Juliet got to her feet. “May I see him?”
She nodded, exhausted, and pointed vaguely out toward the back of the house.
A uniformed maid with a pleasant smile showed Juliet out to the pool. Ham was there, sprawled on a lounge chair in the sun. Juliet grinned at him. “You’re going to be a wrinkled-up old man one day.”
He grinned back. “I hope so.” He squinted up at her. “Am I in trouble?”
“Nope. I’m just visiting.”
“Did my mother tell you she and my father paid the five million, then took it away? It explains why Kelleher turned on Mia O’Farrell. Why he went crazy with his conspiracies. He had five million in his bank account one day, and the next day—poof. Gone.”
“He figured only a conspiracy involving a high government official could explain what happened.”
“And me—I was already a traitor because I was so close to uncovering his emerald smuggling.” He sat up, crossing his legs. He had on swim trunks, and his ribs showed, but at least the bites and bruises had healed. “I joined the Marines.”
Juliet looked out at the warm, rippling water of the kidney-shaped pool. The air was warm by her standards, but cool for bony Ham to be out sunning himself, although he didn’t seem to notice. “The Marines, huh?”
He nodded.
“Well, you’re a genius, right? You’ll have considered all the pros and cons. You tell Ethan?”
“He says I’ll last twelve hours before they kick me out.”
“And you plan to show him.”
Ham grinned. “Yes, ma’am, I sure do.”
Juliet winked at him. “You hang in there for the thirteen hours, Ham. After that, you’ll have proved yourself to Brooker, and the Marines’ll make you a general.”
When she left, she had him laughing. But she didn’t see Faye or Johnson Carhill on her way out, although the maid gave her warm almond coffee cake wrapped in aluminum foil. “For Ethan,” she said.
“He’s not here—”
“Oh, yes.” And she nodded, smiling, toward the driveway. “He’s here.”
And he was, sitting behind the wheel of her rented car. She pulled open the passenger door. “What did you do, parachute in?”
“Luke.”
“Ah. The co-conspirator.”
But it’d been three weeks since their night on the lake, and Juliet couldn’t hold back her pleasure at seeing him. “Ethan. Damn.” She climbed into the passenger seat and kissed him. “I’m not sleeping in a tent here. Not only do you have poisonous snakes, you’ve got wild hogs. I hate snakes—poisonous or not—and I don’t plan on running into any wild hogs. I want a bed.”
He smiled at her. “A bed.”
“Your parents—I met them. Very nice people. They want you to be happy again. However, if getting a bed requires—”
“They’ve gone to San Antonio for the weekend. Spur-of-the-moment trip.”
“San Antonio?”
“It’s another city in Texas.”
“I know—” She sat back in her seat, noticing he had the air-conditioning turned on—a good thing, because she was hot. “That means we get the house to ourselves.”
After they made love in the guest room and took a long, soapy shower together, they poured wine and went out into the backyard and watched the west Texas sunset. Juliet had never seen such a glorious sunset, deep, rich, fire colors with sparks of lavender and a soft glow, here and there, of pale pink. “I’ve taken a job in Washington,” she said. “Nate Winter offered it to me. I’m joining a special joint task force to find Kelleher’s vigilante cohorts.”
“D.C., huh?”
She nodded. “I start next week.”
“Where are you going to live?”
“Mia O’Farrell has offered to sublet her apartment in Georgetown to me. She’s on a leave of absence, or that’s what she’s calling it. She and Joshua—” Juliet, who’d gone home to Vermont last weekend, pictured her brother walking up to the apple orchard, Mia on one arm, his daughter on the other arm. He’d never seemed happier. “They’ve hit it off. She’s spending the next few months in Vermont.”
“You’ll like her apartment.”
“You’ve been there?”
“I’m living there. I moved in last week.” He glanced sideways at her, his expression impossible to read. “She’s subletting to me, too. These devious Beltway types…”
Juliet gave him an amused, suspicious look. “I smell a conspiracy.”
“The thing about stopping to see Nate and Sarah, you never know who’s going to be eating fried pies on the back porch. I ran into President Poe two weeks ago. He asked me to come work for him.” Ethan shrugged. “I’m not used to telling the commander in chief ‘no.’”
“Well, I should warn you. I bought a fish.”
“Juliet—”
“I love you, Ethan, but I know you’ve had a difficult year. We can take this a step at a time. There’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere.” She looked at him. “But that’s not a promise you can make.”
“I can love you forever.”
“That’s a promise you can make.”
“Juliet…” He tucked his hand into hers. “You didn’t buy just one fish, did you?”
She smiled.
Don’t miss the next riveting book from Carla Neggers
BREAKWATER
In stores February 2006
When Quinn Harlowe goes to her bayside cottage looking for a troubled friend, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body—let alone the dead body of her friend. The authorities deem it a suicide, but Quinn knows better. Deciding to investigate on her own, she stumbles upon information that leads her to Breakwater, a high-security compound near her cottage. When Quinn realizes she’s being followed—by a man who claims to be a bodyguard at Breakwater—she must make a decision: trust him or risk losing her life.
COMING NEXT MONTH
Be enthralled, moved, thrilled, delighted…and satisfied by exceptional reads from outstanding authors and well-loved series.
Come back every two weeks for newly released selections in eight varied categories offering stories that appeal to every taste and mood.
Have a great time!
AVAILABLE NOW
Showcase
Enthralling stories by the brightest stars in women’s fiction—from MIRA Books, and big romances that sweep you away—from HQN Books
KILLER TAKES ALL by Erica Spindler, MIRA (psychological thriller)
BEFORE SUNRISE by Diana Palmer (contemporary romance)
DARK SKY by Carla Neggers, MIRA (romantic suspense)
50 HARBOR STREET by Debbie Macomber, MIRA (women’s fiction)
GHOST WALK by Heather Graham, MIRA (paranormal mystery)
Sexy Reads
Powerful, provocative tales full of heat and passion—from Harlequin Blaze, Silhouette Desire and Harlequin Presents
THE ITALIAN’S STOLEN BRIDE by Emma Darcy, Harlequin Presents
UNCONTROLLABLE by Susan Kearney, Harlequin Blaze
WHATEVER RILEY WANTS by Maureen Child, Silhouette Desire
SEXY ALL OVER by Jamie Sobrato, Harlequin Blaze
HOT TO THE TOUCH by Jennifer Greene, Silhouette Desire
TALKING ABOUT SEX…by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin Blaze
Romantic Suspense
Danger…romance…adventure…suspense! Stories that will take your breath away—from Harlequin Intrigue and Silhouette Intimate Moments
MAN OF HER DREAMS by Debra Webb, Harlequin Intrigue
LOVING THE LONE WOLF by Ingrid Weaver, Silhouette Intimate Moments
GHOST HORSE by Patricia Rosemoor, Harlequin Intrigue
SUSPICIOUS by Heather Graham, Silhouette Intimate Moments
RIDER ON FIRE by Sharon Sala, Silhouette Intimate Moments
Inspirational
Stories of faith, hope and love that warm the heart and nourish the soul—from Steeple Hill Love Inspired and compelling suspense—from Love Inspired Suspense
; LOVING FEELINGS by Gail Gaymer Martin, Steeple Hill Love Inspired
FOR THE TWINS’ SAKE by Jillian Hart, Steeple Hill Love Inspired
NOTE OF PERIL by Hannah Alexander, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS by Elizabeth White, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
BLACK HILLS BRIDE by Deb Kastner, Steeple Hill Love Inspired
WINDINGO TWILIGHT by Colleen Rhoads, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
MILLION DOLLAR DILEMMA by Judy Baer, Steeple Hill Café
STORM CLOUDS by Cheryl Wolverton, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
Women’s Fiction
Books that celebrate the “next” stage of women’s lives…because every life has a second chapter! From Harlequin Next
THERE’S ALWAYS PLAN B by Susan Mallery, Harlequin Next
RIGGS PARK by Ellyn Bache, Harlequin, Next
CUTTING THROUGH by Joan Hohl, Harlequin Next
THE ME I USED TO BE by Jennifer Archer, Harlequin Next
Women’s Action Adventure
Strong, sexy, savvy heroines who save the day…and always get their man. From Silhouette Bombshell
ONCE A THIEF by Michele Hauf, Silhouette Bombshell
HOT PURSUIT by Kathryn Jensen, Silhouette Bombshell
DEVIL’S BARGAIN by Rachel Caine, Silhouette Bombshell
THE GOLDEN GIRL by Erica Orloff, Silhouette Bombshell
Chick Lit
Women’s fiction with attitude, these humorous, edgy, hip stories celebrate life’s little curves…From Red Dress Ink
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by Carole Matthews, Red Dress Ink
KILLER SUMMER by Lynda Curnyn, Red Dress Ink
DO THEY WEAR HIGH HEELS IN HEAVEN? By Erica Orloff, Red Dress Ink
Fantasy/Science Fiction
Powerful, magical tales, vivid characters and richly imagined worlds from the first imprint solely dedicated to female focused fantasy—Luna Books
THE DESTINED QUEEN by Deborah Hale, LUNA
URBAN SHAMAN by C.E. Murphy, LUNA
POISON STUDY by Maria V. Snyder, LUNA
ON SALE OCTOBER 1ST
Showcase
Enthralling stories by the brightest stars in women’s fiction—from MIRA Books, and big romances that sweep you away—from HQN Books
MASQUERADE by Brenda Joyce, HQN Books (historical romance)
Romantic Suspense
Danger…romance…adventure…suspense! Stories that will take your breath away—from Harlequin Intrigue and Silhouette Intimate Moments
SECURITY MEASURES by Joanna Wayne, Harlequin Intrigue
Inspirational
Stories of faith, hope and love that warm the heart and nourish the soul—from Steeple Hill Love Inspired and compelling suspense—from Love Inspired Suspense
DIE BEFORE NIGHTFALL by Shirlee McCoy, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
Women’s Fiction
Books that celebrate the “next” stage of women’s lives…because every life has a second chapter! From Harlequin Next
PELICAN BAY by Charlotte Douglas, Harlequin Next
Fantasy/Science Fiction
Powerful, magical tales, vivid characters and richly imagined worlds from the first imprint solely dedicated to female focused fantasy—Luna Books
IN STONE’S CLASP by Christie Golden, LUNA
ON SALE OCTOBER 15TH
Sexy Reads
Powerful, provocative tales full of heat and passion—from Harlequin Blaze, Silhouette Desire and Harlequin Presents
THE TYCOON’S TROPHY WIFE by Miranda Lee, Harlequin Presents
Inspirational
Stories of faith, hope and love that warm the heart and nourish the soul—from Steeple Hill Love Inspired and compelling suspense—from Love Inspired Suspense
DECK THE HALLS by Arlene James, Steeple Hill Love Inspired
Women’s Action Adventure
Strong, sexy, savvy heroines who save the day…and always get their man. From Silhouette Bombshell
FLAWLESS by Michele Hauf, Silhouette Bombshell
Chic Lit
Women’s fiction with attitude, these humorous, edgy, hip stories celebrate life’s little curves…From Red Dress Ink
THE NIGHT I GOT LUCKY by Laura Caldwell, Red Dress Ink
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