up and kiss the esteemed Daniel Fortune. The way she’d fantasized about kissing him for months now. She’d fantasized about a lot more than that.

  He broke the silence by asking, “Why didn’t you wait inside until midnight?”

  She hugged her bag to her chest. “First, it’s too crowded. Second, Billy Wade was singing like a wounded banshee. Third, sleep’s at a premium these days and I need to get home.”

  “Yeah. I imagine it is with the Massey case pending.”

  She attempted to look appropriately incensed, very hard to do in the presence of a man who took charisma to a whole new level. “You’re determined to get me to discuss that, aren’t you?”

  “No. Just making an observation.”

  And that was the reason for his attention. “You’re being too polite to me, Counselor, which leads me to believe you’re making nice so I’ll give you a clue about my strategy.”

  “There’s a couple of things you need to know about me, Counselor. The Massey case isn’t my problem because my job is to prosecute the worst of the worst. Felonies, not misdemeanors. And I don’t make nice with a woman to gain information.”

  “Then what do you hope to gain by making nice?”

  “I don’t hope to gain anything. At least not in terms of our professional relationship.”

  Alisha wasn’t sure where this could be leading but she did know it could be down a dangerous path. “We don’t have anything other than a professional relationship.”

  “We could.”

  That almost shocked Alisha right out of her vise-like heels. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’re a prosecutor and I’m a defense attorney.”

  “No reason why we can’t be friendly outside of the courts.”

  Alisha could think of one big reason, namely she’d gotten a little too friendly with a colleague, and she’d lived to regret it. “Maybe having a personal relationship with associates might work for you, but I’ve never considered it to be a wise move.”

  “I don’t know if it works for me because I’ve never done it before.”

  That was a hard one to swallow. “You’re telling me that you’ve never fraternized with one of the many female attorneys in this town?”

  “Never found one I cared to fraternize with.” The look he gave her said, Until now. Or maybe her imagination was commandeering her brain again.

  Turning the topic back to their profession seemed wise. “By the way, I wanted to add my congratulations on your handling of the Richardson case.”

  “And I should congratulate you on bulldozing the new guy into taking a plea on the Langston case.”

  “I didn’t bulldoze him. I just did some serious negotiating.”

  “You scared the hell out of him.”

  She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Okay, call me scary. I’ve been called worse.”

  “Such as?”

  “Stubborn. Single-minded—”

  “Sexy as hell?”

  Ha! “Can’t say that I’ve heard that in anyone’s verbal repertoire when describing me.”

  “Well, it’s in mine, because you are. Especially tonight.”

  Alisha fought the inclination to look behind her to see what other woman had arrived on the scene. She pointed toward the street. “I’m going to head home now.” Be
fore she did something totally stupid.

  “Where do you live?” he asked.

  “In an apartment north of town, about twenty minutes away.”

  “I’m a lot closer. Only a few blocks away. The new condo development.”

  “The one that overlooks the river? That’s rather pricey. I didn’t know the D.A.’s office paid so well.”

  “I manage. The view alone is worth it.”

  “I’m sure it’s great.”

  “You should come over tonight and see for yourself.”

  Surely this couldn’t be happening to her, a tremendously sensual man asking her over. Actually, it couldn’t be happening, or it shouldn’t. “Let me guess. You want me to go over your briefs.”

  “My briefs are in order, unless you feel the need to do a quality check.”

  She rolled her eyes for the second time tonight even though she had a sudden image of doing that very thing. “You’re a big boy. I’m sure you’re quite capable of tossing out your old underwear when necessary.”

  “We were talking about underwear?” His grin was teasing, and terribly tempting.

  She laid a dramatic hand on her chest. “My apologies, Mr. Fortune. I guess I’ve confused you with all of the other male jurists who just love to throw out those clichéd legal pickup lines.”

  “You mean things like let’s engage in a little discovery? I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours?”

  “Yes, but we can’t forget my personal favorite. Let’s go back to my place and study the penal code.”

  He took a step toward her. “How about I have no statue of limitations when it comes to making you feel good?”

  From the deep, compelling tone of his voice, Alisha inherently knew he was telling the truth. “I’ve never heard that one before.”

  “That’s because I just made it up. I can be pretty quick on my feet.”