He stood up and hugged her. “I’ll make everything up to you, Lily. I promise from now on, no more secrets.”
A hand clapped him on the shoulder. “I guess congratulations are in order, Detective Kavanagh.”
Connor glanced at Lily, whose mystified expression reflected his own confusion. He turned to Captain Morris. “I think there’s been a mistake, sir.”
“No mistake, son. You completed the mission and earned yourself a promotion. Good job, Kavanagh. I hope I’ll be invited to the wedding.”
“Of course, sir,” Connor said, shaking the man’s hand.
One by one, his former unit members stepped forward, offering their best wishes. Several still seemed uncertain, but by returning his badge and giving him a public promotion, Captain Morris had absolved him of guilt. What better engagement present could he have asked for?
As he hugged Lily, he let the thrill and excitement sink in. All his dreams were coming true: he’d stopped the Bank Bandits, he had his badge back, he had Lily in his arms again, and they had a baby on the way.
Lily’s laughter jerked Connor from his reverie. Paul stood in front of them, a broad grin on his face. He held out a bunch of tulips, hastily cut. A couple even still had the bulbs attached. Paul handed Lily the tulips and pulled Connor into a man-hug. “You’re one hell of an actor.”
He chuckled. “I doubt I’ll be getting an Oscar.”
“I should have known better. I should have trusted you.”
Lily wrapped her arm around Connor’s waist. “We both should have had more faith in you.”
Connor looked at his fiancée and his best friend and knew that things were going to be okay.
The clouds parted and the sun warmed his face.
Spring had finally arrived and Connor had his life back. A new beginning. A second chance to do things right.
The End
Kristine Cayne Proudly Presents
Deadly Obsession
Book One of the Deadly Vices romantic suspense series
Available Now
When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer…
Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.
A Hollywood dream…
Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.
Becomes a Hollywood nightmare
But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.
And the competition must be eliminated.
Continue Reading for an Excerpt from Deadly Obsession
CHAPTER 1
Don’t forget Nic—you belong to me. If you stray, she’ll pay.
The darkened theater closed around Nic Lamoureux like a cave, filled with unknown, unseen dangers. How had the stalker gotten his private number? Clenching the cell phone in his fist, he glanced at his Bad Days co-star, Jane Carver, sitting on his right, then at his agent, Vivian Carmichael, on his left. Which woman was the message targeting? With a flick of his thumb, he brought up the text again. Sweat beaded on his back, making his silk shirt cling to his skin.
Jane leaned in close and smiled, oblivious. “You were great in this scene. Oscar-worthy.” He studied her face. Why would anyone want to hurt her? Jane was beautiful, intelligent, and absolutely unavailable. During one of their late nights working on the next day’s scenes, he’d discovered her secret engagement to the film’s director. If anything happened to Jane because of one of his crazy fans, her fiancé would have his balls.
As Jane settled back in her seat, a woman in the next row turned around to face him. Light from the screen reflected off something in her hand. On instinct, he twisted sideways to protect Jane. Blood pounded in his ears, drowning out the sound of gunfire blasting from speakers all around the theater. After snapping a photo with her camera phone, the woman gave him a thumbs-up and returned to watch the movie.
Vivian patted his arm as he sat back and shot him a questioning look. After flashing her what he hoped was an easy smile, he caught his bodyguard’s eye. Kaden leaned across Vivian’s seat. “Everything okay, sir?”
Tucking the phone in his hand, he reached over, resting his arm on Vivian’s shoulders, and slipped Kaden the phone. His bodyguard barely glanced at the message before standing up, his mouth a thin line. “Sir, we need to leave.” Nic started to tell him to sit down, that the movie was almost over, but the words died on his lips. Kaden’s hand hovered above his gun as his eyes raked the crowd. “You’re too exposed.” He signaled to Jane’s bodyguard. “Get her out of here.”
Kaden was right. The sender could be any one of the hundreds of people crowding the screening room. Nic grabbed Vivian’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“But—”
“Now.” Nic jerked his head in Kaden’s direction. She nodded, eyes wide. Kaden rushed them outside, calling out to the festival security guards to back him up as they ran to their limo. Nic glanced behind to make sure Jane was taken care of. Seeing her bodyguard secure her in a limo, he relaxed. A bit. He still had Vivian to worry about.
When they reached their limo, he opened the door and pushed Vivian inside as Kaden climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. They slammed the doors shut and took off, tires squealing.
“Darling,” Vivian said after fastening her seatbelt and straightening her skirt. “What the hell was that about? Taking off in the middle of your own premiere? How do you expect me to spin this with the press?”
He shot her a flirty grin. “Tell them I had a hot date.”
“A booty call? That’s your excuse?” Vivian sighed and brushed a loose strand of auburn hair from her cheek. “Tell me the truth. What’s going on?”
Trying not to scare her, he shrugged. “I was being watched.”
Vivian stared at him for a moment, then dropped her head against the seat and laughed. “Of course you were. Do you think people came to the premiere tonight to see your movie? No, they came to see Nic The Lover.”
“This felt different.”
You belong to me. Just thinking about it made his stomach roll. He stretched his shoulders to relieve the tension. When that didn’t work, he watched the streets of downtown D.C. zip by his window.
“Is this about the Internet postings by NicsBitch, darling?” When he didn’t respond, she continued. “Trust me. All celebrities have fans who follow them around and post about them online. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they’re harmless.”
“And what about the other one percent?” If the poster had followed him from L.A. to D.C., they weren’t dealing with a harmless fan. “Someone sent me a text tonight. I think it was NicsBitch.”
“A text? How did she get your number? It’s unlisted.”
He held up his hands. “Don’t look at me.”
“Anyways, she’s been keeping tabs on you for months. And nothing bad’s come of it.”
“Yet.” He handed Vivian the phone. “Read the message. I think you and Jane were in danger.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. Vivian was such a mother hen, she’d ignore any danger to herself and focus on him.
Shit. Nic shook his head. “If anything, he should stay with you.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, offering him a shaky smile. “I’ll be fine.”
Heavy silence accompanied them the rest of the way. Nic watched Vivian, his agent, mentor, and friend of ten years, fidget in her seat. Vivian never fidgeted. If anything were to happen to her because of him, he wouldn’t need an enraged fiancé to rip his balls off—he’d do the honors himself.
At the hotel, he and Kaden escorted Vivian to her door. As she was unlocking it, she turned back to Nic. “I’ll see you at ten?”
“Ten?”
“You have a photo shoot with Rafael, remember?”
“Damn. I completely forgot.” He rubbed his stiff neck. “I was looking forward to going back home.”
Vivian pursed her lips. “I can reschedule it.”
He shook his head. “I’ll be there.” The GI Film Festival, which celebrated the American Armed Forces, had chosen to premiere Bad Days because the organizers believed in the film’s message as much as he did. The photos from the shoot would garner additional sponsors and publicity. He couldn’t let them down.
Once Vivian was in her room, safe behind a locked door, Kaden crossed the hall and opened Nic’s door. After a quick inspection, he gave the all clear. Nic walked into the living area and dropped onto the couch, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Do you think NicsBitch sent the message?”
“Probably.” Kaden took the armchair across from the couch.
Nic yawned and glanced at his watch. “You can’t stay though.”
“I can’t?”
“Isn’t tomorrow your girlfriend’s birthday?” Kaden’s relationship was already strained enough without adding a missed birthday to Beth’s list of grievances.
Kaden winced. “Shit.”
Seeing his bodyguard’s expression, Nic laughed. “Go. As soon as I’m done with the photo shoot, I’ll hop a plane back to L.A.”
Kaden narrowed his eyes. “No can do. This situation has gone way beyond some celebrity sightings and even a few stalkerish postings. This is serious. How the fuck can I do my job if I’m not here?”
It was bad enough having a babysitter at public events—he didn’t want or need one dogging his every step. “I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself. Besides, the stalker isn’t targeting me.”
“Just any woman near you. I’m staying. Beth will have to understand.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Then we’re done.”
The words shook him. Life wasn’t perfect, but he had great friends. No way was the stalker going to dictate his actions or theirs. And nothing was going to happen to Vivian. He wouldn’t let it. “If I show fear, start acting like a victim, then she’s already won. I need to do this. On my own.”
“If the stalker comes after you or Vivian, what’s your plan to stop her?”
Nic tugged on his tie, loosening it. Did everyone think he was a weenie? “I can shoot just as well as you can.”
Kaden looked around, searching the hotel room with his eyes, before arching a sarcastic brow. “Yeah? Where’s your gun, hotshot?”
Nic’s gaze sharpened. Kaden knew exactly where his gun was—at home, locked in his safe. D.C. was one of the few places that had denied him a permit to carry. “The whole thing won’t take more than a couple hours. I’ll be home before dinner. Nothing’s going to happen to me, or anyone else.”
After finally convincing Kaden to return to L.A., Nic changed into his favorite jeans and a loose T-shirt, and grabbed a Coke from the mini-fridge. Popping open the can, he made himself comfortable on the couch and settled in for a long night of mind-numbing TV.
Anything to forget someone out there was watching him, following him. Obsessing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.
Kristine’s heroes and heroines are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.
Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.
To learn more about Kristine and her stories, visit her website: www.kristinecayne.com
For the latest information about Kristine’s upcoming releases, blog tours, and giveaways, visit Kristine Cayne’s Facebook author page.
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ALSO BY KRISTINE CAYNE
Six-Alarm Sexy Series
“Aftershocks,” in Romance in the Rain (Prequel)
Under His Command (Book One)
Deadly Vices Series
Deadly Obsession (Book One)
Deadly Addiction (Book Two)
Novelettes
Un-Valentine’s Day
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
CHAPTER 1
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Guns 'N' Tulips Page 4