âI suppose this is the part where I fall into your arms, flutter my eyelashes and tell you that youâre my hero.â
Quint grinned. âI wouldnât mind one bit, Natalie.â
âDonât hold your breath, cowboy. You lied to me. Youâre a bodyguard, arenât you?â
âSometimes.â
Quint leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees and rotated his shoulders to relieve the tension in his back. Rescuing Natalie like that had been a crazy stunt, and he was damned lucky that heâd succeeded. If heâd failed, they might both be dead.
He felt Natalieâs hand on his shoulder. âQuint? Are you okay?â
âFine,â he said.
âYouâre shaking.â
From fear, the fear of losing her. He swallowed hard. âIâm glad youâre all right.â
âAnd you?â she asked. âAre you hurt?â
Looking at Natalie, knowing that she was alive and well, he felt the soul-deep pain beginning to heal. âIâm just fine.â
âGood.â She straightened her shoulders. âBecause Iâm going to kill you.â
Dear Harlequin Intrigue Reader,
Weâve got another month of sinister summer sizzlers lined up for you starting with the one and only Familiarâyour favorite crime-solving black cat! Travel with the feisty feline on a magic carpet to the enchanting land of sheiks in Caroline Burnesâs Familiar Mirage, the first part of FEAR FAMILIAR: DESERT MYSTERIES. You can look for the companion book, Familiar Oasis, next month.
Then itâs back to the heart of the U.S.A. for another outstanding CONFIDENTIAL installment. This time, the sexiest undercover operatives around take on Chicago in this bestselling continuity series. Cassie Miles launches the whole shebang with Not on His Watch.
Debra Webb continues her COLBY AGENCY series with one more high-action, heart-pounding romantic suspense story in Physical Evidence. What these Colby agents wonât do to solve a caseâtheyâll even become prime suspects to take care of businessâ¦and fall in love.
Finally, esteemed Harlequin Intrigue author Leona Karr brings you a classic mystery about a woman who washes up on the shore sans memory. Good thing sheâs saved by a man determined to find her Lost Identity.
A great lineup to be sure. So make sure you pick up all four titles for the full Harlequin Intrigue reading experience.
Sincerely,
Denise OâSullivan
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin Intrigue
To my old friends, critique groups, the guys at Merrick and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.
Thank you for your caring support, for your laughter and your love. And, as always, to Rick.
Cassie Miles was born in Chicago, and now lives in Denver, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, with the traffic jams to prove it. She belongs to the film society and enjoys artsy subtitled cinema almost as much as movies in which stuff blows up. Her favorite entertainment is urban, ranging from sports to museum exhibits to coffeehouse espresso. Yet she never loses sight of the Rocky Mountains through the kitchen window.
Quintin CrawfordâThe long, tall Texan became a Confidential agent to forget his dark personal tragedy. He never expected to find sunshine in Chicago.
Natalie Van BurenâDaughter of the CEO of Quantum Industries, she struggled to earn her vice president title and learned never to settle for second best.
Henry Van BurenâThe CEO of Quantum Industries, a megapowerful international oil distributor based in Chicago.
Nicco, alias Nick BeaumontâThe mysterious expert in timed explosives. Who was he working for?
Gordon DoellerâThe Quantum vice president in charge of marketing had his fingers in too many pies.
Eugene âHutchâ GreelyâThe leader of the eco-cult Solar Sons held a dangerous grudge against Quantum.
Zahir Haji HaleemâA force to be reckoned with in oil-based Middle Eastern economies. Was he a hero or a snake?
Maria Luisa Moreno and Jerome HarrisâLoyal Quantum employees. Or were they?
Vincent Romeo, Whitney MacNair Romeo, Lawson Davies and Andy DexterâAgents with the newly formed Chicago Confidential.
Daniel AustinâFounder of Montana Confidential and close friend to Quintin Crawford.
Javid Haji HaleemâA Middle Eastern ruler and twin to Zahir. He came to Chicago to aid the Confidential investigation.
Kathy RenkâThe receptionist in the Confidential offices.
The Confidential Agentâs Pledge
I hereby swear to uphold the law
to the best of my ability; to maintain the level of integrity of this agency by my compassion for victims, loyalty to my brothers and courage under fire.
And above all, to hold all information and
identities in the strictest confidenceâ¦.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Outside the square granite entryway to the office building, dirty snow marked the curb where a white Fiat sedan and a blue Toyota were parked. The sidewalks appeared to be deserted. No lights shone from the office windows. The stealthy gray of dawn thinned the night shadows into faded streaks.